Kodak Professional Debuts DCS Pro 14n Digital SLR Camera with Industry-Leading 13.89 Million Total Pixels and Competitive Price Point Variable Resolution, Ease-of-Use Ideal for Portrait, Wedding Photographers

Read our Pro 14n review

February 27, 2003 update:

Kodak Professional begins shipping its DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera this week, which means the first units will start arriving at Kodak-authorized dealers during the first week of March 2003. The DCS Pro 14n camera - featuring a 13.89-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor, magnesium body for exceptional durability, basic and advanced operation settings, and the ability to capture high-quality images at three different resolutions - arrives in time for the PMA trade show in Las Vegas.

Designed to be easy to learn and to use, the DCS Pro 14n camera delivers the sharpest images possible today and will receive a number of important enhancements over the next several months through firmware upgrades to optimize its specifications. Firmware upgrades are free to Kodak Professional digital camera customers, and are a compelling part of the DCS Pro 14n camera's value and appeal - the ability to "renew" the camera regularly by adding functional enhancements and new capabilities.

"We're pleased to bring the Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera to market in time for the imaging industry's largest gathering in the Western Hemisphere - PMA," said Madhav Mehra, General Manager, Digital Cameras, Kodak Professional. "This camera represents the very best option available today for many photographic applications. Even so, our work to make it the preferred choice of professional and advanced amateur photographers everywhere will go on. DCS Pro 14n camera users can be confident that their camera is able to meet their needs far better than any other camera on the market."

The DCS Pro 14n camera exhibits some variances in the specifications that were cited at its introduction at the Photokina trade show last September. For example, shots per battery charge is rated at 400, up a third from the announced 300 shots. The camera, originally configured to accept a 3-gigabyte storage card, will accept 4-gigabyte cards once they become available. Enhancements are planned for the file transfer rate (dependent upon third-party software capabilities), jpeg burst depth and long exposure settings. Activation of the camera's MMC/SD storage slot will be part of an upcoming firmware upgrade. And improvements to ISO range will be sought. Effective ISO range is now 80 - 800 at 50 percent (3.4 megapixel) and 67 percent (6 megapixel) resolution, and 80 - 400 at 100 percent (13.5 megapixel) resolution.

These enhancements promise to strengthen what already is a unique, feature-rich camera. In addition to its 13.89-megapixel sensor, variable-resolution settings and upgradeability via new firmware releases, the DCS Pro 14n camera creates and manages Kodak Professional's innovative Extended Range Imaging (ERI) jpeg files. This file format offers the dynamic range of a raw file and the workflow advantages of a jpeg file. In addition, the camera's rugged magnesium body includes a vertical trigger that activates in conjunction with an auto-orientation sensor, saving the photographer time by automatically rotating images as they're transferred to a computer. These and other capabilities place the DCS Pro 14n camera in a class by itself.

Due to the tremendous interest in and demand for the camera, it probably will be several months before every currently open back order can be filled. For most countries, Kodak Professional has instituted an allocation plan to help ensure an equitable distribution of cameras. Suggested U.S. list price for the DCS Pro 14n camera remains at USD $4,995. Dealers determine "street price." Based on current demand, it is likely initial U.S. street prices probably will stay very close to the suggested list price.

The easy-to-use DCS Pro 14n is Kodak's sixth-generation professional digital camera and is primarily designed for professional portrait, wedding, event and commercial photographers, but will likely be popular with advanced amateurs as well. Built on a Nikon lens mount, it adds speed, as well as quality, to the photographers' workflow through FireWire connectivity at a 12 MB per second transfer rate, nearly four times faster than previous Kodak Professional cameras.

"This is the camera that portrait, wedding and event photographers have been waiting for," said Jay Kelbley, DCS Product Manager, Kodak Professional. "In addition to its highly competitive price point and phenomenal 13.89 million total pixels, the DCS Pro 14n is loaded with features and, thanks to Kodak Professional firmware, its overall image path enhancements make it the most upgradeable camera on the market."

Resolution, Image Storage and Camera Body Features

The camera is equipped with a 4536 x 3024 pixel (effective), 12-bit CMOS imager, covering the full 24mm by 36mm image area of 35mm film, allowing photographers to regain the benefits of true wide-angle lenses and use their Nikon SLR lenses as they have used them with 35mm film. With the DCS Pro 14n photographers have the freedom to select the image size (full 14MP, 6MP, and 3MP) that suits the shooting environment.

The camera captures images at about two frames per second. Images can be saved as DCR raw files or Kodak Professional Extended Range Imaging (ERI) JPEG files. Kodak ERI-JPEG files serve as another form of picture protection for photographers, especially in situations where re-shooting is inconvenient. Kodak ERI-JPEGs are created by and stored in-camera on removable media for later color correction or manipulation, and provide two-stops of exposure latitude and extended color space within a JPEG workflow, a benefit no other competitor offers. The ERI-JPEG format provides professional photographers ease-of-use of JPEG files with the image quality and color/exposure control of Kodak's highly regarded DCR format raw camera files, to create the best quality images.

Images are stored in a CompactFlash memory card and a MMC memory card interface. The camera can write to both storage media, and the image can be sent to each card simultaneously in any of the available formats.

The Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera is leveraged from a Nikon lens mount and the magnesium body is more durable and robust than plastic digital cameras based on similar camera platforms. The DCS Pro 14n uses cast magnesium encasements for a solid, rugged camera body instead of the plastic encasements commonly used by other manufacturers. The robust body includes a vertical trigger that works in conjunction with the camera's auto orientation sensor. The sensor detects the camera's orientation +/- 90 degrees from the horizontal position. This enables automatic rotation of the image as it moves to a computer for manipulation, saving photographers time and improving workflow, hallmarks of Kodak Professional's efforts to make digital easier for customers.

Simplifying Digital, Free Firmware Upgrades

Heeding photographers' calls to simplify the transition to digital photography, the DCS Pro 14n includes features for new and more advanced digital shooters. The camera operates in two user modes: basic and advanced. The camera defaults to the basic setting and offers a very intuitive, simple interface. In the advanced mode, the user can adjust many more capture, resolution and storage settings, among others.

"The digital camera learning curve has been sharply reduced with the DCS Pro 14n. Novices and advanced users will be equally at home with the camera's user-friendly functionality," said Kelbley. "As Kodak continues to lead the industry in digital capture, we design our cameras to grow with the photographer. Whether it's a beginner or experienced digital photographer ready to move up to a pro series camera, the DCS Pro 14n will help users explore new territory and upgrade along the way."

The camera is capable of capturing images at two frames per second, for a full burst of up to eight frames in full-resolution mode. Because the features of the DCS Pro 14n are based on Kodak Professional firmware and not hard-wired within the camera, the camera can be enhanced and easily upgraded with free firmware downloads from Kodak Professional. Free firmware upgrades essentially give photographers a "new" camera whereas other manufacturers require the purchase of an entirely new camera system to receive the latest enhancements. Unlike competitors' cameras, the DCS Pro DCS 14n can be taken to Kodak Service Qualified Sites to enable a deeper burst depth (from 8 frames to 18) by doubling the camera's built in RAM buffer from 256MB to 512MB image memory.

Mark Peters from LetsGoDigital.nl checks out the new Pro14n at Photokina

Kodak Professional leverages Nikon's digital through the lens (DTTL™) flash metering in the DCS Pro 14n, which represents a major step forward for the technology. Photographers can expect near perfect flash exposures with the DCS Pro 14n, an improvement over many existing professional digital cameras. Unlike competitors' digital cameras, the DCS Pro 14n provides improved image quality and better-exposed images, resulting in more sellable images for photographers.

The DCS Pro 14n has the first professional camera interface localized in eight languages. It includes the latest versions of Kodak Professional DCS Photo Desk and Camera Manager software, and supports DCR FFM and Kodak Professional ERI-JPEG format and is compatible with Kodak ProShots Studio Software Suite, an online image management and display tool that links the photographer to both client and lab in an effective digital workflow for film-based and digital camera images.

The camera is digital camera format (DCF) compatible, a first for a Kodak Professional digital camera. The standardized DCF format gives photographers more access to printing services because most printing systems are calibrated to work with DCF files.

The camera includes a power source in the form of a single rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack, or by an accessory AC adapter. Photographers may select NTSC or PAL video formats for image review. In NTSC mode, the color LCD and the video output are enabled simultaneously, a feature particularly useful for portrait photographers preparing set-ups. Using a video monitor, photographers can "play back" images captured during a shoot as a preview and potential sales opportunity with customers.

Product availability begins in December through authorized dealers of Kodak Professional digital photography equipment.

Eastman Kodak Company and infoimaging

Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, enhance, preserve, print and enjoy pictures -- for memories, for information, for entertainment. The company is a major participant in "infoimaging" - a $385 billion industry composed of devices (digital cameras and PDAs), infrastructure (online networks and delivery systems for images) and services & media (software, film and paper enabling people to access, analyze and print images). Kodak harnesses its technology, market reach and a host of industry partnerships to provide innovative products and services for customers who need the information-rich content that images contain. The company, with sales last year of $13.2 billion, is organized into four major businesses: Photography, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; Commercial Imaging, offering image capture, output and storage products and services to businesses and government; Components, delivering flat-panel displays, optics and sensors to original equipment manufacturers; and Health, supplying the healthcare industry with traditional and digital image capture and output products and services.

Editor's Note: For information about Kodak Professional, customers may call: 1-800-235-6325, or visit the Kodak Professional web site at: www.kodak.com/go/professional.

What is the KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera and how does it differ from the DCS 760?

The DCS Pro 14n is the latest in six generations of single-lens-reflex KODAK PROFESSIONAL Digital Cameras and full digital workflow systems. The DCS Pro 14n is dramatically different from the KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS 760 Digital Camera. The Pro 14n is a feature-rich digital SLR with a new electronics architecture, new camera body, and a full-size CMOS image sensor.

What is the difference between the CMOS sensor and the DCS 760 sensor?

The DCS 760 uses a traditional CCD image sensor with 6-million-pixel resolution. The DCS Pro 14n uses the newest professional CMOS sensor technology available and has 13.9 million total pixels. CMOS and CCD image-sensor technologies are distinctly different. CCD image sensors are (electron) charge-coupled devices that require very sophisticated and power-hungry electronics to operate, and due to the amount of support electronics, take up more space and power inside the camera. CMOS image sensors incorporate light-sensing technology that allows for charge conversion right inside the pixel, therefore dramatically reducing support electronics and power consumption. The small size of the DCS Pro 14n, even though it incorporates a full 35 mm area sensor, was achieved through the use of CMOS sensor technology.

Does the DCS Pro 14n have a NIKON Camera body?

Nikon has custom-manufactured the camera body components for Kodak Professional. While the DCS Pro 14n does share features and components with some of Nikon's own cameras, this particular body is custom-manufactured for Kodak. Kodak enhanced the body with additional professional features, such as a vertical "smart" shutter release, magnesium alloy encasements, and a 10-pin remote release terminal compatible with most Nikon accessories.

Can NIKON Lenses be used with the DCS Pro 14n?

Yes. The DCS Pro 14n uses the NIKON F Mount and supports the full line of current NIKON Lenses.

What other features does the DCS Pro 14n offer?

In addition to the new image sensor, the DCS Pro 14n has a wide range of professional features that ensure superior image quality and performance.

• High resolution—13.9 million total pixels, producing an image size of 4536 x 3024 pixels.
• Full-size 35 mm frame sensor (24 mm by 36 mm image area).
• Selectable, variable-resolution raw files.
• Selectable ISOs in 1/3-stop increments.
• Basic- and advanced-mode operations.
• 12 MB-a-second image transfer—about 3 to 4 times faster than the current IEEE 1394 interface.
• A large, bright LCD panel for image analysis.
• D-TTL-enabled hotshoe and pop-up flash.
• A sensor that detects camera orientation +/- 90 degrees.
• "Picture Protection" including KODAK PROFESSIONAL Extended Range Imaging Technology.
  
  

What is variable resolution?

For the first time, you can select the resolution you want for RAW files.

Resolution	ISO Range
100% (~13.6 MP)	80 - 640
67% (~6.1 MP)	80 - 800
50% (~3.4 MP)	80 - 800

How do you get variable resolution from RAW files?

Variable resolution for RAW files is a unique capability offered in the DCS Pro 14n. To achieve "true" RAW status for the lower resolution image files, the entire 13.9 MP resolution is read off the sensor at 12 bits dynamic range. Then a proprietary image-processing algorithm "interpolates and resamples" the high resolution into a lower resolution while keeping the 12-bit dynamic range. The resulting image is specially color encoded and losslessly compressed to reduce the file size. This technique achieves high quality and low artifacts, while reducing the native resolution. The powerful DSP engine in the DCS Pro 14n performs all this processing in-camera, so you can benefit from more images per storage card for assignments that do not require the highest resolution.

Does the DCS Pro 14n use an anti-aliasing filter?

No. The DCS Pro 14n does not have an anti-aliasing filter. Consequently, the DCS Pro 14n yields images that are sharper than most other digital SLR cameras. The resolution of the Pro 14n is so high that aliasing artifacts are generally not an issue for most applications.

Who will benefit most from the DCS Pro 14n?

All professional photographers who require high-resolution and high-quality digital images, including portrait, social, wedding, school, event, and commercial photographers, will benefit most.

What is the function of the Basic Mode?

The Basic Mode makes digital photography easy for anyone who wants to take it out of the box and shoot, without extensive training or experience.

What is "Picture Protection?"

Picture Protection is included in our entire line of KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Digital Cameras. It offers a variety of workflow features that include post-shot exposure compensation, white balance corrections, file recovery, dual card storage, and KODAK PROFESSIONAL Extended Range Imaging Technology (ERI). ERI gives you image files that work as standard JPEGs but include the dynamic range and color gamut of raw, 12-bit, DCR camera files.

What's included in the box with the DCS Pro 14n?

The DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera ships with hand strap, neck strap, body cap, DC Power Module, a custom rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and charger/AC Adapter, printed user guide (English), documentation (localized in 8 languages) on CD, and localized software CDs for Photo Desk and Camera Manager, warranty card, and service information.

Is there an IEEE 1394 cable available for use with the camera?

Yes, and you can purchase it separately.

What is the focal length magnification?

Since the DCS Pro 14n has a full 35 mm film size sensor, the focal length magnification is 1. This means that 35 mm lenses operate as they would with film and will show the same full image that the lens was designed to image.

Does the DCS Pro 14n offer an external video output?

Yes, user selectable NTSC and PAL video formats are supported by the video connection.

• In NTSC mode, the color LCD and the video output are enabled simultaneously.
• In PAL mode, simultaneous operation is not supported.
  
  

The DCS Pro 14n has a top end ISO of 800, but the DCS 760 only went to 400. How was this improvement accomplished?

The DCS Pro 14n camera is based on a significantly different sensor and electronics architecture that makes use of more advanced technology to enable this top-end ISO improvement.

Will a Software Development Kit (SDK) be available?

Yes, the SDK will be available at no charge on the Kodak web site. The SDK for the DCS Pro 14n will incorporate significantly improved functionality and, therefore, will differ from that of previous DCS models. Developer support for the new SDK will also be provided via the Kodak Website

Are there any plans to market an EOS-mount version of the DCS Pro 14n?

Kodak currently is not publicly discussing any plans to create a CANON EOS-mount version of the DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera.

What is Nikon's role in the development of the DCS Pro 14n?

Nikon designed and supplies the lens mount and photographic body architecture for this camera.

Will Nikon also sell the 14n?

No, the DCS Pro 14n Digital Camera is exclusively a Kodak Professional product.

What about camera warranty, service programs?

The DCS Pro 14n will have a one-year warranty, with service provided at Kodak Service Centers worldwide. Various extended warranty programs are available through dealers of KODAK Products on a country-by-country basis.

What is the suggested price of the DCS Pro 14n?

Please contact a local authorized dealer of KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Digital Cameras for detailed pricing information.

Where and when will the DCS Pro 14n be available?

The DCS Pro 14n is planned to be available from authorized dealers of KODAK PROFESSIONAL Products at year-end 2002.