In a case no larger than a lunch box, a miniaturized photo processing laboratory applies developing chemicals to standard photographic film. The developed film is washed and dried internally, and dispensed when the process is complete. I think it's even possible with current technology to cut the film strip into 5-frame lengths, if desired, in the case of 35mm or 110 film; APS, of course, would be rerolled into the cartridge.
Of course this matches the other photographer's desktop appliance, the "mini/sub-mini" (110/35mm/APS) film scanner/printer (negative/slide scanner/printer that prints on "plain paper" 3"X5" or 4"X6" index cards). I know, I know, it's nearly "baked" already, but I can't buy one for under $100 at WalMart yet.
"Why not simply use a digital camera?" you may ask.
Because photography is an analog process, and because, to duplicate the richness and resolution that an inexpensive 35mm camera can produce, let alone 6X6 or 6X9 medium format, I would have to spend many thousands of dollars on "upper end" pro digital equipment- and it still wouldn't be "analog."-- whlanteigne, Nov 15 2003 JOBO atl 1500 film and print processor http://www.jobo.com...oducts/atl1500.htmlNearly baked; doesn't seem to dry. [HaltAndCatchFire, May 13 2006] You're fighting a losing battle, I'm afraid. Those who care about the "richness and resolution" and resolution of film also care enough to have full-sized darkrooms. (Btw, in terms of resolution, digital is pretty much there. Contrast depth still sucks, of course.)-- DrCurry, Nov 15 2003 "Because photography is an analog process.." Nah. It only seems like it is.-- phoenix, Nov 15 2003 True, to a certain extent film is a 'digital' medium, but to some degree that's because light itself is a digital medium. An object giving off a certain amount of light will only put a finite number of photons through a given lens in a given time. These quantum limits are much less of a problem with visible light photography than with x-rays, but they still exist.
If someone were to try to use holographic film to take conventional pictures, the level of detail would be far beyond anything digital cameras will be able to do in the foreseeable future. Of course, that would require use of very good optics and generous exposure times, but the resolution would allow levels of magnification that would make digital photos look like legos by comparison.-- supercat, Nov 16 2003 I remember reading awhile ago about someone who had a "gigapixel" camera. It used large-format film, which was then scanned digitally. IIRC, he took a wide-angle photograph of a baseball game from center field (wide enough to show First and Third Base) and, under magnification, there was enough detail to print an identifiable photograph of all the individual specators in the stands.-- supercat, May 14 2006 it's a nice idea, but you've still got to get the film out of the case, and onto a spindle, so you'd need the whole thing in a slightly bigger dark box, wouldn't you ?-- neilp, May 14 2006 random, halfbakery