Konica has announced that they will be withdrawing from camera business and the photo business in an effort to concentrate on more profitable ventures.

In the camera business, Konica will be tranferring assets to Sony including digital SLR assets. They will be withdrawing from the business altogether - this includes film cameras and digitial cameras. The withdrawal will take place on March 31st of this year.

For the photo business, Konica will slowly cease color film and color paper production by March 31st, 2007. They will cease their minilab business by March 31st, 2006.

Finally, the even worse news for Konica employees will be the reduction of the workforce by approximately 3700 employees. Here is the press release.

Today Konica Minolta announced the new 6.0 megapixel Konica Minolta Z6 Digital Camera, it features a built in 12x optical zoom lens, rapid autofocus, anti shake system, built-in flash and long life battery performance.

Paul Zakrzewski of Konica Minolta Says:

"The combination of advanced imaging features within the new DiMAGE Z6 digital camera allows photographers to take exceptionally crisp, sharp photographs in virtually any picture-taking situation"

Pro Review:Steves Digicams Review the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z20 Digital Camera and they say-"The DiMAGE Z20 is an affordable 5.0-megapixel digital camera featuring a long focal length 8x optical zoom lens. It's perfect for taking high quality close-up portraits as well as distant scenic landscapes. And with the its Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control and a 0.5-second (approx.) fastest-in-class startup, photographers will be sure to captures those unexpected photographic opportunities. Despite the large zoom lens, the DiMAGE Z20 weighs only 10.6 ounces (without batteries) and has an ergonomic form to give users a steady grip and an easy to use, intuitive control button layout...."

Pro Review:PC WORLD Review the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D SLR Camera and they say-"Although many of the digital SLRs that we tested have a plentiful supply of buttons, the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D has the most: 24 dials and buttons spread around the camera. But this approach has a big upside: It makes the controls much easier to get to. For instance, on many cameras you have to use an LCD-screen menu to access the exposure or flash compensation settings, but the Minolta 7D puts these controls on two dials on the left side of the camera body. Likewise, additional controls--a button for switching between autofocus and manual focus, a dial for changing metering modes, and a dial for selecting the white balance mode--enable you to make further adjustments with your thumb without taking your finger off the shutter button, or your eye from the viewfinder....."

Today Konica Minolta announced the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (Dynax 5D) Digital Camera.

High-Performance Digital SLR Camera Unites Body-Integral Anti-Shake
Technology and Smooth Operation into a Lightweight Design
Following the release of the highly acclaimed Konica Minolta Dynax7D/ Maxxum7D comes the new Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (Dynax 5D), a high-performance interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera that combines Konica Minolta's advanced technologies and greater ease of use into an even smaller and lighter design.

The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (Dynax 5D) ensures photo-imaging excellence using Konica Minolta's proprietary Anti-Shake technology, which employs an exclusive CCD-Shift mechanism to compensate for blurring caused by camera shake - even when taking photos in dimly lit scenes, in natural light with a telephoto lens, or in macro shots where extra stability is vital for a sharp shot. This innovative Anti-Shake technology not only provides the equivalent correction effect with a shutter speed 2 to 3 stops slower*2, but also compatibility with any Dynax/Maxxum system lenses*1.

Today Konica Minolta announced the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 Digital Camera.

The First ‘X-Series’ Compact Digital Camera Equipped with 8 Megapixels, Anti-Shake and Desirable Design that inspires.

Aiming to create “the ultimate digital camera for image quality, function, design, and size,” Konica Minolta proudly announces the DiMAGE X1. A fusion of Konica Minolta’s best imaging technologies combined with the DiMAGE X series’ sleek digital camera design, the new DiMAGE X1 offers you exquisitely beautiful images within a body that takes your breath away.

Pro Review:

CNET Reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage G600 and they write - 'Overall, we found the colors in the G600's photos to be accurate, though a little oversaturated. The contrast range, especially on darker photos, was very good. We experienced some loss of detail on the bright end of the contrast range, with the light shades blending together. In images with extreme contrast (such as tree branches against the sky), blue fringing occasionally appeared along the edges of highest contrast. These problems were visible only on close inspection and would probably go unnoticed by casual photographers. Except for a tendency for the brightest colors to blow out the detail, the color and the contrast were excellent for a point-and-shoot camera.'