2004 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out winners announced

[note: DIMA is the DIGITAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION. PMA is the PHOTO MARKETING ASSOCIATION]

Press Release:

Nine digital cameras were named winners in the 2004 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out today at the PMA 2004 Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev., USA. Over 50 digital camera entries and 13 manufacturers participated in the 8th Annual DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out, which took place on Friday, Feb. 13, at the DIMA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

Participating camera manufacturers captured images in four live-model studios. Images from the point-and-shoot cameras were printed on three different digital minilab systems including the Agfa D-Lab 2 Plus supplied by Agfa Corp., the Fuji Frontier 370 supplied by Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc., and the Noritsu 3101 supplied by Noritsu America. Images from the Prosumer/Professional category were output through a G4 Power Mac running Adobe PhotoShop CS and printed on an Epson Photo Stylus 9600 inkjet printer, supplied by Epson America Inc. Color management support for the DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out was provided by GretagMacbeth, using Sony Artisan displays donated by Sony Electronics.

Professional photo equipment used at the DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out was supplied by Adobe Systems, Agfa Corp., Epson America Inc., Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc., GretagMacbeth, GTI Graphic Technology, Quality Mounting & Laminating, and Sony Artisan. Professional photographer Lee Varis lit the sets and ran the professional/prosumer studio. Other pro shooters including Randy Hufford, David Spellman, and Mark Williford shot all photos used in the three point-and-shoot studios.

A panel of expert judges voted on the entries, based on the overall quality of the digital print and the accuracy of color as compared to samples of fabric worn by studio models. The panel of judges included some of the most well-respected names in the industry including Brian Lawler, Eddie Tapp and Daniel Grotta.

Below are the winners of the 8th Annual DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out:

Point-and-Shoot categories and winners

Note: Comments in brown are mine

Below $100

Mustek MDC4000 - 3MP sensor (interpolates to 4MP). [The only problem here is that as far as I can tell, this camera sells for between $175 and $200, so I'm not sure how it could win an "under $100" category unless DIMA know something I don't. If I were spending that much, I'd go for the HP 735 below.]

$100 to $199

HP Photosmart 735
• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical and 5x digital (15x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• HP's Instant Share features lets you designate image destination (e-mail or printer)
• 16 MB internal memory; compatible with Secure Digital and MMC memory cards
• Powered by 2 AA batteries (alkalines included, rechargeables recommended); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

$200 to $299

Konica Minolta DiMage X20
• World’s smallest and lightest 2 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens (June 2003)
• 2.1-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Uses Minolta's unobtrusive non-extending zoom lens; 3x optical and 4x digital zoom for 12x total
• Included 8 MB Secure Digital memory card can store 12 standard images
• Powered by 2 AA batteries; connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

$300 to $399

Casio QV-R51
• 5-megapixel resolution for photo-quality poster-sized enlargements
• 3x optical zoom lens
• 0.01-second shutter lag time; 2-inch LCD display; aluminum body
• Store images in 9.7 MB of internal memory or on optional Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (SD card not included)
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (rechargeable lithium ion battery included; can also use alkaline); connects to PCs via USB

$400 to $499

HP Photosmart 945
[See also the review on this website]
• 5.3 megapixel sensor captures enough image information to make photo-quality 11x17-inch prints
• 8x optical zoom and 7x digital zoom
• Large 2-inch LCD screen; Direct photo printing allows you to attach directly to an HP Photosmart printer or select HP all-in-one to print photos
• Store images on Secure Digital (SD) memory card (32 MB card included)
• Powered by 4 AA batteries (alkalines included, NiMH or photo-lithium recommended)

$599 to $799

Olympus C-5060
• 5.1-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11 x 14-plus sized enlargements
• Olympus 4x wide-angle optical zoom lens to capture more of the scene
• Fully adjustable LCD monitor swivels for forward and rear viewpoints and easily tucks away to protect the screen when not in use
• Store images on either xD-Picture Card or CompactFlash memory card; comes with a 32 MB xD-Picture Card
• Powered by a BLM-1 Lithium-ion Battery (included with charger)

Prosumer/Professional categories and winners

$999 to $1299

Olympus C-8080
• 8-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 16-by-22-inch enlargements
• 5x optical zoom combines with 3x digital zoom for 15x total zoom
• Movie mode with audio; PictBridge enabled; 1.8-inch articulated LCD display
• Store images on xD or Compact Flash memory cards
• Powered by lithium ion battery (included with charger)

$1300 to $1799

Leica Digilux 2
• 5.0 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 17
• 3.2x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom (9.6x total)
• Classic SLR setting ring controls on lens and shutter speed dial; 2.5-inch LCD
• Compatible with Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards; 64 MB SD card included
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery; connects to PCs and Macs via USB 2.0

Digital Video Camcorder

Sony DCR-PC330
• MiniDV digital recording with extraordinary detail and clarity
• 3.3 Megapixel Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imager with 2077K effective video pixels
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens
• 10X Optical/120X Precision Digital Zoom
• Easily navigate through the camerażs menu system at the touch of the LCD screen