James Warner Discovers Rare 1996 EPixPro Digital Camera, a $400 Curiosity That Predicted Image Authentication

James Warner, a photographer and operator of the YouTube channel snappiness, recently purchased a unique digital camera from 1996 for around $400. This camera is branded as EPixPro on the front, while the packaging and instructions bear the name Obsidian Imaging, and it contains an NEC chip, with model numbers IC/100 and PC-DC401. Initially, it retailed for $2,000. Warner found it while looking through vintage photography magazines from the 1990s and noted that only a few had been available for sale, none complete with accessories and software. The device features a 0.3-megapixel Sony CCD sensor and a C-Mount lens system, which results in a significant crop factor—making a 50mm lens function like a 250mm. Although Warner observed strange lines in the images, he appreciated the optical viewfinder's beam splitter. Designed for practical use rather than artistic purposes, the camera targeted sectors like insurance and law enforcement, offering image encryption, tamper detection software, and watermarking. It also included a "Film Roll" feature for capturing images with preset settings. Despite its capabilities, the camera did not achieve widespread popularity. Warner is now willing to sell it for the same $400 he invested.