Kodak PixPro AZ521 bridge camera officially announced

JK Imaging has finally unveiled the Kodak PixPro AZ521 camera with a 52x optical zoom lens.

Kodak has gone through a lot of financial problems over the past 18 months. The company has filed for bankruptcy, but things are getting better thanks to JK Imaging and the people who have been in charge ever since.

As this imaging monster is slowly awakening, JK Imaging has previously announced that it is working on a new Micro Four Thirds camera, as well as several other shooters, while three compacts and the AZ361 bridge camera have already been unveiled.

Kodak PixPro AZ521 is a bridge camera with 52x optical zoom, thanks to a 24-1248mm lens (35mm equivalent), 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, and built-in image stabilization.

Kodak PixPro AZ521 becomes world’s first 52x optical zoom camera

Kodak felt that a 36x optical zoom is not enough, therefore the AZ361 has received a bigger sibling in the body of the AZ521, which features a 52x optical zoom lens.

The camera will officially become available in the United Kingdom in the following weeks, while other markets are expected to follow the same path soon.

Kodak PixPro AZ521 specs feature 16-megapixel sensor and HDR / Panorama / Macro modes

JK Imaging has collaborated with ASIA Optical and other manufacturers to gather the parts for the new bridge camera. As a result, the Kodak PixPro AZ521 specs list includes a 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, 3-inch LCD screen, and a 24-1248mm f/2.9-f/5.6 lens in the 35mm format equivalent.

The specifications also include full HD video recording with stereo sound support and a 120fps slow motion mode, which could result in very creative videos. Other built-in modes include HDR, Panorama, and Macro. The Macro mode can be used for focusing at a distance of just one centimeter.

Kodak’s bridge camera to be released in the coming weeks for £249

Although it is still under the tutelage of JK Imaging, the Kodak brand will not die anytime soon and many other devices will be unveiled in the near future. For the time being, the PixPro AZ521 will do and it has another ace up its sleeve, that is integrated image stabilization technology.

Other features include ISO range between 100 and 3200, shutter speed ranging from 30 seconds to 1/2000th of a second, manual exposure modes, HDMI and USB ports, SD / SDHC  card support, and a rechargeable Li-Ion battery.

The Kodak PixPro AZ521 price will stand at £249 (about $370) when it becomes available sometime in the third quarter of 2013.