Advanced Photographic System

Advanced Photographic System (APS). In 1992 Eastman Kodak announced a joint research project with Canon, Fuji, Minolta, and Nikon to develop a sophisticated new reduced-format system; increasing research and development costs compelled manufacturers to work together on any major innovation to maximize future sales.

The first APS cameras and films were announced on 1 February 1996. APS was based around a 24 mm film format producing 30 × 17 mm (1 1/4 × 5/8 in) negatives (56 per cent of the area of a 35 mm negative) and Information Exchange (IX) technology that recorded picture-taking information on a magnetic strip alongside each frame and communicated this data between the user, camera, film, and photofinishing equipment. New film technologies were introduced to minimize the effect of a smaller negative size. Three formats were available—classic, HDTV, and panoramic—and the film remained stored in the cassette to limit handling. The smaller cassette allowed smaller cameras to be made.

The system was an attempt to revitalize the amateur photographic market through sales of new cameras and film. It was the first new film format to be introduced following the failure of the disc format of 1982. A number of innovative and stylish cameras such as the Canon Ixus and Minolta Vectis were produced, but the results never quite stood comparison with 35 mm. In 2001 Minolta announced it was scaling down development of APS cameras in favour of digital technologies. Kodak ceased making APS cameras in 2004. APS is likely to be seen as a limited success overshadowed by the unexpectedly rapid rise of digital photography.

— Michael Pritchard