Another forgettable compact from Rollei: the da6324

You'd think that a company like Rollei with such a proud history of manufacturing fine cameras with quality optics would be a little more discriminating about the digital models they release under the esteemed brand name, but lately all we've seen is a bunch of generic, re-badged OEM offerings that probably don't really represent the vision of founders Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke. Take the "new" 6.36 megapixel da6324 that the company introduced today, which is the exact same camera we saw yesterday being sold by Pentacon as the "Praktica Luxmedia 6203" -- 3x optical zoom, 2.4-inch TFT and all. Instead of watering down the brand with forgettable $250 models like these, maybe the company should concentrate on those medium format cameras they're famous for, and leave the crowded compact digicam market to players who want to offer the consumer some innovation.

[Sam @ May 19th 2006 2:30PM]

"...leave the crowded compact digicam market to players who want to offer the consumer some innovation."

haha! you couldn't say it better!
Boys, if you can't do it right ...go home!

[rosemania @ May 19th 2006 3:11PM]

Please, Pentacon is not a no-name company. It's the DDR descent of a more prestige company... wait what was its name?... oh right Carl Zeiss.

[Me @ May 19th 2006 3:45PM]

Pentacon a "No name"?

Once more Engadget has no idea what they are talking about.

[Bach @ May 19th 2006 6:10PM]

Err it's obvious that you're guys just arent old enough, Pentacon was a big name, like real big, back in the 1940s 50s

[Scott Eaton @ May 19th 2006 8:48PM]

I've never heard of Pentacon, but this camera needs some very basic industrial design and style thrown at it. Sticking logos all 'round gives it that tacky 'Chinese knockoff' look.

[Marc Mayor @ May 20th 2006 5:06AM]

too bad... I liked the name. da6324, how catchy. I should have been in marketing.