Rochester, NY—Kodak returned to the International CES for the first time in three years, showcasing a range of imaging-related products, from a 360º action video camera to a baby monitoring system. Among the products introduced were the Kodak Smartphone, a line of headphones and earbuds, batteries, flash drives and storage media, and Kodak PixPro digital and video cameras. Photo-related accessories and equipment included binoculars, camera cases and memory card readers.
“Kodak has one of the world’s most powerful brands, and we intend to renew it and apply to it to expand our consumer business and grow the company,” said Steven Overman, president, Consumer & Film, and chief marketing officer, Kodak. “The world’s love affair with Kodak Moments has spanned more than a century. Building on that legacy, Kodak today presents a broad range of consumer products—reliable, accessible and easy-to-use.”
Mobile and DSLR Accessories
Sakar International and Kodak announced an expansion of their partnership and licensing agreement with the preview of mobile and DSLR accessories. The company’s new smartphone cradle, all-in-1 HDMI smartphone cable and selfie tripod with remote shutter release are designed to satisfy the new generation of phoneographers—enthusiasts whose camera of choice is the smartphone.
For DSLR enthusiasts, Kodak introduced a professional-grade DSLR rig stabilizer that’s engineered to provide added support to capture that perfect shot, even in challenging environments. And the Rolling DSLR bag and Knapsack transport equipment with “protection and style.” In addition, the OTG/USB card reader for SD and microSD enables easy access to compact, high-capacity photo storage for OTG capable smartphones and tablets. The new line of Kodak-branded products manufactured and distributed by Sakar will be available starting in Q1 2015.
Kodak PixPro Digital Cameras and Devices
Kodak PixPro Astro Zoom. This year’s lineup brings new cosmetic designs, more megapixels, long zooms and an electronic viewfinder diopter dial for the flagship PixPro Astro Zoom camera. The flagship AZ652 Astro Zoom boasts a 65x optical zoom; a 52mm compatible lens filter; 1080p Full HD video recording; Wi-Fi connectivity; a 3-inch, articulating LCD; optical image stabilization; and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It will retail for $379.99 in Q3 2015.
Additional models in the Astro Zoom camera line include: the all-new cosmetically designed AZ252, a 25x optical zoom model; the AZ422 with a 20MP CCD sensor; and the AZ527 with a 52x optical zoom lens and a 20MP BSI CMOS sensor. They range from $179.99 to $329.99.
Continuing to support the consumer need for affordable, dedicated cameras, the 2015 PixPro lineup also includes three Friendly Zoom point-and-shoot models. The FZ43, FZ53 and FZ152 offer new cosmetic designs and entry-level 4x, 5x and 15x optical zoom lenses, respectively, for $79.99 to $149.99.
Kodak PixPro Smart Lens Cameras. Following up the SL10 and SL25 introduced by JK Imaging in 2014, the SL5 debuted, offering consumers another option to outfit their iOS or Android smartphones or devices with a compact, portable snap-on lens. The SL5 Smart Lens camera features a 28–280mm, 5x optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, Full HD video recording, a built-in flash, a microSD card slot and wireless remote operation via the free PixPro Remote Viewer app. It will be available early 2015. $179.99. kodakpixpro.com
Simplifying the Smartphone Experience: Kodak IM5 Smartphone
Along with specialist mobile device manufacturer Bullitt Group, Kodak unveiled the Kodak IM5 smartphone. With a 5-inch Full HD screen, the Android smartphone provides a simple, intuitive user interface for quick access to key functions, such as calling, messaging, camera and contacts. Advanced remote management software allows friends and family to provide help if needed via a PC or tablet.
Since this is Kodak, imaging is central to the phone, and the IM5 is engineered to make “taking, storing, sharing and printing photos quick and simple.” The 13MP autofocus rear camera comes with image management software that, at the touch of a button, lets users edit photographs and display them on the device, share them on social media or print using an app compatible with home printers, as well as future printing and sharing services. There’s also a 5MP front camera.
The phone runs Android OS (Kit-Kat, which will be upgraded to Lollipop) with an octa-core 1.7Ghz. Its 8GB ROM/1GB RAM is expandable to 32GB via a microSD card. It also comes with a dedicated app store (called “Apps”) that offers users handpicked applications suited to their interests; there’s also full access to Google Play.
Available in white or black, the IM5 smartphone will be available globally, starting with a rollout in Europe at the end of Q1 2015. kodak.com
