Imaging Briefs

Framingham, Mass. — Kodak and Samsung gained ground on their competitors in the U.S. digital camera market in the first quarter of 2007, according to the research firm IDC. For Kodak, the company saw its first quarter of positive unit shipment growth after five consecutive losses, gaining five percent over the first quarter in 2006. Kodak finished the quarter in third place with a 13 percent share behind Sony with 16 percent and first place Canon with 21 percent of all unit shipments. Samsung climbed to the fourth spot with an 11 percent share, bumping off Nikon. Overall digital camera shipments, including digital SLRs, grew 6 percent to 4.9 million units in the first quarter, a move IDC credited with better holiday inventory management.

Emeryville, Calif. — Kodak said that its Gallery online service has begun offering same-day pick up on print orders at CVS/pharmacy. Gallery customers can order images and pick them up within hours at 5,300 participating CVS/pharmacy locations.