Show Reports

The New Spirit At photokina
Something very evident at this photokina was a new spirit of openness. Partly this was caused by changes in the business, but more, it was the result of the arrival of the new kids on the block. For example, Nokia had never exhibited at photokina before. They held an informal press conference; they offered to set up interviews...

Versatility is the key trend in camera bags. Manufacturers, like photographers, know that any camera bag is a compromise. There are cases with compartments for a laptop computer and other digital accessories; with divider systems which lift out so the bag can double as a suitcase; with zip-off compartments so you can carry chargers and other accessories, to be removed and left in...

As digital SLR cameras grow in popularity, most manufacturers are working to develop additional lenses. An increasing number of the new products--primarily zooms--are designed exclusively for use with digital SLRs with the "APS-C" size sensors employed in most cameras. Such lenses (discussed in more detail later) are usually more compact because they need to...

Digital back makers for medium and large format cameras happily search for the ultimate image-making machine. In my view, they may be cheerfully unaware that the devices they are busily producing may not have anything to attach them to in a few years because no company is making affordable, under $2000...

There was all kinds of software at PMA 2004, but I would like to pass along some advice to would-be developers who want to get rich making under-$100 software for Windows that lets users manage, edit, print, and do all kinds of tricks. Fuggedaboutit. ACD Systems owns this market. While the Mac...

Big, fast cards are becoming the norm, and not just in the CompactFlash format. Delkin Devices offers eFilm high-speed Secure Digital PRO memory cards and CompactFlash PRO 1GB and 2GB memory cards with speeds fast enough for digital video capture. Initial capacities will be 256MB and 512MB with...

It may surprise some readers to discover that the CCD was invented at Bell Labs in 1969, a fine year for wine, songs, and cars--think of the awesome Plymouth Road Runner. CMOS is a little older, having been developed in 1948. While curmudgeonly writers and editors patiently wait for this...