Kodak Easyshare P880 digital camera launched

Kodak Easyshare P880

The Kodak Easyshare P880 incorporates advanced, yet easy-to-use features as well as Kodak Colour Science image processing, providing highly accurate colour every time. The P880 digital camera features 8.0 Megapixels, a 24-140mm (equivalent on a 35mm camera) wide-angle lens and a f/2.8-f/4.1 professional quality Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon zoom lens, which provides more expansive picture-taking capability. The 24-140mm wide-angle setting is ideal for landscape photography and allows the user to get closer to subjects, and also allows the 'pulling in' of foreground objects with greater depth of field. It also makes taking photographs indoors easier, by removing barriers such as walls, which can often make it difficult to get all the desired subjects into a shot. The more creative photographer can take advantage of this wide perspective for unique portraiture, or to capture a greater scenic expanse for later cropping.

With the integrated lens, users of the P880 can optically zoom up to 140mm (5.8x) using the manual zoom ring for precise framing. A 25-point hybrid Auto-Focus system provides accurate focussing, even in conditions with low light. Enhanced, flexible lighting is also available with the P880's hot shoe flash connector, and the PC sync port for off-camera flash options.

The P880 offers multiple shooting modes, including program, aperture and shutter priorities, fully manual and custom modes. To make rapid camera adjustments, dial-in multiple pre-set scene modes or switch to automatic mode. Unlike dSLRs, the P880 can also capture VGA video at 30 frames per second, and offers users the unique ability to use full optical zoom, then trim, cut, splice and merge clips on the camera.

For the first time, Kodak has added RAW file support to its Easyshare camera line, enabling more post-capture flexibility for enthusiasts. These files allow for in-camera JPEG and TIFF extraction, as well as RAW editing within new Kodak Easyshare software v5.1. This new format embeds a dynamic JPEG within the file, permitting rapid RAW file viewing and organisation in the software, meaning no RAW conversion is required.

The P880 is highly portable, weighing only 19.6oz (556g), including battery and SD card, while its compact body (4.6W x 3.8H x 3.6D in.), including lens, provides an excellent in-hand fit and feel.

Other features of the P880 are:
1) Live histogram with highlight and shadow clipping for immediate on-camera exposure assessment
2) A 2.5-inch high resolution LCD
3) A 237,000 pixel electronic viewfinder with diopter
4) Shutter speeds ranging from 16-1/4000 second, plus bulb setting
5) One-push custom white balance
6) Digital red-eye reduction
7) Manually raised pop-up flash
8) High capacity lithium ion battery
9) Compatible with Kodak Easyshare printer and camera docks, and ImageLink print system
10) PictBridge compatible for direct printing without a PC

Category Sales Director, DSC and Home Printing, of Eastman Kodak Company, David Hughes said: While serious photographers demand advanced photographic controls, theyre also craving easier-to-use cameras and systems an area in which Kodak excels.

He added: The P-Series breaks new ground by deftly combining high performance and simplicity. Its flagship, the EASYSHARE P880 camera, introduces a new, highly compelling alternative to pricier, bulkier dSLRs.

To complement the P-Series of digital cameras Kodak are also introducing a range of accessories, which include the external Kodak P20 Zoom Flash, which intelligently and automatically interacts with the P880 to provide additional flash range and even greater lighting control. Photographers will also benefit from the 1.4x Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar tele-converter and Kodak SD 1Gb memory cards, both compatible with the P880 model.

The P880 camera also includes new Kodak Easyshare software version 5 for Windows and Macintosh systems, providing effortless digital picture organisation, editing, sharing and printing. The One Touch to Better Pictures feature, exclusive to Kodak, takes advantage of proprietary colour technologies to enable users to get vibrant, true-to-life prints from inkjet printers.

Owners of the P880 can also connect to the Kodak Easyshare Gallery to share their shots with friends and family around the world. This service also offers picture printing, and creative options such as photo calendars and framing, at no additional charge.