Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home - Gizmodo Comments

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

Worf — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:16:10 EST

Actually, if you go to places like Costco and do printouts there, they often "print" your digital photos onto photo paper as it comes out much nicer (and cheaper) than the traditional photo printer method. The "printer" images onto a high-res CRT screen which exposes the photo paper and it's then processed the traditional way. But 35mm print film has one major advantage over digital. It's got a larger dynamic range. Digital camera sensors are traditionally compared to having about 5 stops of dynamic range (similar to slide film), while print film can have 9 or more stops. That's why you can use really crappy cameras (disposable, point and shoot) and have decent looking photos - the photo processor can correct for horribly over and underexposed images because the film can still record the details. On digital, if you don't get the exposure right, you'd blow the highlights, or end up with detailess shadows.

Worf

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

Littlebitsofpaper — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:57:49 EST

Well it's hard being number 5 or 6 or whatever. Minolta certainly made some fantastic innovations over the years but never really garnered a pro base. The downward spiral for them was when they introduced the x00 series cameras to replace the x000 series. QC was horrid and the return rate skyrocketed, the HT series that followed was even worse ... I would hope they continue making the light meters though.

Littlebitsofpaper

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

craig — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 11:26:57 EST

adriang: it means KM will stop selling ALL cameras, film, and mini-labs. If you want a KM-branded consumer device for some reason, go buy one quickly. Otherwise, your options will be limited to copiers and (office) printers. Wheee.

craig

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

psybertech — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 11:16:02 EST

KM is also withdrawing from the mini-lab side of things.
http://konicaminolta.com/releases/2006/0119_01_01.html [konicaminolta.com]
That leaves two major players (Noritsu & Fuji) and a revamped comppany (DigitalPortal - aka KISS) still producing traditional labs. (and yes, they all print from digital images as well as film (neg/pos).
No one is printing images on real, traditional (cheaper) photographic, silver halide paper. Everyone seems content with spending their time and money on home solutions when they finally decide to print anything at all.
It is funny to me that most people take more pictures now on their camera or device since they don't have to buy film or pay for processing, but no one has a single print to show me!
I HATE seeing your family or fun shots on your 2.5" Horiz. - MAX size LCD! (even worse 1.5"!!!)Come on!!! Get real!
Make prints people!!!!
Support your local lab or even local wholesale or major retailer and make some 4x5.5 or 4x6 or larger prints!It still is cheaper and faster than doing it yourself and people can actually see if your eyes are open in your images.
MAKE MORE PRINTS PEOPLE!

psybertech

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

airship — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:51:03 EST

First Fujica. Now Konica/Minolta. Film is dead. Even Hasselblad is producing super-hires digital cameras now - 39 megapixels.

airship

Konica Minolta Takes Toys and Goes Home

adriang — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:27:53 EST

does this include the Dimage compact series or just the DSLRs?

adriang