With the 2009 PMA Show just a couple of weeks away the new product intros are happening fast and furious. Over the next few weeks we’ll be providing a Sneak Peek at some of the new products expected to be making news on the show floor. While there’s still quite a bit of news under wraps (NDA), there is quite a bit of innovation being introduced just prior to the show.
Argraph
Argraph’s newly released MemoryKick MediaCenter will take the spotlight at their PMA booth (#L240) is designed to, as they explain, “bridge the gap between the professional photographer’s need for portable memory card backup and photo previewing and the general consumers need for an all-in-one converged device.”
The MediaCenter, with its 30GB, 60GB and recently added 120GB capacity, is also a stand alone audio and video player, a portable hard drive, a photo viewer, a memory card reader and a USB host for transferring data from compatible devices. Argraph has also added RAW display capability (via free online update).
You can also check out their Pnan-Vue Pana-Scan Slide & Film Scanner – enables the user to quickly convert their slides and negatives into high resolution 5 megapixel digital images on their computer at the push of a button. The unit essentially provides an easy to print, share, email, archive and store consumers’ images and is compatible with Windows XP and Vista operating systems and uses a USB 2.0 port for both communication and power. www.argraph.com
LiteOn/Skyla
Some interesting new products are coming from this company – some we can tell you about along with a few we can’t. Among the prior is their Memoir digital photo frame that doubles as a photo scanner. The Memoir allows consumers to scan prints up to 4×6-inches to create a digital file directly onto the frame’s 1GB internal memory for instant playback on the unit’s 8-inch LCD screen. Add a built-in 5-in-1 card reader and the ability to play MP3 files to the Memoir’s long feature list as well.
For those of you that aren’t aware, LiteOn recently separated their consumer and optical Divisions to better meet their customers’ varied demands and the Skyla name now handles the consumer products.
Digital 1 to 1
Based in L.A., Digital 1 to 1 is a new business that produces short web movies, 2-4 minutes long, about the basics of digital photography. Retailers can buy a yearly subscription (starting about $400/year) to the pods, offering their customers an online opportunity to learn about topics like white balancing or changing ISO levels or shooting sports, etc. They will be deoming the service at the International Supplies booth at PMA (T208)
Noritsu
Noritsu (booth F155) continues to produce printing solutions that answer the call of retailers looking to offer their customers higher quality prints and photo gifts through equipment that can produce it faster, cheaper and use limited floor space. While the D701 did that and then some, the new D502 adds duplex printing to the equation. This is yet another compact model in the company’s stable that that now offers retail the ability to produce custom calendars, photobooks greeting cards and the like with high speed duplex printing.
Fujifilm
Fujifilm will be showcasing two new the Frontier Dry Minilabs – the DL42SD and DL430 at PMA 2009 (booth #A121). The Frontier DL42SD inkjet minilab provides retail and commercial labs with easy operation and the capability to produce high quality double-sided borderless prints ideal for custom photo books. With an automatic double-sided print unit and sheet paper cartridge, the Frontier DL42SD will be another way Fujifilm continues to expand Frontier solutions.
The unit is powered by Fujifilm’s Frontier Workflow Management Software “MS” with Image Intelligence™ advanced image processing, and can be integrated into Fujifilm’s Expanding Frontier Solutions. For over 75 years, Fujifilm has been at the forefront of developing and improving image quality through Fujifilm’s proprietary Image Intelligence™ Technology. This technology optimizes images to ensure the consistently high quality print that characterizes Fujifilm’s photofinishing solutions.
The other new Frontier, the DL430, includes the choice of an 8-order sorter or a 7-order sorter for large prints; 650 4”X6” prints per hour and 250 8”X10” prints per hour; and two-line backprinting capability.
Hahnemuhle’s Gallerie Wrap in a Box
With regard to items that are a little less subtle than say, a minilab or new DSLR, Hahnemuhle will show an interesting “do-it-yourself” kit they’ve recently released, one that plays quite nicely into the buzz that has been created around so-called “lifestyle” products (booth #L193). The products includes all the tools needed to do the stretched canvas “gallery” prints at home including the frame pieces, stretching bars, and various other components needed to attached the canvas print to the frame.
The technique is similar, though you might not feel that way til you do it a few times, to the method used by painters to prepared canvases for display. The company admits it might take some practice before your customers are breaking the 5-minute Gallerie Wrap, but after doing one the process does become much simpler.
The standard bars included in the kit offer a frame depth of 1 1/4" tall and are available in 9 different lengths ranging from 8-inches to 24-inches. The PRO bars provide a depth of 1 3/4" and will be available in 8 different lengths ranging from 20-inches to 60-inches.
Pricing has been set at: Standard Gallerie Wrap corners – MSRP is $8.83 and the bars go from 8-24" and range in price from $56-110 MSRP. PRO Gallerie Wrap corners have an MSRP of $14.14 and the bars go from 20-60" with an MSRP price range of $82-245.
There remains, just as there was in the 35mm days of yesteryear, a fairly dedicated (if shrinking a bit) crowd of folks who enjoy printing their images out at home and the Gallerie Wrap System is a terrific and fun accessory item for this crowd. The finished product is truly standout and gives consumers another reason to print – which should catch the attention of every retailer.
Lexar
While not exhibiting on the show floor, Lexar will be announcing a new line of memory cards specifically designed for extended, standard- and high-definition (HD) video capture. The Lexar Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHCP2;) Full-HD and the Lexar Memory Stick PRO DuoP2; Full-HD Video memory cards give consumers a wide selection of memory solutions for capturing and storing HD videos. In addition to providing consumers with a reliable alternative to traditional tape-based storage devices, the Lexar Full-HD video memory cards also offer high-speed video transfer from the card to a computer for backup and sharing on user-generated content websites.
The Lexar SDHC Full-HD Video memory card is available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities, with the ability to record up to 90, 180, and 360 minutes of content, respectively. The Lexar Memory Stick PRO Duo Full-HD Video memory card comes in capacities of 4GB and 8GB, and can record up to 90 and 180 minutes of content, respectively.
Mitsubishi Imaging
Mitsubishi Imaging has expanded its Pictorico line of premium inkjet photo papers with PRO Photo Canvas, which will be introduced at the 2009 PMA (booth #M191).
PRO Photo Canvas has a woven coating that simulates canvas yet, Mitsubishi explains, produces sharp, rich images. PRO Photo Canvas adds texture and dimension to fine art prints, making it ideally suited for professional photographers and artists.”
"PRO Photo Canvas’ combines the best of both worlds – the unique finish of canvas and the sharpness and depth of inkjets," said Digital Imaging Assistant Product Manager Yasu Harada. "It gives fine art professionals a whole new way to express their digital works."
PRO Photo Canvas’s patented ceramic coating dries instantly and features high ink absorption. It comes in two styles. PRO Photo Canvas has a glossy finish, natural white RC paper base and a 7.1 mil thickness. PRO Photo Canvas Heavy Weight has a semi-gloss finish with a bluish-white RC paper base and is 11.6 mil thick.
Nikon
Nikon will debut the AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens, which is the first fixed focal length, fast-aperture DX-format lens that, “affords photographers superb image quality along with the creative possibilities and versatility of the classic 50mm focal length (FX-format equivalent of 52mm).” When mounted on a DX-format camera body, it enables photographers to document their world with a lens that produces a picture angle similar to the field of vision as seen through the human eye. Whether new to D-SLRs or a seasoned enthusiast, Nikon explains that users will appreciate the extreme low-light performance and the expanded ability to dramatically separate the subject and background with the new 35mm DX lens’ wide f/1.8 aperture. PMA booth #E 240.
Sony
Sony will showcase their latest SnapLab digital photo printer, the UPC-R20L, that now includes remote monitoring and management software, a wireless print release option, improved scalability, a pattern lamination feature and easy-to-use deployment software. The upgrades were added to the digital photo print system in order to provide, as Sony explains, end-users with new ways meet consumer demand for instant digital photo prints.
End users that plan to deploy multiple systems can now use Sony’s optional Remote Monitoring and Management System (RM&M) software to monitor and manage the performance of those systems.
The RM&M software is a powerful PC-based tool that allows users, such as nationwide retailers, to remotely track sales and make adjustments based on the analytics they collect. Using the software, users can change pricing, run promotions on the units LCD screen, and even be alerted by the system as to when media replacement is needed – all of which can all be done remotely. (PMA Booth # F-171)
Rumor Mill
While there are certainly some interesting rumors floating around out there around a certain, very large imaging retailer, we’ll stick with product rumors for now until we poke around a bit more on that one.
You can expect some interesting news on the point-and-shoot camera front as we know of at least one manufacturer that is doing something really unique with the design aspect to a new line and more specifically, to the “texture” of the outer shell of the camera. The thought process being that there isn’t much more that can be done with the shape of a digital camera so why not change the feel.
You can also expect to see the first of what will be a bunch of products utilizing the Pico Projection system we’ve written so much about in this space recently. For those of you that don’t know about it – the system essentially provides manufacturers the ability to produce products that can project an image (up to 40-inches in crystal clear focus) on a wall, floor, etc., through a tiny projector imbedded in the product (digicam, cell phone and various other mobile hand helds). Be on the lookout for a few Pico incarnations similar to the Samsung, Texas Instruments device mentioned in this edition of Clique.
As hot as the photo book market has been you can expect it to get even hotter at PMA as we’ve had peeks at a few new systems that make the process even easier for consumers. The percentage of consumers that have actually made a photo book is still very small – around 10% – and that number should rise considerably as new technology makes the process even simpler.
Oh yeah, there’s one other thing you can expect, if PMA is anything like CES was, and that’s lots of depressing conversations about the economy. We found that the best way to handle these moments is to simply redirect the conversation back to the remarkable technology that is surrounding you on the show floor.
Conversations about the economy are for the plane rides to and from the show. From March 2-5, it’s all about zooms, sensors, ppm, fps, exciting output options, and a plethora of new revenue opportunities for imaging retailers. Who has time for the economy?
