This year's PMA in Las Vegas was smaller than previous years thanks to the economic downturn. New for me since my last visit was the Vegas monorail which made traveling along the 7 stops along the Vegas strip much faster and easier.
Despite rumors of a D700x and a pro medium format digital rangefinder, Nikon introduced nothing major at PMA, and neither did Canon. Both had the wind taken out of them with huge unsecured losses in the Ritz camera store chain bankruptcy, to the tune of $27,000,000 and $13,000,000 according to some reports.
Leica had on display a prototype of the S2 medium format digital camera, along with early production 18/3.4, 21/1.4, 24/1.4, and 50/.95 M lenses. If you are saving up, the new model aspheric Noctilux is expected to sell for about $10,000 US. On public display for the first time was the new olive M8.2 with chrome 35/2 lens. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71105Due to the huge storm back east, the German factory management team was unable to make the show. However during the show a new CEO was named, as well as a new Chairman of the Board, formerly positions both held by majority stock holder Kaufman. There was also a press release announcing the end of the manual focus Leica R film system. It will be replaced by an auto focus digital R10 system, which unfortunately may not be backwardly compatible with the film R lenses.
Zeiss showed a production 85/4 ZM rangefinder lens for the first time, along with a 21/2.8 for Nikon and Canon.
Voigtlander did not have a booth at PMA. The Fuji booth did not have the new 120 folder, as it will be marketed in the US by Voigtlander.
Panasonic introduced the new HD movie version of its G1, which outwardly looks much like the G1 save for minor details. An autopsied G1 was on display http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71108
Olympus had a prototype Micro 4/3 camera on display behind glass, but without any info. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71107
Samsung introduced their new hybrid format NX camera behind glass, without any brochures. I'm told its a modification of the Pentax K mount, with shorter back focus. The same idea as the Panasonic's G1 Micro 4/3 mount, but with the larger APS size chip. Samsung seems very confident, maybe over confident, about the NX's future success. The NX looked to be more or less the same size of the Panasonic G1 for all practical purposes. To this point in time, Samsung has not been among the elite camera makers. Time will tell. Perhaps more interesting is wondering how Canon, Nikon, and Sony will react to the NX. Next year will we have 3 more hybrid short back focus mounts with big sensors from them? http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71110
Sigma introduced a modified version of their cult DP-1, the new DP-2 with an equivalent 41/2.8 lens. To me the Voigtlander 40mm viewfinder is better than the Sigma 41mm viewfinder. Why Sigma did not start out the DP-1 with a 28/1.4 instead of its 28/4 is beyond me. Sigma showed a most interesting new lens, a huge 200-500/2.8 auto focus zoom with a list price of only $34,000. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71109
Rollei, poor Rollei. The two guys at the Rollei booth got on the plane for PMA with a factory behind them. They opened up the booth at PMA with a closed factory and Rollei in bankruptcy. Of course Rollei is incredibly famous in the photo world. I think Rollei will be bought of bankruptcy and continue.
Vivtar reappeared, sort of. The trademark was bought by Sakar, and operations moved from its traditional California home to New Jersey. Their booth mostly had promotional cameras. The new Vivitar 85/1.4 looks very similar to the 85/1.4 Korean Samyang lens. Sakar is also a Samyang distributor.
I talked with Agfa. They are considering new production runs of their 100 and 400 APX black / white films. I suggested there would be more interest and sales in new 25 APX.
The big advertisers at PMA this year were not Canon and Nikon -- which came as a bit of a surprise. The big PMA advertisers for 2009 were Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung. Sony seems serious to dethrone Canon and Nikon in the DSLR field, but you have to wonder for how long the R&D money will flow if that sales goal is not met. The Sony Alpha system is quickly growing and is quite formidable. Panasonic is enjoying the success of its G1 Micro 4/3 system. Samsung is expecting great success with the new NX format. Time will tell.
Mickey Mouse fans rejoice! Next year's PMA will be next door to Disneyland in Anaheim California.
The dealers I talked to could hardly control themselves after hearing that news.
M-i-c-k-y-M-o-u-s-e!
Stephen
Despite rumors of a D700x and a pro medium format digital rangefinder, Nikon introduced nothing major at PMA, and neither did Canon. Both had the wind taken out of them with huge unsecured losses in the Ritz camera store chain bankruptcy, to the tune of $27,000,000 and $13,000,000 according to some reports.
Leica had on display a prototype of the S2 medium format digital camera, along with early production 18/3.4, 21/1.4, 24/1.4, and 50/.95 M lenses. If you are saving up, the new model aspheric Noctilux is expected to sell for about $10,000 US. On public display for the first time was the new olive M8.2 with chrome 35/2 lens. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71105Due to the huge storm back east, the German factory management team was unable to make the show. However during the show a new CEO was named, as well as a new Chairman of the Board, formerly positions both held by majority stock holder Kaufman. There was also a press release announcing the end of the manual focus Leica R film system. It will be replaced by an auto focus digital R10 system, which unfortunately may not be backwardly compatible with the film R lenses.
Zeiss showed a production 85/4 ZM rangefinder lens for the first time, along with a 21/2.8 for Nikon and Canon.
Voigtlander did not have a booth at PMA. The Fuji booth did not have the new 120 folder, as it will be marketed in the US by Voigtlander.
Panasonic introduced the new HD movie version of its G1, which outwardly looks much like the G1 save for minor details. An autopsied G1 was on display http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71108
Olympus had a prototype Micro 4/3 camera on display behind glass, but without any info. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71107
Samsung introduced their new hybrid format NX camera behind glass, without any brochures. I'm told its a modification of the Pentax K mount, with shorter back focus. The same idea as the Panasonic's G1 Micro 4/3 mount, but with the larger APS size chip. Samsung seems very confident, maybe over confident, about the NX's future success. The NX looked to be more or less the same size of the Panasonic G1 for all practical purposes. To this point in time, Samsung has not been among the elite camera makers. Time will tell. Perhaps more interesting is wondering how Canon, Nikon, and Sony will react to the NX. Next year will we have 3 more hybrid short back focus mounts with big sensors from them? http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71110
Sigma introduced a modified version of their cult DP-1, the new DP-2 with an equivalent 41/2.8 lens. To me the Voigtlander 40mm viewfinder is better than the Sigma 41mm viewfinder. Why Sigma did not start out the DP-1 with a 28/1.4 instead of its 28/4 is beyond me. Sigma showed a most interesting new lens, a huge 200-500/2.8 auto focus zoom with a list price of only $34,000. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71109
Rollei, poor Rollei. The two guys at the Rollei booth got on the plane for PMA with a factory behind them. They opened up the booth at PMA with a closed factory and Rollei in bankruptcy. Of course Rollei is incredibly famous in the photo world. I think Rollei will be bought of bankruptcy and continue.
Vivtar reappeared, sort of. The trademark was bought by Sakar, and operations moved from its traditional California home to New Jersey. Their booth mostly had promotional cameras. The new Vivitar 85/1.4 looks very similar to the 85/1.4 Korean Samyang lens. Sakar is also a Samyang distributor.
I talked with Agfa. They are considering new production runs of their 100 and 400 APX black / white films. I suggested there would be more interest and sales in new 25 APX.
The big advertisers at PMA this year were not Canon and Nikon -- which came as a bit of a surprise. The big PMA advertisers for 2009 were Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung. Sony seems serious to dethrone Canon and Nikon in the DSLR field, but you have to wonder for how long the R&D money will flow if that sales goal is not met. The Sony Alpha system is quickly growing and is quite formidable. Panasonic is enjoying the success of its G1 Micro 4/3 system. Samsung is expecting great success with the new NX format. Time will tell.
Mickey Mouse fans rejoice! Next year's PMA will be next door to Disneyland in Anaheim California.
The dealers I talked to could hardly control themselves after hearing that news.
M-i-c-k-y-M-o-u-s-e!
Stephen
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Thanks, Stephen! Any rumblings out there in gray-market-land about NX adapters, perhaps from the current G1 adapter makers?
BillBingham2
Registered User
What a difference from several years ago. Interesting that they are moving out of Vegas. Thanks for the update. With the death of the D40, I'm wondering what Nikon will bring out to fill the spot. I wonder who built the old Vivitar Series-1 lenses. I know it was P&E for the solid cats, but the others I do not know.
Thank again.
B2 (;->
Thank again.
B2 (;->
Shac
Well-known
Thank you for this summary Stephen
D
D
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
S2 prototype? Are they going to miss the summer release date?
Pierre-Christian H
Member
Thanks Stephen!
I agree with you on the 25 APX.
I agree with you on the 25 APX.
Andrew Sowerby
Well-known
Thanks for the update. We're in interesting times.