Tech Blog

[#1]

Sunday, February 21 North America's largest photo conference and exhibition, the PMA, kicks off. Quite a silly acronym, PMA, or Photography Marketing Association. Not nearly as catchy as CES (Consumer Electronic Show), but never the less a really cool show with the latest and the greatest from the world of photography.

It is a three days of fraternizing with fellow photo aficionados. Three days where words like "f-stop", "sensor size" and "ISO" are more common than "what's for dinner" and "how's the weather".

So what can we expect to see at the PMA?

Well, a lot of the camera manufacturers use the weeks leading up to PMA to announce their early part of 2010 camera collection. We have already seen a bunch of new compacts from Samsung, Sony, Olympus and Fuji to name a few. One of the emerging  trends seem to be the inclusion of 720p HD video. Pretty cool! Canon and Nikon have also revealed new DSLRs, and Olympus has introduced the E-PL1 rangefinder camera.

So the PMA offers a chance for hands-on experience with these new products. At the same time it is an opportunity to connect with camera industry representatives to talk about the new products and what 2010 will bring.

And you never know, there may be some completely new products announced. We will see.

I have meetings lined up with Panasonic, Olympus, Nikon, Fuji, Casio, Samsung, Sony and Pentax. Phew! it is going to be a busy. Even though the PMA officially kicks off this Sunday, February 21, there is a press sneak peek scheduled for Saturday @ noon. So be sure to check in already then for a first look at all the new photography goodies.

I am flying from Vancouver to Los Angeles Friday evening, so feel free to already tune in there if you want to see if my memory cards get confiscated in security. For the best coverage (blogs and tweets) you can follow me on Future Shop's PMA coverage page.

[#2]

I recently had a chance to check out Sony's 3D demo in Vancouver..... Using polarized glasses, the results were definitely impressive.....

When down at PMA, please report on any 3D developments by manufacturers (Sony? Nikon? Canon?) or after market products.  For example is Adobe computational photography from 2007 dead?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-9793272-39.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZmsD5zMacU

[#3]

@XL: Wow! pretty impressive idea by Adobe. Will for sure follow up on the 3D aspect of photography (and videography) while @ PMA.

What do you think of Fuji's stab @ 3D photography. I had a chance to see the Fuji 3D W1 camera back in August while meeting with Fuji. To me the biggest challenge so far is the output, i.e. how do we view the 3D images. But I guess with 3D TVs lurking on the horizon that problem is starting to get solved.

[#4]

Doh!, forgot to post the link to my post on the Fuji 3D W1:

http://www.futureshopforums.ca/t5/Tech-Blog/3D-yeah-right/ba-p/164750

[#5]

I've got a family wedding coming up in the near future, so that got me thinking. But I own one too many cameras.  In addition to limited distribution issues, the lack of AA batteries and the camera isn't 1080 for movie mode is holding me back.

At this time, making a family wedding in HD would be more practical than 3D.   Besides which is more important, having 6 times the detail (resolution) vs 3D.

People thought I was nuts to buy a BVD burner when it was $1000 and blank discs were $15 each.  I'm still waiting for Blu-Ray burners and blanks to affordable at this time.

[#6]

But then again when the summer/fall comes and 3D options are more clear & affordable. I might change my mind.  Especially if there are after market products that allow me to use my current DSLR or HD cameras.  Perhaps these after market items will be seen/announced at PMA.