Sony Sets Plans For Alpha Ultra-Compact Hybrid Cameras

By Greg Tarr On Mar 10 2010 - 2:35pm

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Sony delivered one of the biggest surprises of this year’s 2010 PMA Show when it revealed a new ultra-compact hybrid camera concept that offers the versatility and interchangeable-lens capability of a d-SLR and the compact size of a point-and-shoot digital camera.

Designed to go up against similar hybrids, such as the Micro Four Thirds cameras of Panasonic and Olympus and Samsung’s new NX10, the new Sony camera offers a mirror-less interchangeable- lens system, but will use an Exmor RAPS-C CMOS sensor instead of Micro Four Thirds technology.

 

Pentax Unveils X90 Mega Zoom, W90 All-Weather Cameras

By Greg Tarr On Mar 10 2010 - 2:41pm

GOLDEN, COLO. — Pentax added a pair of point-and-shoot digicam models targeted at photographers looking for either advanced shooting capability or the ability to shoot quality photos in a range of outdoor conditions, respectively.

The new offerings include the X90 (shipping in April, $399 suggested retail), an advanced mega-zoom camera with a 26x super-telephoto range, and the W90 (April, $329 suggested retail), which is the company’s 11th-generation weatherproof digital still camera, offering an edgy form factor for active photographers.

Your Photo On Canvas Offers Retailers New Revenue Opportunity

By Greg Tarr On Mar 10 2010 - 2:43pm

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — One of the more intriguing profi t opportunities for retailers to emerge from the recent PMA Show had nothing to do with the selling of cameras, but in offering budding photographers the chance to have their images placed on canvases like great paintings.

Sony Unveils Cyber-shot Pair

By Greg Tarr On Mar 12 2010 - 10:32am

SAN DIEGO — On the heels of an extensive introduction of new 2010 Cyber- shot digital cameras at International CES, Sony introduced a pair of advanced Cyber-shot digital still cameras around the time of the PMA Show.

Models DSC-H55 (shipping in April at a $249 suggest retail) and DSC-TX5 (shipping in March at $349) will round out the new Cyber-shot lineup.

GI Unveils Jason Wu ‘Create’ GE Camera Line

By Greg Tarr On Mar 12 2010 - 10:36am

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — General Imaging will use the 2010 PMA Show to unveil 10 GE-branded digital camera models across four series for the 2010 line, and will introduce a new style-oriented GE point-and-shoot camera series developed in collaboration with acclaimed fashion designer Jason Wu.

The fashion line, which will carry the sub-brand “Create by Jason Wu,” features a compact point-and-shoot camera designed around simplicity of use and visual appeal.

Pandigital Unveils Digital Greeting Cards

By Greg Tarr On Mar 12 2010 - 10:50am

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Pandigital is showing at this week’s PMA Show its recently introduced Photo Greeting Card line — a selection of greeting cards with a built-in LCDs that can show digital photos.

The cards allow quickly uploading and displaying up to 50 digital photos on a 1.44-inch digital photo screen. Photos automatically play back as a slideshow, the company said.

Pandigital is shipping the greeting cards now at a $9.99 suggested retail, each.

Camera Makers Turn To Fashion To Accessorize Latest Camera Lines

By Greg Tarr On Apr 5 2010 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Looking for enhanced profit margin opportunities and the ability to spruce up their high-tech product portfolios with a little fashion pizzazz, camera makers are starting to turn to accessories to catch consumers’ eyes.

Take camera giant Canon USA for example: The company said this month that it has teamed up with fashion label LeSportsac to offer an exclusively designed PowerShot camera case.

Snapfish Opens API To Spur Growth, Profits

By Greg Tarr On Apr 5 2010 - 4:01am

PALO ALTO, CALIF. — Snapfish by HP said it will open its application programming interface (API) to developers to help evolve the personal publishing service.

The initiative — called Snapfi sh Publisher — will allow designers, developers and printing partners to reach more than 85 million registered users through the worldwide Snapfish network, HP said.

The move is expected to broaden the service with a specialized portfolio of customizable options for a myriad of creative needs and personal preferences.

Samsung Licenses Tessera Technologies

By Greg Tarr On Apr 5 2010 - 4:01am

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Tessera Technologies recently said that Samsung Electronics has licensed its FotoNation FaceTracker solution for high-performance face detection and tracking capabilities.

Samsung cameras using the FotoNation FaceTracker solution will offer faster, high-performance face detection and tracking capabilities for automatic settings that capture the highest-quality shots, Tessera said.

Camera Makers Roll Out Spring, Summer Models

By Greg Tarr On May 3 2010 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Heading into the important spring/summer selling season for digital cameras, major brands have started shipping key new camera introductions to address what some manufacturers have reported as stronger- than-expected early season market demand.

Eastman Kodak has said it has started shipping the Kodak Slice ($350 suggested retail), which made its debut at the International CES in January.