Just some stuff that happened to catch my eye or tickle my fancy as I strolled the show floor.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Not the Nikon fan club, just the obligatory free bags being toted by eager attendees waiting for the show floor to open. Although PMA definitely seems smaller than in previous years, I guess there's always enough interest to draw an opening day crowd.
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The rugged sell
I couldn't help but laugh at the differences between Olympus' and Canon's approach to showing how rugged their respective point-and-shoots are. Olympus created elaborate setups where they show the camera under pressure...
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...and frozen into a block of ice (I touched it, and yes, it's ice)...
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...while Canon created faux environments that pretty much made its new D10 look kind of wimpy, like this jungle scene with the cameras sitting on rocks above flowing water (C'mon, Canon, everyone has cameras sitting at the bottom of water tanks here)...
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...and dangling against a fake rock face.
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There are always several manufacturer competitions at the show, like the framing competition, where I guess they're given some piece of jewelry and are supposed to frame it for display. Are cats wearing necklaces the future of framing?
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One of my favorite trends isn't the incorporation of face detection into cameras, but the increased use of dolls and statues to sell it (though this is actually a display for software that recreates 3D views from photos). Go bobbleheads!
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HP is the only manufacturer with a recycling bin in the booth.
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Noritsu makes photofinishing equipment, not cameras, or flashes, or any of the other reasons company's set up shooting displays like this. So someone please explain the relevance of posing with showgirls?
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Show spectacle
The only traditional trade-show spectacle was this contest, sponsored by Mitsubishi and PMA, for the best shots of the AntiGravity acrobatic team.
