GE branded digital cameras are now being sold at Pamida stores throughout the Midwest. Pamida is now selling two models of the GE digital camera line at all of its stores: the A730 (MSRP $99.99) and the E1030 ($199.95).
"We're thrilled to have GE cameras available in Pamida stores," says Hiroshi "Hugh" Komiya, Chairman and CEO of General Imaging. "Pamida is another very important member of our retail team."
Pamida is a regional retailer headquartered in Omaha, Neb., which operates 214 stores throughout 16 states, primarily in the Midwest. Pamida carries a wide variety of merchandise including apparel, home electronics, domestics, seasonal items, toys, housewares and grocery offerings, and features top-quality name brands. In addition, the company operates pharmacies in 128 retail stores and offers free prescription mail-out service throughout all Pamida markets. Pamida is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
The GE A730 includes features one would expect from a much more expensive camera, including 7 megapixels of resolution, a 3x zoom, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. The E1030 has 10 megapixels, a 3x zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD screen.
The 10 megapixel NV15 and 12 megapixel NV20, two new models added to Samsung's revolutionary NV series of advanced P&S digital cameras, are now shipping in time for the upcoming holiday season. The two new cameras feature the sleek, elegant design and innovative Smart Touch interface that have become the hallmarks of the NV Series. Both cameras also feature premium Schneider optics with a 3x optical zoom.
"This is the next generation of Samsung's award-winning NV series of digital cameras," says Stewart Henderson, Vice President Marketing, Samsung Opto-Electronics America. "This is not your typical family of point-and-shoot digital cameras. At Samsung, we take great pride in the NV series because of the firsts that it brings to market, including our revolutionary Smart Touch interface, as well as the WOW factor that makes the cameras stand out from the crowd."
The NV15 and NV20 can also shoot at ISO 3200, and boast an improved Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) feature as well as Samsung's new Auto Contrast Balance (ACB) and Image Noise Reduction modes. ACB automatically adjusts the brightness of subjects composed in harsh lighting, such as those that are back-lit, and the Image Noise Reduction helps limit the amount of noise in captured images, especially those shot at higher ISO settings.
NV20 has a $349 MSRP, and the NV15 has a $249 MSRP. For more information, visit www.samsungcamerausa.com.
Samsung today announced the launch of two new entry-level digital cameras - the 7.2 megapixel S760 and the 8.1 megapixel S860.
The compact S760 and S860 feature a 3x optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 38~105mm) Samsung SHD lens, and offer shooters Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) to help minimize the effect of camera shake and produce sharp, clear images, especially in low-light environments. Users can also take advantage of advanced features such as Face Detection and Self Portrait mode.
"Samsung brings a fresh perspective to the world of entry-level digital cameras with its S-Series," says Stewart Henderson, Vice President of Marketing, Samsung Opto-Electronics America. "The S-Series offers the entry-level photographer much more than just family of bare-bones digital cameras, and that's especially true with the new S760 and S860. Building on previous S-Series models, the S760 and 860 combine a number of advanced and fun features, all which are non-intimidating, easy to use and which encourage the end-user to experiment with all that the cameras have to offer."
Both the S860 and S760 will be available in January. For more information, visit www.samsungcamerausa.com.
In 2007, First Texas Products hit the market hard with an industry changing innovation. iGEN 20/20 is a “Night Vision Viewer” that uses state-of-the-art image processing technology, taking the night vision market to an entirely new level. Because it does not use traditional intensifier tube technology, the unit works day or night.
The Night Vision Viewer can be connected to real-time video making it possible to record in complete darkness. The user can adjust the exposure time to enhance the light-gathering capabilities and it has programmable time out features. iGEN 20/20 offers a variety of color output choices and it has enhanced infrared sensitivity that is double that of the intensifier tube technology.
And just when you think there is no improving on perfection, they have done it again! iGEN IC has all the features of the original unit but includes image capture capability. It truly is the world’s first picture taking night scope. Equipped with a SD memory card slot, the unit captures black and white images on a standard memory card. The images are saved as JPEG and TIFF format and can be easily transferred to a computer- no special software or accessories are needed.
Both units have an all glass 2.6x lens that provides 70-ft field of view and ambient light amplification of 650 times. iGEN 20/20 and iGEN IC are superior in quality, resolution and clarity to anything else on the market and they deliver stunning image quality every time. Great for camping, hiking, sailing, wildlife observation and much more; both units can be used day or night and are equipped with a tripod mount. If you have ever considered purchasing a night vision device, now is the time!
Here's more proof that CES is gobbling up yet another peripheral electronics trade shows...this time in the form of PMA. Nearly half the South Hall here at the show is full of digital camera makers, digital camera accessories and far more "prosumer" digital camera devices than last year's CES show.
One of the brightest is this photo storage device from Digital Foci. With a 3.6" LCD screen, storage capacities up to 160GB and more card readers than most of its competitors combined, the Picture Porter Elite is designed to replace a laptop for photographers who routinely out-shoot the capacities of their memroy cards and are forced to lug their entire notebook rig just to keep clearing off the card. And because after a vacation full of shooting photos you've still got a plane ride back home, the device doubles as a portable media player with video and audio capabilities.
Digital photo frames are a dime a dozen here at the show, but here are a few that stand out above the field.With an expected retail around $100, this multi-photo digital frame from Nextar features hardwood accents and space for both digital and paper photo prints in a collage-type layout. Visit www.nextar.com. The MemoryFrame from DSI Central is the largest we've seen on display at the show -- 15" TFT LCD! With built-in WiFi, 256MB of internal storage, MP3 and video playback, as well as a variety of desktop mounts, wall mounts and wooden accent frames. Visit www.dsicentral.com.
Naneu Pro, a manufacturer of high quality, innovative camera, video, laptop and portable audio cases at affordable prices, is pleased to announce the K3L, an updated version of the best-selling AdventureK3, that now features a 15.4” laptop compartment.
Created for photographers or photojournalists, the new model in the Adventure Series is stylish backpack designed to withstand the elements while providing maximum security, greater capacity and easy access to lenses and accessories. Lightweight, constructed of a water-resistant 1680D Ballistic Nylon, the K3L has a unique “AirFlow Suspention System” (patent pending) that keeps the backpack from coming in contact with the user’s back, allowing air to circulate between the back and the pack itself. This uncommon design keeps the user much cooler, and more comfortable. Wherever travels take you, the K3L is a photo backpack that can be worn comfortably all day long. The durable spring steel frame provides a flexible, shock-absorbing and lightweight structure.
The K3L’s main compartment is composed of a top section suitable for day gear and a bottom section housing a padded insert for a camera system, the divider between the top and bottom areas being removable to offer one large compartment for general use. By popular demand, the K3 has been upgraded for 2007 to feature a dedicated padded compartment for most 15.4” laptops. The laptop compartment zippers are now water repellent for more safety.
The frame can also playback video with sound, including MPEG, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMA and AVI files, at their native resolutions. In addition to being able to control the SP3200 directly from the unit, consumers can also operate the frame via RF remote control. With an operating range of over 100 feet, the RF remote gives consumers the ability to navigate through the SP3200’s graphical user interface and change settings from a significant distance. With 256MB of internal memory, the $899 frame will be available through specialty retailers nationwide, "sometime in the future."
The popularity of digital imaging in America continues to grow as an entire segment with new peripheral innovations driving greater sales and profits. In addition to traditional digital cameras, photo printers, ink cartridges and photo paper, digital imaging accessories are an increasingly popular way to supplement each retail transaction and add to the bottom line for consumer electronics dealers, big and small. Leading this new wave of growth in the industry is the Art Profolio brand of digital image storage and presentation albums and envelopes from ITOYA.
With household hobbyists as well as commercial artists and professional photographers printing their own digital images using digital printers and expensive printer paper, the Art Profolio by ITOYA serves as a perfect companion to add value for both the consumer and dealer. Quality-made storage and presentation products at affordable prices, along with an unrivaled assortment of sizes and formats, make the Art Profolio the perfect companion for every digital printer paper sale.
“With digital printer companies continually offering more and more paper sizes and with consumers embracing each new offering, there was a serious void in where to store and organize these expensive digital printer papers,” says Ronald Weese, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ITOYA. “The Art Profolio books and envelopes offer more ways and sizes than any other product to securely store, present and archive traditional and oversized prints. These books are a must have for any serious dealer who sells digital printers and paper.”
Art Profolio books are quality crafted from Polypropylene and are acid-free in construction, making them perfect for storing photos and film. The poly sleeves in each Art Profolio book securely store and organize images and help preserve them from dust and ambient moisture. The rigid cover allows the Art Profolio to securely transport all types of images.
Art Profolio appeals to a wide variety of consumers, from the general consumer hobbyist to fine artists, commercial artists, graphic designers, professional and student photographers, and sales people. With its value price and quality construction, the Art Profolio is perfect for storing all sorts of products, including commercial art, photography, sales literature, student projects, blueprints, posters and more. Within the Art Profolio line, there are several unique series of books from which to choose. Each series has its own unique attributes for the consumer’s specific needs.
Available in several price points, the Art Profolio products range in size from 4x6 and 8.5x11 all the way to 13x19, 16x20, 17x22 and 18x24. Both permanently bound sleeve page books, as well as refillable, multi-ring binders are offered, along with vertical portrait and horizontal landscape formats. No other storage and presentation product offers the wide array of sizes and options as the Art Profolio brand by ITOYA.
STMicroelectronics has introduced market’s smallest single-chip camera sensor for mobile applications. Coupling low space requirements with advanced image processing capabilities, ST’s latest two-megapixel mobile-phone camera sensor addresses consumers’ appetite for full-featured imaging solutions in ever-more popular thin-profiled handsets.
The VD6725 is a 1/5-inch optical-format imaging sensor, with an active pixel array of 1600x1200 (UXGA), a high-performance image processor and camera control functions on a single chip. The VD6725 fits in phone camera modules smaller than 6x6x .8 mm thanks to its 1.75-micron pixel design and ST’s advanced sensor architecture.
ST’s new single-chip camera sensor produces digital video streams at 15 frames per second (fps) at full UXGA resolution and 30 fps at VGA resolution. It supports fast context switching, which means that the sensor switches extremely fast from ‘preview’ to ‘capture mode’, minimizing the delay of the capture control.
Hi-Touch Imaging Technologies, Inc. is now offering the HiTi K65 digital photo frame to consumers through a variety of online retailers, and seeking brick-and-mortar electronics dealers for distribution in the United States.
The digital photo grame features a crystal clear 7" TFT LCD screen with maximum resolution of 800x480 -- ideal for 4x6" images. With 32MB of internal memry, as well as integrated CF, SD, MMC, MS (and MS Pro) and xD slots, users can create slideshows of thousands of images. The unit also includes built-in clock and alarm functionality, making it an attractive replacement to your conventional bedside radio.
The HiTi K65 is available in three colors -- brushed aluminum grey, pearl white and pearl burgundy -- each with a unique clear plastic besel that makes the frame appear to above a desk on when mounted on a wall.
The HiTi K65 is available now. For more information, click here.
The new line of JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorders feature a super-slim design that makes them the world’s smallest hard drive camcorders on the market.
For 2008, there will be Everio camcorders available in sapphire blue, ruby red, diamond silver and onyx black, allowing consumers to choose a model based on features, budget and style. Also new is Laser Touch, a touch-sensitive scroll bar that simplifies operation, both 30GB and 60GB models, and a new design that’s some 20 percent smaller than last year’s entry-level model. In addition, a higher-end model offers higher-resolution digital stills by virtue of a seven megapixel CCD, making it unnecessary for people to carry both a camcorder and a digital still camera. This model is the first in the world to have an embedded 1.3” hard disk drive (30GB), which allowed JVC to integrate a large 1/2.5” CCD and its accompanying large optical lens section, without getting bulky — thereby providing the quality benefits of a large lens while maintaining a small body and offering large capacity.
General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, has added Walgreens stores to the list of retailers carrying its products. Walgreens has been selling the entire lineup of GE digital cameras through its Web site, and the relationship is now expanding to put GE cameras in all of the pharmacy giant's brick-and-mortar stores.
"Walgreens is a vibrant American institution with high visibility," says Hiroshi "Hugh" Komiya, Chairman and CEO of General Imaging. "It is great to be able to add such an important retailer to our team."
Walgreens stores will stock the A735 and the E850, both in black, beginning April 15, 2008. The GE A735, a seven mexapixel shooter, is one of the first cameras on the market to include blink detection and smile detection, ensuring that the user captures just the right moment when taking shots of people. The E850 has been one of GE's most popular cameras, in part because it boasts a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens. The E850 features eight megapixels, 5X zoom, a three-inch LCD, and a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens.
Casio America, Inc. took the wraps off a new EXILIM today, the 8 megapixel Zoom EX-Z9. Designed to be as user-friendly as possible, the camera has a 2.6-inch wide LCD display, 3X optical zoom, 23 Best Shot Modes and face detection technology help users take high quality photos without having to adjust camera settings.
“Whether you are taking snap shots of your family at the park or your friends at a concert, this high-quality digital camera is sure to satisfy all of your photographic wants and needs,” says Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.”
The EX-Z9 comes loaded with other useful features including Anti Shake DSP which reduces photo blur from shaky hands or moving subjects, allowing users to shoot images with ease and confidence. Easy Mode simplifies the camera settings to three easy menus (image size, flash and self timer).
Available at retail before month's end, the EX-Z9 will be available in pink, black, silver and orange and will have an MSRP of $159.99.
General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, is continuing its successful penetration of the digital camera market, unveiling today its first 12-megapixel camera through multichannel retailer HSN.
HSN will offer the E1235 at the special introductory price of $199.95, including a black camera case and an ArcSoftsoftware package including Print Creations Greeting Card, Print Creations Scrapbook, CD & DVD LabelMaker, DVD Slideshow and PhotoImpression. The camera is also available online at www.hsn.com.
GE branded cameras have popped up at a variety of retailers across the country in the past year, and have quickly established a footing in the competitive, entry-level digicam market.
The GE E1235 also marks the company's first foray into more advanced and user-friendly features including blink detection and smile detection, ensuring that the user captures just the right moment in people shots. After a shot is taken, the blink detection feature alerts the user that the subject’s eyes were closed and allows another attempt. The smile detection feature works by tripping the shutter automatically when the subject smiles.
SED International, Inc. has signed a distribution agreement with Vivitar Corporation to supply the company's popular line of ViviCam digital cameras and video recorders.
"We are pleased that they [SED] recognize the quality, value and beauty of our Vivitar digital camera line and are now offering Vivitar to their loyal customers," says Denis Karpeles, Senior Vice President of Sales, Vivitar North America.
The ViviCam series of digital cameras is one of the broadest product lines of digital cameras on the market today spanning the spectrum of interest from novice through prosumerdigital photographer. Vivitar offers 12-megapixel through three-megapixel digital cameras.
"Vivitar gives SED International a large opportunity to sell all channels of business which SED services. Vivitar's large variety of cameras covers the consumer who needs the basic digital camera to the consumer who wants to use video or make high resolution photos. This is a great opportunity for SED," says Tom Roper, VP & GMM of Consumer Electronics for SED International.
Vivitar is the latest in a rapidly growing lineup of consumer electronics vendor partners for the distributor in the U.S. market. Other recent additions include Samsung, JVC, Universal Remote Control, Bell'O and Audiovox. SED offers a strong mix of services and programs for CE and IT resellers, including display programs, floor planning, same day shipping, and the recently rolled out SED Rewards incentive program.
