10/29/2001: Agfa to Discontinue Digital-Camera and Desktop-Scanner Sales in North America
The Agfa Consumer Imaging division of Agfa Corp., Ridgefield Park, N.J., USA, is discontinuing the sale of digital cameras and desktop scanners in North America, effective Dec. 31, 2001, saying the products have little synergy with its core businesses. The company said it will honor customer service, technical support and warranty obligations on the products. The move comes as the company reorganizes its business operations to meet market and economic changes while redesigning the Consumer Imaging Management Team to represent the entire NAFTA region going forward. Agfa said it will continue to focus on the Specialty Retail, Wholesale Finishing, Professional and Mass Retail segments of the consumer imaging marketplace....[read more]
10/29/2001: Sharp Develops CCD Image Sensor With Minimum Pixel Size For Digital Cameras
Sharp Corp., Osaka, Japan, developed the "RJ24N3AAOPT," a new 2-million CCD image sensor with a pixel size of 2.75 square micrometers, reported AsiaBizTech News. It is for a 1/3.2-inch optical system (diagonal length of about 5.6mm). As a 2 million-pixel CCD image sensor, the smallest sensor commercially available is reportedly for a 1/2.7-inch optical system (diagonal length of 6.65mm), built, for instance, in Canon Inc.'s "IXY DIGITAL 300" digital camera. According to Sharp, use of the new CCD imgae sensor enables makers to reduce the volume of the whole optical system of a digital still camera by approximately 35 percent compared with that of a 1/2.7-inch CCD image sensor. Sharp plans to start mass production of the new sensor in March 2002, according to the report....[read more]
10/24/2001: Pentax Optio 430 Review Posted
Just a month ago we reviewed the Pentax Optio 330 which is the world's smallest 3-megapixel, 3X optical zoom digital camera (as of June 2001) and this month it's the Optio 430 - "the world's smallest and lightest 4 megapixel, 3X optical zoom digital camera (compared to all other 4-megapixel as of Oct. 2001). These two cameras are physically identical on the outside and only differ on the inside by the resolution of their CCD imagers. They are small, measuring a mere 3.6" wide, 2.3" high, and 1.2" thick and weighing in at 8.5 ounces, including battery and CF card....[read more]
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10/18/2001: New Camera Reviews Posted
I've been working my way through a stack of new, economically priced, one-, two- and three-megapixel digital cameras and have posted the following user reviews today: Kodak DX3700 Fujifilm FinePix 2600 Zoom Fujifilm FinePix A101...[read more]
10/09/2001: Not Sleeping, Just Busy!
Looking at the News page you might think that I have taken a much needed vacation but not so. The news world may be slow but we're not, I have posted the following new camera reviews: Olympus Brio D-230 Kodak DX3215 ZoomI have finalized our Sony F707 review, and today posted the Canon S40 sample photos page and am currently working on a Kodak DCS760 Pro SLR and a Toshiba PDR-M11 review, talk about extreme ends of the digicam world! And look for our annual Holiday Wish List of gift goodies very soon....[read more]
10/01/2001: Nikon Price Reductions Just in Time for Pre-Holiday Shopping
Nikon today announced a price reduction and a rebate on two of its most popular digital cameras. The Nikon Coolpix 775 will now have a reduced manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of .95 and the Nikon Coolpix 995 will be offered with a manufacturer's rebate. The Coolpix 775, with the One-Touch Upload to the Web Transfer button, is an ultra- compact digital camera that packs a 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor Lens and 2.14-megapixel CCD into the lightest, pocket-sized, point-and-shoot digital camera in its class. This significant price reduction makes the Coolpix 775 an attractive camera at an extremely attractive price. The Coolpix 995 is a 3.34-megapixel CCD digital camera that combines a pop-up flash, 4x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens and a host of creative controls to extend picture-taking capabilities for all level of photographers. This rebate will be offered until December 31, 2001 for all U.S., P.R. and V.I. sales....[read more]
