COLOGNE, Germany, September 24, 2002 – Eastman Kodak Company is introducing a complete new family of compact, stylish Advanced Photo System (APS) cameras at Photokina, aimed at active consumers who want an easy-to-use compact camera that takes great pictures in virtually any situation.
“Portability and styling are what consumers say they want the most from a camera that is easy to use and takes great pictures,” said Atul Patel, European Marketing Manager, APS Cameras, Kodak. “As a consequence, we have focused our investment on APS to deliver a complete family, along with all new packaging and merchandising, that gives consumers the benefits they want. At the same time, this family gives retailers a product portfolio that extends the benefit of APS photography for consumers.”
Kodak is focusing its innovation in a way that will bring the benefits of APS to the greatest number of camera users. By giving consumers and retailers more of what they want, Kodak intends to stimulate sales of APS cameras, film and photofinishing services.
Smaller than a similarly featured 35 mm camera, the new APS cameras will have a high gloss, metallic finish, metal flake accents, and can be conveniently and easily carried around for any picture-taking moment. They are expanding on the highly successful "T" series camera platform Kodak innovated several years ago.
The cameras in the new line include key features such as:
- T20: Kodak’s most affordable Advantix camera – fully automatic operation with all the APS features.
- T30: Features fully automatic operation plus auto flash and self-timer.
- T40: Provides high fashion design that is pocket-sized; the flash retracts for protection while travelling.
- T50: Features Kodak’s unique flip flash design, which reduces red eye automatically and protects the lens while travelling.
- T60: Provides Autofocus quality along with Kodak’s unique flip fashion design.
- T70: Kodak’s most affordable Advantix zoom camera – 24mm to 40mm Zoom with self-timer, and exposure mode settings.
Kodak is offering retailers and consumers the most stylish and portable family of APS cameras across all popular price points, from a new lower priced model such as the T20, to fully featured zoom camera such as the T70.
In recent consumer research, Kodak asked more than 200 consumers to select the top benefits of photography (from a selection of 240 choices), including film, photofinishing and camera features. The results showed that the number one feature driving sales was a pocket-sized camera, specifically, "a camera small enough to go anywhere you go," consumers said. Separate research shows that camera design, style and colour play key roles in purchasing decisions, just as it is with cell phones, music players and other electronic devices.
These cameras will be available in April 2003, underscoring Kodak’s commitment to help consumers take the best possible pictures at the most affordable prices, anytime and anywhere.
Advanced photo system cameras and film use state-of-the-art technology to simplify picture-taking and help ensure better photos. Using magnetic technology, Kodak developed a way for camera and film to communicate the technical details of each shot. It removes the guesswork and lets consumers concentrate on the fun part of taking pictures – capturing the moment.
(Kodak and Advantix are trade marks)