Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Kodak 01/03/2006 Press Release

New KODAK EASYSHARE Z650 Digital Camera Brings Users ‘Closer’ to Picture Perfection via its 10X Extended Zoom Capabilities

Fast Performance, Stunning Shots Define the Latest Z-Series Camera

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4 -- On the eve of the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Eastman Kodak Company announced the new KODAK EASYSHARE Z650 zoom digital camera, the latest model in its Z-series line. The 6.1-megapixel camera offers aspiring photographers exceptional performance and greater photographic control through its professional-quality SCHENIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON 10X optical zoom lens, helping capture detail from afar and flattering portraits.

"As with the entire line of EASYSHARE Z-Series cameras, the Z650 delivers more advanced control when needed and simplicity of operation for everyday situations," said Mary Hadley, general manager of digital cameras for Kodak’s Consumer Digital Imaging Group. "Although the new Z650 has an impressive resolution, is also demystifies the conception that megapixels are the only standard of measurement when buying digital cameras. By adding advanced features like 10X optical zoom and a live histogram, Kodak has raised the bar by providing photographers with the tools to create high-quality photos, enhancing their overall digital photography experience."

The EASYSHARE Z650 camera will be available worldwide beginning in February 2006 for US (MSRP).

Other Innovative Features of the Z650 Camera

The EASYSHARE Z650 camera builds in a number of innovative features that photographers will appreciate, including:

• The exclusive KODAK Color Science image processing chip that results in portraits with edge-to-edge sharpness and brightness, rich color, accurate skin tones and highly accurate exposure;
• Remarkable dynamic range, fine detail and delicate highlights;
• A large 2.0-inch, high-resolution indoor/outdoor LCD screen that allows previewing of shots or reviewing pictures stored in 32MB internal memory or on an optional SD/MMC card;
• A live histogram that enables photographers to see the exposure of their subjects before taking the shot;
• Automatic, aperture priority and shutter priority modes, plus 17 scene modes;
• A high-speed precision auto-focus system that offers fast click-to-capture times;
• First and last burst modes and flash compensation;
• On-camera editing features includes automatic red-eye reduction, cropping, blurry picture alert and auto picture rotation;
• 5X advanced digital zoom delivers noticeably sharper pictures than regular digital zoom;
• The exclusive Share button to tag pictures for e-mailing, printing and saving to the on-camera digital photo album, computer, and online album as favorites.

Making the EASYSHARE System Connection

Z-Series camera owners can quickly print KODAK 4 x 6-inch pictures with just one touch in as little as 60 seconds, using the new KODAK EASYSHARE Printer Dock Plus Series 3. The Series 3 printer docks are the first to support the new IMAGELINK print system, working with new EASYSHARE cameras and other manufacturers’ compatible cameras.

The Printer Dock Series 3 also transfers pictures to a connected computer, and recharges and reconditions the cameras’ batteries. Pictures made from EASYSHARE printer docks are vibrant, borderless, waterproof, and will last a lifetime, under typical photo album display conditions.

The line of EASYSHARE printer docks makes printing truly one-touch simple, and does not require people to connect a cable between camera and printer. Their convenience, print speed, ease-of-use and phenomenal picture quality have resulted in overwhelming demand from picture takers worldwide, with the line having achieved the number one market position in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, according to The NPD Group and GfK.

The Z-Series cameras include new KODAK EASYSHARE software version 5.2 for WINDOWS and MACINTOSH systems, providing effortless digital picture organization, editing, sharing and printing. The exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak to help users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from inkjet printers. Version 5.2, which is available for free download from www.kodak.com, also makes sharing your favorite pictures as simple as possible, automatically placing them in albums on your camera, on your computer, and in your online KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery albums.

The KODAK EASYSHARE digital photography system consists of cameras, snapshot printers, services, docks, software, inkjet and thermal photo papers, and accessories, making taking, organizing, sharing, and printing high quality digital pictures effortless. Further information on KODAK EASYSHARE products is available at www.kodak.com/go/EasyShare/

About Eastman Kodak Company

Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images – for memories, for information, for entertainment. With sales of .5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on the following businesses: Health -- supplying the medical and dental industries with traditional and digital imaging-information products and services, as well healthcare IT solutions and services; Graphic Communications - offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems - providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components - which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com.