Both Hewlett-Packard Co and Eastman Kodak Co have unveiled their latest megapixel digital cameras that offer the image quality of a 35mm print. The Kodak DC200 is $730 and aimed at both business and home users. It has a feature Kodak says is unique to its cameras that internally processes images into ‘finished file’ format. This means it automatically compresses the picture into JPEG format, so reducing download time and enabling images to be put straight from the camera into a software application. The camera is compatible with the Flashpix format, weighs 340 grams and has a fixed focus lens and an 1152 by 864 pixel image sensor which provides 5 x 7 inch pictures in 24 bit color. The DC200 has a 14mm color liquid crystal display. In addition to megapixel resolution files, users can select VGA resolution pictures for web pages and applications that can have lower resolutions. It does not store images internally but uses memory cards. It can store up to 60 images on the 4Mb Compact Flash card supplied and optional 10Mb and 20Mb cards are also available. The Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart C20 camera is aimed at the home consumer and is expected to sell for $700 in the US, out sometime in the spring. It includes new PhotoSmart photo-finishing software, which automatically downloads photos when the camera is connected to a PC. An integrated TV connection with an extra-long cable lets users display photographs on their TVs. The camera comes with the same 4Mb removable Compact Flash memory card from Sandisk Corp. Memory cards up to 30Mb are available.
