They controlled 90% of film sales and 85% of camera sales. A Kodak engineer built the world’s first digital camera. His bosses deliberately suppressed it to protect film profits.
The Detail That Changes Everything
Steve Sasson built the first digital camera at Kodak in 1975 and his bosses told him to keep it quiet
Historical Context
This story spans 1888-2012 and is centered in Rochester, New York. Understanding the broader historical context is essential to grasping why events unfolded as they did.
Key Figures
The central figures in this story include George Eastman, Steve Sasson, and Antonio Perez. Each played a distinct role in the events documented in this episode.
What This Documentary Covers
- How Steve Sasson invented digital photography at Kodak in 1975
- Why Kodak executives deliberately buried their own invention
- The $5.1 billion Sterling Drug disaster that distracted management
- When digital camera sales surpassed film – the exact crossover point
- How smartphones delivered the final blow after 131 years
Themes Explored
This episode examines interconnected themes including digital disruption, innovation failure, incumbent blindness, photography, corporate inertia. These themes recur across multiple episodes in our documentary collection, revealing patterns that connect seemingly unrelated stories.
Watch the Full Documentary
This companion article provides context and background for the full documentary. For the complete story with narration, original music, and archival imagery, watch the episode above or on YouTube.
