Archive for February 23rd, 2006
Nikon, Olympus, Pentax Debut IMAGELINK System-Enabled Cameras at PMA
Eastman Kodak Company
2/22/2006 4:39:32 PMA
Acceptance of Printing Standard Will Benefit Millions of Consumers Worldwide
ROCHESTER, NY, February 22 — Nikon, Olympus and Pentax introduced five digital cameras designed to connect to Kodak’s EASYSHARE printer dock via the IMAGELINK system standard at the Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show this week.
The IMAGELINK print system, introduced by Kodak and a consortium of leading digital camera manufacturers at Photokina in September 2004, is a standard that allows pictures taken with a digital camera to be printed directly on the KODAK EASYSHARE printer dock. The dock enables consumers to print outstanding quality snapshots at the press of a button without connecting to a computer — a task that many consumers find complicated and time consuming.
“We are gratified that Nikon, Olympus and Pentax are helping to expand the IMAGELINK system universe by launching their compatible cameras and bringing the benefits of high-quality home printing to more consumers than ever before. The people who buy these new IMAGELINK system compatible digital cameras will now be able to create durable, waterproof prints at home – with or without a computer,†said Steven Decker, General Manager and Vice President, Home Printing Solutions, Consumer Digital Imaging Group. He cited these new products as evidence that other companies see value in enabling consumers to print pictures at home via the IMAGELINK system and the KODAK EASYSHARE printer dock.
The newly unveiled IMAGELINK system compatible cameras from Nikon, Olympus and Pentax include :
* NIKON COOLPIX S5 – 6 mega pixel, 3X zoom, 2.5†LCD; and COOLPIX S6 – 6 mega pixel, 3X zoom, 3†LCD, Wi-Fi capability.
* OLYMPUS FE-130 –5.1 mega pixel, 3X zoom, 2†LCD; and FE-140, 6 mega pixel, 3X zoom, 2.5†LCD.
* PENTAX OPTIO M10 – 6 mega pixel, 3X zoom, 2.5†LCD.
Each of the five new digital camera models will be shipped with a custom dock insert to ensure a great out-of-the-box consumer experience. All of the cameras are compatible with the KODAK EASYSHARE series 3 printer dock and planned future models. Customer availability of the new cameras is expected to start in March 2006, and distribution will be worldwide.
Decker anticipates that Kodak’s IMAGELINK system partners will introduce additional cameras supporting the standard as the year progresses, and that many people in the world will enjoy picture printing with either a KODAK, NIKON, OLYMPUS or PENTAX camera on the printer dock at home with one-button simplicity.
Kodak’s EASYSHARE printer dock holds a market leading position in the snapshot printer category. Introduced in March 2003, the printer dock has been recognized as one of the most successful new consumer digital product launches in Kodak history.
About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator, providing leading products and services to the photographic, graphic communications and healthcare market.With sales of $14.3 billion in 2005, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s system of digital and traditional image capture products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using Kodak solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; Creative Professionals rely on Kodak technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading Healthcare organizations rely on Kodak’s innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com.
February 23rd, 2006
Canon, Nikon revamp digital camera lines
ZDNet
Canon and Nikon, two major manufacturers of digital cameras, updated large swaths of their product lines Tuesday, adding higher resolution sensors, vibration reduction and wireless networking.
The companies announced the cameras shortly before the Photo Marketing Association International’s PMA 2006 convention, which begins Sunday in Orlando, Fla.
Digital cameras, a fast-growing market, have all but supplanted film models. In January, Nikon announced it was discontinuing production of all but two high-end film cameras.
The highest-end of Canon’s new models is the EOS 30D digital SLR camera, an 8.2-megapixel model that can take up to 30 JPEG images in its 5-frames-per-second burst mode, a notch more than the 23 images the current 20D can shoot. It also adds a 3-frame-per-second burst mode that can take as many as 37 pictures. The EOS 30D starts up in a quick 0.15 seconds, has more precise focusing and sports a larger image-viewing screen than its predecessor, Canon said.
In the “ultrazoom” category, Canon announced that the $500 PowerShot S3 IS will be available in May. It retains the image-stabilized 12x zoom of the current PowerShot S2 IS but upgrades the 5-megapixel image sensor to a 6-megapixel model and boosts its sensitivity when shooting photos in low-light conditions.
Image stabilization compensates for some shaking or vibration, a useful feature when shooting in dim light or with a zoom lens set in telephoto configurations. Nikon announced two models, the Coolpix P3 and P4, that incorporate the company’s vibration reduction feature into 8.1-megapixel cameras. The $450 P3 includes 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless networking abilities, but the $400 P4 does not; both cameras are due to arrive in March, Nikon said.
Nikon is updating its Coolpix S line–the S stands for “style”–with the S5 and S6. Both are 6-megapixel models with 3X zoom lenses, a feature to fix red-eye problems commonly experienced when using a compact camera’s flash. They’re scheduled to go on sale in March. The S6 includes 802.11 wireless networking and costs $450; the S5 doesn’t and costs $350.
The entry-level Coolpix L line has three new models: the $250 6-megapixel L2, available in February; the $200 5.1-megapixel L3, available in February; and the $150 4-megapixel L4, available in March.
Canon also updated its compact Digital Elph line with 6-megapixel image sensors and better low-light sensitivity. One new model is the $500 SD700, which is due in April and incorporates image stabilization and the first 4X zoom to reach the Elph line. Others are the $400 SD630, available in March, and the $350 SD600, available in April.
Updates to Canon’s A series, so named for its use of AA batteries, offer longer zoom ranges and higher resolution images. New models are the $350 6-megapixel A700 with a 6X zoom lens and available in April; the $300 6-megapixel A540 and $230 5-megapixel A530, both with a 4X zoom and available in March; and the $180 4-megapixel A430.
February 23rd, 2006
“Most Popular Digital Camera†Review is Updated
[Press Release] PR Web
Digital camera reviews and prices can be found in an easy-to-use format.
Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) February 22, 2006 — While digital cameras are becoming increasingly popular, with so many options available that make it hard for the average consumer to make meaningful comparisons, DigitalCameraReview.com recently published its study of “January’s Most Popular Digital Cameras†at it web site. The actual study can be found at http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=2699.
“With millions of people searching online each month for digital cameras,†said Brian Beeler, president of TechnologyGuide.com, which publishes four technology-oriented products web sites, including sites for notebook pc’s, PDAs, and Tablet PCs. “we’ve had a large number of consumers contact us to find out about the most popular digital cameras. We started the review in December and are updating it monthly. This is an easy-to-use resource that consumers can use to find the information they’re looking for. Plus,†he said, “the list of most popular digital cameras ties in with our Digital Camera Buyer’s Guide, where an individual can find answers to almost any question he or she has about digital cameras.â€
“The most popular camera is not necessarily the best digital camera, but the digital camera ratings included at DigitalCameraReview.com can enlighten consumers as to what is the best digital camera for them,†Beeler continued.
DigitalCameraReview.com began operation in 2004 as a consumer information web site, offering up-to-date newsfeeds and unbiased user-based information, including product ratings and reviews on all major digital camera manufacturers’ products, including Canon digital cameras, Sony digital cameras, Olympus digital cameras, and more. It’s Users Forum has garnered industry praise as a consumer-friendly resource where people can get “straight answers.â€
“The January results are interesting,†Beeler said. “Canon digital cameras continue to occupy six of the top 10 positions, with the balance of the top ten filled in with Nikon, Panasonic, and Kodak digital cameras.â€
The 2005 Digital Camera Buyers’ Guide also included at the web site breaks down the digital camera comparison into four separate pricing segments along with five different functional options. This, along with the Users Forum, makes it easy for any digital camera consumer, whether a beginner or an advanced user, to find and compare his or her options.
Visit www.DigitalCameraReview.com to find January’s Most Popular Digital Cameras.
February 23rd, 2006
Digital Camera problems continue to plague owners
Moldova.org
Two major digital camera problems, a lens issue with Canon cameras and an image sensor defect found in many different companies’ models, continue to plague owners but have drawn entirely different company responses.
The long-standing “E18″ controversy, named after an error that displays when the lens can no longer extend or retrace, is in the forefront again. Users with Canon point-and-shoots, including the A and SD product lines have long complained of the problem.
Canon has not reported any defect with the cameras and typically doesn’t pay to repair affected cameras that are out of warranty.
In stark contrast, a host of companies acknowledge a defective image sensor in various camera models and offer free out-of-warranty repairs. Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Ricoh, and Sony all have issued service advisories about faulty CCDs in older cameras, camcorders, and camera-enabled PDAs that result in drastically smeared or blurred pictures.
February 23rd, 2006