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CES 2012 wrap-up with juicy tidbits @ AP

"Smartphones kill off Minox digital compacts. 

 Minox has pulled out of the digital compact camera market in the face of increased competition from camera phones. Managing director
Thorsten Kortemeier told AP: 'We will not do any more compact cameras. I will not invest in them any more.' 
 
 Sigma SD1 used by CSI 
 Sigma says the UK's Home Office has chosen its SD1 DSLR camera to help police forensic units solve crimes. Officers will use the on-board infra-red feature to help find traces of blood. Sigma UK refused to say how many it has sold to the Government on grounds of confidentiality. 
 
 Low-end compacts out of focus 
 General Imaging says it wants to focus on higher-end compact cameras as smartphones hit the lower-end market. Next month it will release a new £150 compact called the G100 with features such as multiple exposure and HDR. Asked if it would ever consider venturing into the compact system market, a UK spokesman said the firm would 'not rule anything out', though he admitted this would be a 'quantum leap'. 
 
 Pentax hints at new DSLR
 Pentax wants to develop its range of consumer DSLRs. A spokesman was tight-lipped over what we can expect but insisted its range must cater for all levels of consumer, including the lower-end. Pentax also admitted that the Thailand floods have caused a shortage of DSLR components. 
 
 Sigma lukewarm on Nikon CSC 
 It seems unlikely Sigma will make lenses for the Nikon 1 system as it tells AP its primary market is 'serious enthusiasts'. Asked if it hopes Canon will enter the CSC market, Sigma's chief operating officer Kazuto Yamaki said: 'If they introduce a camera like Nikon's we have no interest.'"