LCD, Dual Media Ports Mark New Digicams
By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 10/28/2002
New York — New technology features prominently on the latest offerings from Konica and Kyocera. Konica will ship a 5-megapixel, dual memory port camera for under $700, and Kyocera incorporated new LCD technology onto all of its recent introductions and hit a sub-$600 price point for its 5-megapixel model.
Konica's lower-end offering, the 2-megapixel KD-220Z, features 8MB of internal memory with an SD/MMC media slot for additional storage (currently supporting up to 128 MB).
The KD-220Z offers an auto focus zoom lens (3x optical/2x digital zoom) and 24-bit color. Its built-in flash can be set to automatic mode or red-eye reduction, fill and night mode. Other functions include close-up and a movie mode that lets you record video clips to 15 seconds.
The camera has automatic exposure, focus and white balance with the option of manual exposure settings for users who desire more control. The KD-220Z is now shipping for a suggested price of $249.95.
Konica also introduced the flagship to its 2002 line, the 5-megapixel Digital Revio KD 500Z. The camera incorporates Konica's dual memory slot technology, which enables the camera to accept both SD and Memory Stick cards for bolstered storage capacity.
Recording modes include single, continuous photo, red-eye reduction, flash-on, macro, night-view portrait, flash-off, macro, landscape, self-timer, sepia, white and black. A resize mode lets the user downsize an image for e-mailing and a night portrait mode uses a slow shutter speed and slow sync flash to capture a picture of someone at close range without losing a dimly lit background.
The KD-500Z also has new custom modes, such as AE Lock and AF Lock, and offers manual settings for exposure correction and white balance. The camera comes with a 16MB SD card and Adobe Photoshop Elements and will be available in November for a suggested $649.95.
Kyocera made two additions to its Finecam family of digital cameras, the S5 and S3L. Both cameras ship with a 16MB SD card and sport new LCD technology to improve viewing in direct sunlight.
The 5-megapixel S5 features a 3x optical/4x digital zoom lens while the 3.2-megapixel S3L offers a 3x optical/2x digital zoom for a maximum of 6x zoom.
Incorporated in both cameras is a new "Day Fine" LCD screen developed by Kyocera for improved image viewing in bright conditions. The cameras also feature a new lithium-ion battery with an increased capacity and power saving function that extends battery life on both cameras to approximately 180 minutes of continuous playback time.
The S5 and S3L offer multiple shooting modes, including an AVI movie mode that gives users 120 seconds to make movies with sound. The five flash modes on both models include auto flash, red-eye reduction auto flash, fill-in flash, flash-off or nighttime portrait.
The Finecam S5 carries a $599.95 suggested retail price, making it among the least expensive 5-megapixel models on the market, while the suggested retail for the S3L is $399.95.
Kyocera also added to its Contax T Series line with the Contax TVS Digital, the first Contax camera aimed at the high-end consumer market with Carl Zeiss T* lens coating. The coating reduces flare and increases contrast in images.
The TVS features a titanium body, and a newly-designed Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens, a built-in diopter and comes with an infrared wireless remote control.
The 3x optical/4x digital zoom TVS incorporates Kyocera's "Day Fine" LCD screen It has five flash mode options including auto flash, red-eye reduction auto flash, fill-in flash, flash off and nighttime portrait. A variety of other modes are offered, including landscape, color, sepia, b&w, white balance (auto, preset, daylight, tungsten, cloudy, fluorescent), sharpness and chroma. Manual exposure compensation is also available.
There are also two set-up modes for consumer customization. One mode changes camera functions (flash mode setting, change of exposure compensation range, etc.), the other mode changes digital functions (electric beeping tone, electronic zooming, start-up screen setting, etc.). The camera ships with 16MB SD card in December for a suggested $999.95.
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