nd of course, the Adorama News Desk will be there to cover the show, which starts next Tuesday. What will we find when we get there? Here are some predictions:
1. Superzoom and ultrazoom cameras: We’re expecting this category to grow as more and more companies unveil cameras with optical zoom lenses that go beyond 15x, while existing models get upgrades and even longer zoom lengths.
2. A DSLR or two, maybe: Olympus just introduced the E-620. We might see a replacement for the Nikon D40, which has been around for a while. We’re not expecting anything new in the DSLR department from Sony or Pentax. Canon appears to have made all its big announcements at Photokina, but ya never know. Why so little DSLR action? Blame the economy.
3. System compacts: This was the hot new category at Photokina. Will we see more in Vegas? Sigma, for example has promised that the DP1, their little camera with the big camera sensor, will enter its second generation in the form of the DP2, but when? We’ll be looking at the show.
4. Micro Four Thirds: Panasonic has hinted that there might be an update to the Lumix DMC-G1, which is currently the only Micro Four Thirds camera. Olympus has hinted that its long-awaited Micro Four Thirds camera won’t be ready for PMA. Those who are waiting for Micro Four Thirds to burst on the scene full force may need to wait a bit longer.
5. Lots of little cameras with interesting new tech: “Smart Auto” seems to be the exciting new technology creeping into new compact cameras this year. This is the uber-mode that picks the appropriate scene mode for whatever you’re photographing at the moment to optimize exposure, focus, color balance, etc. A growing number of cameras are expected to offer full HD video recording, and one or two may offer in-camera high-dynamic range mode, which shoots two or three varying exposures in quick succession then combines them in-camera. And finally, there’s a bunch of new compacts with wide-angle zoom lenses starting at 24-28mm (35mm equivalent).
6. “Underwater compacts” becomes a category: Until a few months ago, Olympus had a lock on ruggedized, waterproof compact cameras. But now several other camera makers have introduced models that can be dunked, dropped or taken onto the slopes.
7. A surprise or two: We’re hoping one of them will be the U.S. debut of the digital rangefinder that Epson (remember the R-D1?) just announced in Japan. There’s always something unexpected at PMA and that’s why we’ll be covering it in-depth.
Overall, we expect the show to be relatively quiet on the new-product front. Photokina is partly to blame: Traditionally, the PMA after Photokina tends to be quieter because the manufacturers made their big product announcements last fall. The other factor has to be the worldwide economic situation: Manufacturers have taken their hits from the economy, and may be holding back on developing and producing too many new models with so many of last years’ models still on shelves. And honestly, last year’s cameras are still quite good this year.
