| Features |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Columns |
|
|
|
|
| Departments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Rangefinder
Magazine
April 2003
Industry
News
Fuji Appoints VP of Corporate Communications
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. has appointed Camilla Jenkins to the newly created
position of vice president of Corporation Communications. Jenkins will
be responsible for directing the design and implementation of Fujifilm’s
internal and external communications programs and oversee several functions
including public relations, corporate contributions, community relations,
financial relations and environmental and safety affairs. Information:
(212) 704-8147, www.fujifilm.com.
Fuji Announces 4th Generation Super
CCD
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. introduced its proprietary fourth generation
Super CCD technology, which is said to provide increased resolution,
and extended
dynamic range, creating for the first time pictures that can begin to
match those taken with film. The technology will be marketed under two
names—Super CCD HR and Super CCD SR—and will appear in products
later this year. The new Super CCD HR (high resolution) incorporates
a total of 6.63 million pixels. The chip size is tiny, but at this writing,
it is not exactly clear the actual size of the chip. Cameras equipped
with this imaging device can produce up to 12.3 million recording pixels,
resulting in remarkably high-resolution images. Incorporating the same
miniaturization technology as the HR version, the Super CCD SR also features
a new configuration that produces approximately four times wider dynamic
range than the third-generation Super CCD. The new Super CCD SR incorporates
6.7 million total pixels (3.35 million S-pixels and 3.35 million R-pixels).
Super CCD SR produces a smooth and wide tonal range without losing detail
in dark areas or washing out in bright areas.
Minolta Technology Wins
Praise
Minolta Corporation’s new DiMAGE Xi 3.2 megapixel digital camera
and Minolta AREA-AF technology, as featured in the Minolta Freedom Zoom
160 Date and Freedom Zoom 140 Date 35mm point-and-shoot cameras, have
each received annual “Best of What’s New” awards in
the Photo category from Popular Science magazine. Popular Science editors
reviewed thousands of new products and innovations for 2002 and chose
just 100 winners in 10 categories for inclusion in the December “Best
of What’s New” issue. To win, a product or technology must
represent a significant step forward in its unique category.
Hennessy Retires From Winthrop-Atkins
Jack Hennessy, 65, announced his retirement from the Winthrop-Atkins
Company, where he has been executive vice president since 1972. Hennessy
will continue to act as a consultant to The Chilcote Company, managing
relationships with large corporate accounts, as well as consulting for
other industry suppliers from his offices in Kingston, Massachusetts.
The Chilcote Company is a supplier of photo packaging products, through
its subsidiaries Taprell Loomis, Topflight, Winthrop-Atkins and Wooden
Nickel Albums. The Chilcote Company is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Shriro Acquires Hasselblad
The Shriro Group has acquired the majority shareholding in Victor Hasselblad
AB. Says Göran Bernhoff, president and CEO of Victor Hasselblad
AB, “Shriro is our distributor in several key Asian markets and
has, shown its capability together with Hasselblad in developing the
Japanese and Chinese markets as major outlets for Hasselblad.” The
change of ownership will not mean any major changes in the Hasselblad
business philosophy. Göran Bernhoff will remain as president and
CEO of the company and the new owners stress the importance of the continuity
of the management in the years ahead. Management will remain as minority
shareholders.
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., announced that William
J. DiMinno, senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Photo Imaging
Group, will retire from the company later this year. Paul D’Andrea,
currently vice president and general manager of Fujifilm’s Consumer
Markets Division, will assume Mr. DiMinno’s title and responsibilities,
effective April 1, 2003, at which time Mr. DiMinno will serve the company
as senior vice president, Strategic National Accounts, until his retirement
on October 1, 2003. Both will report to Stanley E. Freimuth, executive
vice president and chief operating officer, who made the announcement.
David Williams Image CDs For Sale
David Williams, the popular and award-winning wedding and portrait photographer
from down under, is now offering two CDs, one containing about 120 wedding
and 120 portrait images. The other CD is a visual library of detail miniatures
for weddings—what to shoot and why (includes instructional presentation).
Computers need to run Microsoft Powerpoint or equivalent for the Detail
Minis CD. The CDs will retail for $40 each or $70 for the pair (+postage
and handling.) Contact: Bambi Cantrell at www.cantrellportrait.com 2989
N. Main Street, Walnut Creek, California 94597; (925) 934-1994.
Epson Launches Hardware Recycling Program
Epson America Inc. is making it easy and affordable for customers who
care about the environment to help protect the Earth's resources with
the launch of a hardware recycling program. The web-based Epson Recycle
Program is geared toward people who do not have convenient locations
to drop off electronics for recycling. Participants will pay $10 per
product to cover the cost of shipping and recycling eligible Epson hardware.
In return, the customer will receive a $5 electronic coupon that can
be used on a future purchase at the Epson Store, making customers’ net
cost $5. Individuals, businesses or organizations may recycle up to 10
products at a time. More information about the recycling program is available
on Epson America's website at http://www.epson.com/recycle
Junior
Journalists Ran Jan 2003
More than 150 third grade students from Highview Elementary School in
Hartsdale, New York, interviewed Congressman Benjamin Gilman (R-20th)
as part of the Junior Journalist Press Conference hosted by Fuji Photo
Film U.S.A., Inc. The students presented Gilman with a package of photos
and letters written by the students to be delivered to the troops overseas.
Information: www.fujifilm.com.
Giant Pandas Celebrate Anniversary
Giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang recently celebrated the first anniversary
of their arrival at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park.
The giant panda exhibit, named the Fujifilm Giant Panda Conservation
Habitat, will soon be expanded to include a large, new yard for the pandas
designed specifically to meet their preferences and to highlight the
Zoo’s giant panda research and education program. The yard will
also be the anchor of a major renovation at the zoo called Asia Trail.
Information: (202) 673-0209.
|
