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Plawa's AgfaPhoto DC735 digital camera. Courtesy of Plawa, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Agfa returns to the digicam market
By
(Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - 10:33 EDT)

The Agfa brandname can be found on digital cameras once more, courtesy of a deal which we first told readers about a few weeks ago.

A German company by the name of plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. announced its new AgfaPhoto DC-735 digital camera at the Photokina trade show, distributed under an exclusive license from AgfaPhoto Holding that allows plawa to sell its digital cameras under the AgfaPhoto brand. The AgfaPhoto DC-732 looks to be a fairly straightforward update of an existing 5.3 megapixel Polaroid-branded digital camera model, the Polaroid m536 (not surprising given that plawa also offers Polaroid-branded cameras under license in Europe). Features include a seven megapixel CCD imager, with a 40 - 109mm equivalent 2.8x optical zoom lens, plus a 2.5" TFT LCD display, built-in flash, movie mode with sound, Lithium Ion battery, and a metal chassis.

According to the release, the company plans to introduce three more cameras - the DC-530i, DC-630x and DC-633x - priced from €109 to €149 in the five and six megapixel segments. These will be followed by a ten megapixel model which is currently in development. AgfaPhoto digital cameras will be sold by Plawa in Germany, and through distributors in other European markets. Singaporean company Flextronics Int'l Ltd. - which recently announced a deal to manufacture and distribute digital cameras in cooperation with Kodak - has apparently also been lined up as a partner by Plawa.

A part of the digital camera market from the mid 1990s through to 2001, Agfa's lineup included about fifteen models. These spanned a wide range, all the way from entry-level consumer cameras to pro-oriented models such as a a sixteen megapixel scanning studio camera with a Nikon lens mount, and a rebranded Minolta digital SLR. Fierce competition saw the company drop out of the game after announcing the ePhoto CL45 in March of 2001. In late 2004, Agfa-Gevaert N.V. finalised the sale of its consumer imaging business to the newly created AgfaPhoto GmbH, and just over six months later the newly formed entity filed for bankruptcy protection.

The AgfaPhoto DC-735 will be available in Germany from October 9th, priced at €199.

AgfaPhoto DC-735
The AgfaPhoto DC-735 digital camera. Courtesy of  plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.  Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeCompact
ManufacturerAgfaPhoto
Model NumberDC-735
Dimensions3.5 x 2.2 x 0.9"
90.1 x 55.5 x 22.0mm
Weight125.0 g
4.4 oz
Image Capture
Sensor TypeCCD
7.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3, 3:2
Image Dimensions3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)
3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)
2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels)
2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD2.5", 201,096 pixels
Lens
Lens Type2.8x optical zoom
Image StabilizationNo
Focal Length6.6 - 18.1mm (actual)
40 - 109mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/3.27 (wide) / f/5.44 (tele) - ???
Focusing RangeNormal: 4" - infinity (9 cm - infinity)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 50, 100, 200
Shutter Speed8 - 1/2000 second
Metering ModesCenter-weighted, multi, spot
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent_H, fluorescent_L, custom, Manual
Internal FlashModes: Auto, off/on, red eye reduction, slow sync.
Range: 1 - 2 meters
Creative
Scene ModesP ortrait, landscape, night scen e, kids, beach & snow, backlight, close up, ID photo, fireworks, sunset, text
Digital Zoom4x
Time LapseNo
Movie FormatAVI (MPEG-4) with audio
640x480 and 320x240
Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, Built-in
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatJPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Connectivity
VideoYes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
Power
Battery TypeLithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary
Product Bundle
Battery / ChargerProprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory16.0MB built-in memory
Other
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Remote ControlNo
More Photos
The AgfaPhoto DC-735 digital camera. Courtesy of  plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.  Click for a bigger picture!
The AgfaPhoto DC-735 digital camera. Courtesy of  plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.  Click for a bigger picture!
 

Original Source Press Release:

photokina 2006: the first AGFAPHOTO digital camera

Cologne/Uhingen, 27 September 2006. Manufacturer plawa, exclusive licensee of the AGFAPHOTO brand for digital cameras, presents the first model of its new product line at photokina. The DC-735 will be on view at the “AGFAPHOTO digital camera“ stand B021 in hall 2.1.

From 9 October 2006 the seven megapixel AGFAPHOTO digital camera will be available across Germany for 199 euros (RRP incl. VAT). In addition to a high-quality CCD sensor the 22 millimetre slim line metal housing contains a 2.5 inch bright display, a 3x optical zoom, a lithium ion rechargeable battery and a combined USB 2.0 and video interface.

plawa will be announcing more AGFAPHOTO digital cameras before the end of this year: in the five to six megapixel category the DC-530i, DC-630x and DC-633x will be launched at prices between 109 and 149 euros. A ten megapixel model is also in preparation and will be available from specialist dealers at a price of 229 euros.

“ The digital AGFAPHOTO cameras will convince many prospective buyers with their excellent range of features, state-of-the-art technology and very competitive prices. In Germany alone around seven million digital cameras will be bought this year. We want to earn a significant share of this market by providing top products. Dealers are supporting us in this and putting their faith in the strong AGFAPHOTO brand and our many years of product experience“, Michael Roessler, Managing Director of plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG, said in describing the new beginning of the tradition-rich brand in the camera market.

The Companies:
The innovation marketer plawa-feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1969 and quickly established itself as the market leader in Germany for slide frames and film spools. In the year 2000 came the entry into digital photography. Today the company markets AGFAPHOTO digital cameras. The portfolio also includes trend products in the fields of digital music as well as mobile TV and video. plawa is the master distributor of the world’s first laser keyboard produced in series, the Celluon Laserkey. From Uhingen the company supplies specialist photo, IT and entertainment electronics dealers, wholesalers and food retailers across Europe with standard range and promotion products. www.plawa.com

AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH is the exclusive licensee for the brand AGFAPHOTO. AGFAPHOTO is used in licence from Agfa-Gevaert AG. AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH has given an exclusive sub-licence for digital cameras to the manufacturer and distributor plawa.

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