Kodak Prepares To Ship Spring Digicam Line

By Greg Tarr On Apr 4 2011 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Kodak this month delivers to market a handful of new 2011 cameras all stressing massmarket pricing, ease of use and high-quality video and still-image capture.

New this year, all of the company’s cameras are designed to easily access and upload files to popular social-network sites, including Facebook and Twitter, using dedicated share buttons.

Among the highlights of the latest editions is the Kodak Easyshare Touch ($150 suggested retail) point-and-shoot camera incorporating a 3-inch HVGA (high-resolution) touchscreen LCD, 14-megapixel resolution, 5x wide-angle Schneider-Kreuznach optical zoom lens, 720p HD video capture, dedicated video record button and on-camera editing.

The EasyShare Sport ($80 suggested retail) is a digital still camera with 12-megapixel resolution, two AA battery power, 2.4-inch LCD and a water-tight body to 10 feet. Designed for around-the-pool or onthe- beach fun, the camera includes a 35mm fixed focus lens and is available in a choice of white, gray, red yellow or blue.

The EasyShare Mini ($100 suggested retail) is a mite of a camera featuring a 2.5-inch LCD screen, lithium-ion battery power, 10-megapixel image capture and a 3x wide-angle optical zoom lens with built-in front mirror. Other features include Smart Capture and Face Recognition, multiple scene and color modes and a choice of colors including white, purple, red and black.

The camera is designed for the “young, hip and cool” — meaning older folks with bigger hands and fading eyesight might be better off with a slightly larger model.

One such option is the brand’s new DSC flagship — the Kodak Easyshare Max ($330), which will ship later in the year. It will be the company’s first digital camera to use a 12-megapixel back-side illuminated CMOS sensor, enabling low-light shooting capability, and will add a massive 30x wide-angle Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization. It employs a host of advanced features, including high dynamic range effects, and also captures up to 1080p HD videos.

Kodak continues to garner market share points in the pocket video camera category, and it will be looking to add-on to that with the new PlayFull ($150 suggested retail), which offers FullHD 1080 video recording and 5-megapixel still image capture.

The PlayFull includes significantly shaved-down body styling, making it even easier to carry around in a shirt pocket, although the lighter size can make it harder to keep the camera still while shooting handheld videos, putting greater demand on the internal digital imaging stabilization system.

The still camera functionality takes descent quality images but the focusing system is not macro ready.

Like Kodak’s other pocket video cameras, it includes a flip-out USB arm, on-camera editing, face-tracking technology, digital image stabilization and remote control via an optional remote accessory item.

For more rugged demands, Kodak is adding its next generation PlaySport go-anywhere pocket video camera ($180 suggested retail). Kodak calls the PlaySport “3-proof,” meaning it is water- (to 10 feet), shock- and dust-resistant. It features 1080p video capture, digital image stabilization, smart display and underwater white-balance mode.

A 2-inch LCD screen auto-adjusts to brightness to surrounding light conditions and includes a glare shield.