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Print ArticleAGFA: d-lab.1s Added To Line; A Digital Lab w/o Film
Processor
Agfa has re-cast its d-lab.1 digital minilab, a single step unit
designed primarily with the mass merchant and chain store user in
mind. The unit will now be offered without the film processor as
the d-lab.1s to meet the needs of a huge base of independent
minilab dealers with Agfa MSC optical labs who already own a film
processor and want to get into the digital business without
spending the big bucks for a full capacity digital system.
Wayne Strobel, Agfa’s senior marketing manager, said the new
unit would have the same specifications as its companion (except
its footprint is 15-sq. ft.) but would be selling for about
$5,000-$6,000 less. “It gets the independent dealer into a
complete digital system without sacrificing the high volume output
of the optical MSC he already owns.”
Shipments will begin mid-2004.
Agfa will also be showing its new d-lab.2plus digital lab that was
first shown at PhotoPlus Expo in New York last Fall. This model is
replacing the d-lab.3 but offers greater output capacity at about
1,700, 4R/hr. It has two 12-inch paper magazines and utilizes
Agfa’s new easy box 110 chemical replenishment system. Price:
about $180,000.
All models of the Agfa digital minilab line will be on display:
d-lab.1, d.lab-1s, d-lab.2 and d.lab-2plus.
Also being shown by Agfa is its new Pixtasy 5.0 work station. Wayne
said the upgraded system has new software, will accept all media
cards and has an additional 250 new templates. The cost remains the
same at $12,500.
Agfa is unveiling a new version of its Image Box kiosk which
earlier replaced its e-box kiosk. The system includes a scanner and
4x6 (or 6x8 and 6x9) dye-sub printer and will be sold for about
$6,000. May availability. The Image Box can also be connected to an
Agfa digital lab for photo print output.
The Image Box will be equipped with Bluetooth and infrared
technology to accept wireless images from a camera phone.
Other items that are being offered by Agfa: a CD-burning robot
dedicated to the output of CD’s from digital media and
connects as plug-and-play to a work station, for about $1,500; two
new photo papers.
KONICA MINOLTA: Souped-Up R-1 Digital Minilab And New
R-2 Series With 10-Inch Paper Capability
Konica Minolta is unveiling at PMA the R-I Super 1400 digital
minilab, first seen at the Tokyo Lab Show last Fall. The highlight
of the system, according to Todd Tereshko, VP on-site and tech
services, is a revised print head which will allow an hourly output
from a film source of 1,400, 1,100 and 450 of 3R, 4R and 8R prints,
respectively. Interestingly, it is said that the output from a
digital image source, usually somewhat lower than from film, is
rated to be about the same.
Available in April, Todd said the R-I Super 1400 will list at about
$116,000, compared with the lower capacity R-1 which was introduced
over a year ago for about $100,000. Both are 8-inch machines.
Konica Minolta is also introducing a pair of new digital minilabs
at PMA, the R-2 series, both 10-inch paper models. Todd said the
R-2 models, visually and dimensionally, are similar to the R-1, and
can be operated from either sitting or standing positions. One
important difference from the R-1 is a new exposure engine from
Minolta technology that uses a Halogen light source instead of the
fluorescent/LED light which he said results in a very stable light
source. The system also has a 400 dpi exposure, instead of the
former 300.
The new models have an output of 4R prints of 700 and 1,000
prints/hr., respectively. Pricing is tentatively set at about
$80,000 and $105,000, according to Todd.
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