Operation Photo Press Release

Operation Photo Announces Press Conference to Present Donated Digital Cameras to Military Families on Valentine’s Day and Extends National Initiative through Independence Day, 2005

Operation Photo, the national initiative founded by 30 Minute Photos Etc. to raise used digital cameras for donation to military families will hold a joint press conference with Operation Homefront, the non-profit military family support organization, to present donated digital cameras from across the nation to military families on Valentine’s Day.

(Irvine, CA) February 10, 2005—This is a national Valentine’s Day story certain to capture everyone’s emotions: Since its grassroots launch just one month ago, Operation Photo has received donated digital cameras from people and companies across the nation for donation to military families. www.operationphoto.us along with www.operationhomefront.net will host a press conference to discuss this national grassroots campaign in front of “a wall of digital cameras.” The initiative has been covered extensively by the digital camera, photography and military family support media and websites. National media including “The Chicago Tribune” and a live interview on the Fox Network News helped garner attention for this effort. Founded by Mitch Goldstone, a well-known photo industry leader and owner of 30 Minute Photos Etc., his objective was to boost morale of deployed service members and their families through the power of photographs. Goldstone got the id ea during a 7:00 AM call from professional photographer Jennifer Petersen (Ladera Ranch, CA ) who explained how important sharing pictures is for families separated by military deployment. Within hours he linked up with Operation Homefront and reached out to his national database of online photo customers—because all of them own digital cameras and many had older models packed away in their “appliance draws.”

Konica Minolta this week announced a 1.3% rise in quarterly operating profit, helped by sales of its new 6 megapixel Konica Minolta Dynax 7D digital SLR camera (pictured).

“Konica Minolta’s digital camera business turned to the black in the past quarter thanks to the successful launch in November of its “Dynax 7 Digital,” the firm’s first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangable lenses for non-professionals. This helped the firm’s photo imaging and camera division enjoy an operating profit of 1.4 billion yen in the quarter, marking its first profit in five quarters. In the year-ago period it posted a loss of 1.7 billion yen.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Profit Rises for Konica Minolta

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta Dynax 7D

Write a Review of the Konica Minolta Dynax 7D

Despite living in Paris for the last few months, I haven’t taken any photos of the Eiffel Tower at night (yet). It seems that I probably won’t be able to, or at least I shouldn’t if I want to stay within the boundaries of the law, as it seems that Eiffel Tower is actually copyrighted! The the lighting display which adorns the tower at night is copyrighted by SNTE, the company who mainitain it. Technically speaking, both amateur and professional photographers aren’t allowed to publish photographs of the Eiffel Tower at night without permission from SNTE. Bonkers.

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: The Fast Company Weblog - Eiffel Tower: Repossessed

Operation Photo Press Release

Operation Photo, National initiative to donate 10,000 used and older model digital cameras to military families by Valentine’s Day

The Eastman Kodak Company is donating one-hundred 3-mega pixel Kodak CX-6630 EasyShare digital cameras to Operation Photo for distribution to military families as part of Operation Photo’s national initiative to provide cameras to military families.Olympus Corp.  has announced that they are donating fifty Olympus digital cameras as well. Because Operation Photo (www.operationphoto.us) is receiving three-times as many requests for cameras as those being donated, Mitch Goldstone, founder of this national initiative is seeking support from other camera manufactures and from suppliers of memory cards and other accessories. Cameras are arriving from across the county and Operation Photo is listed on many digital camera and photography websites and on military-themed sites as well. Operation Photo was featured in The Chicago Tribune and on Fox Network News.

Olympus are the latest digital camera manufacturer to announce falling profits and a cut in its predicted sales the 2004/5 financial year. Olympus’ profits fell 62 percent, despite an increase in sales of 21%, as digital camera prices slumped and operating costs increased. This news follows similar announcements from Sony and Sanyo last week. Only Canon have announced a positive prediction for the future.

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: MarketWatch - Olympus profits slump, sales view cut

After yesterday’s news that Sony and Sanyo were cutting their sales predictions for the current year, Canon have announced that they expect to see sales rise in 2005, despite warnings of slowing growth and falling prices in the digital camera market.

“Canon said it sold 14.0 million digital cameras in 2004, falling short of its forecast of 14.7 million. It forecast sales to rise about 20 percent to 16.8 million this year, including 1.8 million digital single lens reflex (SLR) models.

Tanaka said prices of compact digital cameras would likely fall about 10 percent in 2005 after dropping 15 percent last year. But he said Canon would work to maintain margins and avoid the troubles faced by Olympus Corp. and some other makers whose camera divisions have fallen into the red.

Canon’s camera division boasts an operating profit margin of about 15 percent.”

Website: Reuters - Canon Q4 profit up 17 pct, sees record for 5th year

In stark contrast to Sanyo and Sony, who have both lowered their sales predictions for 2004 (see below), SanDisk have just announced record results for the current financial quarter.

SanDisk Press Release

SanDisk today Announced that they have posted record 4Q Operating Income and revenues ($549 million). Unit sales are also up 45% and Megabytes are up 110%. Gross Margin increases to 32% and Operating Margin is at 23%. They put the increases down to strong interest by the market in Digital Cameras, Mobile Handsets, Digital Audio Playeras and Flash Drives.

In more industry news, Sanyo are also reported to be lowering their sales predictions, following in the steps of Sony (see next article) and other manufacturers like Olympus. Maybe we aren’t upgrading to the new models as quickly as the manufacturers would like? :)

“Sanyo is expected to lower its digital camera production projection for the year to March to 12 million units from the current estimate of 14 million units, a downward-revised target set in October, informed sources said. The company is now likely to fall behind Sony Corp. and Canon Inc. on the global output ranking.”

Website: Forbes.com - Sanyo Set to Lose Position As No. 1 Digital Cameral Maker

In a brief Reuters article, Sony are reported to be cutting their forecast for digital camera sales this financial year by 1 million units, down to 14 million. A sign that the digital camera market is slowing down, or just that Sony and other manufacturers were too bold with their predictions? Sony have still managed a significant increase on 2003/04, however, when they sold 10 million digital cameras.

Website: Reuters- Sony cuts digital camera sales target for 04/05

Newegg.com Press Release

E-Marketer Tops Four Out of Eight Categories Including Best Place to Buy Core Components, Software and Digital Gear; Runner-Up in Three Others

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/—Newegg.com(R),(www.newegg.com), a leading IT and consumer electronics e-commerce retailer serving more than 3 million customers, today announced that Computer Shopper’s readers overwhelmingly recognized the company in the magazine’s 2004 Shoppers’ Choice Awards, voting Newegg.com to first place in four out of eight “Best Places to Buy” categories, including “Overall Best Place to Buy Online.”

Ampex Corporation Press Release

Jan. 24, 2005 Ampex Corporation (OTCBB:AEXCA) today announced that it has concluded license agreements with three manufacturers of digital still cameras based in Japan: PENTAX Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., which markets to consumers under the PANASONIC and other brands, and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. which markets under the JVC brand.

The agreements permit the use of several United States and foreign patents held by Ampex in the manufacture and sale of digital still cameras. The licenses provide that their terms are confidential.

Leica Press Release

Leica Camera AG, Solms, will establish a new Japanese subsidiary on March 1, 2005. The subsidiary, to be named Leica Camera Japan Co., Ltd., will take care of the promotion and distribution of Leica products in the important Japanese market. To date, these tasks have been performed by the independent distributor Nihon SiberHegner K.K. Leica products are already held in high esteem by Japanese customers for their quality, precision, and solidity. The Company’s creation of its own Japanese sales organisation will reinforce its service to the customers and will also stimulate sales increases.

Photoshop World Conference & Expo

LAS VEGAS IS CITY CHOSEN FOR PHOTOSHOP WORLD CONFERENCE & EXPO 2005 – WEST

March 8-10, 2005 – Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

TAMPA, FL – Monday, Jan. 24, 2005 – Photoshop World Conference & Expo, the largest Photoshop educational event in the world, is heading to the world-famous Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on March 8-10, 2005. Photoshop World Conference & Expo is sponsored Adobe Systems and produced bi-annually (once each on the east and west coasts) by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP).

Thousands of NAPP members, Photoshop users, and digital imaging professionals and novices worldwide are expected to descend on Vegas to learn from Photoshop World’s all-star instructor team. Each instructor, 28 in total, are considered an industry heavyweight either in Photoshop, digital photography, or motion graphics.

Some more airport related shenanigans for you this week, as a photographer from Derry, Northern Ireland, wins a court case against Manchester Airport, who took a picture of him without his consent as he passed through the airport.

“Mr Harkin said: “This is an important victory for passengers from across Northern Ireland who have endured many years of discrimination simply because they are from here.

“While I accept the need for security at airports, especially with the continuing threat from international terrorism, I strongly believed that ordering passengers to have their picture taken without explaining the reasons behind such requests was immoral and downright rude.

“The airport has now claimed the measures have nothing to do with terrorism laws, but are designed to meet Customs & Excise standards.”

Website: Derry Journal - Derry Journalist Makes Legal History

EDGE Tech Corp Press Release

EDGE Tech Corp Announces New Lifetime Warranty for Digital Media and Portable Storage Products

New warranty one of the industry’s longest

Dallas, TX - January 18, 2005—EDGE Tech Corp, a leading supplier of DRAM and Flash memory upgrades, portable computing products, storage devices, and other experience-enhancing technology solutions announced today a new lifetime warranty on its complete line of digital media products as well as the majority of its portable storage product line.

HP Press Release

HP Combining Imaging & Printing and Personal Systems Groups to Accelerate Profitable Growth and Leverage Its Portfolio

Retirement of Personal Systems Group EVP Duane Zitzner announced

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 14, 2005
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HP today announced that it is combining its Imaging and Printing Group and Personal Systems Group to accelerate profitable growth, leverage the power of its portfolio and strengthen its market position.

To continue to provide investors with transparency and visibility to financial performance, HP’s external segment reporting will not change.

The newly formed Imaging and Personal Systems Group (IPSG) will be led by Vyomesh Joshi, a 24-year veteran of HP, who has served for three years as executive vice president of the Imaging and Printing Group.

Kodak Press Release

UNICEF Ambassador Sir Roger Moore joins KODAK to celebrate $1million dollars raised for children

Geneva, Monday 10 January 2005 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore KBE, joined Chairman of Eastman Kodak SA Etienne Bourgeois in Geneva today to mark the $1 million milestone in the corporate partnership between Kodak and UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.  The impressive target was reached as Kodak’s 2004 ‘One Million Smiles’ appeal reached $150,000, largely due to the support of Kodak customers and employees, bringing the total donation to $1 million over four years.

The New York Times have published a thought-provoking look at their reasons for choosing their front-page photo from the Indian Ocean catastrophe.

“Two Mondays ago, the scale of the Indian Ocean catastrophe was just emerging from the incomplete earlier reports (from a Times article the day before: a tidal wave had “killed more than 150 people in Sri Lanka”). By the 4:30 Page 1 meeting, picture editors had examined more than 900 images of devastation to find the one that would stretch across five columns and nearly half the depth of Tuesday’s front page. Into a million homes came a grieving mother crouched beside the lifeless bodies of tiny children [photo], and perhaps more horrifying, three pairs of feet extending from beneath a white sheet in an upper corner, suggesting the presence beyond the frame of row upon awful row of the tsunami’s pitiless toll.”

Website: The New York Times - No Picture Tells the Truth. The Best Do Better Than That.

Dave Bushnell has sent me a disturbing email this morning, to let everyone know that the New York City Transit Authority Board may today impose a ban on all photography on its system (bus and subway). This has been threatened before early in 2004, but now it looks as though the ban will go ahead after all.

Over to Dave:

“An article in the New York Times this morning brought to light the fact that the New York City Transit Authority Board is about to approve a sweeping ban on photography in the New York City Transit system as a supposed anti-terrorism measure. Adoption of this rule would mean that the transit police would have the authority to arrest anyone using a camera on a bus or subway including tourists, artists, and journalists. This was the straw that broke my particular back in my tolerance for broad, anti-intellectual, unenforceable, publicity-driven measures that significantly hasten our march towards a full-out police state while quietly failing to provide the safety they promise.”

Polaroid Holding Company and Petters Group Worldwide Press Release

—Transaction Will Drive Global Growth of Polaroid Branded Products in Imaging and Consumer Electronics—

—Shareholders of Polaroid Holding Company Common Stock to Receive $12.08 Per Share in Transaction Valued at $426 Million—

—One Equity Partners Agrees to Vote its Shares in Favor of Transaction—

WALTHAM, Mass., and MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Polaroid Holding Company and Petters Group Worldwide today announced that they have reached an agreement for Petters, through an affiliate, to acquire Polaroid, by merger, for $12.08 per share in cash. The total value of the transaction is approximately $426 million. Following the merger, Polaroid will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Petters and Polaroid Holding Company will no longer be a publicly traded company. Polaroid’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the merger agreement. In connection with the transaction, JPMorgan and Lehman Brothers delivered fairness opinions.