New Kodak Branded Micro Four Thirds Cameras

ROCHESTER, N.Y., January 07 -- Eastman Kodak Company and JK Imaging, Ltd. today announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement for JK Imaging to license the Kodak brand name for certain consumer products, including digital cameras, pocket video cameras, and portable projectors. JK Imaging plans to launch its first products in the second quarter of 2013.

“Kodak remains a strong and trustworthy brand in the consumer space and this agreement reinforces how valuable our brand is,” said Laura Quatela, President of Kodak and Personalized Imaging. “When we announced our plan to exit the digital camera business last year, we said we would explore licensing opportunities for the brand in this category. The JK Imaging team has global experience and expertise in the industry.”

JK Imaging’s CEO, Joe Atick, is chairman of JA Capital Holdings, a global supplier specializing in consumer imaging and electronics products. Atick said, “Our decision to license the globally-recognized Kodak brand from Eastman Kodak Company was a natural fit. With more than a century of imaging firsts, there is great significance and value in the Kodak name. We intend to continue this legacy and bring to market the next generation of ‘must have’ portable, personal electronics that enhance the lives of consumers worldwide.”

Terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Blackmagic launches Cinema Camera MFT with Micro Four Thirds mount, sans autofocus, for $3K

Blackmagic Design has thrown its Cinema Camera MFT into the Micro Four Thirds arena, but it will only work with lenses that have manual iris and focus capability. The shooter is otherwise identical to the original Cinema Camera, with a 2.5k, sub-MFT sensor; CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes and DNxHD capture formats; built-in SSD; capacitive touchscreen; and an included copy of DaVinci Resolve color correction software. That means cineasts already on board that format will have another mount for their glass, and MFT's mirrorless aspect will also permit other lens formats, like PL or Nikon, to be added with third party adapters. So, if the relatively low price, claimed 13 stop dynamic range, higher-than-HD resolution and new mount is enough to push your "start" button, check the PR for the entire skinny.

[Source: Engadget]