This year’s CES is far lighter on digital cameras as manufacturers such as Kodak, Olympus, Toshiba and Fujifilm have decided to hold off until the PMA show to make major product announcements.
The show floor, however, will not be completely devoid of digital imaging products. Some highlights will include new cameras from Minolta, Vivitar and Sony as well as peripherals and updated retail print kiosks from Gretag.
Argus: The DC 2300 “Photo Phazer” is a PC-cam/digital camera featuring a “Grip ‘N Shoot” design. The camera has 8MB of built-in SDRAM, auto flash, LCD display, self-timer and USB connectivity. Accessories include a PC camera stand, USB cable and holster. The camera will ship in March for a suggested retail price of $129.99.
The DC 1600, also known ominously as the “Spy Cam,” is a 3 in 1 digital camera with 8MB of built-in SDRAM and a compact flash slot for additional memory. The DC 1600 can take up to 10-seconds of video and has continuous PC conference capability, USB connectivity, auto-off function and an LCD display. The Spy Cam is both PC and Mac compatible and will ship this month for a suggested retail price of $89.99.
The DC 2200 is a VGA digital camera with 8MB of built-in SDRAM and a compact flash slot for extra memory capability. Other features include flash, 2X digital zoom, a movie mode and a self timer. The unit is shipping now for a suggested retail price of $99.99.
The DC 3100 features 1.3 megapixel resolution with 8MB of built-in SDRAM and a compact flash slot for additional memory. Other features include TV output, USB connectivity and a self-timer. It also features a built-in photo flash and optical viewfinder. The camera is now shipping for a suggested retail price of $179.99.
The Argus DC 3200 is a 1.3 megapixel digital camera featuring a 1.8-inch full color LCD display and USB connectivity. It includes 8MB of built-in SDRAM and a compact flash expandable memory slot. TV output allows consumers to view images on their televisions with no additional components or software. Other features include date and time stamp, a self-timer, an optical viewfinder and flash. The camera is shipping this month for a suggested $199.99.
Finally, the DC 3150 is a 1.3 megapixel digital camera with 8MB of built-in SDRAM and a compact flash slot for extra memory capability. Other features include TV output, USB connectivity, self-timer, flash and optical viewfinder. The camera is shipping now for a suggested $199.99.
AVerMedia Technologies: The Dfoto-Play is an external, plug-and-play set top device that lets users view digital images on a TV or LCD projector through composite or S-Video outputs. The unit, shipping now for a suggested $99.99, can read CompactFlash or SmartMedia memory cards, comes with a remote control and can support up to 4-megapixel images. The unit can generate a 16 picture preview on screen or a slide show and runs on battery or AC power.
Gentec: The company will add Optex SimpleTech MultiMediaCards to its line of flash products this year. The cards are available in 16, 32 and 64 megabyte capacities and will carry suggested retail prices ranging from $79.99 to $199.99. They are shipping now.
Gretag: Gretag will demonstrate upgrades to its two retail printing solutions, the Digital Photo Station and the Photohub 208.
The Photohub 208 features new software. It is an integrated, all in one print-to-print and digital-to-print kiosk, digital camera lab, and Internet link. It delivers photographic-quality prints with inkjet printing technology. It can read image data from digital media including Smart Media, Compact Flash, PCMCIA, Memory Stick, CD-ROM, Floppy disk, and input from the Internet (modem) through personal photo accounts and local networks, and LAN (Ethernet).
With a footprint of 7.9 sq. ft. the unit includes an input workstation, flatbed scanner, and Epson inkjet printer. The input workstation includes a 13-inch touch screen terminal, inputs for digital camera media, a modem, as well as credit card reader and receipt printer. The Epson inkjet printer produces prints at a speed of 150 prints per hour for 4 x 6-inch borderless prints, and 15 prints per hour at a size of 8 inches x 12 inches.
Gretag has added a scanner and a dye-sub printer to its Digital Photo Station, which formerly required connection to a high-end printer to produce prints from digital images. It includes a touch screen monitor, high-speed digital camera media drive, CD-RW, credit card reader and receipt printer. The digital photo station is packaged as a tabletop/ counter kiosk or pedestal kiosk for placement in high traffic areas.
Minolta: The Dimage X will be the first-ever Minolta camera with the company’s new propriety “Xoom” lens, a vertical optical lens that operates without extruding from the camera. The diminutive camera takes SD memory, has 2.1 megapixel resolution, a 3X optical/3x digital zoom and will carry a suggested retail under $500. It is expected to ship in the second quarter.
San Disk: Three new ImageMate dual-slot memory card readers are hitting the floor. The new readers are designed for consumers who want to transfer images, audio, video and data between storage cards and computers via USB port. The ImageMate dual-slot readers are available in the following combinations: CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash and Memory Stick cards, and CompactFlash and MultiMediaCard/SD cards.
Each reader features a detachable 3-foot cable that can be left plugged into a desktop computer. The reader has a 4-inch ‘pig tail’ cable that tucks into an integrated cradle for storage and can also be used to plug directly into a laptop computer.
The ImageMate readers feature Mass Storage Compliance (MSC), which allows for plug-and-play operation when used with Windows 2000, Millennium Edition and XP. They will be available in March for an average street price of $39.
Sony: The current market share leader will make two replacements to its FD Mavica line at the show. The MVC-FD100 will replace the MVC-FD87 and the MVC-FD200 replaces the MVC-FD92.
The MVC-FD200 is a 2.1 megapixel resolution camera with a 3X optical/6X digital zoom lens. It offers dual media capability, both floppy disk and Sony’s Memory Stick. Other features include USB connectivity, MPEG movie (no audio) and a Clip Motion animated GIF mode. It is supplied with a rechargeable InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter for a life of approximately 960 shots or 1.25 hours, in still image standard mode. It is available this month for a suggested retail price of $499.95.
The MVC-FD100 features 1.3 megapixel resolution and a 3X optical/6X digital zoom lens. It also features dual memory with Memory Stick and floppy disk compatibility, along with USB connectivity. The camera also features MPEG movie (no audio) and a Clip Motion animated GIF modes. It is supplied with a rechargeable InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter for a life of approximately 960 shots or 1.25 hours, in still image standard mode. It is shipping this month for a suggested retail price of $399.95
Targus: The newest addition to the family, the Targus HandCam Springboard digital camera for the Visor, is now shipping for a suggested retail price of $99. With direct, plug-in connectivity to the Visor handheld computer, the HandCam can capture and download digital photos and video. It weighs 1.4 ounces and connects to all Visor models via the Springboard external expansion slot.
The Targus HandCam features 640 x 480 resolution and a swivel base for image capture from many angles. Included with the HandCam is a clip-on dock with a USB connection that can attach the HandCam to the edge of an open notebook or other stationary object. This dock also allows users to employ the HandCam as a stand-alone Web cam or still image camera.
Vivitar: The new VivCam 3550 is a compact 1.3 megapixel digital camera/PC camera with a suggested retail price of $149.95. It features USB and TV port interfaces, 1 MB of internal memory, and supports from 4MB-192MB Compact Flash cards. It comes bundled with Arcsoft Photo Editing software.
ViviCam 3725 is Vivitar’s first 3 megapixel digital camera, packed with a 16 MB Compact Flash card. It will carry a suggested retail price of $499.95.
