PMA: The show for all things photographic

If you are into photography, you’ve probably heard of PMA. Those three letters stand for the Photo Marketing Association, but just as often it’s the shorthand reference to the annual convention and trade show that the association hosts. Switching every two years between the host cities of Las Vegas, Nev. (this year’s venue) and Orlando, Fla., PMA attracts ‘em all. Professional photographers gather here to meet and compare notes. Specialized groups have conferences within the main conference. There are always exhibits of work from some of the world’s best photographers. And, of course, big and small manufacturers alike showcase their latest products at the trade show. Following is a small sample of the many products showcased at the show. Canon updates flagship EOS-1D Mark IIICanon is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the EOS SLR brand this year and to mark that milestone it announced what it claims is “the fastest, most powerful digital SLR in the world.” No small claim, but the EOS-1D Mark III can churn out images at an impressive 10 frames per second to a maximum of 110 jpeg shots in a single burst. The Mark III uses a 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is about the same size as an APS-H film frame and creates a focal length conversion factor of approximately 1.3 (100 mm lens gives the same angle of view as a 130 mm on a full-frame 35 mm camera).The camera uses a Canon-developed sensor cleaning system, and also incorporates a LCD live view mode (and has a generous three-inch LCD screen), a feature seen previously only on Olympus and Panasonic SLRs. The camera also uses dual image processors. Canon says it has made the Mark III body lighter but more rugged and weather resistant. Price is approximately $5,500. New SLRs from OlympusOlympus announced three new digital SLR cameras – or was it just two? The company focused on its E410 and E510 cameras although also included a teaser (with no details) about the Pro model coming later in the year. The two new E’s are separate designs although they share some core technologies, such as Olympus’s pioneering sensor dust removal system and an image-processing engine it calls TruPic III. Another feature shared by the two cameras is the 10 megapixel image sensor with Live-View, which is the ability to see a real-time image display on the LCD screen. Why Live View is a big deal is because the basic design of the SLR puts a mirror assembly in front of the sensor, which prevents live viewing unless you implement some clever engineering – and Olympus has done that. One of the notable features that distinguishes the E-510 from the entry-level E-410 is the inclusion of a gyroscopic image stabilization system built into the sensor assembly. This means users can get the benefits of mechanical image stabilization even with non stabilized lenses. The E-410 will be available in May; the E-510 is set to hit shelves in June. Nikon’s baby SLR gains pixelsA lot of manufacturers have introduced compact models in their SLR lineup, including Nikon and its D40, a six megapixel model introduced in November. Joining it this year is the D40x with an impressive 10.2 megapixel sensor. Nikon says this model has a startup time of 0.18 seconds and works with most of its flash units and lenses. Aimed at first-time SLR users, the D40X has several automated scene modes, but also includes the usual advanced exposure modes such as aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full manual. It will be sold with a DX Nikkor 18-55mm zoom lens for a suggested retail price of $999.95 New digicam line bears GE labelIf your company name is unknown, one way to gain instant visibility is to latch onto a brand with huge recognition – one like General Electric. That’s precisely what Torrance, Calif.-based General Imaging has done, licensing the famous GE brand for use on its line of eight digital cameras. The GE branded cameras will cover a broad range of niches, from the budget-priced A series to the advanced X1, an eight megapixel model with 12 x zoom lens, image stabilization and a few other advanced features. In between are the compact G line and the E series. The E850 includes a 5x zoom and 28 mm wide angle performance. The company also announced the P1 snapshot printer. Pet eye fixer from HPHewlett-Packard says pets are the second most frequently photographed subject. To alleviate the glowing eyes syndrome threatening to ruin all those pet photos, its 7.2 megapixel HP Photosmart R837 digital camera has a built-in pet eye fix feature. The camera also has several in-camera editing features such red-eye reduction, blemish and wrinkle smoothing and panorama stitching.The R837 will be available this month and has a suggested retail price of $249.99 Epson shows $500 Super-B inkjetFor photographic printmaking aficionados Epson’s line of pigment-based inkjet printers has had the right stuff for several years. Now, Epson has introduced the Stylus Photo 1400 (replacing the 1280), which uses dye-based inks, not pigments.The printer will accept media up to 13 inches wide, making it a natural for Super B (13 x 19 inch) printmaking. One of the advantages of pigments is their 100+ year permanence and fade resistance. However, dye formulations have improved and the 1400’s Claria inks are rated at up to 98 years under glass or 200 years stored in an album. The six-colour printer also includes a CD carrier, which allows you to print information directly on the CD – no need for stick on labels. Suggested retail price is $499. Photoshop CS3E joins CS3The next version of Adobe Photoshop will have two variations. Photoshop CS3 has a stable mate called CS3 Extended. CS3E includes the full CS3 feature set, but adds a few new tools for 3-D and motion graphics, says Adobe. The products should be out later this spring. Earlier this year in a somewhat unusual move, Adobe made a beta version of CS3 available to anyone that had a CS2 license. Kodak introduces creativity softwareKodak’s Easyshare Custom Creations Software is a design package you can use on your home computer to create books, calendars, photo specialty items, etc. Once finished you burn your creations onto a CD, take it to a participating retailer where your file is turned into your own custom product. The company also introduced a couple of digital cameras. The EasyShare Z712 IS is a 7.1 megapixel camera with a 12X optical zoom lens and optical image stabilization. The Z885 is an 8.1 megapixel camera with a 5X zoom lens. A noteworthy feature of this model is its high-ISO performance of up to ISO 8000.