2008 PMA Final Report

Introduction
The annual PMA camera and photography tradeshow was held in Las Vegas again this year. Since 2000, the first year I went, it’s gone back and forth between Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. Most camera companies and PR firms have their headquarters in New York and New Jersey. So PMA is an excuse to go somewhere warm as well as show off new products to their dealers and the press. Orlando is for taking the kids and family to Disney World. And Vegas is for grownup fun.

It’s always hard to summarize PMA and it takes a while to really digest all the new camera gear and process what I’ve seen. As far as big announcements and innovative technology go, it wasn’t the most exciting PMA ever. If I have to sum it up in a sentence, PMA this year was about digital camera refinement. The most exciting news and product at the show was Sony’s unnamed future pro digital SLR. If there was a winner, it was Sony. Of course, there were lots of other products to help you take and enjoy better photos. Read on to learn more about the most interesting and important new digital cameras and photo accessories at PMA 2008.

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Nikon & Canon Add Image Stabilization To DSLR Kit Lenses

Nikon and Canon are offering new image-stabilized kits lenses for the entry-level digital SLRs they introduced at this year’s PMA tradeshow. On the surface this may not seem like anything more than the two camera makers adding value to their most affordable DSLR offerings. However, I think there’s more happening than what we see on the surface. For a while now I’ve been touting the real value of image stabilization for photographers of all types. And Pentax, Sony, and Olympus all offer competitively priced digital SLRs with image stabilization built into the camera body. It would be a mistake for Nikon and Canon to ignore those cameras. And obviously, they haven’t. With the introduction of the Canon EOS Rebel XSi with the new, and the Nikon D60 and its , image stabilization has become a standard feature in entry-level digital SLRs.

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Photo-John’s second career as a hand model brings us just a brief look at the XSi’s LCD and handling the larger grip.

Chuck Westfall of Canon describes a feature to help you see the smiles.

Last year Canon unveiled the feature-laden 1D Mark III. No surprise then that Canon’s news this PMA is the new Rebel XSi, which inherits a good dose of the 1D Mark III’s best technology. And again, it isn’t any one feature that stands out but rather all the changes and improvements that continue to position the XSi as the not-so-little brother of the Canon 40D. These include (not a comprehensive list):

• 12 MP sensor with improved photosite sensitivity
• 14-bit Digic III image processor (50% faster than previous generation)
• Improved autofocus (although the XTi was already outstanding)
• 3-inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Larger grip, lighter overall weight (not that the XT/XTi was anyone’s idea of heavy)
• Repositioned control buttons (e.g., ISO now on top)
• Highlight Tone Priority Mode/High ISO noise-reduction
• Auto Lighting Optimizer
• Live View with contrast detection AF
• 4% spot metering mode
• Multiple frames possible with self-timer (customizable)
• Increased viewfinder magnification and brightness
• Camera now uses SD (Secure Digital) memory cards.

My two biggest complaints with the original XT and XTi were the size of the grip and the viewfinder–too small! Both of these concerns have been improved and add a lot to the camera’s usability. Highlight Tone Priority is probably the big image quality improvement I’ve been waiting for as I hate blown highlights with hard edges–smooth edges I can manage. And, Canon’s generally outstanding reputation at ISO 800 and above will likely continue with the XSi.

Another thing that I learned (but probably not new) is that the XSi has tethered-shooting capability with Canon’s DPP software. Finally, the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens brings image stabilization and optical improvements over the previous model. Shipping in April and priced at $799 for the body only, $899 for the kit.

Just goes to show you can’t sit still in the highly competitive entry-level DSLR market. Accordingly, Nikon’s new D60 is $750 including a VR kit lens that is comparable to the XSi’s kit. I’m told the Nikon D60 has image quality related to the outstanding D3/D300, and has other improvements over the D40X. Well, since I’m not a Nikonian I can’t say much about the D60’s usability improvements, but it sure seems like a solid overall package. Either way, sub-$1,000 DSLR consumers have a pair of competitive choices in 2008.