On the 22nd of December 2004, Kyle Van Horn taped a disposable camera to a piece of black foamcore and inscribed upon it the following message: “ATTENTION POSTAL WORKERS! Please help us with our project. As this camera travels across the country we want photos of all whom it encounters. Please take a photo before you pass it along. Thank you!”

Konica Minolta has long been a leading company in photo imaging business covering wide range of imaging from input to output. In addition, we have provided inspiring products and services by fusing our unique technologies.

In camera business, we have expanded picture-taking opportunities by developing innovative technologies such as the world’s first autofocus cameras. In 1962, our camera, well-accepted for its high reliability, boarded on the US’s first manned spaceship “Friendship 7.” Also, ever since introduction of the world’s first body-integral autofocus SLR camera, Maxxum/Dynax series, in 1985, SLR cameras have become more popular among picture-takers, and we have succeeded in selling 16 million units of interchangeable lenses since then.

However, in today’s era of digital cameras, where image sensor technologies such as CCD is indispensable, it became difficult to timely provide competitive products even with our top optical, mechanical and electronics technologies.

Japanese camera equipment maker Nikon said on Thursday it will focus on digital photography and stop producing most of its film cameras, except for a few professional photographer products.

“Nikon will discontinue production of all lenses for large format cameras and enlarging lenses. This also applies to most of our film camera bodies, interchangeable manual focus lenses and related accessories,” it said in a statement on its British website.

New digital cameras now have more extras than a Ridley Scott epic. Nikon’s latest Coolpix digital cameras, for example, have a built-in Wi-Fi feature aimed at eliminating bothersome wires.

With the Coolpix P1 (eight megapixels) and P2 (five megapixels), users can point and shoot and then wirelessly transfer their pictures to a computer or printer from a menu on the cameras’ 2.5-inch L.C.D. screens.

The cameras transmit images up to 100 feet over 802.11b and 802.11g-compatible wireless networks and use a Nikon wireless printer adapter to link to any PictBridge-enabled printers, said Bill Giordano, general manager of marketing for Nikon.

In Shoot and Transfer mode, users can share pictures on a computer monitor almost as soon as they are taken. Another mode sends pictures to a computer’s hard drive. Included software can display the pictures in a slide-show format or automatically print pictures as they are transferred to a computer.

The Coolpix P1, which costs $550, and the P2, which costs $400, is now widely available in stores. The wireless printer adapter (PD-10) will cost $50.