Perhaps the most famous camera marketing quote ever published was “Just press the shutter and we will do the rest” or some variation to that effect. Well, it won’t be the case anymore since Kodak has decided to stop producing digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames. They will lay off all workers involved in those departments and license the “Kodak” name to one or more third parties who are interested to sell digital cameras, etc. with the kodak brand on them. Kodak will continue to be active in some photographic markets, including desktop inkjet printers and retail-based photo kiosks. The image sensor business was sold a couple of months ago.

PRESS RELEASE

Kodak Focuses Consumer Business On More Profitable Growth Opportunities

Plans to phase out dedicated capture devices business

ROCHESTER, N.Y., February 09 — Eastman Kodak Company (the “Company”) (OTB: EKDKQ.PK) announced today that, as a result of its ongoing strategic review process and commitment to drive sustainable profitability through its most valuable business lines, it plans to phase out its dedicated capture devices business – comprising digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames – in the first half of 2012. Kodak will instead expand its current brand licensing program, and seek licensees in these categories. Following this decision, Kodak’s Consumer Business will include online and retail-based photo printing, as well as desktop inkjet printing.

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Well there’s real food and then plastic food. The latter we all know about: the real version does not look anything like the plastified one we see in ads. Shame to the photographers and companies indulging in this blatant lie. But real food photography can be beautiful. Witness those by Leemei Tan, Author of My Cooking Hut.

Read the interview at: Digital Camera World.

Have a good DSLR and have always wanted to photograph the stars? Here’s a tutorial from Bob Atkins on just how to go about doing it with your camera, a sturdy tripod and a telephoto lens. It covers focusing, exposure, image stacking, shutter speed to use, and how to photograph the Moon (how we all start), star trails, the Sun (yikes, but beautiful) and the planets.

Read the tutorial at: Bob Atkins.

Michael Chiusano over at Luminous Landscape has a must-read article about an era gone by when “Kodak meant photography.” What’s interesting is the part about how we misread the market when we are on the top of the world, so to speak. The “we know best” attitude that looks down on new competitors is always the beginning of the end of any empire. The same people who made Kodak film great and #1 in the world refuse to “compromise” to meet competitors’ onslaught. Threats are not taken seriously.

Read the article at: Luminous Landscape.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5

CLASSIC OM DESIGN REVIVED INTO A NEW STATE OF THE ART DIGITAL CAMERA – THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW: OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5

The Olympus E-M5 Unites an Intuitive Built-In Electronic Viewfinder with the World’s First*1 5-Axis Image Stabilization and World’s Fastest*2 Autofocusing System inside a Powerfully Portable and Rugged Dustproof and Splashproof Body

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 7, 2012, 9:00pm – Today Olympus builds upon the 40-year legacy of the OM SLR film camera series and marks the beginning of the new digital imaging era with the launch of the Olympus E-M5, the first of the new Olympus OM-D (OM Digital) Series of Micro Four Thirds™ products. Designed to meet the needs of advanced photographers, the Olympus E-M5 is packed with a built-in electronic viewfinder, superior image technology, blazing fast speed and total creative control in a classic, rugged body ready for sand, sun, sleet or snow.

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Olympus TOUGH TG-820

NEW OLYMPUS TG-820 iHS IS TOUGHER ON THE OUTSIDE AND SMARTER ON THE INSIDE FOR INCREDIBLE IMAGE QUALITY ANYWHERE

iHS Technology Brings Intelligence, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed Performance to Active Families and Adrenaline Junkies Alike So They Can Focus on Fun

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 7, 2012 – The Olympus digital camera line-up for spring features a next-generation Olympus TOUGH compact that sets a new benchmark for Waterproof, Shockproof, Freezeproof, Crushproof and Dustproof performance. Combining proven durability with superb image quality courtesy of the new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) family of technologies, the Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS has both brains and brawn. iHS harnesses the power of a new 12-megapixel BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor and the TruePic VI image processor (originally developed for DSLR cameras) to dramatically improve low-light performance, speed up camera response time, enhance scene and subject recognition and double zoom magnification without losing image quality.

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Olympus SZ-31MR

NEW OLYMPUS SZ-31MR iHS DIGITAL CAMERA GETS YOU SO CLOSE TO THE ACTION, YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT

iHS Technology, High-Resolution Touch LCD, and 24x Zoom Extends the Power and Performance of the Olympus Long Zoom Line

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 7, 2012 – The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS camera packs incredible power and performance into a single, compact and lightweight body thanks to new enhancements to the popular Long Zoom line. Like its predecessor, the SZ-31MR iHS incorporates revolutionary Multi-Recording functionality that simultaneously captures 1080p HD Video and 16-Megapixel still images without missing a frame. But the innovative Olympus SZ-31MR iHS goes further by combining an outstanding 24x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens (25-600 mm zoom equivalent in 35-mm format) with a new touch panel LCD and powerful new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) technologies that capture excellent images and videos in the most challenging backlit and low light conditions.

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Nikon D800 HD Video: “Joy Ride” by Sandro Miller from Nikon_USA on Vimeo.

Acclaimed photographer Sandro Miller creates a short-film with the new Nikon D800 tackling challenging lighting and motion with amazing video quality (contains graphic images).

And here’s the Behind the Scenes:

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