Sony U20 'SPY CAMERA' from 2002 review!

[@PeeHooo]

Those pictures don't look half-bad to me, colours are actually quite nice. I would love to see more of these 'retro' camera reviews. I think cameras were more fun back in the days.

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! yes, I looked back at the photos and thought, hmmm, not as bad as I expected! But the video quality was pretty bad! Lots more old camera reviews coming in the future!

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Really nice pics at 2MPs has to do with the man behind the camera - in this case the talented Gordon. The "fun" in picture taking these days has shifted to smartphones. The amazing hardware/firmware/software improvements are doing all the necessary processing behind the scenes, allowing the user to concentrate more on what they're shooting, rather than on how to get good results . . . the Google Pixel 4a being a current example of what I mean at a reasonable price.

[@moviebod]

Those old cameras are still fun at less than £15 a pop on eBay, in the U.K. anyway. I find that about 10% are spares only. Most people are honest.

[@MJ-uk6lu]

It's those big meaty 2 megapixels. For real it might just have really big pixel sizes compared to modern phones or even digicams.

[@SianaGearz]

All cameras using SONY CCD sensors have fairly decent colour. This is of course all SONY cameras themselves and then some small-sensor cameras by ALL the camera brands. For example when it occurred that SONY had a manufacturing fault that caused most of their sensors to fail in 2003-2004 (bond wire welding fault), it affected cameras by SONY (largest number of devices), Canon (second largest), Konica-Minolta, Pentax, Ricoh, Fujifilm, Kyocera-Mita (+Contax), one model of Leica/Panasonic, a handful Nikon and Olympus. Which was of course a pity because those cameras all made quite pleasant pictures.

[@KrazyShark]

Old Sony designs were amazing, i love how they used to experiment with different shapes and sizes and try to cram as many things as they could in them. The pictures are a huuuge step up from that Sony F1 you reviewed, they're actually quite good. I would've been super stoked about having a little camera like that as a kid :D such a nice form factor.

[@DinoBytes]

It was really fun using it again!

[@martingernss3486]

I think this is the first time I have owned a camera before seing Gordon's review 😁 This was actually my first digital camera, and it was always with me on many trips thanks to it's small size. Great photos and memories. The design reminds me of Sony's minidisc players of the 90s

[@DinoBytes]

Excellent! You're the first person I know who owned one of these! Did I do it justice?

[@martingernss3486]

Yes I think you really got the essence of it. I remember being torn between the camera having 'only' 2mp and it's size and style. At the end I was satisfied with the results and it was ok to have prints 9x13 cm. I think it works best in good light, especially with blue skies. One advantage was also that you could use standard aaa batteries if I remember correctly.

[@pendantblade6361]

Holy shit, I had this as a child and seeing this pop up in my recs was an injection of nostalgia! Thank you for the video, Gordon.

[@DinoBytes]

You're welcome! Hope you get a chance to see some of my other videos here!

[@MountainsCallingMe]

I had this camera back then. It was great because I could bring it everywhere! The slide open and close was awesome for single hand use.

[@Lucy-dk5cz]

I remember having an old Sony camera which used floppy disc to save images.

[@DinoBytes]

I had one too - the original Mavica! In fact I reviewed most of them when they first came out, so I will definitely be covering them here! Do you still have yours?

[@LE672AJ]

That camera was super cool at the time! My school graduation ceremony was shot on that. Mine is in a box at storage... might have to bring it out :)

[@kunhanpaasen]

Nice review. I had this and the u10 in the early 2000s. I love how it powered on instantly. Took thousands of photos with it. I had larger cameras as well but this one really fit in to my pocket to take with everywhere. Back in those days my cameraphone of 2003 (nokia 3650) took only 640x480 pics, so it the quality this sony offered was really good for the size.

[@peteryates308]

Looking forward to the content on this channel, retro tech and photography are where my two worlds collide. The first digital camera we had in the family was a Kodak Easyshare C330. My own first was a Casio Exilim EX-Z850. It was tiiiny, easily slim enough for a shirt pocket.

[@DinoBytes]

I remember reviewing both!

[@jdcatabas2260]

I remember being enamored by this camera when a friend got one. I thought it was so cool, small, and sleek back then.

[@DinoBytes]

I was just looking at my U20 again and it still looks special today!

[@hedley.bradstone-unbridled]

Given that camera's inadequacies, those images were good. I realised at the outset that these new fangled digital cameras would never catch on, so I continued to use an SLR until 2003. I tested the water the following year, with a Canon S70.

[@DinoBytes]

I had the S70 as well! And the 90 and 95, lovely cameras. I was also surprised by how good these 2mp photos looked today!

[@CrazyFireBeatz]

the S70 is 7.1MP though

[@emandnat3489]

So fun! the video quality speaks right to my lo fi heart

[@DinoBytes]

If it were only a little better I might consider trying to film a video with it!

[@SkylerKing]

I'm going down in history as one of the "first 500" subscribers to this channel.

[@DinoBytes]

Thankyou!

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Ditto!

[@earlmccowen5197]

My earliest digital camera, purchased around 2000, was the Kodak DC240 with a 640x480 sensor (0.3MP). Somewhere around 2003, I bought a Canon 10D with its whopping 6MP sensor. In 2004, I upgraded my point and shoot kit to the Canon Power-shot A80 (4MP), followed in 2007 by the Canon Power-shot A630 with an 8MP sensor. Had lots of fun with all of them. Today, my hiking kit is a Panasonic Lumix GX-9 and my "Full Frame" DSLR is the Canon 5DIII and the 80D for an APS-C. Seriously looking at the R6 to replace the 5DIII. It has been a journey.

[@DinoBytes]

I think it could be fun if people made a video talking about their camera journeys... I've been meaning to do one...

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

Finally! After all that time I have finally spotted a device for these memory stick thingies all my card readers always had a slot for, but I never knew why. Oh...now I have reached the point in the video where it is revealed that even for this cam you did not need the card reader...what a bummer. Please keep this up, Gordon! It is AWESOME!

[@DinoBytes]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@EDHBlvd]

Wow Sony made a digital Olympus XA, 19 years ago. Crazy.

[@SamTaylors]

Great video! I bought my then girlfriend - now wife - and Olympus U-mini back in 2004 which had a very similar vibe. Super satisfying when the lens popped open

[@DinoBytes]

Yes, I remember that one too - I love the sliding covers!

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

First digital camera was a Kodak DC5000 2.1 megapixel was built for outdoor use, still have it and it still works, used compact flash memory , ran on 4 AA batteries, no movie mode...still use older digital cameras today! Great content! Surprised the quality of the Sony pictures were that good!

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! I hope to cover some of the early Kodak digital cameras soon!

[@TimJones-yo3fr]

Lovely video mate. The u20 was my very first digital camera. I purchased it in Brisbane, Australia. 🇦🇺 I still have it to this day and a few years ago, I actually picked up a few used ones off ebay.

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! The U series can command high prices today...

[@Streetsupra88]

My first digital camera was my HP Photosmart 435, which also featured a sliding face like the U20. Kept it in really good condition and found it the other week at my dad's. Still a fun little 3.1 MP P&S today!

[@DinoBytes]

So it still works ok? It's fun to try them out again!

[@CameraNostalgiaClub]

Absolutely love the whole Cybershot series from the early 2000s! Have yet to get my hands on one of these it looks so small and cute 😂📸

[@clevelandmotley]

Oh man, I had 4 or 5 of these and the u10. Loved these cameras and took thousands of photos. I’ve kept them all with the intention of some day updating them with modern electronics.

[@DinoBytes]

I think they're charming with the original electronics! What would you update?

[@clevelandmotley]

@@DinoBytes looks like I actually was using the U40. The reason I have 4 or 5 is they generally only lasted 1000-2000 photos before going dead by slowly turning the photos into rainbows then nothing. I think an updated sensor, micro SD, and rechargeable lipo would be a good start. IMO the best thing about them was the size, and immediate start up with the shutter slider. I’d love to make an even thinner one with no screen at all. Could maybe put a Bluetooth transmitter to use your phone for settings adjustments, photo transfer etc. would turn it into a remote camera for your phone I guess so maybe not. I picked up a “camp snap” digital camera for burning man where I don’t want to have my phone out and that led me back to these old cameras. Camp snap is interesting with no screen with an led photo counter, but I don’t even think that’s really necessary. I think the concept of a screen-less cheap digital camera is maybe good timing with people wanting to spend less time on their phone. I don’t recall using the screen on the u40 much at all. Maybe just a single led that could change color based on battery status. With a modern micro sd the photos would be more or less infinite.

[@LE672AJ]

That menu system was loads better than what they’ve been using for the last several years up until just recently :)

[@DinoBytes]

They probably used this original menu as the basis!

[@LE672AJ]

😂 I wouldn’t doubt it haha

[@nomadben]

That's super neat! I've never seen these before. It would be fun if someone still made a super tiny camera, but with modern tech.

[@DinoBytes]

I agree

[@kenkrugger]

You inspired me to pull out my Olympus C-200 zoom. It still works! Now I just need a way to read a smart media card

[@DinoBytes]

Yes, card readers are often the problem. Is there a USB port on it you can use for cabled-access?

[@kenkrugger]

@@DinoBytes there is a mini USB port but it doesn’t seem to work for file transfer. A friend is sending me his old card reader 👍

[@christopherbgriffith]

My first was the F707 - it made me happy to see it get a brief mention. Though it needed a lot of light to not produce horrible chromatic noise, the colors were SO good. It’s a shame that the CCD look has never quite been reproduced.

[@DinoBytes]

Yeah, CCDs had a certain look to them that was quite nice.

[@chriszajac8818]

The U10 was my first and I recently re-bought one in very good condition. I love the styling and small footprint. This camera brings To the table! Iconic. I only wish I had the original box. Lol

[@DinoBytes]

It's a classic! I really like using it still

[@peterkettle8683]

I had the U20, and you are right, it did feel like a spy camera. Later, I bought the Sony L1, it wasn’t much bigger than the U20, but 4mp and 640x480. What a beast! Still got it.

[@DinoBytes]

The L1? I don't think I remember that one... unfortunately the Experia phone has dominated any Sony L1 search results now!

[@DanFrizzell]

I had two of these little beauties. The first, which was also my first digital camera, slipped out of my hand and fell into the Strait of Juan de Fuca when I was shooting photos of starfish. It was brand new, a gift from my wife, and I felt terrible, so I bought another. I still have that one. It’s dented and just works when it feels like it, but you could say that about me, too, so I cut it some slack. I’ve been shooting Fujifilm X cameras for several years, as well as medium-format film, but 20 years on, I still pull out my little U-20 now and then just for kicks.

[@maxwellwellmax878]

Ahhhhhhhhh nostalgia lol, My late friend had a Sony like this, I remember i wanted an Olympus C-5060 :)

[@DinoBytes]

Olympus had some great models!

[@samhelado]

I have the same camera, only I had a question, friend, how do I transfer the images to my computer? I'm looking and I don't know what to do, greetings from Mexico

[@DinoBytes]

Just connect it with a USB cable

[@dansebring8982]

Wow this brought back memories.. The cyber-shot U20 was my first digital camera! I remember them being quite expensive at the time but my mum kindly bought one for me. Also remember the U10 being cheaper but as I liked the blue color of the U20 I got that one. Me and a friend actually used it to make short movies.. I guess we weren't to picky with image quality back in the day. We had a lot of fun at least. Now I really want to go find it again!

[@DinoBytes]

Hope you find it!

[@Geraldo8782]

I bought an U20 (listed for parts only) from a thrift store. At first, this little camera had so many issues, but somehow i managed to fix most of them, except one, the missing battery indicator on the screen. Despite of that, camera works great!

[@DinoBytes]

Crikey, good effort, I don't think I'd ever try to repair one of these, although I do try and bring them back to life with new batteries.

[@neiljohansson9507]

Just acquired a U60, got hold of batteries and it works, just need to get a memory stick for it. I'm looking forward to using it, like the ergonomics of it.

[@DinoBytes]

Great stuff! You could always try an SD to Memory Stick adapter

[@TheHumanPalindrome]

I used to work at a Sony Centre. I remember this model well. Very cute.

[@TheHumanPalindrome]

I had a DSC-F77 which was another quirky Sony compact with a rotating lens.

[@DinoBytes]

@@TheHumanPalindrome the F series were all brilliant!

[@TheHumanPalindrome]

@@DinoBytes there was no optical zoom, but it was a lovely little camera. Really solidly built.

[@meldynn4893]

Great video!! Btw, how can you delete the photos? And how can you transfer them to computer? Thanks!

[@DinoBytes]

Just use a USB cable to connect the camera direct

[@MichaelGerrard]

My first digital was the Sony Mavica. It used floppy disks for storage. It took VGA photos 😁

[@DinoBytes]

I loved those models, I'll definitely be making some videos about them...

[@MichaelGerrard]

@@DinoBytes I am looking forward to that. Unfortunately I gave mine away years back.

[@moviebod]

Will it charge the batteries from the mini USB? Gotta love those colours, especially the seashore when the pier is in the background. I lived in Eastbourne for over 60 years before moving and used to go to the beach often. My first digicam in 2001 was a Ricoh DC-4U which I can't seem to find on the used market anymore. It was 1.2MP which they said was 1.3MP and it cost over £400 in 2001 I think (from QVC - a wife thing)

[@DinoBytes]

No, you need to charge them using an external AC charger, but AAA chargers are at least easy to find. The Mini USB port here is for data only. I use mine as a memory stick reader!

[@geekmangreg1677]

I had a U20... they did actually take decent photos - not sure why they even bothered with that video mode, though. I liked how they included two, AAA rechargeable batteries and a charger in the box, too.

[@DinoBytes]

yes, that wasn't uncommon at the time and as a reviewer I remember we all got very angry when batteries and a charger weren't included, even when they were standard AA or AAA!

[@fergfilm]

Another Retro Low Res great 👍 camera review. You are proving its not about the resolution. It’s about the composition, color & sharpness. I’m accumulating a lot of old cameras starting last year during The beginning of COVID. My favorite dirt cheap, under $10, some $1.50. Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, Kodak, & Casio. You’ve inspired me to start reviewing all cheap cameras in my collection. Look forward to seeing your next video.

[@DinoBytes]

Glad you're enjoying them!

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Photos - shockingly good! 😮 Videos - seriously Sony, why did you bother? So much fun Gordon! Thanks! 😎

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! Yes, the photos were better than I expected!

[@박소영-z5o]

Is there data back? I found it my home and want to know this camera can show the date when I take a picture.

[@DinoBytes]

I just checked my U20 images and YES the files include basic EXIF data including exposure, date and time. I don't know if this can be displayed on the actual photo though if that's what you want.

[@johnwoodgate5853]

I have got one of these; it's my second one. My first one was black but I had a senior moment and gave it to a charity shop then regretted doing so. I bought my silver one on Ebay. I love using it because it's so small and compact. Gordon could you do tests for 3 Fuji cameras: Finepix 2800 Zoom, Finepix A202 & Finepix A204? All are 2 mega, 1/2.7 CCD sensor. All of the 3 give outstanding results and I think you will be amazed at the sharpness of the prints.

[@DinoBytes]

Great suggestion! I do have some older Fujifilm cameras, but different models. I think the one I have is a Finepix F30 or F31 which had the little SuperCCD that punched above its weight... I'll definitely do it.

[@xmlthegreat]

I wonder if we can make something like this now.

[@Drdee1]

Hi Gordon. I still have my Canon Power Shot S70 with a sliding lens cover. I used to use it on fieldwork trips to emerging markets like Russia and Kazakhstan where I would be photographing mobile phone stores and taking street scenes as discretely as I could. So (sort of) spy photography with a camera you could hide up your sleeve!

[@DinoBytes]

Exactly! I remember reviewing the S70...

[@franciscoAssis-k1i]

Tive uma dessa câmera tenho saudades dela....

[@DinoBytes]

Try to buy one from eBay!

[@SharDances]

I see one for sale in purple... I am really thinking of getting it. I like the small screen actually.

[@DinoBytes]

OOh! I've never seen it in anything other than silver, I'd get it!

[@KyupalNgYoutube]

We need a new version of that!!!!

[@DinoBytes]

Definitely!

[@joewellham1]

My first digicam in 2000 was the dinky Canon Powershot S10 bought from Dixons in Streatham for about £300, loved it, took loads of pictures with it and amazingly, like your Sony, it still works perfectly and amazingly the origonal li-ion battery still holds enough charge for a couple of shots even now.

[@DinoBytes]

The batteries do age though, don't they - I have one from 1995 which barely manages to stay on for more than a few seconds...

[@alexmag5735]

My first digital camera!!!

[@DinoBytes]

Nice!

[@benislost904]

did you have any trouble getting the photos onto your pc? i’ve heard a lot of these older digital point and shoots need an old windows os

[@DinoBytes]

No, this has a standard USB port and shows itself as a drive. You're thinking of older cameras using old serial connections

[@plpno]

I remember this camera and selling it when I used to work at an office supply store!

[@DinoBytes]

Were you selling it to customers, or was it your own model? Was it popular at your store?

[@plpno]

@@DinoBytes Selling. The office supply store I used to worked at (here in the US) years ago started carrying digital cameras and this was one of the camera us employees had to learn about so we can answer customer’s questions and hopefully convince them to purchase. 😉

[@CrazyFireBeatz]

1:09 The Canon Powershot S10 - S80 Have That (I Have The S70)

[@DinoBytes]

The S series were really nice - I still have an S95

[@CrazyFireBeatz]

@@DinoBytes yep i dont use my S70 though cuz i broke my Compact Flash card reader by bending a pin. But the S70 Still work fine though.

[@iTechOSyoutube]

Hi, just to clarify for everyone watching this as of now, you need a NiMH type Rechargable AAA battery, not just any normal AAA. Great video though, Gordon!

[@zilog1]

I think its interesting that i just custom cut, rolled, developed, and scan a bunch of minox images from a minox A not too long ago. snazzy little thing from the 50s.

[@steezycarclothes]

I have the same u20 but i can't find a sulution if i could turn that option of because i don't like when lens cover opens and its turned on,because if you have it in your pocket for me it turned on and almost drauned my batteries

[@DinoBytes]

Yes, that is a potential problem

[@STKSOUND]

does anyone have a repair guide for this camera? mine has some problems with the lens

[@DinoBytes]

I don't, but good luck!

[@MicroFourNerds]

Heeeyy i just bought one today! Knew you'd have covered it 😄

[@DinoBytes]

Niiiiiiice! Which one? I really want a 40, but they're expensive

[@MicroFourNerds]

@DinoBytes the U20, I think. I saw it at the back of the display in a cash converters for £29 and bought it before I even knew what it was 😅 I'm so glad they left a memory card in too, even if its a 128mb haha

[@DinoBytes]

@@MicroFourNerds not a bad price. I've seen some for that, but others trying it on for MUCH more. Plus the card is worth a bit too - 128 MB was still respectable when this came out.

[@gerasmus]

Some of the most memorable memories of my life were recorded on this camera. When I met my wife, we were young whipper-snappers in love.

[@DinoBytes]

Hope this has been a pleasant nostalgic trip!

[@iTechOSyoutube]

Hey Gordon, does the camera have to be extremely still to get a good photo? I’ve seen newer Sony models, like the T1 and T3 have better stabilization, wonder if that’s the case here.

[@DinoBytes]

You just have to be careful, especially in lower light.

[@iTechOSyoutube]

@@DinoBytesso in theory the camera isnt shaky in daylight?

[@williamhouse23]

Do these transfer pictures to a computer via a usb cord?

[@DinoBytes]

Yes

[@markyteo]

I have an Ixus 330 which also shoots glorious 2mp photos too! And if I remember correctly... Vga videos! It still works.:)

[@neli5p]

I remember on the mkII version, it had a circular reflective disc on the slide, for composing selfies …. Way before selfies were ever thought of! It was the first selfie camera without even knowing it lol. Still have mine …. 3 of them, one in a lovely shade of metallic blue! As you said, the memory sticks were a luxury … £60 for a 128mb … mates rates from a friend working in the Sony Store. I bought 2 … I felt like the boss!

[@DinoBytes]

I remember thinking the 64MB card I bought in the US was being almost decadent at the time!

[@neli5p]

@@DinoBytes oh those days 🤣

[@thinkmilly2810]

I used to have this camera and it was my favorite! What killed it? The humidity of the jungles of Guatemala D: I took thousands of pics and it did record EXIF data on the images. The best thing about this spy cam was it was very close to taking pics with a view finder. I miss this camera sooo much!

[@DinoBytes]

They are lovely! You can sometimes see them on eBay, either hugely over-priced, or occassionally reasonable. It's worth putting in a saved search.

[@CryptidBuddy]

Those Images look clearer than whatever I can get from my 10 year newer iPhone lol. Do you know a similar camera with a more aberrated picture? I’m trying to replicate a vhs effect.

[@DinoBytes]

Pretty much any mid to late 90's camera will give you a poorer image if that's what you want! Check out my camera reviews here of models more than 23 years ago, like the Olympus 870 or Apple QuickTake or Sony F1. Some are hard to get the images out of though!

[@whistlerrealestate1]

Those photos actually look really good.

[@DinoBytes]

They're a lot better than I thought they'd be!

[@arilinn8756]

Dope camera and channel!!!

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! Hope you get a chance to watch some more of my videos here. Many planned for this year too!

[@gaxiola1701]

I had a QuickTake 100 back in the day but it had such limited storage and poor quality that I hardly used it. What I consider my real first digital camera was the Sony CyberShot S30. It was barely a 2MP camera but I took it everywhere, swapping MemorySticks during the day and offloading to my computer at night. My at the time future wife had a U20 which she used quite a bit when we traveled before smartphones and decent cellphone cameras. The U20's sensor died around that time anyways but it served its purpose well.

[@DinoBytes]

Nice to hear from another U20 owner, I think they were few and far between...

[@valdiskrebs566]

My first digital camera... 1997, Nikon Coolpix 100... ran on 4 AA batteries... shape of a current digital recorder (w/o) microphones. To transfer pix to PC, the top slid out and plugged into a PC Card slot found in 1990s laptops like ThinkPads. Image size: 512 x 348 pixels

[@DinoBytes]

I remember that one too, Nikon had some cool designs back then

[@say7834]

It was my fast digital camera and quality was awesome. It was very durable and convenient. If I didn't let my friend borrow it just to lost it, it would still works even today.

[@DinoBytes]

I love that you still haven't forgiven them! Try and pick up a used model on eBay and relive those times!

[@ScottJWaldron]

Cool video! My first was a Canon Powershot S200 Digital ELPH digicam. Also 2 megapixel, but probably around twice the height of that one.

[@DinoBytes]

I remember those, we called them IXUS in Europe

[@ItzPronouncedOctopuses]

I recently purchased a U20 and am trying to figure out how to transfer photos to my MacBook. I have tried using a cable but my computer doesn’t recognize the camera.

[@DinoBytes]

Hmmm, that's odd, as the port should allow you to connect it over USB as a standard removeable drive. Was the card formatted by the camera, and are the images playing ok? Maybe you need to be in playback too when you connect the camera. Does the USB cable fit properly as well? This is an older port that's a bit thicker than Micro USB.

[@ItzPronouncedOctopuses]

Yes I formatted the card by the camera. I’ve tried all the standard troubleshooting I could think of. Could I ask exactly what you do to get the photos, computer, program, etc.

[@DinoBytes]

@@ItzPronouncedOctopuses I just connect the USB cable to my MacBook and it appears as a drive

[@DinoBytes]

@@ItzPronouncedOctopuses you may need to try a different memory stick reader if you can't get it to work from the camera

[@Smillii]

My first digital camera was Nikon Coolpix L4. I got rid off it quite fast as it didn't have manual controls. Replaced it with Canon A520. All of that happened in around 2018 when I was looking for an upgrade over my smartphone for low light shots. Some of my best photos are taken on the Canon though.

[@scottmchugh138]

yo man what charger is needed for this camera?

[@DinoBytes]

Have you watched the video? It takes AAA batteries

[@scottmchugh138]

@@DinoBytes yeh bro I meant to charge the camera? Cos their is a charger port, do I need a charger as well? Or will it work with just batteries

[@DinoBytes]

@@scottmchugh138 you just charge the batteries outside the camera. The port on the camera is only for data, not for charging it.

[@cladisrivera9078]

I have this one, but it charges , I think I have the wrong battery, witch ones are the ones you used?

[@DinoBytes]

It just uses AAA batteries, doesn't it?

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

Nice video! My first digital was a Olympus C5060 (around 2004) Was a great camera but probably bigger/heavier than many DSLRs or mirrorless cameras today. 5mp, took great macro photos. Not much zoom. Video poor. Have a couple of framed A4 prints that still look good..

[@DinoBytes]

I remember it well!

[@ericplatt6884]

The Sony DSC-L1 from 2004 was similar but even more cool, if I do say so myself. :)) I had one back then, enjoyed using it on walks, and recently bought one off eBay. Among the cool things is a motorized sliding cover for the lens that makes a zzzzt sound you might hear in a James Bond or old scifi movie. It sported a 32-96 mm lens, a 4 megapixel CCD sensor, and also that unique reflective LCD screen - 1.5" (78,000 dots) in this case - designed to help with glare from sunlight and difficult viewing conditions. It has a nice joystick, and the newer menu system that models like the F707 had. And 640x480 video! Woohoo! It's a little well-built jewel.

[@DinoBytes]

Nice! I like the sound of the cover!

[@steveohim]

I have the blue u-30 but the ccd needs replacing, I missed out on the recall as it was in a drawer for years, now I’m getting back into using retro cameras my u-30 is useless

[@DinoBytes]

Sorry to hear about your U30

[@NatsWright]

The sliding design is very similar to my Sony K800 mobile phone, in fact it is probably the same technology! Cracking phone camera that was too. My first digital camera was the Fujifilm MX1500, it cost £375 back in the day and was only 1280x1024 resolution!! Took it to Canada on a Snowboarding holiday. Sadly I no longer have it as it stopped working years ago and was chucked out! I do still have my next digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 4300, and it still works!!

[@DinoBytes]

You should take that Coolpix out for a spin!

[@NatsWright]

Now there is an idea! It kinda even had RAW mode, with uncompressed TIFF files. I'll need a bigger compact flash card though, should be easy these days!

[@DinoBytes]

@@NatsWright weeeell, if the file sizes are small, then a small card will suffice - look what I squeezed into that 128MB memory stick!

[@NatsWright]

lol, sure the cards I have are tiny, 16mb i think and 4mp tiff files are huge! Well, for the era! I may have a larger card hanging about though!

[@DinoBytes]

@@NatsWright as I recall, the old cameras that had a TIFF option took ages to record them, so you may be better off just shooting JPEG or even RAW,

[@TonyGardnerRC]

Love seeing the early days digital cameras. My first digital camera was a Fuji Finepix F401 I think it was. Back in the day where something like a 64mb card cost about £75 I seem to remember! How times have changed. One camera series that might be worth looking at is the Konica Minolta Z series of cameras, I have a couple of Z3's and a Z5. Very early examples of 'bridge' type cameras. They are dirt cheap and give good results with a huge zoom range...

[@DinoBytes]

Thanks! I think the early Fujifilm's had smart media cards too, right?

[@TonyGardnerRC]

@@DinoBytes I'm really not sure, the F401 used XD cards, I'm assuming the fore runner of SD cards

[@DinoBytes]

@@TonyGardnerRC Ah yes, I remember those too

[@TonyGardnerRC]

@@DinoBytes For old times sake I just bought a Fuji F401 from Ebay, grand total of £3.20! Just need to get a card for it now and a charger as it didn't have one...

[@nuclear64_]

This video was a lot fun check out. Great work. Cant wait to see the N64, or atari 5200 review LOL. Frank

[@DinoBytes]

I have an N64 ready and waiting in my retro shed!

[@HamiltonSRink]

I had/have a Kodak Z740 5.0 megapixels CCD sensor, 10X optical zoom. In the day it took good photos, once the very slow auto focus found focus. Which was about half the time. Problem is, that the Kodak supplied software to view the JPGs on the computer had it own built in LUT. After Microsoft moved on from Millennium Edition, Kodak decided it wasn't worth it to provide updates for the software anymore. As a result the JPGs that come out of the camera have not changed, except they now look horrible! Does anyone have a windows 10 software solution for the old Kodak Easy Share cameras?

[@DinoBytes]

Gosh, I didn't realise that, a very short-sighted solution. I will try to investigate for you, but it could be a while. Before anything else, have you tried installing the most recent version as Windows 10 can run some older software...

[@HamiltonSRink]

@@DinoBytes I have tried to load the CD that came with the camera. It does load, but the buttons simply do nothing. Kind of a shame because in the day, in bright sun, I used to get images that were quite satisfactory, and even exemplary. I now have an FZ2500, a Lumix G9, and a a7r2, so I don't hurt for camera. But the Z740 was a cool camera!

[@seanwu1968]

I had one. In Taiwan we called it sushi camera.

[@DinoBytes]

Nice!

[@SianaGearz]

I absolutely love the way SONY did its logos with that aluminium lines texture. How would one manufacture something like that?

[@DinoBytes]

Yeah, it's pretty classy!

[@ge48421]

My first digital camera was a Sony Powershot s100 digital elph (2 Mpixel). Got it in 2002 or 2003. The video quality was a lot better than what you showed in this review, probably standard definition 640x480. It had a 2x zoom, and took CF cards.

[@DinoBytes]

Would that be a Canon?

[@ge48421]

@@DinoBytes yes, you are right, powershot is a Canon brand. I don't have the camera anymore.

[@ChenButNotJoongArchen]

I can turn on my family's cam but the "still" and "movie" doesn't work anymore I can't take any picture nor video😢it's just blank

[@DinoBytes]

That's a shame, I wonder if the battery might be an issue? It's always a miracle when these things work decades later though.

[@ChenButNotJoongArchen]

@@DinoBytes I changed the battery but I think it's the camera. I might try sending it to some shop to get it fixed!

[@DinoBytes]

@@ChenButNotJoongArchen I think it would be cheaper to buy another one 2nd hand from eBay unless it has some sentimental value.

[@UdoKrawallo]

Some of the engineering back in these days was just miraculous. While AAA batteries aren´t really powerful I could imagine a more modern version of this with a Li-Ion one. I had the TX9 for a while, one of the many successors. Really liked the sliding mechanism. Pictures were good, videos also mostly, only issue was heavy barretl distortion ad wide-angle, so it had to be zoomed a bit out. I later sold it to a friend who unfortunately crashed the thing 🤪

[@DinoBytes]

It is a really cute camera, even today!

[@UdoKrawallo]

@@DinoBytes Oh yes, it is. Actually, even if it´s not related at all to it, but in some way mini gimbal cameras like the DJI Pocket Pro share some similarities with it. The small screen, fixed focal lens, overall miniscule size.

[@brianmckeever5280]

I have a Canon G2. My first digital and still works. Alas, the IBM 1GB card disk is dead. I'm wondering if a "Dino Bytes" kick-starter is in order to stuff modern digital innards into some of the nostalgic designs! "Boutique Bytes" maybe? The U20 seems like a great candidate!

[@DinoBytes]

HAH! I LOVE IT! Yes, a new vintage camera... that sounds like something that could financially or emotionally destroy me, but equally something I'd still be interested in looking into! I loved the G series and they were arguably the best cameras around at that time. Well, those and the Nikon COOLPIX 900 series. I have a G1 here waiting for the Dino Bytes treatment, and access to most of the range so hopefully I'll get to do most of them at some point...

[@pww4293]

I did own this camera back in 2004. Took too many photos with it so much so the sensor started geting deteriorated. Later snapped photo become too pixel-blurry.

[@DinoBytes]

I didn't realise you could wear out a component like that. Maybe the lens or some optical part fogged or deteriorated. At least you got lots of photos though!

[@EricsPlantWonders-tv3jx]

Thanks for letting us know about this "spy camera." Always loved tiny cameras - lusted after a Minox as a kid. If they ever make a digital Minox, I'll be first in line to buy one. :) Just picked up a U20 on eBay for $20 (from a lot of untested cameras). Cute little black thing. It successfully took 2 pictures. :) Otherwise it seems to have issues with the sensor or something - just get a few colored streaks. Will add it to the collection of interesting early digital cameras.

[@DinoBytes]

It still looks cool on a shelf!

[@ericplatt6884]

@@DinoBytes Update: I found a cheap (black) U20 on eBay that was all beat up on the outside but worked perfectly. I took apart the cosmetically nice one that had a bad sensor and this new one, and took the outer case from the nice one and put it on the working one. Voila: a nice working black U20! :) I also had to get some NiMH batteries that worked, since this camera only works with that type of cell.

[@DinoBytes]

@@ericplatt6884 nice one!

[@DinoBytes]

@@ericplatt6884 that's a pretty cool fix, I'd love to have more U cameras in my collection

[@Leik2487]

I just found one in goodwill for 20 here in ca everything is expensive

[@DinoBytes]

20 bucks? That's a good price!

[@Klarden]

This reminds me of the early mobile phone cameras, though those had far lower quality and much tinier sensors. Used those before my first digital camera became Canon's Digital Ixus 40, which, and I kid you not, I literally found on an empty street. Used it for years, it still has very decent image quality.

[@erikehrling4715]

It probably wouldn't make any sense from a business standpoint in an era when the compact camera has almost completely been replaced by mobile phones. But it would be nice to see a modern version with a fixed bright 35mm eqv lens, 1" sensor and real-time af... And exactly the same design(!)

[@DinoBytes]

I think the closest to that is the Fujifilm X100V, which is a fab camera!

[@AshtonCoolman]

The picture quality was amazing and just as I remember. Unfortunately the video quality is just like I remember as well 😂

[@ciprianoravet]

This is basically what the Sony Ericsson K750i and W800i had at the time

[@billr6983]

The photos from this camera hold up surprisingly well, and would still be useful for things like social media. The video, why did they even bother? lol. I find the sliding door interesting, as I once had an Olympus (another thrift store find) point and shoot with a very similar front sliding panel for turning the camera on and off. Unfortunately it used the extinct (or nearly so) xD memory cards which just became too expensive so I got rid of it.

[@DinoBytes]

I'm reviewing one of those Olympus models right now! The earliest ones used SmartMedia cards which are even more obscure!

[@DengekiGamer]

Cameras with only build in Memory can be a real hassle to deal with. I have a Casio QV-10, all cables and even a Win98 PC, but had no Luck to get any Picture out of it. Luckily, I own a few Mavicap Recorders and use one of them to get the Pictures via Video out. But yeah, it's far from ideal.

[@DinoBytes]

Yep, built-in memory was a pain... if there's an AV output, you could try video grabbing it though.

[@77appyi]

i dont no why i was surprised how good the 2MP photos look..i am watching on a 50 inch HD TV ,,,which only display 2.1MP ..less as was not using full screan in the browser ...so you could have posted photos from a R5 and it would not look any better ..hope to see more classic or unusual old cameras on here

[@DinoBytes]

You're right, Full HD is 2MP, so your TV is effectively dispel;aying them 1:1. They look surprisingly good BUT of course there's no chance to crop without losing detail. PS - yep, lots more unusual older cameras to come!

[@77appyi]

@@DinoBytes well i do have 2 or 3 Minolta XG 3.1MP from 2003 or 4 i get them to put in cars etc before we had good phone cams ... very slim has an ingénues 3X zoom that has folded optics that sits vertical in the body, bit like a periscope ....i often wonder why phones don't do something like that to get an optical zoom

[@deepbreath3555]

Still have one of those Photos are surprisingly good for such a tiny sensor ,great photos 👍 instead video mode simply awful and mostly unusable 😁

[@lim2001burger]

I wanted one back in the day, but sadly it was out of my price range at the time. The closest I got was a knock-off which was basically a webcam.

[@DinoBytes]

I think I remember those!

[@mindprison88]

It's amazing to think that such an abysmal video quality could ever be considered acceptable, especially when you take into account that photo quality is decent, even by today's standards.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

It wasn't. Basically just a marketing ploy.

[@DinoBytes]

Video has moved on a lot!