giovanni
Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 102
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 Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject: PMA 2007 Show Report |
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PMA 2007 Show Report
PMA 2007 LogoWelcome to the Digital Photography Review PMA 2007 show report preview. The Photo Marketing Association Annual Show will be held this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center between March 8th and 11th 2007. PMA is the photography industry's most important annual event, it's the place where the new year's hottest digital cameras and related products are announced. As usual we will be providing extensive coverage of the products announced at PMA as well as a live show report which will appear here on subsequent pages during the show.
Note: This is not designed to be comprehensive report of the entire show but rather a summary of the new digital camera and photography related products announced around and shown at PMA.
Jump to:
* PMA 2007 round-up
* Our show statistics
* New product index
* Live show report history
* Previous reports
(Don't forget you can use the next page buttons to browse the stand reports).
PMA 2007 round-up
This year’s PMA felt busy; the Vegas location always helps visitor numbers and many of the booths were more compact and product-orientated than usual, perhaps an indication that the days of extravagance (when digital camera market growth was huge) are behind us.
In terms of sheer volume of new product this year’s PMA was one of the biggest ever, with over 110 digital cameras products announced at or just before the show. And yet there is little to get excited about; for the most part the products announced where minor upgrades or restyled versions of last year’s cameras, and the almost total lack of innovation is disappointing, though hardly unsurprising – especially given that Photokina was only 6 months ago.
On the SLR side of things – and despite Sony almost succeeding in stealing the show with the rather vague announcement of some new models coming at some time in the future – the highlight this year came from Olympus. Not only did the company show two new compact SLR models with strong feature sets (including live view), it also took the covers off a considerably more finished-looking successor to the E-1, a camera that people have been waiting patiently for since the days when the Pentax 645 Digital was new news. And not to forget, of course, the new Canon EOS 1D III, which may be slightly niche, but is an impressive machine and one that perhaps gives a sneak peak of the kind of technology we'll see trickling down to consumer Canon SLRs in the future.
Moving to fixed lens it is obvious that most of the major manufacturers no longer consider there is a need, or demand, for high-end compact cameras, thanks to the advent of the truly affordable (and increasingly compact) digital SLR. The only exception is the still-healthy ‘super zoom’ segment, boosted at PMA by the arrival of the Olympus SP-550UZ (as well as new models from Sony and Kodak). In a sea of me-too compacts we were also pleased to see that Sigma’s large sensor DP1 has developed considerably since the prototypes shown at Photokina.
In general the trends across the compact market make depressing reading for the photo enthusiast, perhaps less so for the average Joe looking for a family snapshot camera, for whom the range of models on offer has never been so numerous or so feature-packed. And with inexpensive digital photo frames a-plenty, the increasing use of Wi-Fi and (something to watch for next year) GPS positioning options, photo printer docks, in-camera effects and image stabilization you can hardly accuse the industry of standing still.
This year also saw high ISO becoming a standard tick box on even the most inexpensive cameras, something we’d be over the moon about if the impact on image quality were not so extreme. With some compacts offering ISO 8,000 or - in one case - ISO 10,000, it would appear that the issue of sensitivity (by far the biggest problem for small sensor compacts) is now the responsibility of the marketing, rather than engineering department. But no, high ISO (or ‘anti shake’ as it now appears to be officially known) – like Face Detection, red-eye removal and so on – is now just another tick box on a compact camera spec list.
So then, another year of more megapixels (now well into double digits), bigger screens, extra scene modes and lower prices. Another year with few surprises and little genuine innovation. But hey, we’ve never had it so good...
Our show statistics
* Show report: 19 stands, 262 images, 3,090 words posted live from the show floor
* News: 103 PMA product related news articles (includes some CES announcements)
* Products announced: Over 110 new digital photography products (major manufacturers)
* Site stats (7/Mar - 11/Mar; 5 days): 4.4 million visitors, 11.9 million pages read
* Forums (7/Mar - 11/Mar; 5 days): 61,000 messages posted
New Product Index (112 total)
Manufacturer
(& stand report) Product type Date
(2007) New products / Information
123di Accessory Mar 2 123di The 123 of digital imaging 4.0
Adobe Software Jan 29 Adobe Lightroom 1.0
Canon Digital SLR Feb 22 Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens Feb 22 Canon EF 16-35 mm F2.8L II
Accessory Feb 22 Canon Speedlite 580EX II
Accessory Feb 22 Canon Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3
Accessory Feb 22 Canon Wireless Transmitter WFT-E2
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Canon PowerShot TX1
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Canon Digital ELPH SD1000
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Canon Digital ELPH SD750
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Canon PowerShot A570 IS
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Canon PowerShot A560
Consumer Digicam Jan 18 Canon PowerShot A550
Consumer Digicam Jan 18 Canon PowerShot A460
Consumer Digicam Jan 18 Canon PowerShot A450
Casio Consumer Digicam Jan 30 Casio Exilim EX-1050
Consumer Digicam Jan 30 Casio Exilim EX-Z75
Consumer Digicam Jan 8 Casio Exilim EX-V7 [CES]
Delkin Storage Mar 7 Delkin Expresscard readers
Storage Mar 7 Delkin Cardbus readers
Fujifilm Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Fujifilm FinePix S5700
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Fujifilm FinePix A900
Consumer Digicam Feb 22 Fujifilm FinePix A820
Consumer Digicam Jan 4 Fujifilm FinePix IS-1 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 4 Fujifilm FinePix F40 fd [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 4 Fujifilm FinePix A800 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 4 Fujifilm FinePix A610 [CES]
HP Consumer Digicam Mar 8 HP Photosmart R387
Consumer Digicam Mar 8 HP Photosmart M537
Consumer Digicam Mar 8 HP Photosmart M437
Hasselblad Medium Format Jan 29 Hasselblad H3D 31 megapixel back
Kodak Consumer Digicam Mar 7 Kodak EasyShare Z885
Consumer Digicam Mar 7 Kodak EasyShare Z712
Consumer Digicam Mar 7 Kodak EasyShare C613
Consumer Digicam Mar 7 Kodak EasyShare C763
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Kodak Easyshare V1003 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Kodak Easyshare V803 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Kodak Easyshare C653 [CES]
Lensbabies Lens Feb 12 Lensbabies Creative Aperture Kit
Lexar Storage Feb 20 Lexar Professional 300x 8 GB CF
Storage Feb 20 Lexar Professional Firewire 800 UDMA CF reader
Storage Feb 20 Lexar Professional Dual Media USB 2.0 reader
Storage Feb 13 Lexar Professional 133x 4 GB SDHC
Storage Mar 9 Lexar Platinum II 2 & 4 GB MS Pro Duo
Storage Jan 10 Lexar Platinum II 4 GB SDHC [CES]
Nikon Digital SLR Mar 6 Nikon D40X
Lens Mar 6 Nikon AF-S 55-200 mm VR
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix P5000
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix S200
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix S50
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix S50c
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix S500
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix L10
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix L11
Consumer Digicam Feb 20 Nikon Coolpix L12
Olympus Digital SLR Mar 5 Olympus EVOLT E-510
Digital SLR Mar 5 Olympus EVOLT E-410
Consumer Digicam Mar 5 Olympus Stylus 780
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus SP-550 UZ
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus 770 SW
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus 760
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus FE-250
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus FE-240
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus FE-230
Consumer Digicam Jan 25 Olympus Stylus FE-210
Panasonic Lens Mar 7 Panasonic Leica 25 mm F1.4
Lens Mar 7 Panasonic Leica 14-150 mm F3.5-F5.6
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ6
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS75
Consumer Digicam Jan 31 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS60
Storage Jan 7 Panasonic 4 GB SDHC [CES]
Pentax Lens Feb 21 Pentax DA* 16-50 mm SDM F2.8
Lens Feb 21 Pentax DA* 50-135 mm SDM F2.8
Consumer Digicam Feb 21 Pentax Optio W30
Consumer Digicam Feb 21 Pentax Optio A30
Consumer Digicam Jan 23 Pentax Optio T30
Consumer Digicam Jan 23 Pentax Optio M30
Consumer Digicam Jan 3 Pentax Optio E30 [CES]
Samsung Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung i70 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung L700 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung L73 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung S1050 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung S850 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung S730 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 7 Samsung S630 [CES]
Consumer Digicam Jan 29 Samsung i7
Consumer Digicam Jan 29 Samsung NV11
Consumer Digicam Jan 29 Samsung L74 Wide
Consumer Digicam Feb 9 Samsung L77
Consumer Digicam Feb 9 Samsung S1030
Consumer Digicam Feb 9 Samsung S830
SanDisk Storage Mar 9 SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC
Storage Mar 9 SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III MS Pro Duo
Storage Mar 8 SanDisk 8 GB Ultra II SDHC
Sigma Consumer Digicam Mar 8 Sigma DP1
Lens Mar 8 Sigma 18-200 mm F3.5 - F6.3 DC OS
Lens Mar 8 Sigma APO 200 - 500 mm F2.8
Sony Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90
Consumer Digicam Feb 27 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80
Storage Jan 8 Sony Memory Stick Duo 8 GB [CES]
Please note that all of the above products are brand new and just announced, our 'NEW' indicator simply marks those products which have been added to this list within the last three days. As usual we have also included several products announced at CES 2007 (suffixed [CES]), the main reasoning behind this is that these products join those announced at PMA to make up a manufacturer's new line-up.
Live Show Report (history of posting during the show)
You can also choose from two RSS feeds related to this show report, firstly the main live show report feed which will be updated live during show hours and the new product index feed which is updated whenever new products are announced.
Company / Stand / Products Last updated
Pentax (DA* 16-50 mm SDM F2.8, DA* 50-135 mm SD...) 10 Mar 07 19:56 EST
Misc 10 Mar 07 19:35 EST
Lexar (Professional 300x 8 GB CF, Professional...) 10 Mar 07 19:32 EST
Sony (Cyber-shot DSC-H9, Cyber-shot DSC-H7, C...) 10 Mar 07 19:30 EST
Tamron 10 Mar 07 19:28 EST
Leica 10 Mar 07 19:25 EST
Nokia 10 Mar 07 19:15 EST
HP (Photosmart R387, Photosmart M537, Photo...) 10 Mar 07 19:15 EST
Sigma (DP1, 18-200 mm F3.5 - F6.3 DC OS, APO 2...) 9 Mar 07 12:47 EST
SanDisk (4 GB Extreme III SDHC, 4 GB Extreme III...) 9 Mar 07 11:02 EST
Samsung (i70, L700, L73, S1050, S850, S730, S630...) 9 Mar 07 11:02 EST
Delkin (Expresscard readers, Cardbus readers) 9 Mar 07 11:01 EST
Casio (Exilim EX-1050, Exilim EX-Z75, Exilim E...) 9 Mar 07 11:01 EST
General Imaging 8 Mar 07 14:50 EST
Panasonic (Leica 25 mm F1.4, Leica 14-150 mm F3.5-...) 8 Mar 07 14:00 EST
Olympus (EVOLT E-510, EVOLT E-410, Stylus 780, S...) 8 Mar 07 14:00 EST
Kodak (EasyShare Z885, EasyShare Z712, EasySha...) 8 Mar 07 14:00 EST
Nikon (D40X, AF-S 55-200 mm VR, Coolpix P5000,...) 8 Mar 07 12:00 EST
Canon (EOS-1D Mark III, EF 16-35 mm F2.8L II, ...) 8 Mar 07 10:38 EST
Fujifilm (FinePix S5700, FinePix A900, FinePix A8...) 8 Mar 07 10:37 EST |
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