Kodak Releases Digital Camera With OLED Display

arth33 writes "Kodak has announced the LS633 Digital camera with OLED display. The camera and imaging specs are pretty standard (3.1 MegaPixels, 3x Optical Zoom, etc) but the viewfinder screen is a 2.2" OLED screen with a resolution of 512 x 218 pixels. According to the press release at DPreview, 'This large, full color, full motion, flat panel display is sharp, bright and features 165 viewing angles for on-camera viewing and sharing. Packaged in a stylish, metal body, the LS633 is perfect for users who want to show off their pictures on a cutting-edge OLED display.' All this and it's pretty cheap at US$399, and is expected on shelves in April in Australia, Europe and Asia. More pics and information is also available at LetsGoDigital."

Comments

399.00 isn't a bad price

[f00zbll]

for a camera with 3.1megapixel and a screen that doesn't need back lighting. Now if only manufacturers would rate the battery life based on how many pictures it can take with one charge, that would help consumers.

Re:399.00 isn't a bad price

[mskfisher]

Phil Askey, who runs www.dpreview.com has performed this test with many cameras, such as the Canon Powershot G3 (table at bottom of the page).
I don't know if he'll review the Kodak camera or not, but DPReview is a good site for practical information like that.

kodak's web site

[mz001b]

And of course, the info is on their website. Including ``Not currently available in the U.S.''

Re:OLED?

[Ryan Amos]

OLEDs are Organic LEDs. Basically, OLED technology is like LCD (in its application, the two are about as different as can be technically) except once the technology matures, OLEDs are cheaper, easier to manufacture and don't require a backlight (as like normal LEDs, they produce their own light.) It's not really any brighter (well it may be, but that's not its main advantage.) Basically, they're like LCDs except without all the drawbacks like viewing angle, price and physical sensitivity. Unfortunately, it'll be a few years before this technology gets into computer displays. The current life expectancy of them leaves a bit to be desired, but eventually this will be solved.

Re:why nobody else?

[Ryan Amos]

Yeah, cept Kodak is the leading developer of OLEDs and owns almost all the patents on them. :)

will replace TFTs and plasma screens

[Anonymous Coward]

Organic Light Emitting Device/Display

More comparible to TFT diplays than to LEDs.

Cheaper
x10 (or more) faster response times (compared to traditional TFTs)
No need for backlight
Even thinner than TFTs
Can be completely transparent
Can be flexible

see universal display
extract: greater brightness
faster response time for full motion video
fuller viewing angles
lighter weight
greater environmental durability
more power efficiency
broader operating temperature ranges
greater cost-effectiveness


Think how much the industry is making on Plasma screens. Do they have any real incentive to start selling a cheaper alternative?

order one for yourself

[rabtech]

You can order a development kit, complete with a working OLED screen at this link:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/display/AM550L.j ht ml

And now this.

[anethema]

There are people who have explained OLED, etc.

But even with all the explanations on how much better than LCD it is, its hard without at least a picture. Here is that picture. It was taken at the CES trade show.

WARNING: looking at this picture may make you realize how crappy your LCD monitor really is and what you have settled for:

Ta da!

It really shows the drawbacks of LCD's viewing angle and thickness because of backlighting. In the board the picture taker explains he has seen solid colour on this monitor there (demo running i guess) and the picture was perfectly even.

Anyways, thought i'd share! Enjoy.