Imaging Resource Interview: Darin Pepple, Panasonic USA

14:36 EST - As our time at CES 2011 came to a close, Dave and Shawn spent some time with Darin Pepple, Senior Product Marketing Manager for DSL Micro Four Thirds Digital Cameras, Panasonic USA. Darin had some interesting things to say about Micro Four Thirds cameras, the impact of cell phone cameras, as well as about the remarkable loyalty of Panasonic customers across many segments of their digital camera lineup.

Dave Etchells: Here's a question we've been asking a lot of people at the show: Mirrorless cameras have been really popular in Japan, somewhat less so in Europe, but much less so in the U.S. What do you think is behind the slower development in the U.S. market, and do you see any evidence of this changing now and in the future? Do you see any trend of increased adoption? Darin Pepple: What has happened... (More)

Imaging Resource Interview: Peter Ewen, Katie Roseman, and Sally Smith-Clemens, Olympus

13:08 EST - Convening something of a round table discussion, Dave Etchells, Publisher, and Shawn Barnett, Senior Editor of Imaging-Resource.com, joined Peter Ewen, DSLR Product Marketing Director, Katie Roseman, DSLR Product Manager, and Sally Smith Clemens, Product Manager, all of Olympus Imaging America Inc. The interview covers what Olympus sees coming for 2011, how a Pen camera was used in a feature film, as well as how new products are being received in both the Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds lines.

Dave Etchells: Olympus' Akira Watanabe said that 12 megapixels was enough for E-system sensors in 2009, but does this change any, now that Panasonic is offering 16 effective megapixels in their GH2? Do you see a demand for higher resolution in Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds cameras? Peter Ewen, Digital SLR Product Marketing Director: We still don't. We've seen some point-and-shoots at 14 and 16,... (More)

Imaging Resource Interview: Mark Weir, Sony

23:31 EST - Mark Weir, Senior Manager of Technology and Marketing at Sony Electronics sat down with Dave Etchells, Publisher, and Shawn Barnett, Senior Editor of Imaging-Resource.com for a discussion about Sony's latest and future products, including the promise of 3D capture across several of its products, and the company's intention to produce the long-awaited followup to the Sony Alpha A700.

Dave Etchells: Let's start with a question we've been asking everyone. The personal electronics space is changing radically. Apart from long zooms, how can digicams hold off mirrorless cameras with better image quality on the one side, and cellphone cameras that are good enough, but with better connectivity on the other? Mark Weir: I think what we're seeing is the emergence of compact digital cameras... (More)

Imaging Resource Interview: Michael Rubin, Casio

23:21 EST - Casio's always had a different approach to the digital camera market, so it was interesting to sit down with Michael Rubin, Director of Product Marketing, Digital Imaging Division at Casio America, to talk about their new products for 2011. Topics covered include the new TRYX camera, Casio's new multi-image capture strategies, and how pocket cameras will compete with camera phones in the future.

Dave Etchells, Imaging Resource: What's Casio's strategy for differentiating and building market share? What sorts of focus will we see from Casio this year? Mike Rubin, Director of Product Marketing, Digital Imaging Division, Casio: Here at CES, we've put our emphasis on HDR (High Dynamic Range) and HDR-Art imaging. We think HDR imaging is the future. The beauty of it is, it actually captures... (More)

Imaging Resource Interview: David Lee, Nikon

16:47 EST - We caught up with Nikon's Senior Vice President David Lee at CES 2011, and had a discussion about Nikon's views on SLRs, mirrorless digital cameras, and how the pocket camera will continue to survive with competition from cell phones and SLRs, among other things.

Dave Etchells: In the subframe SLR space, Nikon's been slower to increase megapixel counts than have some of its competitors. The D7000 took a noticeable resolution jump from its predecessors, though. How do you see SLR resolutions driven by actual end-user needs versus just market competition, and where do you think we'll be resolution-wise, five or ten years from now? David Lee: I think that when... (More)

Imaging Resource Interview: John Carlson, Pentax Imaging

13:29 EST - Pentax Imaging Company had a good 2010, with the introduction of several popular cameras, including the K-5, K-r, and the even more impressive and long-awaited 645D.

IR Publisher Dave Etchells and Senior Editor Shawn Barnett sat down at CES 2011 with John Carlson, Pentax Imaging Company's Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing to talk about the state of Pentax, and we discuss a few items sure to be of interest to Pentaxians. Dave Etchells, Imaging Resource: What's Pentax's take on the compact system camera, or mirrorless market? Is it important enough to warrant... (More)