A-DIGITAL-EYE

(21ST CENTURY DIGITAL CAMERAS, PHOTO PRINTERS, PAPERS, CAMCORDERS, IMAGING SOFTWARE, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT, REVIEWS AND MORE!)

PMA 2003 - SPECIAL REPORT PAGE

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A-DIGITAL-EYE PMA 2003 - SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 2

PMA 2003 PHOTO GALLERIES POSTED (03/09/03)
PMA 2003 TOP 20 NEW PRODUCTS LIST (03/05/03)
PMA 2003 ENDS TODAY (03/05/03)
Kinko's to Adopt Sony's PictureStation Digital Photo Finishing Systems (03/05/03)
2003 DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards announced (03/04/03)
2003 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out winners announced (03/04/03)
2003 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out winners announced (03/04/03)
Olympus Breaks The Size Barrier With the C-750 Ultra Zoom -- World's Smallest 4 Megapixel 10x
Olympus Debuts New Streamlined Design Of Next-Generation Ultra Zoom Digital Cameras With The C-740 Ultra Zoom
Olympus Announces Sleek New Look for Point-And-Shoot Digital Cameras
Optical Zoom Digital Camera
Kodak Digital Camera First To use Active-Matrix OLED Displays
Minolta Introduces the New DiMAGE E223 Digital Camera (03/03/03)
Simple Star Announces Agreement with Riverdeep To Launch Photo Sharing Software
SimpleTech Introduces PhotoZen(TM) USB Reader and TV Photo Image Viewer (03/03/03)
HP Announces New Digital Cameras with HP Instant Share Technology at PMA
ArcSoft(R) Ships Collage Creator(TM) To Major Printer, Scanner and Digital Device Manufacturers World Wide
PMA 2003 BEGINS IN LAS VEGAS (03/02/03)
Kodak Unveils New EasyShare Cameras, Docks and Enhanced Software to Make Sharing Pictures Even Simpler
Toshiba Unveils New PDR-4300 Four-Megapixel Digital Camera at PMA 2003 (03/02/03)
Lexar Media Introduces World's Highest Capacity CompactFlash
DIGITALCUSTOM ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ITS FLAGSHIP HIGH RES CUSTOM EDITING SERVICE "DIGITALCUSTOM"
PRECLICK ANNOUNCES LIFETIME™ PHOTO ORGANIZER

PMA 2003 - SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 2

PMA 2003 PHOTO GALLERIES POSTED (03/09/03)

We have posted additional photos from the PMA 2003 show. As we mentioned, over the past few days we have gone through about 1000 shots and we now have most of them posted below using the links below. We will be posting a few more shots by Monday Night and that will complete our PMA 2003 photo galleries. The majority of the PMA 2003 gallery pictures were shot with the recent 3 megapixel Minolta Xi (Pict# files) and some with the new 3 megapixel Sony P72 Camera (Dsc# files), so those of you who are interested in how these cameras perform, be sure to check out our galleries below. There are over 150 pictures in our galleries, showing many of the most popular booths and many of the top new products just announced at the show, including the new Olympus DSLR as well as the Pentax *ist DSLR, and many more. We hope you enjoy our PMA Photos!!

PMA 2003 PHOTO GALLERIES

PMA 2003 TOP 20 NEW PRODUCTS LIST (03/05/03)

The biggest show for the digital imaging market in the USA ended earlier today here in Las Vegas, Nevada after 4 days of having the latest and greatest new products on display to the huge crowds that were in attendance. For the fourth straight year in a row, we spent a considerable amount of our time going to the large booths where many of these products are shown, both in public and privately to see first hand what they have to offer to consumers. We handled/tested the products as well as listened to the featured highlights by company representatives, all in an effort to better evaluate which products we think are really going to be popular this year. Accordingly, we have now completed our annual list of the top 20 products at PMA 2003 which we feel stand out from the rest of the hundreds of new products shown here this year. The products are not necessarily in an exact order of importance, although generally speaking the ones near the top stood out a bit quicker in our opinions compared to the ones towards the bottom. With out any further delay, here is our PMA 2003 Top 20 Products List in Digital Imaging.

Canon EOS 10D - DSLR 6 megapixel Camera - greatly improved camera, especially Auto Focus at lower US price of $1499
Olympus 4/3rds System - Pro DSLR Camera & Accessories
Pentax *ist - DSLR 6 megapixel Camera, very small and lightweight
Sony Cybershot DSC-V1 - 5 megapixel compact Digital Camera
Canon Powershot S50 - 5 megapixel compact Digital Camera
Fuji Finepix F700 - 4th Generation SuperCCD with 6 megapixels used in unique method to improve dynamic range of digital photos
SmartDisk Flashtrax - 30 gig portable storage and video viewer
Nixvue Vizor - CD-R with Memory slot for transfer and burning
Lexar 4GB Compact Flash Memory Cards - Huge capacity cards for many popular cameras including high resolution DSLRs
Casio Exilim EX-S3 - 3 megapixel slim & tiny consumer Digital Camera
Kodak 14n - DSLR Camera with a near 14 megapixel CMOS sensor
Canon i9100 - 13 inch wide format photo printer with seperate ink carts and very fast print speeds at very high quality
Nikon Coolpix 3100 - tiny 3 megapixel Digital Camera with fast operation speeds and very good image results at a fairly low price
Adobe Raw/JPEG 2000 Plug-In - A powerful tool for high quality work results
Kodak Easyshare LS633 - 3 megapixel camera w/OLED display and Easyshare Printer Doc 600 (the two work together for great prints) The OLED display is a promising new display type which can be seen from all angles
Minolta Xt - 3 megapixel tiny/thin camera with unique 3X optical zoom
Olympus C-750 - 4 megapixel CCD & 10X zoom Digital Camera
Fujifilm 20.8 Megapixel Digital Back -Very High Resolution Digital Files for Professionals
Preclick's Lifetime Photo Organizer - A fast & easy photo organizer with flexible searchable data and editing parameters at just $9.99.
Sony Cybershot P72 - 3 megapixel, 3X zoom lens, AA batteries, for just over $300, with very impressive results in this price range

PMA 2003 ENDS TODAY (03/05/03)

The Photo Marketing Association Tradeshow/Convention ends today at 1:00 in Las Vegas, Nevada. We have been gathering a lot of information and photos from this year's show and we will be posting additional reports ASAP over the next few days. We will be moving all of the key information to a special PMA 2003 Report Page by this weekend which will include our show summary, links to our current galleries and many new ones to be posted, as well as several stories of interest, some important press releases, product photos, and our top 20 new products list. Our coverage from PMA will include our thoughts on the new round of DSLR cameras announced here at PMA 2003 as we have had the opportunity to handle each of the new cameras including getting our hands on both the new Pentax *ist and the new Olympus Four Thirds System DSLR in addition to using the Canon 10D and Kodak 14n at the show. We will offer a few insights from our observations and we will have some commentary on some of the trends we are seeing in digital imaging at this time. Be sure to come back later, we should have lot's more posted by tonight.

Kinko's to Adopt Sony's PictureStation Digital Photo Finishing Systems (03/05/03)

We found this Press Release to be of some added interest after we had the opportunity to print out many prints from Sony Cybershot cameras at the Sony PMA Press event we mentioned earlier. The print results were just fantastic and the PictureStation systems were very easy to use. Here in Southern California we have Kinko's in many locations and they are open 24 hours. The Press Relase below indicates that by the end of 2003 the Sony PictureStations will be in over 800 Kinkos nationwide. We welcome this great news given the fact that the PictureStations are a Sony product and thus they do accept both the Memory Stick and the Memory Stick Pro, along with all the other major formats including Compact Flash and SD Media Cards as well as the fact they provide great picture results at a large number of Kinko stores that will be easy to find and access. Here is the full press release.

LAS VEGAS, March 4 - Photo Marketing Association, Booth #M-30 -- Sony Electronics and Kinko's, Inc. today announced that Sony's PictureStation(TM) systems will soon be installed in 800 Kinko's® locations nationwide.

The adoption of PictureStation systems across the Kinko's network will address pent-up demand for retail-based digital photo finishing services, according to Sue Parks, executive vice president of operations for Kinko's.

"Sony's PictureStation systems present a compelling opportunity to expand Kinko's range of photo services with what we feel is clearly the best retail-based digital photo finishing solution," Parks said. "The systems provide a convenient, cost-effective service for the fast-growing digital camera market. We're excited to add Sony's PictureStation systems to our network of locations and provide our customers access to the widest range of print capabilities and stunning picture quality."

"Kinko's is known for introducing new technologies its customers need, and we're thrilled to see them embrace the PictureStation system as part of their nationwide commitment to digital photo finishing," said Steven Blum, vice president of digital photography for Sony Electronics' Business Solutions and Systems Company. "Our easy-to-use, affordable systems will enable Kinko's conveniently located stores to quickly tap into the growing digital photography market, and provide customers with a practical means to create beautiful prints instantly."

Each of the PictureStation systems in Kinko's locations will:

* Accept all widely used media, including Memory Stick(R) and Memory
Stick Pro(R) media, CompactFlash(TM)cards, SmartMedia(TM)cards, CDs,
SD/MMC cards and floppy disks;
* Offer image scanning capabilities for print-to-print copies;
* Offer the option to burn images to CD;
* Feature two high-speed digital printers capable of quickly producing
3-1/2"x 5"; 4"x 6", 5"x7" and wallet sized photos; and
* Incorporate an additional 8"x10" printer for portraits.

The agreement follows a successful test in which systems were placed in four Kinko's locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to Parks, customers appreciated the units' ease-of-use and ability to make instant prints from their digital cameras. Kinko's supported the test with in-store signage and trained each of its team members on how to use the systems. Kinko's and Sony expect to that all systems will be installed by year's end.

PictureStation systems are part of Sony's global "Print By Sony" initiative. The program includes a campaign logo that appears on the units, print media and signage, signaling a commitment to quality and consistency with which both retailers and consumers can identify.

2003 DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards announced

Las Vegas, Nev. - Out of the hundreds of digital products on display at the PMA 2003 Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 13 have been selected by digital imaging editors and writers to receive the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Award. The annual award is one of several events sponsored by the Digital Imaging Marketing Association, a section of PMA.

An Innovative Digital Product of PMA 2003 was defined by the judges as a product utilizing new technologies and/or applications in such a way as to make it either unique or the first of its kind. These high-quality products must show themselves to be an influence on the future of digital imaging. The product may be hardware or software, amateur or professional, photographic or prepress, or any other segment. The judges were simply asked to cover the PMA Trade Show floor with an eye to the innovative.

Companies honored for their innovative digital products, in alphabetical order, are:

Adobe Systems Inc.
Adobe Camera Raw Plug-in (Photoshop plug-in for raw digital SLR files)

Applied Science Fiction
ASF Gem 1.0 (Grain management software plug-in)

DigitalCustom
Image Edit Photo restoration-in-a-box (Prepaid photo restoration service)

Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak LS 633 Easyshare Camera (OLED display panel)

Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak Printer Dock 6000 (Dye-sub photo printer with docking station for digital camera)

Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
Fujifilm Super CCD SR (Extended dynamic range image sensor)

Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
Fujifilm Finepix F700 (6.2 megapixel next-generation digital camera with large screen and improved bit depth)

Graphic Enterprises of Ohio, Inc.
Foto Zoomer (Large-format print-on-demand kiosk)

Lifescape Solutions, Inc.
Picasa 1.5 (Album software with innovative "timeline" feature)

Mikkelsen Graphics Engineering
I-Cut Graphic Router System (Digital graphics routing and cutting system for rigid graphics up to 2.5" thick)

Oblò Multimedia
Oblò Multimedia Kiosk (Kiosk that produces photo CDs and DVDs with music)

Océ-USA Inc.
Arizona T-220 (300-600 dpi flatbed solvent inkjet printer, prints on rigid substrates up to 2" thick)

SmartDisk Corp.
SmartDisk Flash Trax (30 GB storage with CompactFlash input and 3.5" LCD)

2003 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out winners announced

Las Vegas, Nev. - Eleven digital cameras were named winners in the 2003 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out today at the PMA 2003 Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Seventy-one digital camera entries and 24 manufacturers participated in the 7th Annual DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out, which took place on Saturday, March 1, at the DIMA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. Participating camera manufacturers captured images in two live-model studios. Images from the point-and-shoot cameras were printed on the Fuji Frontier 350 Digital Minilab supplied by Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., Elmsford, N.Y. Images from the Prosumer/Professional category were printed on the Agfa D-Lab 2 Digital Minilab Supplied by Agfa Corp., Ridgefield Park, N.J. Images from Commercial Studio cameras were output through a G4 Power Mac running Adobe® PhotoShop® 7.0 and printed on an Epson 10600 CMYK inkjet printer, supplied by Epson America, Inc., Long Beach, Calif. Color management support for the DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out was provided by GretagMacbeth, New Windsor, N.Y., using Sony Artisan displays donated by Sony Electronics, Calif. Helene DeLillo, Creative and Editorial Director of Digital Imaging magazine, provided on-site evaluations and documented workflow of the commercial-level digital capture systems, which were displayed with manufacturer specifications and output produced at the event. Commercial cameras were displayed only to demonstrate the quality and workflow of the systems, and were not voted on. Professional photo equipment used at the DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out was supplied by Adobe Systems, Agfa Corp., Better Light Inc., Bogen Photo Corp., Denny Mfg., Epson America Inc., Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc., GretagMacbeth, GTI Graphic Technology, Hensel, Horseman, Quality Mounting & Laminating, SmartDisk Corp., and Sony Artisan. Mark Williford, Lee Varis, and David Spellman provided additional technical expertise. Trade attendees of PMA 2003 voted on the entries, based on the overall quality of the digital print and the accuracy of color as compared to samples of fabric worn by studio models.

Below are the winners of the 7th Annual DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out:

Point-and-Shoot categories and winners
Below $100
Vivitar Vivicam 3315
Vivitar Corp., Newbury Park, Calif.

$100 to $199
HP Photosmart 620
Hewlett-Packard Company, San Diego, Calif.

$200 to $299
Sony DSC-P52
Sony Electronics, San Diego, Calif.

$300 to $399
HP Photosmart 812
Hewlett-Packard Company, San Diego, Calif.

$400 to $499
Olympus C-4000 zoom
Olympus America, Inc., Melville, N.Y.

Digital Video Camcorder
Mustek DV3000
Mustek Inc., Irvine, Calif.

Prosumer/Professional categories and winners
$500 to $699
Kyocera Finecam S3L
Kyocera Optics, Inc., Somerset, N.J.

$700 to $899
Olympus C-5050 zoom
Olympus America, Melville, N.Y.

$900 to $1199 (Unopposed)
Sony DSC-F717
Sony Electronics, San Diego, Calif.

$1,200 to $2,499 (Unopposed)
Minolta DiMage 7Hi
Minolta Corporation, Ramsey, N.J.

$2,500 to $4,999
Fuji FinePix S2 Pro
Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc., Elmsford, N.Y.

2003 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out winners announced

Las Vegas, Nev. - The winners of the 2003 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out were announced today at the PMA 2003 Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Winners, displayed during the PMA 2003 Convention and Trade Show, were chosen from 138 prints entered by 37 companies. Entries in the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out were produced from files created by Photomation Commercial Imaging & Graphics, Anaheim, Calif. Participants were asked to provide specification information pertaining to the equipment used (printer, RIP); the consumables used (output media, ink/toner/dye); and the production timing. Trade attendees of the PMA 2003 Convention and Trade Show voted on the entries based on overall quality of the digital print and the accuracy of the color as compared to the "target" print.

Below are the winners of the 2003 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out:

Photo Print
50" wide or more
Printer: ZBE Chromira 50, ZBE Inc.
Paper: Fujicolor Crystal Archive Type CDII, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
RIP: Wasatch ChromiraRIP, Wasatch Technology

30" to 49" wide
Printer: ZBE Chromira 30, ZBE Inc.
Paper: Fujicolor Crystal Archive Type CDII, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
RIP: Wasatch ChromiraRIP, Wasatch Technology

18" to 29" wide
Printer: Kodak Professional RP50 LED Printer, Eastman Kodak Company
Paper: Kodak Professional Endura Metallic, Eastman Kodak Company

9" to 17" wide
Printer: Kodak Professional RP30 Laser Printer, Eastman Kodak Company
Paper: Kodak Professional Supra Endura Paper, Eastman Kodak Company
Entry #: 133

8" wide or less
Printer: KIS Photo-Me DKS 1500, KIS Photo-Me Group
Paper: Fujicolor Crystal Archive Supreme, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.

Inkjet
Over 72" wide
Printer: Roland HiFi Jet Pro II SJ-740, Roland DGA Corp.
Paper: Roland SPVCB Banner, Roland DGA Corp.
RIP: Roland Bundled RIP, Roland DGA Corp.

50" to 72" wide
Printer: Roland HiFi Jet Pro II FJ-540, Roland DGA Corp.
Paper: Roland PETG, Roland DGA Corp.
RIP: Roland Bundled RIP, Roland DGA Corp.

36" to 49" wide
Printer: Epson Stylus Pro 9600, Epson America
Paper: Ilford Ilfojet Instant Dry Satin, Ilford Imaging
RIP: Ilford RIP Star Production House, Ilford Imaging

18" to 35" wide
Printer: Epson Stylus Pro 7600, Epson America
Paper: Fuji Hunt Glossy Photo Paper, Fuji Hunt Inc.
RIP: Onyx Postershop, Onyx Graphics

9" to 17" wide
Printer: Epson Stylus Photo 1290 (European model), Epson Europe
Paper: Tetenal Premium Fine Art Glossy Paper, Tetenal Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

8.5" wide or less - $200 or more
Printer: Canon S-9000 Photo Printer, Canon USA, Inc.
Paper: Ilford Galerie Smooth Gloss, Ilford Imaging

8.5" wide or less - $100 to $199
Printer: Epson Stylus Photo 825, Epson America
Paper: Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Epson America

8.5" wide or less - $99 or less
Printer: Epson Stylus Photo 820, Epson America
Paper: Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Epson America

Flatbed
Printer: VUTEk Press Vu UV 180/600, VUTEk Inc.
Substrate: Sinra
RIP: Color Burst RIP, CSE, Inc.

Dye Sublimation
8" x 10" or larger
Printer: Fuji Pictrography 3500, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
Paper: Fujifilm Pictroprint Ever-Rich, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.
RIP: Graphx Raster Plus, Graphx Inc.

5" x 7"
Printer: Sony UP-DR100, Sony Electronics
Paper: Sony UPCR57, Sony Electronics

4" x 6" or less
Printer: Kodak Photo Printer 6400, Eastman Kodak Company
Paper: Kodak Paper, Eastman Kodak Company

Creative Application
Textile
Printer: 3M SP2000, 3M Commercial Graphics
Substrate: VirtuSatin, Leggett & Platt

Paper
Printer: Durst Lambda 131 Plus, Durst Dice America LLC
Substrate: Kodak Professional Metallic Paper, Eastman Kodak Company

Alternative Substrate
Printer: Océ Arizona T-220, Océ Display Graphics Systems
Substrate: Ikea chest of drawers

Olympus Breaks The Size Barrier With the C-750 Ultra Zoom -- World's Smallest 4 Megapixel 10x Optical Zoom Digital Camera

Features Powerful Glass Optical Zoom Lens in Compact, Metal Body

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 3 - Olympus America takes its Ultra Zoom series to a new level of power and performance with the introduction of the new CAMEDIA® C-750 Ultra Zoom, the world's smallest 10X optical zoom, 4.0 megapixel digital camera. The sleek, compact C-750 Ultra Zoom -- Olympus's first 4.0 megapixel Ultra Zoom -- is an all-in-one camera solution for advanced photographers who want the widest focal length range plus manual and automatic controls in a rugged and portable digital camera.

"The Olympus Ultra Zoom series of digital cameras owes its popularity to the great flexibility it provides photographers," said Martin Lee, vice president of marketing, Olympus America, Inc. "In the field, a powerful optical zoom is a necessity for capturing subjects at great distances. Whether at sporting events or out in the wild, the C-750 Ultra Zoom's wide array of features allows photographers to have total creative control."

Innovative

The C-750 Ultra Zoom offers a powerful Olympus aspherical ED (extra dispersion) glass lens to evenly distribute light across the camera's CCD sensor to create a sharp, even exposure for details and vibrant colors at distances near or far. The camera's 10X optical zoom is an equivalent zoom range of 38mm to 380mm -- longer than many lenses used on professional SLR film cameras -- and its additional seamless digital zoom capabilities increase the lens range to a total 40X seamless zoom (10X optical zoom + 4X digital zoom) of about 1520mm equivalent. In addition, having this wide zoom range allows photographers to leave heavy lenses at home and cut down on the gear they take on the road.

The C-750 Ultra Zoom is also the first Olympus Ultra Zoom digital camera with a built-in hot-shoe that allows an external flash to be connected without cables so photographers can add more functionality to the camera and ensure the best lighting conditions.

Stylish

The C-750 Ultra Zoom is the first Olympus Ultra Zoom to have a metal body for maximum durability. Based on the popular Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom series (the world's smallest optical Ultra Zoom digital cameras), the C-750 Ultra Zoom provides even more control and has a sleeker, more compact body than its predecessors. Because it uses the miniature xD-Picture Card exclusively, the C-750 measures a mere 4.2" long x 2.6" high x 2.8" wide, and weighs just 10.4 ounces, making it the perfect travel companion to go the distance.

Intelligent

The 4.0 megapixel CCD of the C-750, and Olympus TruePic(TM) technology, allows users to obtain a realistic look with their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The camera's CCD captures the detail needed for true crystal clear photo quality printing even on large print sizes up to 11" x 14".

Approachable

The C-750 Ultra Zoom offers a menu architecture that's easy to navigate to get the right settings fast. In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, Sports, Night Scene and Landscape photography. The special "My Mode" feature saves time by allowing the user to assign frequently used settings to the mode dial for quick access.

The C-750 Ultra Zoom's advanced settings include controls for aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control. And transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB feature that does not require software drivers for hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television with the supplied video cable.

Exciting Features for the Most Realistic Digital Images

With the C-750 Ultra Zoom, what you see is what you get because its Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) shows you exactly what the camera will capture on the CCD. The EVF also displays aperture, shutter speed, and image quality settings and can be used in playback as well as the 1.5" color LCD display.

The C-750 Ultra Zoom sports a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second for action photography, the extensive shutter speed range also allows long exposures of up to 16 seconds in manual mode, enabling photographers to express their creativity when capturing night scenes or sunsets.

Olympus photos are known worldwide for vibrant, sharp and photo-realistic image quality. This is achieved with a host of key technologies including Olympus' high-quality all-glass lens (with aspherical lens elements) that's specially designed for digital cameras, and provides the equivalent of 38 to 380mm, f2.8/3.7 to 8.0 in 35mm photography. The Macro Mode allows users to take close-up photographs that capture details like the petals of a flower.

Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; auto white balance; multiple flash settings and exposure compensation. The camera comes with a built-in flash that offers 5 settings including slow synch to provide the widest range of options. The cameras also capture QuickTime(TM) video with sound so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co-workers, friends and family.

Availability
The C-750 Ultra Zoom will be available in May 2003.

U.S. Pricing
C-750 Ultra Zoom Street Price: $599.00
C-750 Ultra Zoom SRP: $699.00

Olympus Debuts New Streamlined Design Of Next-Generation Ultra Zoom Digital Cameras With The C-740 Ultra Zoom

Features ED Glass Lens, Compact Body, 3.2 Megapixels at Affordable Price

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 3 - Olympus America introduces the new remarkably compact design of its next-generation Ultra Zoom series with the CAMEDIA® C-740 Ultra Zoom, a 10X optical zoom, 3.2 megapixel digital camera. The sleek, compact C-740 Ultra Zoom is ideal for the budget-conscious family photographer who wants the flexibility of a wide focal length range, automatic controls for basic point-and-shoot simplicity, and manual controls for maximum creativity in a portable package.

"Olympus has responded to consumer demand for a compact, powerful zoom digital camera by redesigning our Ultra Zoom series and making these cameras more portable," said Martin Lee, vice president of marketing, Olympus America, Inc. "The most remarkable feature of this new camera is that even with its smaller size it features an incredible 10X optical zoom glass lens that ensures the best image quality in its class."

Innovative

The C-740 Ultra Zoom offers a powerful Olympus aspherical ED (extra dispersion) glass lens to evenly distribute light across the camera's CCD sensor to create a sharp, even exposure for details and vibrant colors at distances near or far. The camera's 10X optical zoom is an equivalent zoom range of 38mm to 380mm -- longer than many lenses used on professional SLR film cameras -- and its additional seamless digital zoom capabilities increase the lens range to a total 30X seamless zoom (10X optical zoom + 3X digital zoom) of about 1050mm equivalent.

Stylish

The C-740 Ultra Zoom is based on the popular Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom series (the world's smallest optical Ultra Zoom digital cameras), and provides even more pixels and has a sleeker, more compact durable body than its predecessors. Because it uses the miniature xD-Picture Card exclusively, the C-740 measures a mere 4.2" long x 2.6" high x 2.7" wide, and weighs just 10.4 ounces, making it the perfect travel companion to go the distance.

Intelligent

The 3.2 megapixel CCD of the C-740, and Olympus TruePic(TM) technology, allows users to obtain a realistic look with their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The camera's CCD captures the detail needed for true crystal clear photo quality printing even on print sizes of 8" x 10" and larger.

Approachable

The C-740 Ultra Zoom offers a menu architecture that's easy to navigate to get the right settings fast. In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, Sports, Night Scene and Landscape photography. The special "My Mode" feature saves time by allowing the user to assign frequently used settings to the mode dial for quick access.

The C-740 Ultra Zoom's advanced settings include controls for aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control. And transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB feature that does not require software drivers for hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television with the supplied video cable.

Exciting Features for the Most Realistic Digital Images

With the C-740 Ultra Zoom, what you see is what you get because its Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) shows you exactly what the camera will capture on the CCD. The EVF also displays aperture, shutter speed, and image quality settings and can be used in playback in addition to the 1.5" color LCD display.

The C-740 Ultra Zoom sports a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second for action photography, the extensive shutter speed range also allows long exposures of up to 16 seconds in manual mode, enabling photographers to express their creativity when capturing night scenes or sunsets.

Olympus photos are known worldwide for vibrant, sharp and photo-realistic image quality. This is achieved with a host of key technologies including Olympus' high-quality all-glass lens (with aspherical lens elements) that's specially designed for digital cameras, and provides the equivalent of 38 to 380mm, f2.8/3.7 to 8.0 in 35mm photography. The Macro Mode allows users to take close up photographs to capture details like dewdrops on a petal.

Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; auto white balance; multiple flash settings and exposure compensation. The camera comes with a built-in flash that offers 5 settings including slow synch to provide the widest range of options.

The cameras also capture QuickTime(TM) video so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co-workers, friends and family.

Availability
The C-740 Ultra Zoom will be available in April 2003.

U.S. Pricing
C-740 Ultra Zoom Street Price: $499.00
C-740 Ultra Zoom SRP: $599.00

Olympus Announces Sleek New Look for Point-And-Shoot Digital Cameras

D-Series Cameras Now Feature More Compact Design, Larger 1.8-Inch Liquid Crystal Displays for Easy Viewing of Images

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 3 - Olympus America today introduced two point-and-shoot digital cameras with a stylish new design: the CAMEDIA® D-390 and D-560 Zoom. Olympus D-Series cameras are renowned for combining easy-to-use features with high-quality optics for great-looking results. The cameras' feature a wide range of zoom choices, ultra-compact bodies, and low prices - and at only $149, the D-390 is the most affordable Olympus digital camera on the market today - making them ideal for anyone looking to experience the joy of going digital.
"With creative design engineering we've completely overhauled the look of our D-Series digital cameras," said Martin Lee, vice president of marketing, Olympus America, Inc. "Now the cameras are even more compact than before and have a new streamlined design, yet still feature great zoom power and high picture resolution."

Stylish

Both models have durable plastic bodies in attractive silver tones with sliding clamshell lens barriers. Their small size is due in part to their exclusive use of the miniature xD-Picture Card. The D-390, for example, has a body that is 15% smaller than its predecessor the D-380, making it easy to slip into a shirt pocket. The cameras each come with a 16MB xD-Picture Card.

Innovative

Composing and reviewing images with an LCD is an asset when taking digital pictures because it allows users to accurately frame their photographs and make decisions about saving or deleting them. To ensure that their shots can be easily viewed in high resolution, the D-390 and D-560 Zoom feature large 1.8-inch LCD screens.

While past D-Series models featured a pop-up flash that would be released upon sliding open the cameras' lens barrier, the new D-Series cameras have built-in flashes that do not pop up and offer 6 settings to provide the widest range of options. Keeping the flashes in the camera bodies further compliments the cameras' compact designs.

Intelligent

The 3.2 megapixel CCD of the D-560 Zoom and 2.0 megapixel CCD of the D- 390, combined with Olympus TruePic(TM) technology, allows users to capture a realistic look in all their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The cameras' CCD captures the detail needed for true crystal clear photo quality printing even on print sizes of 8" x 10" and larger.

Approachable

The new cameras offer a menu architecture that's easy to navigate for fast access to the right settings with just the press of arrow buttons. In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program modes (viewable through the LCD menu) provide fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, and Night Scene photography.

Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB function that does not require software drivers for hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television with the supplied video cable.

Exciting Features for the Most Realistic Digital Images

These new D-Series cameras have bright optical viewfinders and auto-focus capabilities to enable photographers to accurately frame and focus their shots. The cameras also feature Olympus high-quality all-glass lenses specially designed for digital cameras and a wide range of optical and digital zoom combinations so no image is beyond capture.

The D-560 Zoom features a 3X optical zoom (35-105mm in 35mm photography), that when combined with a 3.3X digital zoom, delivers a total seamless 10X zoom. The D-390 provides a 2.5X digital telephoto that offers a 38-95mm (in 35mm photography) zoom range.

The Macro Mode allows users to take close up photographs to capture details like dewdrops on a flower petal. Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; auto white balance; multiple flash settings and exposure compensation. The cameras also capture QuickTime(TM) video so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co- workers, friends and family.

Availability

The D-560 Zoom will be available in March 2003 and the D-390 will be available in April 2003.

U.S. Pricing
D-390 Street Price: $149.00
D-390 SRP: $179.00
D-560 Zoom Street Price: $299.00
D-560 Zoom SRP: $349.00

Kodak Digital Camera First To use Active-Matrix OLED Displays

Kodak EasyShare LS633 Camera Ushers in New Era of Easy-to-View Displays

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - March 3, 2003--For Eastman Kodak Company, it's another display industry first: the debut of the world's first product featuring a full-color, active-matrix (AM) OLED display.

The Kodak EasyShare LS633 zoom digital camera uses Kodak's innovative, award-winning AM OLED technology to display bright, sharp images for better on-camera viewing and sharing from virtually any angle. Coupled with the new Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock, the OLED screen offers unencumbered image previewing, enabling a PC-free approach to capturing and sharing images.

The LS633 camera represents a major milestone in the development and manufacture of displays exhibiting more vivid images and crisper video to consumer electronics. The camera's award-winning Kodak display AM550L lets people share their pictures with friends and loved ones immediately, through its 165-degree viewing, and in detail, on a 2.2-inch screen that is up to 107 percent larger than the LCDs on most cameras. The wide viewing angle also enables people to use the screen as a viewfinder from almost any angle. The camera will be available initially in Europe, Asia and Australia in April.

"The commercialization of our OLED technology opens new opportunities in new markets - for Kodak and for the display industry," said Bernard Masson, senior vice president of Eastman Kodak Company, and president Display Group. "Our display technologies will change the way people view their pictures, share their pictures, and work with electronic devices. We expect - and, in our own company, are planning - innovative products and new, display-based devices that extend today's product categories."

Research firms such as DisplaySearch and Stanford Resources predict the OLED display market could reach up to $3 billion by 2007. Consumer electronics devices expected to incorporate OLED technology in the next five years include mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs and DVD players.

"The LS633 camera is just one of myriad applications for this versatile technology," said Masson. "Launched just months after we shipped evaluation kits, the camera's debut validates the technology. We will see more products with this technology, and we will license display manufacturers to help drive this technology into the market."

Kodak scientists discovered the light-emitting properties of organic substances more than 20 years ago and patented advances in designs and materials. Through a joint development program, Kodak and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., produced the first full-color 2.4-inch AM OLED display in 1999 and less than a year later, a 5.5-inch AM OLED, and in 2002 demonstrated a 15-inch display. Their joint manufacturing venture, SK Display Corp., produced the world's first AM OLED displays for Kodak's evaluation kit and is manufacturing displays for the LS633 camera.

OLED Technology

OLED displays comprise self-luminous pixels, requiring no backlights used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). So they offer design and performance advantages, including clearer images, crisper video, and thinner designs in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDAs and other devices. Additional benefits over conventional technologies include higher contrast for superb readability in most lighting conditions, faster response time to support streaming video, and industry-leading (165 degree) viewing angle for superior ergonomics. In addition to the joint manufacturing venture for AM OLED panels with Sanyo, Kodak licenses OLED technology to more than one dozen display and device manufacturers worldwide. For further information on Kodak displays and licensees, go to http://www.kodak.com/go/display/.

Minolta Introduces the New DiMAGE E223 Digital Camera (03/03/03)

Easy-to-use 2-Megapixel Digital Camera is the Perfect Entry into Digital Photography

LAS VEGAS - March 3, 2003--Minolta Corporation announces the new DiMAGE E223 - a 2 megapixel easy-to-use, entry-level digital camera. The affordable new Minolta DiMAGE E223 offers high-quality images, carefree operation, and value-added features such as digital video with audio, making this the perfect digital camera for amateur digital photographers.

"Perfect for home and small business use, and the ideal tool for sharing images via e-mail, the DiMAGE E223's 2.1-megapixel CCD and versatile zoom lens provide high-resolution, clear and crisp images," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "The Minolta DiMAGE E223 packs a high zoom magnification, with other great features, in a small, compact size to make it a fun and affordable way to enter the world of digital photography."

The DiMAGE E223's precision electro-optical system is built around a 2.1 megapixel 1/2.7-type interline primary-color CCD with 2.0 million effective pixels for high-resolution images. This pixel resolution will produce letter size 150dpi prints or postcard size photo-quality prints.

3x Optical Zoom and 3x Digital Zoom

The resolution of the nine-element, six-group lens design of the camera's 3x optical zoom lens ensures the best quality results from the camera's 2.1 megapixel CCD. The maximum aperture of f/2.9 - 3.0 allows the DiMAGE E223 to be used in low light situations without the need of the camera's built-in flash. With a focal length range of 6.2mm to 18.6mm, the 3x optical zoom is equivalent to a 38 - 114mm lens on a 35mm camera. It can range from wide angle for landscapes to telephoto for intimate portraits.

The Minolta DiMAGE E223's 3x digital zoom capability extends the optical zoom's performance in 0.2x increments giving the E223 an equivalent a 342mm lens on a 35mm camera. The combined optical and digital zooms give this compact digital camera an amazing 9x zoom range.

Close-Up Capability

The camera's macro mode allows small objects and details to be captured. The lens can focus down to 3.1inches for close-up photography.

Fully Automatic Features

This new digital camera provides fully automatic features for focusing, exposure metering, flash, and white balance and has a USB connection for quick and easy downloading of image files. Simply turn on the camera and it's ready to use.

Built-in Flash

Flash photography adds precision and versatility by using various flash modes: Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, and Flash Cancel. The red-eye reduction function gives the subject a more natural look by reducing the unpleasant red-eye effect.

Versatile Memory Options

Images can be saved to a tiny, removable Secure Digital (SD) Memory card or MultiMediaCard, or to the camera's built-in 8MB memory. Images can also be copied between the memory card and camera memory. To transfer the data from the camera, simply connect the USB cable, and drag and drop the images into a computer.

The DiMAGE E223 is also capable of recording movie clips up to 60 seconds in length with audio. The 320 x 240 size (QVGA) images can be played back with the camera's color monitor and built-in speaker.

Simple Star Announces Agreement with Riverdeep To Launch Photo Sharing Software

PhotoShow 2 to be Published and Distributed under the Broderbund Brand

Las Vegas, NV, March 3, 2003 - Simple Star and Riverdeep, Inc. today announced an agreement to publish and distribute a retail version of PhotoShow 2 under Riverdeep's Broderbund brand. The fun and easy-to-use software program allows users to share and get creative with their digital photos. PhotoShow 2 is developed by Simple Star, Inc., "The Personal Media Software Company."

Simple Star is known for developing products that enable consumers to manage, make, and share media in unique and creative ways. With more than 18 years of expertise developing and delivering easy-to-use software for consumers, Riverdeep's Broderbund brand is best known for publishing award-winning titles such as The Print Shop®, Family Tree Maker®, PrintMaster®, and 3D Home Architect®.

A retail version of PhotoShow 2 for Windows, scheduled to ship this summer, will enable users to easily create and share multimedia entertainment using their own photos and music. Users will simply choose photos, sound tracks, transitions, and effects, and then drag and drop animated clip art to enhance their creations. Once complete, PhotoShows can be shared online, burned to CD-ROM, used as a screen saver, and even published to a personal web site.

With PhotoShow 2, creating multimedia entertainment with scanned photos or digital image files has never been easier. A user simply selects their photos, a sound track, transitions and effects and then drag and drop animated clip art and captions to experience their photos like never before. When done, the completed multimedia slide show can be viewed online, burned to a CD-ROM, used as a screen saver or even published to the user's own website. PhotoShow 2 is compatible with Windows and Macintosh OS operating systems.

"Our agreement with Simple Star allows us to grow our Broderbund digital editing products, offering our customer base an easy-to-use solution for designing and sharing photo creations," noted Rosemary Yates, senior vice president of marketing at Riverdeep, Inc.

"We think that Riverdeep is the perfect publisher for PhotoShow 2" said Simple Star CEO Chad Richard. "The Broderbund brand is synonymous with quality throughout the world. The company has spent years refining how to deliver top-notch software titles that truly take into account what consumers want and need."

SimpleTech Introduces PhotoZen(TM) USB Reader and TV Photo Image Viewer

View Digital Pictures, Transfer Files and Deliver PowerPoint(TM) Presentations With PhotoZen

LAS VEGAS, March 3 / SimpleTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEC - News), a leading provider of Flash-based storage, custom and standard memory solutions, announces the FlashLink(TM) PhotoZen(TM), the world's first TV photo image viewer, USB Flash memory card reader and PowerPoint(TM) presentation projector in a single lightweight, compact device. SimpleTech is demonstrating PhotoZen, the newest member of the FlashLink family, at the 2003 PMA (Photo Marketing Association) Show, March 2-5, 2003. SimpleTech is exhibiting in booth #A119.

"PhotoZen enables digital camera owners to view their pictures conveniently and easily through their television, without the need for a computer. Just plug PhotoZen into your TV to share memories with family and friends in the comfort of your living room," said Brad Miller, product marketing manager for SimpleTech. "For computer users, PhotoZen is an integrated six-in-one Flash card reader, for fast and easy digital photo and file transfer."

Compatible with all of the most popular digital Flash media formats, including CompactFlash(TM) (Type I/Type II), MicroDrive, Sony Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard(TM) (MMC), and SmartMedia, simply insert your card into PhotoZen, and immediately begin viewing your photos.

PhotoZen's convenient remote control operation offers a variety of on- screen menu options, including the ability to create a customized slide show, preview photos in "thumbnail" mode, zoom in, rotate, pan or delete photos. PhotoZen displays digital photos of up to six megapixels, at up to 2400 x 1800 resolution, and offers PAL/NTSC television support to ensure compatibility with U.S. and international standards.

PhotoZen can also be connected to a PC via the USB cable, for transferring images saved on Flash memory cards. Images and files stored on the PC or downloaded from the Internet can also be copied to the Flash card.

"PhotoZen offers complete scalability and interoperability, allowing photos to be viewed on a television or computer. While connected via USB, files can be transferred between your PC and the Flash card of your choice," Miller said. "PhotoZen's built-in support of the wide range of Flash media formats on the market make it a true all-in-one solution."

PowerPoint presentations saved in JPEG format can be displayed on a TV or computer screen with PhotoZen, eliminating the need for expensive projector equipment. Lightweight and portable, PhotoZen measures just 5.25" x 3.5" x/**/.25" (LWD) and weighs less than a pound, for easy travel.

PhotoZen is scheduled to begin shipping in May, with an expected SRP of $79. A composite TV cable, USB cable, and AC adapter are all included.

HP Announces New Digital Cameras with HP Instant Share Technology at PMA

Developments Further Simplify Consumers' Ability to Capture, Share and Print Images

LAS VEGAS - March 3, 2003-- HP (NYSE:HPQ - News) today announced market trials for its retail and central labs photofinishing systems and two digital cameras that include enhancements to HP Instant Share technology.

HP Photosmart 935 and 735 Digital Cameras

HP introduced the HP Photosmart 935 and 735 digital cameras with HP Instant Share technology and the HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock.

The HP Photosmart 935 digital camera with HP Instant Share features 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 21x total zoom (Pentax 3x optical zoom lens and 7x digital zoom), enabling consumers to capture and produce picture-perfect photos and beautiful enlargements up to 11x17-inches. In addition, the camera allows users to capture and store memories with the included 32-MB secure digital (SD) memory card.

The compact HP Photosmart 735 digital camera with HP Instant Share produces crisp photos with 3.2-megapixel total resolution and 15x total zoom (Pentax 3x optical zoom lens and 5x digital zoom) for outstanding close-ups. The pocket-sized camera comes with 16-MB internal memory and an SD memory card slot for the option to add more memory.

HP Photosmart 935 and 735 digital camera users have the freedom to choose between automatic or manual controls to select camera settings for ISO, exposure and white balance. Audio messages can be recorded with video clips and still photos to highlight memories as they happen.

The digital cameras ship with both HP Photo and Imaging Gallery and HP Memories Disc Creator software, which allow users to easily edit, create and print photos, including photo album pages and digital slideshows that can be viewed on a TV or computer.

Added Features to HP Instant Share

The HP Photosmart 935 and 735 digital cameras feature the latest version of HP Instant Share, which, since its introduction last year, has allowed consumers to easily share and print digital photos. HP Instant Share is an Internet-based software application that allows consumers to select destinations from the back of the camera; then, by connecting the camera to a computer, the photos are instantly sent to the selected destinations -- e-mail addresses, printers or hpphoto.com. Receivers of the HP Instant Share e-mail can easily view, print and save the photos from a secure Web page -- all without downloading attachments.

The latest version of HP Instant Share adds a photofinishing ordering capability, allowing consumers to tag photos for professional photofinishing by Shutterfly, including convenient delivery at home. Additionally, HP Instant Share now includes 34 destinations, an increase from 14 destinations previously featured.

The enhanced HP Instant Share also allows consumers to share photos that were previously stored on a computer from the HP Photo and Imaging Gallery software. The Gallery now includes one-button access to HP Instant Share, allowing consumers to view, select and edit photos in the Gallery first, and then e-mail the photos with customized messages using HP Instant Share. Consumers have access to other HP Instant Share services in the Gallery, which include uploading photos to hpphoto.com and ordering professional prints from Shutterfly (U.S. only).

The option for consumers to copy themselves when tagging photos for e-mailing is another new feature of HP Instant Share. This allows the sender to receive the same e-mail message containing thumbnail-sized photos as the recipient, which enables the sender to also enjoy hassle-free viewing of photos without large attachments to download.

HP Photosmart 8886 Camera Dock

The HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock is compatible with both the Photosmart 935 and Photosmart 735 digital cameras. When the cameras are placed in the dock, users can easily re-charge the included NiMH batteries, share, print, e-mail or order prints at the touch of a button. Additionally, the HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock allows users to view digital photos on a TV with a wireless remote.

Price and Availability

The HP Photosmart 935 digital camera with HP Instant Share and HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock are expected to begin shipping in April. The HP Photosmart 735 digital camera with HP Instant Share is expected to ship in June. All products will be available at hpshopping.com and retail outlets nationwide.

Estimated U.S. street prices(2) are as follows:

HP Photosmart 935 digital camera with HP Instant Share $449
HP Photosmart 735 digital camera with HP Instant Share $299
HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock $79

ArcSoft(R) Ships Collage Creator(TM) To Major Printer, Scanner and Digital Device Manufacturers World Wide

New Digital Imaging Software Enables Users to Create and Assemble Unique Handmade-Looking Collages from Personal Photo Collections

FREMONT, Calif., March 3, 2003-ArcSoft, Inc., a leading provider of digital multimedia software, today announced the availability and shipping of ArcSoft Collage Creator, a new and innovative digital imaging project program, for inclusion in product bundles with major printer, scanner and digital device providers around the globe. Collage Creator provides a digital "canvas" and numerous tools for putting together unique picture layouts, integrated with varied text, graffiti and other digital content.

"Customers are looking for fun, creative and intelligent software that serves to enhance and extend the use of traditional photos," said Todd Rumaner, vice president of sales and marketing for ArcSoft, Inc. "Collage Creator was designed to take the hassle out of traditional collage building by bringing a user-friendly and innovative product to our customers."

ArcSoft Collage Creator is the perfect complement for any device manufacturer that desires new, innovative digital imaging applications. This product is ideal for bundling with digital cameras, scanners, printers, and any other digital imaging device.

About ArcSoft Collage Creator
ArcSoft Collage Creator allows users to arrange and manipulate photos, add special effects, clip art and multiple text layers to a digital collage canvas. It essentially brings traditional collage making to the computer, without the drawbacks. Users never need to worry about destroying their original photos since all the work is done digitally. They're given the freedom to create photo shapes and text patterns that would be impossible to make by hand. They can also save their projects and print them in a number of ways, making it easy to share their work with virtually anyone.

PMA 2003 BEGINS IN LAS VEGAS (03/02/03)

The Photo Marketing Association Show in now well underway, with huge crowds in attendance and lots of interesting new digital cameras and imaging products on display! One of the biggest announcements this morning came from Olympus who is exhibiting a prototype of their new Four Thirds Digital SLR System. We met with Olympus first thing this morning to learn more about the progress that has been made since we last heard from them at Photokina and from our Interview last October. Olympus is now announcing that the new system will officially be unveiled at a major New York Press Event on June 24, 2003, with product availability in the Fall.

Olympus indicates that their new system is the first all Digital SLR system, with the lenses specifically designed to match the image sensor. The camera will have an all metal body made of magnesium alloy for added strength and durability. The system will feature interchangeable lenses including at the launch a 300mm f2.8 (600mm equivalent), a 14-54mm f2.8-f3.5 zoom, a 50mm macro lens, and a 50-200mm f2.8-f3.5 zoom. The They are also displaying two external flash units and a battery holder.

We have taken a large number of pictures of the Olympus DSLR products on display and we can tell you it is getting a considerable amount of attention at the show. We also have some pictures from Saturday, the day before the show at a Sony Press event where we had the opportunity to use the new Cybershot V1, an upcoming 5 megapixel camera along with the new HVL-F32X flash. The new flash unit will work on both the V1 and the new CD Mavica 500 as both of these new cameras have addition pins on the cameras' hot shoe. We also had the opportunity to shoot many pictures with the V1 and the flash, and we were obtaining great results! Be sure to check out our Coverage from Day zero photo gallery for our extensive set of pictures showing this brand new accessory as well as the V1 camera itself, which you can see is really quite compact!

Following the Sony Press Event we attended a special press sneak preview at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Among the interesting items on display was a new storage unit by SmartDisk which allows remote transfer of your digital camera pictures onto a small 30 gigabyte hard drive. The unit has a 3.5 inch LCD display to allow review of pictures and a video output and slideshow function so you can preview images on a TV before you delete and reuse your storage card (making sure they all are stored as intended). The unit also has a MP3 player built-in! The SmartDisk FlashTrax 30GB hard drive with USB 2.0 connectivity will have a suggested price of $499. We also got to see the new Rayovac 15 minute AA battery charger, which will no-doubt become a favourite for heavy users of their digital cameras which use AA type batteries. You can see some detailed product shots of this really interesting new product on our Day zero afternoon gallery linked below.

Saturday evening we attended yet another press event prior to the actual PMA show starting called Digital Focus. There we saw many great new items including the new Canon i9100 photo printer which can print on paper up to 13 inches wide, along with the new Canon EOS 10D. We also got to see a new 3.2 megapixel Minolta Xt camera and have some comparison shots to the existing Xi model. We then were pleased to see the new Lexar 2 and 4 Gigabyte Compact Flash Type 1 cards.

We are currently attending meetings and covering the two huge floors, so we will be back later with more details about all the news including some news on new printers. For now we invite you to check out our fairly large number of floor shots, hopefully giving you some glimpse of what is taking place here at this very exciting show for digital imaging. Back with more later tonight!!

Coverage from Day zero morning of PMA 2003

Coverage from Day zero afternoon of PMA 2003

Coverage from Day zero evening of PMA 2003

Olympus Digital SLR System Prototype

Kodak Unveils New EasyShare Cameras, Docks and Enhanced Software to Make Sharing Pictures Even Simpler

New Enhancements Include First Integrated Printer and Camera Dock and World's First Digital Camera with OLED Display

LAS VEGAS - March 2, 2003-- Eastman Kodak Company has introduced a number of new products designed to create a simpler, more powerful EasyShare digital camera system.
The products include the world's first combined printer-and-camera dock to easily print borderless 4" x 6" Kodak photos at home and the world's first consumer digital camera featuring an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

The line-up includes the Kodak EasyShare LS633 zoom digital camera, with an innovative, large 2.2" OLED display that presents bright, sharp on-camera images; the Kodak EasyShare DX6340 zoom digital camera, which combines ease and advanced performance features; the Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000, which is a combination printer and camera dock that prints durable, long-lasting Kodak photos in as little as 90 seconds with or without a computer; an enhanced camera dock, which features a new, smaller footprint design and is compatible with 2003 Kodak EasyShare cameras; and EasyShare 3.0 software, which has several new features that enable consumers to organize their pictures with a new album feature, burn CDs of their photos and import their Windows Outlook address book to the EasyShare software address book.

"More than ever, the new EasyShare products and services focus on delivering on the core premise of consumer photography -- sharing moments and reliving memories," said Willy Shih, president of Kodak's Digital and Applied Imaging unit. "These products demonstrate our capability to use technology to make digital photography easier and more enjoyable for consumers whether they are more advanced photographers or are just discovering digital photography."

New Kodak EasyShare Camera Docking Options

The new Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000, the industry's first combination photo printer and camera dock, provides the simplest way to create Kodak prints from an EasyShare digital camera at home. Consumers simply place their EasyShare 6000/600 series camera on the dock and press the "Print" button on the dock for 4" x 6" Kodak photos. The printer dock can be used at home or on the go, and provides all of the benefits of Kodak's other camera docks including one-touch picture transfer and battery recharging.

The Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000 uses continuous tone thermal dye transfer printing technology -- the same system used in the Kodak Picture Maker kiosks -- to deliver quality photos. In addition, the printing process automatically adds a special XtraLife laminate coating, which helps ensure the prints are durable, waterproof, and last a lifetime -- just like prints from traditional photographic processes. Kodak takes the guesswork out of printing with a replacement dye cartridge and photo paper kit that work together so that consumers won't waste supplies by running out of dye in the middle of a project. The printer dock comes with a sample media kit containing a Kodak Color Cartridge and enough photo paper for 10 photo prints. Refill packs are available in 20, 40, or 80 print counts. The Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000 has a suggested retail price of $199 and will be available in May.

With its one-touch simplicity, the re-designed Kodak EasyShare camera dock 6000 -- also compatible with 2003 Kodak EasyShare 6000/600 series cameras -- has a new sleek design, reduced desktop footprint, and now features a tilt mechanism for improved LCD viewing. In addition, when users dock their camera on the dock 6000, the LCD display screen will face forward for picture viewing, sharing, and transfer confirmation. The camera dock allows users to upload their images onto their personal computer in seconds and takes less than three hours to re-charge the batteries from completely empty. The Kodak EasyShare camera dock 6000 has a suggested retail price of $79.95.

New Camera Models Make Sharing Even Simpler

The stylish new Kodak EasyShare LS633 zoom digital camera brings new innovations to the industry, showing Kodak's commitment to technology and advancements in picture taking. Using Kodak's award-winning OLED display technology, the camera's large 2.2" display screen dramatically improves viewing angles, and provides sharpness, brightness and detail for optimal on-camera picture sharing. Packaged in a stylish, metal body, the LS633 is ideal for users who want to show off their pictures on a cutting edge OLED display. The camera boasts 3.1 MP resolution and a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon professional 3X optical zoom lens along with continuous 3.3X advanced digital zoom. These features combine to provide impressive sharpness and brightness from edge-to-edge for prints up to 11" x 14". The LS633 has a suggested retail price of $399 and will be available initially in Europe, Asia, and Australia in April.

The Kodak EasyShare DX6340 zoom digital camera is a unique combination of advanced performance, ease of use and value in a sleek design. This 3.1 MP camera, with its large high-resolution 1.8" Indoor/Outdoor LCD display screen and unique, wide aperture professional-quality 4X Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon zoom lens that provides striking image quality, has high-performance features such as aperture and shutter priority modes for the discerning photographer. In addition, its professional-quality f2.2-13 Schneider lens and its new high-speed auto-focus system combine to allow focus lock in almost total darkness, and an impressive flash range of up to almost 20 feet. It also sports a distinctive red-jeweled Share button for simple printing, organizing and sharing and an on-camera e-mail address book. The DX6340 has a suggested retail price of $329 and will be available in May.

Kodak EasyShare 3.0 Software

A core component of the EasyShare system, the new 3.0 version of the software, is the simplest way to find, organize, share and print digital pictures. The new version of EasyShare software enables consumers to organize their pictures with a new album feature, burn CD copies of their photos and import their Windows Outlook address book to the EasyShare software address book. EasyShare software works with almost any image or video file format, such as TIF, JPG, BMP, AVI and MOV files and is the powerful yet simple to use solution for all digital camera owners. Users of previous versions of EasyShare software who opted for an automatic update will receive a notice of availability of the new software automatically. Both the free download and the CD-ROM version (offered for a nominal fee of $4.95 plus shipping and handling) will be available in April by visiting www.kodak.com/go/easyshare. More than three million users worldwide have already discovered the benefits of EasyShare software.

Kodak EasyShare system

The LS633, DX6340, printer dock 6000, camera dock 6000, and EasyShare software are all part of the award-winning Kodak EasyShare digital photography system. The new EasyShare system, including Kodak EasyShare software, has more features and improvements that make getting prints even simpler. The system, which follows Kodak's principle of embracing open standards, allows consumers to have the option to get Kodak prints:

At home, using the new Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000 for borderless 4" x 6" prints or using Kodak EasyShare software's proprietary One Touch to Better Pictures feature with Kodak's extensive line of inkjet paper products for prints from 4" x 6" through 8 1/2"x 11"; From home, by uploading photos to the online photofinisher of choice, including the EasyShare print service powered by Ofoto; orIn or at retail, using Kodak digitally-enabled kiosks or over the counter service. More information on Kodak EasyShare products is available at http://www.kodak.com/go/EasyShare.

Toshiba Unveils New PDR-4300 Four-Megapixel Digital Camera at PMA 2003 (03/02/03)

New Camera Combines Point-and-Shoot Convenience With Advanced Manual Controls, Powerful 2400 x 1800 Resolution & Low Cost of Ownership

LAS VEGAS, NV, March 2, 2003 (PMA Show Toshiba Booth #L112) &SHY; Toshiba's new PDR-4300 four-megapixel digital camera merges the company¹s expertise in digital imaging with a simple control layout and portable design that makes this new camera exceptionally easy to enjoy, operate and take along.

The latest addition to Toshiba's growing family of consumer-class digital cameras, the PDR-4300 was unveiled today at the Photo Manufacturing Show in Las Vegas by Toshiba Imaging Systems, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. It is expected to ship in mid-March with an MSRP of $349.

The PDR-4300 boasts brilliant 2400 x 1800 resolution, a full suite of professional-level manual options for control of light and exposure, along with a precise Canon lens that sports a smooth 2.8X optical zoom to take full advantage of the powerful 4.0 megapixel CCD, and ensure high quality images with vivid, true-to-life color.

FEATURE-PACKED PERFORMANCE
Bridging the gap between the consumer and prosumer camera markets, the PDR-4300 is the perfect fusion of photo xcellence, versatile multimedia functionality, and low cost of ownership. It is certain to appeal to both digital-photo novices and long-time enthusiasts alike with its rich feature-set.

Resolution &SHY; The impressive 4.0-megapixel CCD image sensor yields a maximum image size of 2400 x 1600, with user-selectable 1200 x 800 and 720 x 480 resolutions also available.

Optics &SHY; To produce stellar results from afar or close-up, the camera features an all-glass Canon lens equivalent to a 35-100 mm lens on a 35 mm camera, plus a 2.8X optical and 2.2X digital zoom (total 6X zoom), macro capability up to 6-inches, and a wide F2.9 aperture for improved light gathering. Shutter speed range is 1/1000 sec. to 1/2 second. The camera's flash, which is effective to a distance of 10 feet, provides four modes: automatic, red-eye reduction, fill in flash, and force off.

Operation &SHY; Though it can work as a simple, point-and-shoot camera, the PDR-4300 offers an arsenal of manual controls for the experienced photographer. Users can adjust for changes in white balance, exposure compensation, manual exposure, light metering (center, spot), ISO sensitivity (100/200/400), and continuous shooting. Exposure modes are
program, full manual, shutter-priority, aperture-priority and scene select, while white balance modes are automatic, daylight, cloudy, incandescent light and two for fluorescent light.

Memory &SHY; For all day shooting, the PDR-4300 ships with a reusable 16MB Secure Digital card capable of storing JPEG images at three compression levels &SHY; fine, normal or basic. Depending on the image compression selected, it can record on the 16MB card 9, 14 or 28 pictures at 2400 x 1600 resolution; 30, 45 or 90 in 1200 x 800 resolution; or 75, 112 or 225
pictures at the 720 x 480 resolution. The camera is compatible with SD cards up to 512MB that are capable of storing nearly 8,000 images.

Multimedia &SHY; Even the most dedicated still photographer will have fun with the PDR-4300's AVI Movie Mode. The camera captures 320 x 240 resolution video clips at 15 fps just as easily as it shoots still images. Not only is this multimedia function great for preserving fun memories of family and friends, it is ideal for sharing business information such as product demonstrations to customers, a home layout to potential buyers, or a keynote speech with far-flung colleagues.

LCD/Viewfinder &SHY; The PDR-4300 comes equipped with a bright 1.6-inch polysilicon color LCD monitor (279 x 229) and an optical viewfinder.

Downloading &SHY; USB 1.0 high-speed transfer from camera to compatible computers (Windows 98/2000/ME/XP, Mac OS 9.2 or later, Mac OS 10.1 or later). Video output is also provided (NTSC/PAL).

Accessories &SHY; A complete digital imaging solution, the PDR-4300 camera ships with a 16MB SD memory card, 4 AA batteries, USB cable, video cable, an IR remote control, a hand strap, and a CD-ROM containing ACD System photo
editing software, USB driver and an in-depth instruction manual.

For information, U.S. customers call 1-800-288-1354. Fax, 1-800-470-9390. Or visit www.dsc.toshiba.com. Go to www.shoptoshiba.com to purchase the PDR-4300 and other Toshiba items on-line.

Lexar Media Introduces World's Highest Capacity CompactFlash

Company offers 2GB and 4GB CompactFlash Cards with 32X Speed Rating

LAS VEGAS, March 2, 2003 (PMA Booth #H152) - Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEXR), a leading designer, developer and marketer of award-winning high-performance digital media and accessories, today announces that it will extend its line of Professional Series CompactFlash cards with 2GB and 4GB capacity cards, speed rated at 32X. 32X speed is capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 4.8MB/s, with 1X equal to 150Kb/s. The new 2GB and 4GB CompactFlash cards are especially suited for professional digital photographers who prefer shooting in large file formats like TIFF and RAW.
"The trend is toward greater capacity memory cards to accommodate the image files generated by high resolution cameras and allow for more continuous shooting. With 2GB and 4GB cards, professional photographers will appreciate the ability to shoot RAW and TIFF files without concern and forego the interruption associated with changing cards mid-shoot," said Ron Glaz, Program Research Manager, IDC.

"Many professional photographers depend on the high-speed performance of our cards and have asked for higher capacity cards," said Eric Stang, president and CEO Lexar Media. "We are pleased to be the first company to bring 4GB CompactFlash to market, which is made possible by our advanced controller technology and the new industry leading 4-gigabit quad die pack flash memory from Samsung. The close Lexar Media and Samsung relationship allows us to collaborate to optimize our controller with the Samsung 4-gigabit flash memory device and deliver the largest CompactFlash available."

In addition to their large capacities, these cards are capable of a minimum sustained read and write speed of 4.8MB per second. On top of that, both cards are also equipped with Write Acceleration technology (WA), which further increases write speed performance in enabled cameras including the Kodak 14n and other Kodak Professional cameras, Nikon D1x, Nikon D1h and Nikon D100.

Write Acceleration technology is the result of a Lexar Media proprietary high-speed flash memory controller and the cooperation of major digital camera manufacturers to increase write-speed performance by simplifying the way a camera and card talk to each other. With WA, the camera can transfer more data, which reduces the command overhead. A significant performance advantage can be seen in high-resolution cameras that produce large image files and the increase in write speed becomes even more noticeable when several images are shot in burst or continuous mode. Actual performance data will vary between cameras, resolution and shooting modes.

All Lexar Media Professional Series cards include a free version of Lexar Media Image Rescue. Image Rescue is a unique and revolutionary file recovery software that recovers 'perceived to be lost' image files from Lexar Media-brand USB-enabled CompactFlash memory cards. The most common causes of image loss include removing the card from a camera or reader before the image has been fully stored, accidentally deleting a picture, reformatting a card or low camera battery power. Image Rescue goes to the root-level of the data structure to identify and retrieve lost images, even if the computer does not see the card. In most instances Image Rescue can identify and retrieve JPEG, TIFF and RAW file formats.

With this offering, Lexar Media now offers a line of Professional Series CompactFlash in 256MG, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. The 2GB will be Type I and expected to retail in March for $699.99. The 4GB card will be Type II and is expected to ship in the 2nd quarter for $1,499.99.

DIGITALCUSTOM ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ITS FLAGSHIP HIGH RES CUSTOM EDITING SERVICE "DIGITALCUSTOM"

San Francisco, CA, March 2, 2003 - DigitalCustom Group, Inc. announced today at the Photo Marketing Association Conference (PMA) the launch of its flagship high resolution custom photo editing service "DigitalCustom" at www.digitalcustom.com. With the new service, DigitalCustom extends the reach of its award-winning Image-Edit custom consumer digital editing service into "high res" advertising, marketing and media markets, and professional photography markets. Specialized work will include high volume catalogs; detailed compositing for advertising; and custom image editing support for pro photographers. DigitalCustom’s central quality control, customer service, order management systems and economies of scale allow professional customers to outsource custom digital editing work at competitive rates.

A basic difference between consumer and "pro" work is that most consumer work is outputted through silver halide processes, based upon a 300-600 dpi JPEG file. Many professionals, in comparison, require that editing be done on TIFF files, and often the work is outputted through high resolution CMYK processes. To handle pro work, DigitalCustom has designed new tools and systems, such as its unique (patent pending) GATEPOST instruction tool, to manage larger files and communicate detailed instructions.

DigitalCustom’s President, Jeff Makoff said, "During the ad industry pullback, it made sense for us to focus on the robust consumer market. Having rolled out a complete product line in that market, through our many important relationships, we decided it’s time to complete the vision we had when we started DigitalCustom. DigitalCustom will play an important part in the resurgent demand for professional graphics services."

DigitalCustom’s co-Chairman and CTO Barnabas Takacs said, "We believe the GATEPOST instruction tool will become the standard means of communicating instructions and comments on graphical works. The incorporation of GATEPOST into the DigitalCustom service will create efficiencies that never existed in graphics."

DigitalCustom Group was formed in 2000 to offer high-quality custom photo editing services at all market levels. In 2001, DigitalCustom launched its popular Image-Edit & Art service for consumer services. In May 2002, DigitalCustom’s Image-Edit & Art received Wired magazine’s prestigious "First Class" accolade. DigitalCustom reaches the consumer marker principally through wholesale relationships with retailers worldwide, directly and through distributors in Europe, Japan and Latin America.

About DigitalCustom Group
DigitalCustom Group offers custom digital photo editing, photo repair and restoration and "photo-to-fine art" services to a wide variety of businesses and retailers in the U.S., Asia, Europe and Latin America. Under an agreement with Italy’s Fratelli Alinari (www.alinari.com), DigitalCustom has reference access to one of the world’s largest collections of historical images. DigitalCustom’s corporate offices are in San Francisco, California and its worldwide customer service facility is in Cincinnati, Ohio. More information about DigitalCustom Group is available on its Web site at: www.digitalcustom.com.

PRECLICK ANNOUNCES LIFETIME™ PHOTO ORGANIZER

Fastest, Easiest Photo Organizer – with Speeds of 8 Photos per Second

Lets Users Embed Captions, Subjects, Titles, & Eventsfor Super-Fast Searches for only $9.95

March 2, 2003, PMA, Las Vegas -- Preclick Corporation announced today at the Photo Marketing Association Convention (PMA) Lifetime™ Photo Organizer, the fastest, easiest photo organizer on the market. Lifetime provides unique SmartPhoto™ technology, which for the first time enables users to store, print, share, and upload photos with fast searchable data and editing parameters.

Lifetime’s SmartPhoto technology enables users to notate keywords on the ‘back’ of their digital photos. This user information—called ‘metadata’—is easily entered into Preclick’s copy-righted PhotoBack™ interface, and includes caption, subject, title, event, place and photo rating. Convenient pull-down lists maintain items already entered. Such powerful notations enable Preclick users to instantly find, group, and manage their growing photo collections. Photos can be exchanged with this embedded information between Preclick compatible users, products, and services as well as XMP™ users (Adobe’s industry-standard format), which makes the photo information visible in Adobe Photoshop and other supported software and services.

"Preclick’s Lifetime Organizer with SmartPhoto is arriving just in time. The next looming challenge for the digital imaging industry is helping camera owners find, organize and preserve their growing photo collections," said Ed Lee, Lyra Research.

Lifetime is the first photo product with an unlimited "undo command with memory." Each photo edit is stored on disk so the user can restore an edited or cropped photo to a previous or original version no matter how many changes are made.

Speed
Designed for speed and convenience, Lifetime downloads and installs in seconds. Users can scroll through 8 photos per second in Preclick’s intuitive filmstrip interface. The software automatically detects and acquires images from removable devices and cameras. And an "Organize" tab enables users to copy files to new locations or to removable media.

Easy-to-use
Lifetime is so easy it doesn’t even require conventional Windows menus or a manual. Parents, children, and photographers alike can master the product in minutes. Users manage their photo collections through four intuitive tabs—SmartPhoto, Organize Photos, Email Photos, and Print Photos.

Lifetime features powerful editing features despite its tiny size at under 800K. Features Include:
PicFix™ Tool automatically fixes brightness and color balance
SmartPhoto embedded metadata adds caption, subject, title, event, place & rating for easy and fast searches
Conversion to black and white and sepia
Cropping to 4x6, 5x7, and custom sizes
Unlimited Undo Command with memory
Edit, rotate and select photos for printing and emailing
Trashcan for deleting
Slide-show tool
Accurate red-eye reduction

"Preclick is the first company to focus on the ‘newly digital’ customer," said Brian Smiga, CEO, Preclick. Mr. Smiga designed the top-ranked information managers Actioneer® and Dynodex®. "It’s been a thrill to watch customers be able to quickly find, edit, fix, email, restore, and order professional prints. With our SmartPhoto and PhotoBack technology, Preclick will soon automate all the common tasks of sharing, ordering prints, backing up collections, and more."

In one click, customers can easily order prints with leading online photo-finishers, including Adorama and dotPhoto. Both photo retailers have licensed Preclick technology for their branded front-end applications at www.adorama.com and www.dotphoto.com.

We want to give a special thanks to our colleagues and friends at the other digital camera web sites who were with at many press functions through out the show. I can assure you we all have been working hard to report the news and many have been working on just a few hours sleep given the tremendous number of events and excitement going on in the industry at this time. Be sure to visit our friends at Steve's Digicams, The Imaging Resource, Digital Photography Review, Digital Camera Resource Page, and Let's Go Digital for their extensive coverage of PMA 2003.

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