Agfa returns to the digicam market
By
Mike Tomkins
(Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - 10:33 EDT)
The Agfa brandname can be found on digital cameras once more, courtesy of a deal which we first told readers about a few weeks ago.
A German company by the name of plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. announced its new AgfaPhoto DC-735 digital camera at the Photokina trade show, distributed under an exclusive license from AgfaPhoto Holding that allows plawa to sell its digital cameras under the AgfaPhoto brand. The AgfaPhoto DC-732 looks to be a fairly straightforward update of an existing 5.3 megapixel Polaroid-branded digital camera model, the Polaroid m536 (not surprising given that plawa also offers Polaroid-branded cameras under license in Europe). Features include a seven megapixel CCD imager, with a 40 - 109mm equivalent 2.8x optical zoom lens, plus a 2.5" TFT LCD display, built-in flash, movie mode with sound, Lithium Ion battery, and a metal chassis. According to the release, the company plans to introduce three more cameras - the DC-530i, DC-630x and DC-633x - priced from €109 to €149 in the five and six megapixel segments. These will be followed by a ten megapixel model which is currently in development. AgfaPhoto digital cameras will be sold by Plawa in Germany, and through distributors in other European markets. Singaporean company Flextronics Int'l Ltd. - which recently announced a deal to manufacture and distribute digital cameras in cooperation with Kodak - has apparently also been lined up as a partner by Plawa. A part of the digital camera market from the mid 1990s through to 2001, Agfa's lineup included about fifteen models. These spanned a wide range, all the way from entry-level consumer cameras to pro-oriented models such as a a sixteen megapixel scanning studio camera with a Nikon lens mount, and a rebranded Minolta digital SLR. Fierce competition saw the company drop out of the game after announcing the ePhoto CL45 in March of 2001. In late 2004, Agfa-Gevaert N.V. finalised the sale of its consumer imaging business to the newly created AgfaPhoto GmbH, and just over six months later the newly formed entity filed for bankruptcy protection. The AgfaPhoto DC-735 will be available in Germany from October 9th, priced at €199. | AgfaPhoto DC-735 |  | | General | | Camera Type | Compact | | Manufacturer | AgfaPhoto | | Model Number | DC-735 | | Dimensions | 3.5 x 2.2 x 0.9"
90.1 x 55.5 x 22.0mm | | Weight | 125.0 g
4.4 oz | | Image Capture | | Sensor Type | CCD
7.00 megapixels (effective) | | Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 3:2 | | Image Dimensions | 3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)
3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)
2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels)
2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
| | Image Preview / Review | | Viewfinder | No | | LCD | 2.5", 201,096 pixels | | Lens | | Lens Type | 2.8x optical zoom | | Image Stabilization | No | | Focal Length | 6.6 - 18.1mm (actual)
40 - 109mm (35mm equivalent) | | Aperture Range | f/3.27 (wide) / f/5.44 (tele) - ??? | | Focusing Range | Normal: 4" - infinity (9 cm - infinity) | | Exposure | | ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 50, 100, 200 | | Shutter Speed | 8 - 1/2000 second | | Metering Modes | Center-weighted, multi, spot | | Exposure Compensation | +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments | | White Balance | Image Sensor - Auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent_H, fluorescent_L, custom, Manual | | Internal Flash | Modes: Auto, off/on, red eye reduction, slow sync.
Range: 1 - 2 meters | | Creative | | Scene Modes | P ortrait, landscape, night scen e, kids, beach & snow, backlight, close up, ID photo, fireworks, sunset, text | | Digital Zoom | 4x | | Time Lapse | No | | Movie Format | AVI (MPEG-4) with audio
640x480 and 320x240
Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second | | Storage | | Recording Medium | SD/MMC, Built-in | | File System | Complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF) | | File Format | JPEG (EXIF 2.2) | | Connectivity | | Video | Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable | | Computer | USB 2.0 High Speed | | Power | | Battery Type | Lithium Ion rechargeable | | Battery Form Factor | Proprietary | | Product Bundle | | Battery / Charger | Proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger | | Flash Memory | 16.0MB built-in memory | | Other | | Internal Microphone | Yes | | Internal Speaker | Yes | | Remote Control | No | | More Photos |  |  | | |
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Original Source Press Release:
| photokina 2006: the first AGFAPHOTO digital camera Cologne/Uhingen, 27 September 2006. Manufacturer plawa, exclusive licensee of the AGFAPHOTO brand for digital cameras, presents the first model of its new product line at photokina. The DC-735 will be on view at the “AGFAPHOTO digital camera“ stand B021 in hall 2.1. From 9 October 2006 the seven megapixel AGFAPHOTO digital camera will be available across Germany for 199 euros (RRP incl. VAT). In addition to a high-quality CCD sensor the 22 millimetre slim line metal housing contains a 2.5 inch bright display, a 3x optical zoom, a lithium ion rechargeable battery and a combined USB 2.0 and video interface. plawa will be announcing more AGFAPHOTO digital cameras before the end of this year: in the five to six megapixel category the DC-530i, DC-630x and DC-633x will be launched at prices between 109 and 149 euros. A ten megapixel model is also in preparation and will be available from specialist dealers at a price of 229 euros. “ The digital AGFAPHOTO cameras will convince many prospective buyers with their excellent range of features, state-of-the-art technology and very competitive prices. In Germany alone around seven million digital cameras will be bought this year. We want to earn a significant share of this market by providing top products. Dealers are supporting us in this and putting their faith in the strong AGFAPHOTO brand and our many years of product experience“, Michael Roessler, Managing Director of plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG, said in describing the new beginning of the tradition-rich brand in the camera market. The Companies:
The innovation marketer plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1969 and quickly established itself as the market leader in Germany for slide frames and film spools. In the year 2000 came the entry into digital photography. Today the company markets AGFAPHOTO digital cameras. The portfolio also includes trend products in the fields of digital music as well as mobile TV and video. plawa is the master distributor of the world’s first laser keyboard produced in series, the Celluon Laserkey. From Uhingen the company supplies specialist photo, IT and entertainment electronics dealers, wholesalers and food retailers across Europe with standard range and promotion products. www.plawa.com AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH is the exclusive licensee for the brand AGFAPHOTO. AGFAPHOTO is used in licence from Agfa-Gevaert AG. AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH has given an exclusive sub-licence for digital cameras to the manufacturer and distributor plawa. |
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