Article Summary:

Konica Minolta has announced withdrawal plans for both its camera and photo businesses.  They will withdraw from the film and digital camera business by March 31, 2006, film and paper by March 31, 2007, and all photo businesses by September 30, 2007.  Konica Minolta’s will jointly develop digital SLRs with Sony “in order to continue to have [their] customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come.” (thanks, Paul)