Sansui

Sansui CT0110 (1996)

It's really amazing that after more than a decade of intensive research, we are still discovering completely unknown digital cameras! This time we found something truly unique and extraordinary. An OEM version of the Orion DigiSnap DS21. Thanks to Callum H. for pointing us towards this one.

Orion is a Hungarian company and mainly sells radios and televisions. Consumer electronics were manufactured by Orion Denki in Japan and distributed by Orion Hungary. Although both companies were called Orion and had a similar logo, they are two legally completely independent companies. In 1996 Orion Denki introduced a digital camera, the Orion DigiSnap DS21. Distributed in Europe by Orion Hungary.

They wanted to do the same thing for the north american market. That's where Orion Sales Inc. came in, a subsidiary of Orion Electric. Interestingly, Orion Sales Inc. also marketed the Sansui brand, a manufacturer of high-quality hi-fi devices. So the DS21 was used as the basic device and heavily modified to fit Sansui's high-end portfolio.

The following changes have been made:

- Housing color changed from silver to black (black was Sansui's trademark color)
- In addition to the digital camera, an analog TV tuner was installed (which added roughly 75 gr. to total weight)
- a farily long, extendable antenna was installed
- Additional control dials were installed

- a headphone socket was installed

- an internal speaker was installed
- all logos and model names were removed from the front, giving it a more slick and minimalistic look

Thus, a digital camera was created that Casio still considered unrealizable in 1994! A digital camera with a built-in television set. The Sansui CT0110 is not only the first digital camera with a built-in television set, it is also the only one! This makes it a unique collector's camera worldwide. Of course, the analog TV tuner is now obsolete. But you can still use it as a digital camera, of course.

The driver for the CT0110 could still be downloaded from the Orion Sales Inc. website from 1996 to 2007. Unfortunately no operating instructions or data sheet were available for download.

Specifications

Brand: Sansui
Model: CT0110
First mentioned: 1996
Marketed: yes (in the US only)
MSRP: -
Imager Type: 0.25MP 1/5" CCD
Resolution: 320x240
Internal Storage: 2MB
External Storage: -
Lens: F2/f=5.2mm Fixed Focus
Shutter: 1/60s to 1/16,000s and 1/8s to 1/30s
Aperture Range: F2/F8
LCD screen size: 3"
Size: 145 x 96 x 56mm
Weight: 573 gr. (with batt.) / 415 gr. (without batt.)
Remarks: -
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