Kodak adds EasyShare Max, Mini, Sport, Touch pocket cams
updated 07:30 am EST, Tue January 4, 2011
Kodak EasyShare Mini, Sport, Touch hit CES 2011
Kodak as part of its CES unveilings brought out four new point-and-shoots, each with its own standout trick. The EasyShare Max becomes its new long-zoom camera and has a 28-840mm f2.8, stabilized 30X lens. It simultaneously focuses more on image quality and is Kodak's first-ever camera with a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor to improve its low light handling.
The Max can record 1080p video and is due to ship on March 9 for $330.
Others focus on convenience first. The EasyShare Touch centers on a three-inch, capacitive touchscreen as its near exclusive interface. It touts a 14-megapixel sensor with 720p video, a 5X lens and onboard software that can auto-sort photos into smart albums based on keywords, time taken and recognized faces. Kodak expects it to ship around April 15 for $150.
The EasyShare Mini shifts attention to size: the camera has roughly front surface area of a credit card. It still manages a 10-megapixel sensor and a 3X lens as well as a front mirror to help with self-portraits. While it can only shoot VGA video, it should cost just $100 and ship on March 18.
Kodak's final major launch, the EasyShare Sport is its first waterproof camera and can both stay immersed in 10 feet of water as well as resist heavy amounts of dust or other particles. It too is limited to VGA shooting and uses a fixed-zoom lens to get some of its resistance, but it can capture a slightly higher 12 megapixels. The decision brings the price down to just $80 for its predicted March 18 ship date.
