Argus shows new digicams aplenty
By
Mike Tomkins
(Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 23:17 EST)
Argus Camera, an American company that begin life with its "Model A" camera manufactured in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1936, showed numerous new or recently announced digicams at CES.
Starting with the most impressive of the company's announcements, we looked at the Argus DC-3810. This is a 5 megapixel (2560 x 1920) digital camera, with a fairly sturdy - if rather generic looking - plastic case housing an 8 - 24mm f/3.4 - 3.6 3x optical zoom lens. Argus is billing the DC-3810 as "the first 5.2 Mega Pixel camera to break the $500 price barrier" - and whilst this is debateable (Olympus' C-50 Zoom can be had for just a hair below $500), there's no question that the DC-3810 is at the low end of the price scale. Other features include a CompactFlash slot (32MB card bundled), 1.8" LCD display, built-in flash, TV and USB connectivity and a self-timer. Exposure and focusing are controlled automatically, as you'd probably expect in an entry-level camera. | | | |
Argus' DC-3810 digital camera, front and rear views. | Next up are the ST-2520 and ST-2550 4-in-1 digital cameras. We only saw the -2520, but the pair are identical except resolution and the amount of flash memory included. The -2520 is a 1.3 megapixel camera with 8MB flash, and the -2550 is a 2.1 megapixel camera with 16MB flash. Both cameras feature fixed focus, fixed focal-length lenses and a small viewfinder in a "pen" form-factor. A flash unit / battery pack can be attached to the side of the camera for untethered still and video useage, or the camera can be connected to a Windows PC via USB to function as a webcam or "security camera" (taking photos only when movement is detected). There's also a built-in laser pointer which can be used to help with aiming the camera, and a small LCD info display. Sharp-eyed readers will notice a different model number on the rear of the unit - it appears that the ST-2520 and ST-2550 are actually based on Pretec's DigiPen-1301. | | | | | |
Argus' ST-2520 pen camera | One actually announced last October for scheduled delivery by the start of 2003 was the Argus DC-1540, noteable for a remarkably low price of $50 (although the resolution is equally low at just a hair over 100,000 pixels (352 x 288). Again, this pen-shaped camera features a fixed focus, fixed focal-length lens and an optical viewfinder, as well as an LCD info display on the rear. There's no flash on the DC-1540, but the camera has a hinge in the middle that allows it to be folded in half, the base functioning as a sort of stand for the top half of the camera. The DC-1540 can capture still images or video, and function as a webcam; it has 2MB of internal memory (enough for 80 images). Connectivity is via USB, and power comes from two AAA batteries. | | | | | |
Argus' DC-1540 pen camera | Another camera we saw was the Argus USB-1810 - an impressively small camera that is designed to be hung around your neck like a pendant. The strap includes a connector to attach it to the necklace, and the strap goes through the cap on the end of the camera - which covers a USB connector. The camera is plugged into a USB port to transfer its VGA (640 x 480 pixel) images which are stored on 32MB of built-in flash memory. The camera body is made of metal, and the camera uses a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. It is being billed as "the smallest digital camera available with no drivers, no cables and no [memory card] slot". | | | |
Argus' USB-1810 pen camera | Two further cameras announced were the Argus SL-2660 and SL-2650, cameras featuring a resolution of 1.3 megapixels, 16MB of flash memory, built-in flash, and rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. Both cameras offer still, video, webcam and security cam modes; the SL-2660 adds a 1.3" LCD display. | | | |
Argus' SL-2660 digital camera | Two new products that weren't on display at the show (at least, not that we saw) rounded out Argus' announcements. The USB-1800 is a USB pen camera with 16MB flash memory, digital still / video camera, webcam mode, and the ability to act as a file storage device. Resolution isn't specified. The PDA-1500 is billed as the "first Megapixel CF card camera", with a resolution of 1.3 megapixels and compatibility with Windows CE 3.0 or PocketPC 2002. It has both a rotary head, and an optical viewfinder. The press photo for the CF camera is incorrectly labelled, but identifies the camera's heritage - the photo has the model number CC33CF, the sibling of Opcom Group's CC130CF PDA-CAM, a 1.3 megapixel CompactFlash camera. | | | |
Argus' USB-1800 digital camera (top) and PDA-1500 CF digital camera (bottom) | One further camera shown at CES - but not mentioned in Argus' press releases or on their website - was the SL-2800. We unfortunately have no specs for the camera, which was in a credit card form-factor, but two photos front and back are shown below. | | | |
Argus' SL-2800 digital camera |
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Original Source Press Release:
| ARGUS BREAKS PRICE BARRIER FOR 5.2 MEGA PIXEL CAMERAS New Offering Leads Industry in Functionality at the Lowest Price
LAS VEGAS, NV- (January 8th-12th, 2003) Consumer Electronics Show-Booth #33064 - Argus Camera, a leading provider of quality digital, 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS) cameras, today announced the first 5.2 Mega Pixel camera to break the $500 price barrier. The DC-3810 is now available for just $499.95-far less than competitors' prices for cameras with similar functionality.
"This is a true breakthrough in the camera market as a whole as Argus has now made it possible for consumers for a low cost to harness the power of high-end photographic technology previously completely out of reach because of sky-high sticker prices," said Bill Pearson, CEO of Argus. "Argus is working hard to bring the best technology available to consumers at low cost; it's been our mission for decades and this is yet another example of our reaching that goal."
The DC-3810 camera will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas beginning on Jan. 9. It can be viewed at CES booth #33064.
The DC-3810 has all the features consumers should expect from a high-end 5.2 Mega Pixel digital camera with CCD. It includes 3X optical zoom, a multi-function strobe flash, a self-timer, a 1.8-inch color LCD screen, auto-focus capability, 32 MB compact flash card, TV out, and USB interface. The DC-3810 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $499.95.
About Argus Camera
Argus Camera is based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., in suburban Chicago. Founded in 1936, the company introduced the first low-cost 35mm camera to the world and has been named the "Great American Camera Company" by the Smithsonian Institute. Today, the company offers a wide range of photographic products and supplies, including 35mm cameras, APS cameras, single use type cameras, power zoom cameras, digital cameras and other imaging products and accessories. Argus cameras are sold in such retail outlets as Kmart, Ritz Camera, Office Max, Ames, Meijer, Fred Meyer, ShopKo, Camera World, Bartell Drug, and on the Internet at www.800.com. For more information on Argus and its full line of products, call 1.847.228.5300; write 1100 Howard Street, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; email to [email protected]; or visit the company's Web site at www.arguscamera.com.
ARGUS CAMERA INTRODUCES LINE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS THAT GOES WHERE NO CAMERA HAS GONE BEFORE
Pocket-Sized Cameras Perfect for Wide Range of Consumer Needs
LAS VEGAS, NV- (January 8th-12th, 2003) Consumer Electronics Show-Booth #33064 - Argus Camera, a leading provider of quality digital, 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS) cameras, today announced an extensive lineup of digital cameras that literally fit in your pocket or purse. The cameras will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas beginning on Jan. 9.
"These Argus products truly meet consumer demand by providing tremendous functionality in the smallest of packages," said Bill Pearson, CEO of Argus. "Consumers look to Argus to innovate the solutions they demand in cameras, and we're thrilled to continue with this camera lineup our rich tradition of low-cost, high-feature cameras."
The four key pocket-sized products, available for viewing at CES booth #33064, include the SL-2600, SL-2650, USB-1800, and USB-1810. All feature comprehensive digital-camera functionality plus additional user-demanded offerings to make the cameras even more attractive to a wide range of consumers.
The SL-2660 and SL-2650 give consumers the functionality of a digital still camera, a video cam, a PC cam, and a security cam all in one package. They offer 1.3 Mega Pixels, 16 MB flash memory, a strobe flash, and a rechargeable li-ion battery. The SL-2660 also has a 1.3-inch TFT screen on the back of the camera. The SL-2660 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $169.99 and the SL-2650 of $149.99.
Making its debut at CES, the USB-1800 is a 4-in-1 camera: a digital camera, a PC cam, a video camera and an internal USB port. Offering 16MB of internal memory, the USB-1800 can also be used as a storage device for documents and large data files. The USB-1800 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $99.95.
Finally, the USB-1810 is the smallest digital camera available with no drivers, no cables and no slot. This necklace CAM offers a 350K VGA (640 x 480 resolution) digital camera and memory stick, a deluxe metal body, 32 MB flash memory and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. The USB-1810 has a suggested retail price of $99.95.
About Argus Camera
Argus Camera is based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., in suburban Chicago. Founded in 1936, the company introduced the first low-cost 35mm camera to the world and has been named the "Great American Camera Company" by the Smithsonian Institute. Today, the company offers a wide range of photographic products and supplies, including 35mm cameras, APS cameras, single use type cameras, power zoom cameras, digital cameras and other imaging products and accessories. Argus cameras are sold in such retail outlets as Kmart, Ritz Camera, Office Max, Ames, Meijer, Fred Meyer, ShopKo, Camera World, Bartell Drug, and on the Internet at www.800.com. For more information on Argus and its full line of products, call 1.847.228.5300; write 1100 Howard Street, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; email to [email protected]; or visit the company's Web site at www.arguscamera.com.
ARGUS CAMERA SHOWCASES WIDE ARRAY OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
Cameras for Every Type of Consumer Featured at the Consumer Electronics Show
LAS VEGAS, NV- (January 8th-12th, 2003) Consumer Electronics Show-Booth #33064 - Argus Camera, a leading provider of quality digital, 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS) cameras, today announced it will showcase a wide array of digital cameras at the Consumer Electronics Show. At the show, held in Las Vegas beginning on Jan. 8, Argus will feature several new digital camera models.
"We're excited to display several of our outstanding camera products at CES this year and look forward to continuing to show why Argus uniquely meets demand from consumers by providing high-quality, low-cost photography solutions," said Bill Pearson, CEO of Argus.
The Argus cameras featured at CES offer the following features and all can be viewed at CES booth #33064 - PDA-1500: The PDA 1500 is the first Megapixel CF card camera, offering 1.3 Megapixels. It has a rotary head and an optical viewfinder, is WinCE 3.0 or Pocket PC 2002 compatible, and fits into the compact card slot of a pocket PC. The PDA-1500 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $149.95.
- DC-1540: The DC-1540 3-in-1 digital camera is an essential tool for today's computer-savvy consumers. The DC-1540 can be used as a digital camera, a PC cam or a video camera and then can be folded up to fit in a pocket or purse. It offers two megabytes of internal memory and the convenience of USB plug and play compatibility, plus consumers get everything they need to send video or still images using a PC. Designed to be truly portable, the DC-1540 uses two AAA batteries enabling the taking of up to 80 pictures with a resolution of 352x288 pixels while away from the computer. It also features a 10-second self timer, the ability to power off after being idle for 30 seconds and a frame rate of 25 frames per second for transmitting video images. Plus it comes with a comprehensive software package from ArcSoft. The DC-1540 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $34.99.
- SL-2660, SL-2650: The SL-2660 and SL-2650 give consumers the functionality of a digital still camera, a video cam, a PC cam, and a security cam all in one package. They offer 1.3 megapixels, 16 MB flash memory, a strobe flash, and a rechargeable li-ion battery. The Sl-2660 also has a 1.3-inch TFT screen on the back of the camera. The SL-2660 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $169.99 and the SL-2650 of $149.99.
- ST-2520, ST-2550: The ST line of 4-in-1 digital cameras provide a digital still, video still, web cam and security cam all in one. ST-2520 includes 1.3 megapixels and 8MB memory at a suggested retail price of $139.95, ST2550 includes 2.1 megapixels and 16MB memory at a suggested retail price of $249.95. AAA batteries are included in each camera package.
- DC-3810: The DC-3810 has all the features you would expect from a high-end 5.2 megapixels digital camera with CCD. It includes 3X optical zoom, a multi-function strobe flash, a self-timer, a 1.8-inch color LCD screen, auto-focus capability, 16MB compact flash card, 12 frame VGA out, TV out, and USB interface. The DC-3810 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $499.95.
- USB-1810: The USB-1810 is the smallest digital camera available with no drivers, no cables and no slot. This necklace CAM offers a 350K VGA (640X480 resolution) digital camera and memory stick, a deluxe metal body, 32MB flash memory and a rechargeable Li-ion battery The USB-1810 has a suggested retail price of $99.95
- USB-1800: Making its debut at CES, the USB-1800 is a 4-in-1 camera: a digital camera, a PC cam, a video camera and an internal USB port. Offering 16MB of internal memory, the USB-1800 can also be used as a storage device for documents and large data files. The USB-1800 has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $99.95.
About Argus Camera
Argus Camera is based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., in suburban Chicago. Founded in 1936, the company introduced the first low-cost 35mm camera to the world and has been named the "Great American Camera Company" by the Smithsonian Institute. Today, the company offers a wide range of photographic products and supplies, including 35mm cameras, APS cameras, single use type cameras, power zoom cameras, digital cameras and other imaging products and accessories. Argus cameras are sold in such retail outlets as Kmart, Ritz Camera, Office Max, Ames, Meijer, Fred Meyer, ShopKo, Camera World, Bartell Drug, and on the Internet at www.800.com. For more information on Argus and its full line of products, call 1.847.228.5300; write 1100 Howard Street, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; email to [email protected]; or visit the company's Web site at www.arguscamera.com.
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