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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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The
annual Photo Marketing Association trade show is the largest photographic
equipment show in the United States. Our camera experts report from the floor in
Orlando.
The best of PMA 2005 CNET's editors
combed the floor at this year's Photo Marketing Association trade show to find
the most promising and innovative new products. Here's the digital imaging gear
that blazes the trail and raises the bar for 2005.
RECENT
STORIES
Senior editors Lori Grunin and Aimee Baldridge,
a.k.a. the digital doyennes, are CNET's resident digital-photography experts.
They fill you in on this year's hottest happenings in digital
photography.
GEAR FOR
'05 Looking for the scoop on a particular manufacturer?
We break down the new lineups.
The long and short of photo
printers
There's little in the way of middle ground for this year's
photo printer announcements: you have a choice of enthusiast/entry-level pro
models capable of B-size output, or models for snapshot photographers that print
at 4x6 or less.
Three Casios you'll
covet
Casio's PMA offerings included a big-screen pocket camera, a
7-megapixel enthusiast's portable, and an impressive-looking multifunction
device.
Kodak catches some
z's Fresh off its buzz-generating, wireless-capable EasyShare One
announcement at 2005's CES, Kodak turned its attention to high-zooming consumer
cameras.
Canon's frenzy of
upgrades
Canon announced some impressive updates to existing cameras,
a couple of high-resolution DIGIC II point-and-shoots, and a new Digital
Rebel.
Nikon: 5 snapshots and a
pro
Alongside its new D2Hs digital SLR, Nikon announced a spate of
point-and-shoot Coolpix digital cameras.
Sony's slew of
cameras
Sony wasted no time at PMA, rolling out eight new cameras
ranging from consumer portables to high-zooming enthusiast models.
It's raining
Samsungs Samsung introduced a whopping nine new cameras at PMA, many
of which boast high megapixel counts despite their small size.
Konica Minolta zooms
ahead Konica Minolta's new Dimage Z5 and Dimage Z20 are 5-megapixel
digital cameras with powerful optical zoom lenses.
Fujifilm's new-look
cameras Fujifilm's spring lineup demonstrates that the company is
looking to jazz up its consumer cameras by introducing some intriguing new
designs.
HP goes for budget HP
used 2005's PMA show to introduce new snapshot models at three popular consumer
price points.
Olympus focuses on consumers
The new consumer resolution frontier has arrived: four of Olympus's five new digital cameras have 5-megapixel sensors.
Panasonic's space-age
cameras
Panasonic launched five new Lumix cameras, all of which boast
revamped processing systems and integrated optical image stabilization.
Olympus focuses on
consumers By Robert Dubbin
(February 18, 2005)
Judging by its newly announced lineup, Olympus saw the 2005
PMA as a chance to conquer the 5-megapixel frontier; four of its five new
digital cameras have 5-megapixel sensors. The notoriously form-over-function
Olympus (µ)-mini DIGITAL gets an upgrade in the form of the Olympus (µ)-mini DIGITAL S, a 5-megapixel
model that one hopes will improve upon its predecessor's mediocre image quality.
The 5-megapixel Camedia C-500Z is Olympus's only PMA camera to feature limited
manual controls over aperture and shutter speed, while the lower-end Camedia C-480Z looks to woo an entry-level clientele with its 4-megapixel sensor and onboard
framing options. The slick FE-5500 offers 5 megapixels and a sleek, metal
body, while the pearl-white IR-300 serves as the company's 5-megapixel upgrade
to its Total Imaging suite of photo-printing products.
Olympus's party camera returns with a glossier finish and a new
5-megapixel sensor; you get 16 selectable scene modes, plus a 1.8-inch LCD
that's nice on such a small camera.
Promising 19 distinct shooting modes as well as manual controls over
aperture and shutter speed, the C-500 Zoom is a consumer snapshot camera with
aspirations of more.
A C-500 without pretensions, the C-480 eschews manual controls in favor
of an easy-to-grasp interface and in-camera framing options, plus 19 scene modes
and two macro modes.
It's raining
Samsungs By Robert Dubbin
(February 19, 2005)
Samsung wasn't messing around at this year's PMA show,
announcing a whopping nine new digital cameras and topping our 2005 list of
Companies Whose Marketing Departments Deserve a Vacation. The company's
successful and aggressively priced Digimax A6 served as the template for two new
cameras, the 5-megapixel Digimax A5 and the 7-megapixel Digimax A7, both of
which inherit the A6's manual features and distinctive, somewhat chunky shape.
In the 4-megapixel department, the new Digimax A400 and the zoomless Digimax
A402 give Samsung a fresh presence at two different price points, while the U-CA
5 and zoomless U-CA 505 do the same in the 5-megapixel category. Samsung has
upgraded its Digimax V60 in the form of the Digimax V70, whose included
text-recognition software may appeal to business users. Finally, the Digimax
V600 and V700 cameras serve as the high-end flagships of Samsung's aggressively
priced spring 2005 armada.
A satisfying array of manual features and a robust VGA (640x480) video
mode make the Digimax A5 a compelling option; still, we wish its 38mm-equivalent
wide-angle view was less narrow.
With the Digimax A7, Samsung grafted a megapixel and a larger, 2-inch
LCD onto the body of its A6 enthusiast camera. Its manual controls and 640x480
movies are nice options.
The 2-inch LCD screen is nice, and the text-shooting mode will appeal
to business users. However, its widest angle is a bit narrow, and VGA (640x480)
videos top out at 24fps.
Sacrificing optical zoom to come in under the US$150 price point, the
Digimax A402 manages to squeeze in a decent 1.8-inch LCD screen and VGA
(640x480) movie clips.
Equipped with a 2-inch swiveling LCD screen, the enthusiast-oriented
Digimax V70 looks impressive on paper; its features include 30fps VGA (640x480)
video capture and a text-scanning mode.
Available in silver, blue, or wine, the stylish Digimax V600 comes with
a 2-inch LCD and a nice array of manual features. We have one gripe: the narrow
maximum aperture at long focal lengths.
The sleek Digimax V700, Samsung's silver, blue, or wine-colored
flagship model, comes with a 2-inch LCD and some useful manual features. Still,
a wider maximum aperture at long focal lengths would have been
nice.
Konica Minolta zooms ahead By Robert Dubbin (February 18, 2005)
Konica Minolta's Dimage Z10 had a solid feature set and an 8x optical
zoom lens that set it apart from its fellow 3-megapixel cameras. At PMA
2005, Konica Minolta takes aim at higher-resolution competititors with
the release of the Dimage Z5 and Dimage Z20, 5-megapixel digital
cameras that boast the same comprehensive features and high zoom
capabilities as their predecessor. The Dimage Z5 offers 12x optical
zoom, as well as a 2-inch LCD screen and a movie mode that supports
optical zooming. The slightly lower-end Dimage Z20 has 8x optical zoom
lens that starts at a narrower 36mm (35mm equivalent), along with a
smaller 1.5-inch screen and a less advanced movie mode. Both new models
have the distinctive look and shape of enthusiast cameras, and they
feature electronic viewfinders.
Though
the Z20 boasts an 8x optical zoom, it's a step down from the Z5.
Sacrifices include a slightly too small 1.5-inch screen and VGA
(640x480) movies limited to 15fps.
Fujifilm's new-look cameras By Robert Dubbin (February 20, 2005)
Fujifilm's spring lineup demonstrates that the company is looking to
jazz up its consumer cameras by introducing some intriguing new
designs. Two A-series cameras, the FinePix A535 and A540, have the slim
profiles and pocketable shapes that previous models, such as the
chunkier A330 and A340, lacked. The new FinePix F10 digital camera
packs a 6.3-megapixel punch into a svelte frame, while the sleek
FinePix Z1 simply looks like nothing Fujifilm has ever released before.
We've had mixed feelings about the image quality in some of Fuji's
previous snapshot cameras;; we can only hope that Fujifilm spent as
much time improving its cameras' inner workings as it did perfecting
their outward designs.
There
aren't many extra features on this entry-level camera, but it provides
enough tools for snapshot photography. Movies are limited to 65 seconds
at 10fps and 320x240 resolution.
Essentially
a FinePix A345 with an extra megapixel, the A350 has the same middling
feature set. Both cameras include continuous-shooting modes capable of
taking three full-resolution shots at 1.5fps.
Fujifilm FinePix F10
US$500 (S$899)
April 2005
6.3-megapixel
(effective) Super CCD HR sensor; F2.8-to-F5.0, 36mm-to-108mm
(35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; xD-Picture Card media
The
FinePix F10's feature set puts the A-series cameras to shame; in
addition to its large 2.5-inch screen and 30fps VGA videos, the F10
shoots at ISO settings up to 1,600.
Fujifilm FinePix Z1
US$450 (S$799)
June 2005
5.1-megapixel
(effective) Super CCD HR sensor; F3.5-to-F4.2, 36mm-to-109mm
(35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; xD-Picture Card media
Aping
the sleek shape that made Sony's DSC-T1 a hit and available in both
black and silver, the F1 has features to match its looks; consumers
will like the big 2.5-inch screen and 30fps VGA movie mode.
Kodak catches some z's By Robert Dubbin (February 19, 2005)
Fresh off the its buzz-generating wireless-capable EasyShare One
announcement at CES 2005, Kodak spent 2005's PMA show shoring up its
slate of more-conventional digital cameras. The company expands its
zoom-focused Z line with the 5-megapixel EasyShare Z7590; though
largely identical to the 10x-zooming DX7590 already on the market, the
Z7590 throws in a live histogram and compatibility with Kodak's veteran
ImageLink print system. The new EasyShare Z730 fills the gap in the
product line between the Z700 and Z740, offering a more portable camera
at the expense of some zoom capability. The two C-series cameras
announced by Kodak seem like less-inspired models; though they're
targeted to and priced for more of an entry-level audience than the
Z-series cameras, their chunky designs may make them less appealing
than the stylish cameras trotted out by some of Kodak's competitors.
HP goes for budget By Robert Dubbin (February 18, 2005)
HP introduces new snapshot models at three popular consumer price
points. The silver Photosmart M22, along with its bronze but otherwise
identical twin, the Photosmart M23, features a 4-megapixel sensor but
settles for a small 1.5-inch LCD screen and sacrifices optical zoom in
favor of a fixed-focus lens. The M417 offers a modest resolution bump
to the 5-megapixel level, as well as a 3x optical zoom lens and a
larger 1.8-inch LCD screen. At the top of the heap, the Photosmart R717
becomes HP's flagship consumer camera, boasting a 6-megapixel CCD, 12
shooting modes, and 32MB of internal memory (double the 16MB found on
the M22, the M23, and the M417). All four cameras use HP's Instant
Share technology, which allows you to select a destination for your
photo--be it an online photo album, a photo printer, or an
e-mail--directly from the camera's menu after you've taken the shot.
Aside
from HP's Instant Share options, the M22 doesn't have much in the way
of special features. For a camera with no optical zoom, it's also a bit
pricey.
Affordable
for a 6-megapixel camera, the Photosmart R717 nevertheless lacks manual
shooting modes found on similarly priced 4- and 5-megapixel
competitors--your choice.
Canon's frenzy of upgrades
By Robert Dubbin (February 18, 2005)
Canon's 2005 PMA lineup features some impressive updates to existing models, a couple of high-resolution DIGIC II point-and-shoots, and a new entry-level dSLR. The PowerShot A510 and A520, announced a couple weeks before the show, serve as slimmer, more portable versions of Canon's popular A75 and A85 cameras. Two new cameras featuring Canon's speedy DIGIC II image-processing system are the 5-megapixel IXUS 50 and the 7.1-megapixel IXUS 700; they boast high resolution counts in comparatively diminutive frames. The EOS 350D SLR updates the original EOS 300D with DIGIC II processing, a more compact design, and a feature set broad enough to compete in the current US$1,000 (S$1,699) SLR market.
The PowerShot A510 is the jazzed-up successor to Canon's PowerShot A75;
it's 13 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter, with a longer zoom range and SD
media instead of CompactFlash.
An updated version of the PowerShot A85, the A520 boasts a smaller,
lighter body and improved optical zoom range but retains the A85's generous
array of manual features.
Armed with Canon's DIGIC II processing system, the IXUS 50 can
take VGA (640x480) movies at an impressive 60fps and shoot in full-resolution
burst mode at 2.1fps.
The long and short of photo
printers By Robert Dubbin
(February 20, 2005)
There's little in the way of middle ground for this year's
photo printer announcements: you have a choice of enthusiast/entry-level pro
models capable of B-size output or models for snapshot photographers that print
at 4x6 or less. And it looks like the trend for 2005 is the ability to print
directly from camera phones, though it'll be interesting to watch manufacturers
try to wade through the IrDA standards. We're disappointed that Epson still
hasn't announced the long-awaited successor to the Stylus Photo 2200, but the
R1800 will probably fill the needs of many of enthusiasts. And HP's first stab
at a real enthusiast printer--previous models fell short when it came to color
management and paper handling--has a lot going for it, at least until you look
under the hood and see the typical three-colors-in-one inkjet cartridges.
Model
Price &
availability
Specifications
Special
features
Epson Stylus Photo
R1800
US$550 (S$949)
March 2005
13x44-inch or smaller prints; 5,760x1,440 CMYKRB pigment inks plus
Gloss Optimizer; rated speed of 111 seconds for 11x14
This medium-format version of the R800 should please all but
black-and-white fans--no photo gray inks, as with the Stylus Photo 2200. It
prints on optical discs, though.
Canon Selphy
CP-600
US$250 (S$449)
April 2005
3.9x7.9 and smaller prints; 300dpi CMY dye sublimation; rated speed of
63 seconds for 4x6
Zippier printing, an optional battery pack, and camera phone support
via IrOBEX are the highlights of this snapshot printer.
HP Photosmart
8750
US$500 (S$849)
April 2005
13x19 inches or smaller prints; 4,800x1,200 nine-color (CMYKB, light
CM, two gray) dye inks; rated speed of 29 seconds for a 4x6
HP's first true enthusiast photo printer has great specs, including
built-in networking and a straight-through paper path. Unfortunately, it doesn't
use individual ink tanks.
HP Designjet
90
US$995 (S$1,649)
Summer 2005
18x24 inches or smaller prints; 2,400dpi, six-color (CMYK, light CM)
dye inks; rated speed of 4 minutes for 11x17
The low end of HP's true pro graphics printer line, this is where
individual ink tanks suddenly become more efficient.
Fujifilm Digital Mobile
Printer MP-70
US$100 (S$169)
Summer 2005
3.4x2.1-inch prints; 254dpi RGB prints; rated speed of 20
seconds
A handheld photo printer designed specifically for printing images from
a camera phone via IR. At launch, it's compatible with selected phones from
Nokia, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson.
Sony PictureStation
DPP-FP50
US$200 (S$349)
May 2005
4x6-inch; 300dpi CMY dye sublimation; rated speed of tk
seconds
A redesigned, more fully featured version of the DPP-FP30, this model
includes SD and CompactFlash slots in addition to Memory Stick and a wireless
remote.
Three Casios you'll covet
By Robert Dubbin (February 20, 2005)
Casio announced three new cameras at this year's PMA show: the 5-megapixel Exilim EX-Z57 point-and-shoot, the 7-megapixel Exilim EX-Z750 enthusiast's pocket camera, and the 5-megapixel Exilim EX-P505 combo device. Casio's spring line expands upon an Exilim brand that met with great success in 2004; last year's Z40, Z50, and Z55 digital cameras attracted attention and garnered praise for their large LCD screens and stylish designs. The Z57's specs mirror the Z55's, with a notable exception: though the new camera itself is the same size as its predecessor, Casio has expanded the Z57's LCD to a whopping 2.7 inches. The Z750 takes the Z55's big-screen concept in a different direction, maintaining the Z55's form factor and 2.5-inch LCD while adding a 7-megapixel sensor and fully manual shutter-speed and aperture controls. Finally, the P505 marks Casio's first foray into dual still/video functionality, giving shooters the ability to zoom in while they capture MPEG-4 video.
Largely identical to the EX-Z55, which had extraordinary battery life
and lightning-fast shutter reflexes. The enormous 2.7-inch LCD screen comes at
the expense of the Z55's optical viewfinder.
The EX-Z750 squeezes the manual features of Casio's P700 into a camera
the size of the Z55. You can record 30fps VGA (640x480) videos, limited only by
remaining media space.
Unlike most digital cameras, the P505 allows optical zooming during
video shoots. The novel Past Movie mode uses a buffer to start recording 7
seconds before you press the shutter
release.
Nikon: 5 snapshots and a
pro By Robert Dubbin (February 18,
2005)
Alongside its new D2Hs digital SLR, Nikon announced a spate of
point-and-shoot digital cameras at this year's PMA show. In keeping with Nikon's
numerical nomenclature, the Coolpix 4600, 5600, and 7600 come with 4-, 5.1-, and
7.1-megapixel resolutions, respectively. All three consumer cameras have
1.8-inch LCD screens, as well as in-camera red-eye removal and Nikon's
D-lighting technology for correcting over- and underexposed shots. Diving
enthusiasts will like the 4600's and 5600's compatibility with an optional
underwater housing. The slightly higher-end 5.1-megapixel Coolpix 5900 and
7.1-megapixel 7900 have larger 2-inch LCD screens, as well as improved autofocus
performance in Portrait mode. The 5900 and 7900 have the same onboard red-eye
reduction and D-lighting features as their X600-series cohorts.
The 4600 offers in-camera red-eye removal, Nikon's D-lighting feature
that corrects unbalanced exposures, and an underwater mode for use with an
optional waterproof housing.
4.1-megapixel (effective) JFET LBCAST sensor; compatible with AF-Nikkor
and D-mount lenses; CompactFlash media
Updating the D2H, this pro SLR offers an even longer drive mode;
improved metering, focus, and color controls; and compatibility with a wireless
transmitter and GPS devices.
Panasonic's space-age cameras
By Robert Dubbin (February 20,
2005)
Panasonic launched five new Lumix cameras at this year's PMA show, all of which have two features in common: revamped Venus Engine Plus or Venus Engine II image-processing systems and integrated optical image stabilization. Highlights of the new Venus systems include an unlimited continuous-shooting mode (though your images won't be at full resolution) and a purported 50 percent increase in battery life. Panasonic's Mega OIS optical image-stabilization system looked especially impressive; we saw the technology in action, and it indeed appeared to significantly reduce the nefarious blurring effects of camera shake. The entry-level Lumix DMC-LS1 has a solid feature set for snapshot photographers, while the higher-end DMC-LZ1 and DMC-LZ2 boast 6x zoom lenses. At the top of Panasonic's new lineup, the DMC-FZ4 and DMC-FZ5 offer 12x optical zoom capabilities, to go with manual features that include shutter- and aperture-priority modes.
Model
Price &
availability
Specifications
Special
features
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ4
US$450
April 2005 *Will not be arriving in Singapore
Manual exposure and telephoto macro modes make this enthusiast camera a
compelling choice for creative photographers. The Venus Engine II processor
promises to improve shooting speed, reduce noise, and digitally correct
chromatic abberation.
The LS1 has a 2-inch LCD and takes AA batteries. Its Venus Engine Plus
processor promises faster shooting speed and improved noise reduction for
cleaner low-light shots.
Its Venus Engine Plus processor promises faster shooting speed and
improved noise reduction for cleaner low-light shots. Movie mode is a bit thin
at 320x240, but the 2-inch screen is nice.
Sony's slew of
cameras By Robert Dubbin (February
24, 2005)
Sony wasted no time at 2005's PMA show, rolling out a varied
slate of eight new cameras that run the gamut from portable point-and-shoots to
a high-zooming enthusiast model. The company's 4.1-megapixel S-series cameras
increase in price as their LCD screens grow in size; the DSC-S40, S60, and S90
sport 1.5-inch, 2-inch, and 2.5-inch displays, respectively. Sony's W-series
models resemble the standard rectangular look for digital cameras that consumers
have grown to love; the 5.1-megapixel DSC-W5 and the 7.2-megapixel DSC-W7 each
come with 2.5-inch LCD screens and manual shooting modes. A follow-up to Sony's
popular DSC-P150, the candy bar-shaped DSC-P200 crams a 7.2-megapixel sensor
into a highly portable body. On the more stylish side, Sony's DSC-T33 replaces
the sleek DSC-T1 as the reigning fashion accessory in the company's lineup; the
thin 5.1-megapixel camera boasts an internal 3x optical zoom lens. Finally, the
12x-zooming, 5.1-megapixel, enthusiast DSC-H1 limits the nefarious effects of
camera shake by way of Sony's proprietary optical image-stabilization
technology.
We like the wide-angle focal length on this entry-level camera, though
its 1.5-inch LCD runs a bit small. The DSC-S40 features 6 preset scene modes and
is PictBridge compatible.
The DSC-S60's feature set, which includes a 2-inch LCD screen and a
manual shooting mode that's uncommon on consumer cameras, looks good for the
price. The camera takes AA batteries.
A step up from the DSC-S60, the DSC-S90 ships with a larger 2.5-inch
LCD screen and a rechargeable set of nickel-metal-hydride AA batteries (charger
included). There's also a manual shooting mode.
It's pricier than S-series cameras, but you get a sleeker design and an
additional megapixel. The DSC-W5 comes standard with a 2.5-inch LCD, plus
rechargeable AA batteries and manual shooting mode.
The DSC-W7 has some serious heft in the megapixel department and
otherwise shares a feature set with the DSC-W5. It's pricey but should appeal to
portability and large-format-printing junkies.
Looking more like a candy bar than the W series' rectangular deck of
cards, the compact DSC-P200 boasts 7 megapixels, a 2-inch LCD, 9 preset shooting
modes, and a manual setting.
Sony's much-ballyhooed DSC-T3 never made it to American stores, but its
spiritual successor the DSC-T33 offers much of the same: sleek design, 2.5-inch
LCD, and 10 preset scene modes.
Packing an impressive 12x zoom, the DSC-H1 uses optical image
stabilization to reduce the effects of camera shake on long-range shots. There's
also a 2.5-inch LCD and a manual shooting
mode.
PMA 2005 wrap-up: Point, shoot, smile,
repeat By Lori Grunin Senior editor,
CNET Reviews (February 24, 2005)
The most common adjectives used to
describe this year's PMA show include low key, low energy, and, well,
boring. The theories range from trade-show burnout--with Photokina last
fall and CES laundry barely out of the dryer, what could possibly be new--to
Cassandras blaming it on flattening digital camera sales. The guy sitting next
to me talking on his cell phone says that PMA and CES should be combined into a
one-week show, with PMA the first three days and CES the latter three. My pet
theory: Who the heck wants to be in Orlando during one of the busiest vacation
weeks of the year? After walking the show floor from one end to the other, I can
tell you they're all true.
In part, the crap factor was high. The high point of a photo show is not rows
and rows of scrapbooking paraphernalia (no slur to that wildly popular hobby) or
your-picture-here bobble-head dolls. Plus, most of the new camera announcements
came out before the show, making the show itself a bit anticlimactic. But if you
look beneath the surface, there are some really interesting and useful
developments taking place that will actively shape your digital-imaging-related
activities.
Few surprises Generally, we saw all the
stuff that we predicted from CES, predominantly rollouts of cameras with bigger
LCDs, more megazooms, and the typical trend toward cheaper and faster
products.
As if in preparation for the next generation of camera phones, 3-megapixel
digital cameras have rolled over and died. The proof: Out of the more than 60
new cameras coming from the top manufacturers this spring, only about 4 have
3-megapixel resolution. Though there remain significant differences among
low-resolution models and camera phone implementations, clearly the products
have become commoditized. With prices starting as low as US$150 (S$299), 4- and
5-megapixel models have become the new entry level. There were a handful of
notable products, which you can read about here.
NuCore Technology, who provides the processing innards for a variety of
camera manufacturers (it's the silicon behind Kyocera's RTune engine and JVC's
Megabrid architecture, among others), announced software that allows
manufacturers who use NuCore's chips to create some really advanced slide shows
with internal transitions and special effects, as opposed to between frames.
Plus, the chipset supports component output to HDTVs. However, if you're not
into all that flash, stay tuned--we think the chipset has great potential for
fostering innovation within PCs, DVD players, camera phones, and tons of other
noncamera consumer electronics.
Standard time Kodak opened its ImageLink
architecture to the industry in an effort to simplify PC-free printing--and
perhaps encourage non-Kodak shooters to buy its printer docks, of course. The
architecture specifies a 26-pin connector and a data-stream protocol for
one-touch printing. In practice, it means any camera that uses the connector
will be able to dock and print on a compliant output device. ImageLink isn't
terribly sophisticated; it literally prints everything at the press of a button,
and that's about it. You'll still need PictBridge to make more sophisticated
selections, add frames, and so on. Several camera manufacturers, notably those
without significant printer divisions, have joined the club. Kodak even showed a
prototype for an ImageLink-enabled printer dock for a camera phone.
In fact, camera phone printing is getting to be pretty big, not only for standalone printers but at
kiosks. You couldn't walk two feet without tripping over a kiosk, and many of
them support printing from phones. Since I kept tripping over kiosks, I decided
to get prints from all of them. These in-store kiosks generally come in two
flavors: one type has a dye-sub printer built in to deliver instant prints
(where instant means about 1.5 minutes per print), while the other
uploads your images to a central location, where a photofinisher creates
standard silver-halide photos (C prints) that you pick up in about an hour. My
advice: Before you use one of the instant print kiosks, find out whose printer
is inside. All the prints were nearly identical and pretty good except for those
from Fuji's Aladdin-based kiosks. They were simply awful.
HP trotted out Henry Wilhelm at its PMA dog-and-pony show to announce Wilhelm
Imaging Research's new "official" print permanence ratings, complete with
logo to stick on the packaging. Unfortunately, his rant about third-party inks
and papers sounded a little too much like HP's party line for my comfort.
Combined with the questions about his independence that have been floating
around for a while (which we also take with a grain of salt), I'll be
scrutinizing his ratings a bit more closely from now on and looking at the work
being done by the Rochester
Institute of Technology's Image Permanence Institute.
However, I hope the industry responds to Wilhelm's call to arms about the
lack of standards. Every time someone asks the "how many megapixels?" question,
what they're really asking--and we need to be able to answer--is, "How good are
this camera's photos?" We sorely need industry-wide metrics for image quality
and speed for digital cameras, as well as low-light performance for camcorders
and cost per page for inkjet printers. Sure, it might put me out of a job, but
I'm willing to take one for the team.
The best of PMA 2005 By Aimee
Baldridge Senior editor, CNET Reviews (February 25,
2005)
PMA 2005 turned out to be a modest show, with few
groundbreaking announcements. Many of the new cameras on the floor updated
existing models, adding a little more resolution, a boost in speed, and a dash
of style. But several products caught our attention, either because they blaze
the trail we'd like to see the digital imaging market follow, because they offer
noteworthy innovations, or simply because they make us wish we had a few
thousand dollars burning a hole in our pocket.
Arriving on the heels of news that the millionth
EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) has been sold, the successor to that 6-megapixel consumer SLR
offers 8-megapixel resolution, faster shooting, more flexible controls, and a
design that's one of the most compact on the market. While it doesn't make any
revolutionary changes, it encourages the trend of digital SLRs' incremental but
important improvements across the board while pushing entry prices down. The
original EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) will stay on the market at a reduced price, making SLR
photography even more affordable. The EOS 350D will be available in March for US$999 (S$1,999)
with an 18mm-to-55mm lens or US$899 (S$1,999) for the camera body only. See more
Hybrid devices that capture high-resolution photos and
MPEG-4 or -2 video are beginning to proliferate, and the EX-P505 is one of the
most attractive manifestations of the trend. With a 5x zoom lens, a
fold-out-and-swivel LCD, and an ergonomically appealing design, this little
camera shoots both 5-megapixel stills and VGA-resolution MPEG-4 video at 30fps.
The EX-P505 provides a nice balance of photo- and video-oriented features,
including an optical zoom that works when you're shooting video. It will be
available in March for US$499 (S$849). See
more
Unless you run a graphics shop or just have a whole
lot of money, you probably won't be buying this US$6,500 (S$10,999) LCD monitor. But it
brings an innovation to the professional world that we hope will one day trickle
down to LCD monitors priced for serious amateur photographers: an Adobe RGB
gamut. This color gamut is larger than the sRGB space; in other words, a photo
created in the Adobe RGB space can include colors that will show up as the
next-best color in an sRGB photo. You can shoot in Adobe RGB with a digital SLR
and even a few point-and-shoots, but when you're viewing your images on your
sRGB LCD monitor, you can't actually see all the nuances of color you've
captured. Enter the CG220. In addition to color, this LCD gives you 14-bit
processing for an improved grayscale tonal range size--and displays its fabulous
images on a 22.2-inch screen. For the lucky few, it's available immediately from
high-end imaging equipment retailers. See
more
When JVC launched its Everio camcorder line in late 2004, it
was arguably the industry's first attempt to create serious consumer video
cameras that recorded to flash memory cards and microdrives. Previous
flash-memory-based models tended to be toy-size gadgets that captured
low-quality footage. With the GZ-MC500, JVC raises the bar again by using three
CCDs. In principle, that means the quality of its MPEG-2 footage will be
improved, especially when it comes to color rendition. Like the other Everio
models, this camera has a very compact, consumer-oriented design, but it offers
some advanced features, including a manual focus ring. It can also capture
5-megapixel stills by way of pixel-shift technology and comes equipped with a
pop-up flash. The GZ-MC500 will be available in March for the substantial price
of US$1,800 (S$2,999), which includes a 4GB microdrive. See
more
Nixvue Vista Advanced Modular
System
We were happy to see lots of newly compact,
high-capacity portable photo-storage devices at the show, along with portable
disc burners that transfer images to DVD instead of just the CD-Rs compatible
with last year's bulkier units. Nixvue's Vista Advanced Modular System was our
favorite, providing most of the features we look for in a portable photo-storage
device. Its viewer sports a large 3.5-inch color LCD that can display both raw
files and JPEGs; its compact, high-capacity hard drive has a verification
function to make sure your images have been transferred uncorrupted; and its
burner will archive images directly from your camera's memory card to DVD-RAM,
DVD+/-R, or CD-R. Those three components are available in separate modules that
fit together. The viewer alone will cost about US$300 (S$499); with a 40GB hard drive, it
will run about US$500 (S$849) and with the disc burner about US$600 (S$999). All three modules will
be available in April.
The F2.0 maximum aperture of
this lens is available throughout its zoom range, which translates into 70mm to
200mm in 35mm-camera terms. If you're a portrait photographer who owns an
Olympus E-1 or E-300 camera, those specs probably already have you eyeing
your piggy bank with malice. The fast new lens is compatible with those two
Olympus digital SLRs, and even if portraits aren't your thing, its wide maximum
aperture should give you outstanding performance in low light. It will also
allow lots of flexibility in depth of field. Despite its long focal-length
range, this Zuiko Digital is relatively compact, making it an excellent choice
on the road. For those who prefer a wider lens, Olympus has also unveiled an
F2.0, 14mm-to-35mm (28mm to 70mm in 35mm-camera terms) Zuiko Digital. The only
bad news is that the new optics won't be available until late 2005 and will
likely have prices in the US$2,000 (S$3.2k) range. See
more
Panasonic has done an admirable job of
incorporating a host of truly useful features into all of its new Lumix cameras,
including the most affordable models. Their longer-than-average optical zoom
ranges offer shooting flexibility, their large LCDs provide an ample view, and
most notably, their optical image stabilization keeps photos from becoming a
blurry mess in low light and when you're taking advantage of the ability to zoom
way in. Since most digital photographers hold their point-and-shoot cameras out
at arm's length when taking a picture, the modern snapshot is especially prone
to camera shake, making image stabilization a much-needed aid. The new Lumix
cameras will be available in March and April. For prices and more information on
specific models, click here.
See
more
With the Cintiq 21UX, Wacom combines the latest and greatest
digital imaging technology with the oldest, most intuitive interface: You open
up your image in Photoshop or your program of choice on the 21.3-inch LCD, then
alter it directly on the screen with a tool held in the hand (in this case,
Wacom's new Cintiq 21UX Grip Pen). This isn't the first interactive LCD system
created by Wacom, but it's the biggest, and it incorporates new features such as
1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, a calibrated 1,600 x 1,200 display with a
170-degree viewing angle, and control touch pads that let you work more
efficiently. Naturally, it doesn't come cheap: The 21UX will be available in
March for US$2,499 (S$4,099). See more
