Showgoers grab a moment's rest while taking in a demonstration at Express Digital.

Photo and reporting by PMA Senior Editor Don Long

PMA is highlighting just some of the new trends and innovations in its PMA 07 coverage this year in the "PMA 07 Trends" section of Newsline International and the online PMA Show Daily. For a full and exhaustive listing of all the new products and services, visit the Virtual Press Office, where many exhibitors post full product releases in the "PMA 07" section.

Rochester, N.Y.-based Eastman Kodak Co. was one of many companies unveiling new solutions aimed at helping retailers find new profits at PMA 07. Kodak demonstrated a variety of in-store scanners, software and wholesale solutions that make it easy for retailers to help consumers convert their shoeboxes of photos into custom CDs, DVDs, or uploads, turning family histories into memorable stories.
  Kodak's Document Imaging business showed PMA 07 attendees the Kodak s1220 Photo Scanning System based on and including the Kodak i1220 Scanner. It allows users to feed multiple prints for batch scanning, and associated software to capture the photos and perform simple enhancements such as sharpening, removing red-eye, and restoration. Squarely aimed at countertop services, the solution provides fast 30 picture-per-minute scans, is easy to operate, and takes little space on a desktop. Retailers can output the digital images to Kodak Picture CDs, Kodak Picture Movie DVDs and/or upload to online sites. In addition, Kodak's Qualex wholesale photofinishing subsidiary in the U.S. will offer a picture scanning service to their online and retail customers, launching this summer.
  Express Imaging Systems, Seattle, Wash., announced a new marketing campaign for central photo labs and photo retailers based on the 450-ppi photo output available from its Europa series high-speed digital printers. The HD Prints branding campaign is designed to create an association between high-definition TV (HDTV) and high-definition photographic prints produced by the Europa digital silver-halide printer. EIS said the HD Prints brand creates a tangible reference point for quality that labs and retailers can use to promote their silver-halide photo printing services -- still the undisputed medium for image permanence, quality, and low-cost consumables.
  A kiosk data analysis tool from Vienna, Va.-based Lucidiom promises to help photo retailers pinpoint new profit opportunities, says the company. The APM ProfitWatcher Dashboard, a Web-based reporting tool, lets retailers know exactly how their photo kiosks are performing and where and how customers spend money.
  Lucidiom photo kiosks report information contained on a consumer's media card via Lucidiom's APM Network. The APM Network transmits the data to the APM ProfitWatcher website, where the retailer can log in and view statistics, such as which cameras his customers use, which media cards they use, when they take pictures, how many pictures they take, whether the pictures over-exposed or under-exposed, if the pictures have red-eye, and numerous other data points. The data is analyzed through Lucidiom's APM ProfitWatcher and then presented on the Dashboard in simple and easy-to-understand charts and graphs for the retailer.  The retailer then can implement the knowledge gained from the Dashboard to make inventory choices, new marketing campaigns, new store designs, new upsell promotions, and other key business decisions.

  New in the Photo Studio in a Box line from American Recorder Technologies, Simi Valley, Calif., is the Compact Model SIB-075. It features newly designed, high output, UL Listed lights with 2800K color correcting lens, a 5 - 10 inch mini aluminum tripod, a 16-by-16-by-16 pop-up soft lighting tent, and a nylon carrier. The product weighs only 3 pounds.
  Aperion Inc., Lake Forest, Calif., announced new additions to its line of photo greeting templates at PMA 07. The product line now includes a collection of common-themed scrapbook packs, 4-by-8 templates featuring square photo windows, and ticket templates for sports, dance, and musical events. Existing product categories have also been expanded to feature new design additions as well as a wider selection.

By PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger

In the days leading up to PMA 07, Sony, Canon, Kodak, Epson all announced consumer printers, and featured them at the show. These included:

·   The 13-inch wide Epson Stylus Photo 1400 from Epson America Inc., Long Beach, Calif. The Ultra Hi-Definition inkjet printer shares the same technology as the Stylus Photo R260 and R380, including Claria ink and DX5 MicroPiezo print heads. The new printer is designed to make prints up to 13-by-19 inches. Automatic Photo Correction adjusts color for dark, backlit and washed-out photos, adjusting skin tones, enhancing the richness of scenery photos, and automatically sharpening prints.

·  

The Sony PictureStation DPP-FP70 was one of several "portable" consumer printers with handles showcased at PMA 07.

The DPP-FP70 and DPP-FP90 PictureStation printers from Sony Electronics Inc., Park Ridge, N.J., are lightweight photo printers with built-in carrying handles and the ability to print pictures in less than a minute. They allow users to preview and edit photos before printing with built-in displays -- 2.5-inches and 3.6-inches, respectively. Time to print a 4-by-6-inch print from a Memory Stick is 45 seconds. Both photo printers offer the Auto Touch-Up feature to correct common picture problems, and a mode to personalize photos by superimposing a special message from pre-set phrases. The filter feature on both offers six options for modifying digital photos before printing. The new printers are compatible with most PictBridge-enabled cameras. All PictureStation photo printers use dye-sublimation technology with a laminate coating.

·   The portable PIXMA iP90v Photo Printer from Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., is described as being smaller than a breadbox, lighter than most laptops. This variant of the iP90 offers wireless printing, a new software program called Easy-LayoutPrint, and is Windows Vista compatible. Easy-PhotoPrint software (for Windows or Mac) allows consumers to print photos quickly using simple menu choices to locate digital images, pick paper size and type, choose the layout and print. It offers enhanced capabilities including calendar, album, sticker, and layout printing.

·   The PIXMA iP3300 and PIXMA iP1800 Photo Printers from Canon offer high-end features and new stylish designs. Both printers feature Canon FINE (Full-Photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) print head technology, delivering ink droplets as small as 2 picoliters, at up to 4800-by-1200 dpi color resolution. The iP3300 utilizes Canon's individual ink tank system and delivers fast, borderless, photo lab quality photos up to 8.5-by-11, offers selectable dual paper paths and a PictBridge port. It has received Windows Vista certification. Also Vista compatible, the iP1800 can deliver photo-lab quality borderless 4-by-6 photos in approximately 70 seconds, says the company. It uses two FINE ink cartridges.

·   Joining its line of photo printers, HP Co., Palo Alto, Calif., announced the HP Photosmart A440 Series Camera and Printer Docks. In addition to automatically reducing red-eye and enhancing photos with the HP Red Eye button, this compact photo printer delivers long-lasting photos that resist fading for generations using HP Advanced Photo Paper and HP Vivera inks, says the company.

·   At PMA 07, General Imaging, Torrance, Calif., introduced a new consumer printer -- the P1 Printer. The printer can print 4-by-6 photos in 4800-by-1200 dpi resolution with an advanced three-color ink system in 75 seconds in normal mode or 105 seconds in photo mode. It includes a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with some editing functions, USB 2.0 and PictBridge ports, and a 25-sheet loading try. Prices are not yet firm. On Feb. 13, General Electric and General Imaging first announced a licensing agreement by which General Imaging would design, manufacture, and distribute the cameras and printers.

DSLR cameras are getting easier to use and grow with for consumers and prosumers alike. More and more DSLR models are incorporating additional pro-level features while also featuring point-and-shoot features like menu explanations.

 

The 10.2-megapixel Nikon D40x will be available in April with one lens for $799.95.

Nikon Corp., Melville, N.Y., updated its D40 DSLR with the 10.2-megapixel D40x, featuring faster continuous shooting capability and wider ISO sensitivity than the earlier version. The Nikon D40x powers up in 0.18 second and can shoot up to 3 pictures per second, non-stop, for up to 100 shots. The D40x's 10.2-effective megapixel CCD imaging sensor is complimented by Nikon's exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II and an improved Nikon Image Processing Engine that together ensure analyzed exposure, refined details and natural, accurately rendered colors, the company says.

  The back of the D40x is has a 2.5-inch color LCD screen that displays menu options, pictures in playback mode, and Nikon's new information display system. The camera also features a built-in help menu that can be accessed at the touch of a button and new Assist Images that help you select appropriate settings for many camera features by displaying a sample image typical of that setting -- key features for first-time DSLR buyers.

  The D40x's new Retouch menu offers in-camera image editing features, including a Retouch menu with Nikon's D-Lighting, which brightens dark pictures, and red-eye correction that automatically detects and corrects red eye. Image Trim allows for creative cropping and creates smaller files for e-mailing. Other creative features include Image Overlay, Small Picture, Monochrome (black-and-white, sepia, and cyanotype), and Filter Effects (skylight, warm filter, color balance).

  The D40x comes packaged with the new 3X 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens, and is compatible with all of Nikon's AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses. The D40x will be available throughout the United States beginning next month for $729.95 for body only or $799.95, packaged with the 3X zoom 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens.

  Additionally, Olympus America Inc., Center Valley, Pa., announced two new prosumer DSLRs at PMA 07 -- the EVOLT E-410 and EVOLT E-510. The smaller and lighter E-410 is aimed for the first-time user but is advanced enough for the serious photographer, says the company. The E-510 has advanced technologies for photo hobbyists and prosumers, says the company.

The 10-megapixel Olympus E-410 will be available in May with one lens for $799; a two-lense kit is also available for $899.

  Both DSLRs offer a Live View LCD enabling users to compose shots from a variety of angles and incorporate 10-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensors that generates high-resolution images that can be cropped or blown up to poster size without sacrificing image quality. Both cameras also feature TruePic III for superior image quality in all lighting situations and a Dust Reduction System to ensure spot-free photos. Both cameras include a full range of manual control options. The E-410 also offers 30 shooting modes. The E-510 has 28 shooting modes.

  Additionally, the E-510 offers a Mechanical Image Stabilization with Supersonic Wave Drive technology provides blur-free images. The Mechanical Image Stabilization compensates for camera movement and complements Digital Image Stabilization, which compensates for a moving subject.

  The Olympus EVOLT E-410 DSLR will be available in May. The EVOLT E-410 body will be $699; the EVOLT E-410 with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens will be $799; the EVOLT E-410 with both ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 and ED 40-150mm f4.0/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens will be $899.

  The Olympus EVOLT E-510 DSLR will be available in June. The EVOLT E-510 Body will be $799; the EVOLT E-510 with 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens will be $899; the EVOLT E-510 Two Lens Kit (Body, 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses) will be $999.

By PMA Managing Editor Beth A. Duiser

Professional-level DSLRs have often been overshadowed by the growing consumer and prosumer DSLR models on the market now, but two big pro DSLR announcements were made by Canon and Sony. 

  In late February, Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., pre-announced the 10.1-megapixel EOS-1D Mark III, a significant new professional DSLR to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Canon EOS system. The Canon EOS-1D Mark III, debuted at PMA 07, contains many first-ever features for a pro-level DSLR. Among them is the ability to shoot bursts of frames at a top speed 10fps, making it the fastest DSLR in the world, according to Canon.

  Increased sensor size means that each pixel can be larger for a given resolution. The pixels of the EOS-1D Mark III DSLR are 7.2 microns square, compared with a sensor with a 10-megapixels in APS-C size would have pixels less than 6 microns square. The standard ISO 100-3200 range on the camera can be expanded to ISO 50-6400, and a bright, 3-inch LCD complements the "live-view mode," which allows the user to compose images accurately on the LCD monitor.

  If the card slot cover opens during the writing operation, an alarm sounds and a warning message appears on the screen to indicate that writing is in progress. The card writing continues even if the slot cover is opened, protecting a photographer's important work. Also, if a photographer sets the power switch to the "off" position during the card writing process, a message appears on the screen to indicate writing is in progress. After the writing is completed, the power turns off. With a ship date this spring, the EOS-1D Mark III will carry a price sticker similar to its predecessor, says the company.

  Sony Electronics Inc., San Diego, Calif., announced plans for the second wave of Alpha products at a press conference during PMA 07. The company said its DSLR-A100 will be joined by a high-amateur level DSLR and a pro-level DSLR, which will be the company's flagship model. Both Alpha DSLR models are still in development phases, but Sony said it expects one of the new Alpha models to hit market during this calendar year.

By PMA Managing Editor Beth A. Duiser

The C-Lux 2 by Leica Camera Inc., Allendale N.J., is the newest digital camera model of the C-Lux line. The 7.2-megapixel camera features a thinner design than predecessors as well as a high-speed image signal processor and faster reaction capability. The C-Lux 2 has automatic exposure control and an integrated optical stabilizer that may be activated for exposure only or for both exposure and camera displays to prevent camera shake. The camera will come with a 64MB SD card, charger, battery, AV, USB, and AC cables as well as a software package. It will be available in May.

Samsung Camera introduced several new digital cameras at PMA 07. Samsung Opto-Electronics America Inc., Secaucus, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Techwin Co. Ltd., Sungnam Kyungki-Do, Korea.

The new Samsung L74 Wide digital camera will be available this spring for $349.99. It includes a Travel Guide function.

  The new compact 7-megapixel L74 Wide digital camera is equipped with a 3.6x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens support for wider images. Samsung says it is aimed at tech savvy consumers looking for a high-quality easy-to-use camera to take on travels. The L74 Wide is equipped with a Tour Guide function, which provides travel information covering 4,500 regions in 30 countries, helping users to plan trips and find their way while on the road. Equipped with 450 MB of internal memory, the L74 Wide can store all the information travelers need to get them where they're going.

  The L74 Wide, with a 3.0-inch touch screen LCD, includes Samsung's Face Recognition AF & AE, which detects the subject's face, automatically adjusting auto focus and auto exposure to ensure better composition and image quality. The touch screen LCD also includes a Flash GUI (Graphic User Interface) to enable the user to access the diverse function intuitively and easily. The L74 Wide incorporates Samsung's proprietary ASR image stabilization system, which helps to capture the best possible images even in dimly lit conditions. When enabled, Samsung's Wise Shot automatically takes two consecutive pictures in rapid succession-one with ASR image stabilization enabled, and one with the flash-and prompts the user to review both and keep the preferred version of the picture. Combined with the ability to capture in MPEG-4 SVGA quality the L74 Wide can take compelling moving pictures and once taken the camera allows for pictures to be edited. The Samsung L74 Wide will a MSRP of $349.99 and will be available in North America this spring.

  Samsung also introduced the new super slim 7-megapixel L77 digital still camera, combining a sleek compact body less than 1-inch thick with a 7x optical zoom lens. The L77 offers shutter speeds that reach up to an effective 1/1,250 sec and an ISO equivalent of 1600. The L77 also features a bright 2.5-inch TFT LCD and comes equipped with Samsung's ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) image stabilization system to minimize the effects of hand shake and ensure the best shots are captured even in dimly lit conditions.

The new Samsung NV11 digital camera will be available this spring for $399.99.

  The L77 can capture moving action and is able to record in MPEG-4 at VGA quality (30 fps). When activated, its Movie Stabilizer mode enables users to compensate for unwanted camera movement and subject blur. In addition, the L77's Continuous Movie mode allows its operator to pause, then resume filming of video clips without having to save the clips as individual files. For added convenience, the L77 offers in-camera editing capabilities of film clips and photographs. The Samsung L77 will be available in April for an MSRP of $399.99.