Editing Advanced Photo System (section)

== History ==
[[File:Nikon_Nuvis_160i_camera.JPG|thumb|Nikon Nuvis 160i, an APS camera]]
Kodak began developing "Project Orion" in the mid-1980s and solicited partners starting in the late 1980s.<ref name=PMI-98>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/kodak-advantix-photographic-system-project-3275 |title=A Kodak moment: Advantix project named 1997 international project of the year |first=Chris |last=Adams |date=1998 |volume=12 |issue=1 |magazine=PM Network |pages=21–27 |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> In 1991, Canon, Fujifilm, Kodak, Minolta, and Nikon formed a consortium to complete the new photographic system,<ref name=Kodak-About>{{cite web |url=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/APS/redBook/aboutSystem.shtml |title=About the Advanced Photo System |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991103001906/http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/APS/redBook/aboutSystem.shtml |archive-date=November 3, 1999 |url-status=dead |publisher=Eastman Kodak Company}}</ref> and the alliance was publicly announced in 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsM39O-k8GsC&pg=PA46 |title=New 35mm film format: bogeyman or blessing? |first=Herbert |last=Keppler |author-link=Herbert Keppler |date=November 1993 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=46–48 |access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> Initial testing of APS film cartridges with 40-exposure rolls started in 1994; details about the magnetic-stripe information encoding<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7dxmUB4AT_gC&pg=PA18 |title=Snapshots: New film system in 1996 |page=18 |magazine=Popular Photography |date=August 1994 |access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref> and formats were provided later that year, although the prototype "Standard" frame size, at that time, was narrower than the final APS-C frame, with a 7:5 aspect ratio, {{cvt|23.4|*|16.7|mm}}.<ref name=PopPhoto-9410>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMWyCuSOIRkC&pg=PA8 |title=Snapshots: Advanced Photo system advances |page=8 |magazine=Popular Photography |date=October 1994 |access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref> APS was announced to the photofinishing market in October 1995 and officially launched at the [[Photo Marketing Association]] show in Las Vegas in February 1996.<ref name=Kodak-About/> At that time, Kodak CEO [[George M. C. Fisher]] announced that US$500&nbsp;million had been invested in the new system to date, and an equal expense would be required going forward.<ref name=PMI-98/>

[[File:Canon IXUS APS 20080813.jpg|thumb|left|[[Canon ELPH (series)|Canon ELPH]] aka IXUS (Europe) or IXY (Japan)]]
The Advanced Photo System was an attempt at a major upgrade of photographic technology for amateurs, resulting in a new film cartridge to facilitate automation of film loading and rewinding;<ref name=PopPhoto-9601>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=15auqgaDxgkC&pg=PA32 |title=Radically new Advanced Photo System |first=Herbert |last=Keppler |author-link=Herbert Keppler |date=January 1996 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=32;34;170 |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> according to Kodak, {{frac|5}} of all film that it received for processing showed some defects attributable to loading error.<ref name=PopPhoto-9504>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nx8_7xbot7cC&pg=PA19 |title=SLR Hot News: Camera makers set to make Advanced Photo System AF SLRs 1/3 smaller, lighter with greater zoom range than 35mm SLRs, but...... |first=Herbert |last=Keppler |author-link=Herbert Keppler |date=April 1995 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=19–22 |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>{{rp|20}} In addition, the smaller film size potentially could result in APS point-and-shoot cameras with greater zoom ranges in the same size as existing 35&nbsp;mm compact cameras,<ref name=PopPhoto-9504/>{{rp|20}} or more compact altogether.<ref name=PopPhoto-9610/>{{rp|32}} Accessories were made to facilitate digitization of APS film for use with computers, including a slideshow device for televisions and film scanner.<ref name=PopPhoto-9604-roar/>{{rp|39;40}} At launch, all five manufacturers announced point-and-shoot APS cameras;<ref name=PopPhoto-9604-roar/> the [[Canon ELPH (series)|Canon ELPH]] (IXY/IXUS) drew particular attention and demand for its compact size and stylish all-metal body.<ref name=PopPhoto-9610>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_lM3mdMJNHIC&pg=PA28 |title=P&S: ''Pop Photo'' Goes Trolling For An ELPH, Finds Happiness |first=Dan |last=Richards |date=October 1996 |pages=28–39 |magazine=Popular Photography |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref>

Despite the potential benefits, APS never really caught on with professional photographers because of the significantly smaller film area (58% of [[135 film]]) and narrow selection of film types. In controlled testing, ''[[Popular Photography]]'' found that prints from one new emulsion developed for APS were significantly sharper than an equivalently-sized prints using a legacy 135 film emulsion, despite having to enlarge the APS frame by a greater magnification ratio. However, the new emulsion also could be (and later was) used for 35&nbsp;mm film, eliminating the advantage of the smaller format.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwqNj9E05tYC&pg=PA74 |title=APS vs. 35MM: Which is sharper? |first=Peter |last=Kolonia |date=August 1996 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=74–75;166 |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> Film selection also hindered adoption of APS.<ref name=PopPhoto-9610/>{{rp|39}} Initially, only [[color print film]] was available, with a limited selection of film speeds.<ref name=PopPhoto-9611>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjGdOd4qBF0C&pg=PA76 |title=APS...Which films are the best |first=Michael J. |last=McNamara |date=November 1996 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=76–79;173;222 |access-date=24 October 2024 |quote=As we went to press, there still were no faster print films [than ISO 400], no slide films, and no black-and-white APS films.}}</ref> Color [[Reversal film|slide film]], popular with professional photographers, proved unpopular in APS format and was soon discontinued, although [[chromogenic]] black-and-white IX240 film continued to be produced.

In January 2004, Kodak announced it was ceasing APS camera production.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/0401/04011301kodakfilm.asp | title=Kodak to stop making APS, some film cameras | publisher=[[Digital Photography Review|dpreview.com]] | date=2004-01-13 | access-date=2006-11-03| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061018171531/http://www.dpreview.com/news/0401/04011301kodakfilm.asp| archive-date= 18 October 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Both Fuji and Kodak, the last two manufacturers of APS film, discontinued production in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0120.html |script-title=ja:APSフィルム販売終了のお知らせ |title=Apusu firumu hanbai shūryō no oshirase |trans-title=Notice of the end of sale of APS film |website=Fujifilm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709140041/http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0120.html |archive-date=2011-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=1096&pq-locale=en_GB&_requestid=17859|title=Eastman Kodak Company}}</ref>