Kodak Announces New Digital Cameras and Printer Dock

May 4, 2004 | Mark Goldstein | Digital Compact Cameras | Comment |

KODAK EASYSHARE Printer DockEastman Kodak Company Press Release 04/05/04

Expanded EASYSHARE Digital Photography System Simplifies Picture Taking and Sharing

Company Introduces New Printer Dock With PICTBRIDGE Compatibility, Three New Digital Cameras, Software Update

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 4—Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled additions to its EASYSHARE consumer digital photography system that further simplify picture taking and sharing, led by a second generation EASYSHARE printer dock that works with multiple brands of digital cameras. The redesigned product allows people to make real, waterproof KODAK 4x6-inch photos at home in as little as 90 seconds.

Making the printer dock compatible with cameras from other manufacturers via PICTBRIDGE technology reflects Kodak?s commitment to simplifying the way people take, organize, share and print digital photos. The new products also demonstrate the company?s determination to accelerate its participation in the fast-growing market for digital cameras and accessories, part of a broader corporate strategy to generate profitable growth from digital markets. Kodak is the fastest-growing digital still camera brand, according to a recent global study by IDC.

New products also include three EASYSHARE digital cameras and the latest version of EASYSHARE software for WINDOWS OS. All combine Kodak?s hallmark ease-of-operation with performance features to deliver premium-quality digital pictures and prints.

?Ever since we introduced the KODAK EASYSHARE system in 2001, our consumer digital products have been synonymous with ease-of-use and quality. Our latest products take these concepts to another level,? said Richard Stearns, general manager of home printing systems for Kodak?s Digital & Film Imaging Systems operation.

?We?ve introduced new features like our on-camera ?favorites? digital photo album to make sharing pictures even simpler. Just as significantly, we?ve employed PICTBRIDGE technology to make it easy for owners of many digital camera brands to experience the simplicity and quality that current EASYSHARE system users already enjoy. People aren?t just buying a camera or photo printer ? they?re getting a digital photography system.?

Among the additions are the sleek, redesigned EASYSHARE printer dock (US$149 MSRP) for one-touch, at-home printing; Kodak?s latest performance-oriented digital camera, the 4-megapixel, 4x optical zoom EASYSHARE DX7440 (US$349 MSRP); and the 5-megapixel EASYSHARE CX7530 (US$299 MSRP) and 3-megapixel EASYSHARE CX7330 (US$199 MSRP) cameras, which are ideal for point-and-shoot digital photographers. In addition, updated EASYSHARE software for WINDOWS OS v3.4 makes it simple to view, organize, share and print digital pictures. Both the EASYSHARE printer dock and CX7530 camera incorporate PICTBRIDGE technology for computer-free printing.

KODAK EASYSHARE Printer DockRedesigned KODAK EASYSHARE Printer Dock
Following the highly successful introduction of its first two printer docks last year, Kodak has redesigned the EASYSHARE printer dock to be even more consumer friendly. The new version, available worldwide beginning this June for a suggested retail price of US$149, incorporates PICTBRIDGE technology for connecting to multiple brands of digital cameras, an optional external memory card reader, and a dedicated multi-function connector for KODAK EASYSHARE 600/6000 and 700/7000-series digital cameras.

All connection options allow direct 4 x 6-inch thermal picture printing (full size and multiple images per sheet) with or without a computer.

Providing both convenience and exceptional picture quality, the sleek, portable KODAK EASYSHARE printer dock is the simplest way to get real KODAK prints at home at the touch of a button. KODAK EASYSHARE digital camera owners also benefit from one-touch picture transfer to a connected computer and camera battery recharging ? plus reconditioning for improved battery performance ? in less than 3.5 hours.

KODAK EASYSHARE DX7440KODAK EASYSHARE DX7440 Zoom Digital Camera
The new KODAK EASYSHARE DX7440 camera integrates high-performance photographic controls and optics with consumer-friendly features for stunning picture quality. It includes 4-megapixel resolution, a 4X (33 ? 132 mm equivalent) professional-quality SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON optical zoom lens, and rapid 0.2 second click-to-capture rating.

In addition, the DX7440 model delivers unsurpassed image quality among 4 MP digital cameras, thanks in part to its KODAK Color Science image processing chip. The camera will be available in June 2004 for a suggested retail price of US$349.

KODAK EASYSHARE CX750KODAK EASYSHARE CX7530 and CX7330 Zoom Digital Cameras
The 5-megapixel EASYSHARE CX7530 camera delivers crisp, vibrant prints thanks to a KODAK RETINAR all-glass, aspherical, 3X optical zoom lens; multi-zone auto-focus system, and nine easily accessible picture shooting modes ? all for just US$299 MSRP.

PICTBRIDGE compatibility allows direct-from-camera printing, while Kodak?s new ?camera favorites? feature makes it simple ? with a touch of the exclusive ?Share? button ? to store multiple pictures in an on-camera digital album. These pictures can then be shared anytime on the camera?s large, 1.8-inch, high-resolution (134,000 pixels) indoor/outdoor LCD screen, e-mailed, or printed. The CX7530 will be available in July 2004.

Combining fully-automatic point-and-shoot convenience with 3-megapixel resolution and a 3X optical zoom lens, the EASYSHARE CX7330 digital camera makes taking and sharing high-quality pictures one-touch simple. The CX7330 camera will be available in June 2004 for US$199 MSRP.

KODAK EASYSHARE CX7330KODAK EASYSHARE Software
All EASYSHARE cameras include KODAK EASYSHARE software for WINDOWS and MACINTOSH systems, providing effortless digital picture transfer, organization, basic editing, sharing and printing. The software?s exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature ? which takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak ? helps WINDOWS OS users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from home inkjet printers, while significantly reducing the trial, error and waste usually associated with home photo printing.

Version 3.4 for WINDOWS OS ? which is also compatible with other manufacturers? digital cameras ? may be downloaded for free at http://www.kodak.com/go/easysharesw.

The award-winning KODAK EASYSHARE consumer digital photography system ? consisting of cameras, software, printer docks and camera docks, inkjet and thermal papers, and accessories ? makes it simple for anyone to take, organize, share and print high quality digital pictures. More information on KODAK EASYSHARE products is available at www.kodak.com/go/EasyShare.

About Eastman Kodak Company and infoimaging
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images ? for memories, for information, for entertainment.  The company is a major participant in infoimaging, a $385 billion industry composed of devices (digital cameras and flat-panel displays), infrastructure (online networks and delivery systems for images) and services & media (software, film and paper enabling people to access, analyze and print images).  With sales of $13.3 billion in 2003, the company comprises several businesses: Health, supplying the healthcare industry with traditional and digital image capture and output products and services; Commercial Printing, offering on-demand color printing and networking publishing systems; Commercial Imaging, offering image capture, output and storage products and services to businesses and government; Display & Components, which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers optics and imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers; and Digital & Film Imaging Systems, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services.

(Kodak, EasyShare and Retinar are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. Schneider-Kreuznach and Variogon are trademarks of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH used under license by Eastman Kodak Company.)