Kodak and Kyocera are both taking a new approach to digital cameras, introducing new models with unusually large displays, measuring more than 2 inches. Kodak also went one step further, developing the first camera with an organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, display.

The new devices made their debut at the Photo Marketing Association conference this week, and all are scheduled to ship this spring.

Kyocera Goes Bigger

Kyocera introduced two new digital cameras with 2.5-inch LCD displays. The US$449 Finecam L3v features 3.2-megapixel resolution and the US$549 Finecam L4v offers 4-megapixel resolution. Kyocera developed each camera's LCD with what the company calls the "dual backlight" design--an optical film to increase the transmission of light from the LCD.

According to Kyocera, ambient light is used to increase the intensity of the image displayed on the LCD; this method increases the brilliance and contrast even under the brightest outdoor conditions.

Both Finecam cameras are equipped with a 3X optical zoom (equivalent to 30~115mm in 35mm format) and are bundled with a 16MB Secure Digital memory card. The L3v and L4v also offer other useful features such as on-camera image-resizing, 30-second voice-memo recording, and 30-second audio/video recording in AVI format and in 320 by 240 resolution.

Both of the cameras feature a metal body and solid, rectangular design, and will be available in April.

EasyShare Overview

Kodak unveiled the US$400 EasyShare LS633 digital camera, featuring a bright 2.2-inch OLED display. Most digicams come with a 1.8-inch or smaller screen. It also offers 3.1 megapixel resolution, a 3X optical zoom, 16MB of internal memory, and an SD/MMC slot for additional storage.

Kodak's LS633 will first launch in Europe, Asia, and Australia in April.

Kodak's new cameras, which include the LS633 and the US$329 DX6340, are designed with an on-camera "share" button for one-touch e-mailing, printing, and organizing. The cameras include Kodak's new EasyShare software version 3.0 for quick and easy transfers.

Additional options include the US$80 EasyShare Camera Dock 6000, which facilitates image transfers and offers quick battery recharging, and the US$199 Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock 6000, a small, thermal dye-sub printer that delivers 4-by-6-inch pictures.

Kodak also updated the look of its digital cameras: The LS633 features a metal body and a clean, rectangular design. Although the camera's 3.1-megapixel resolution is considered middle-of-the-road, it's offset by the innovative OLED display, which provides a 165-degree viewing angle, meaning you can see images on the screen at almost any angle, an improvement over standard LCDs.

OLED Advantage

In addition to providing a wider viewing angle, OLED technology has other promising advantages over LCD: It consumes less power, which lets users get more picture-taking-bang out of one battery. According to Kodak, OLEDs typically operate at 2 to 10 volts and OLED pixels use power only when they are lit, making them more efficient than LCDs that have always-on backlights.

OLED technology consists of thin layers of organic material applied on a substrate such as glass, according to Kodak representatives. When stimulated by an electrical charge, the material produces light. Unlike LCDs, which require backlighting, OLED displays emit light rather than modulate transmitted or reflected light.

Active-matrix OLED displays have electronic circuitry built in, so each pixel is independently powered by a corresponding circuit. Because an AM OLED screen measures only about 1.5 millimeters thick (roughly as thick as a quarter), it is thinner and lighter than an LCD.

OLEDs also offer sharper, brighter images than LCDs. Kodak says AM OLED displays have a refresh rate 1000 times faster than LCDs, producing fluid full-motion video. In addition, OLED displays can brighten or dim while maintaining image contrast, shadows, and highlights.

OLED's History

Kodak scientists discovered organic materials with light-emitting properties in 1979 and received the first patent for OLED in 1987. In 1999 Kodak co-developed the first active-matrix, full-color 2.4-inch OLED display with Sanyo Corp. Less than a year later, they developed a 5.5-inch AM OLED.

The two companies formed SK Display, a joint manufacturing venture, in December 2001. In 2002, they built a 15-inch display, and SK Display began shipping 2.2-inch displays.

No other camera companies are currently using OLED technology on digital cameras. However, Samsung Electronics recently licensed the Kodak/Sanyo OLED technology, and apparently plans to implement it on mobile phones.