The McNamara Report » Photokina

Photokina 2008: Remote Viewing Experience

Mike — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:38:48 +0000

Every two years the giant Photokina Trade Show takes place in Cologne, Germany. Imagine a trade show where European picture frame manufacturers fill up a floor larger than a football field, consumer electronics (TVs, home theater, etc) has its own building, and where it usually takes several days just to figure out where the bath rooms are located–and you’ll get an idea of how huge the Photokina show is. I’ve attended this show since the late 1990′s, and usually come back with more than enough new material to write about as well as interesting photos of the show, city, and night life.

Photo of bridge across the Rhine and the DOM Cathedral taken from the Photokina Show side of the river in 2006. Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 in night scenery mode. 4 sec at f/4.

On the other hand, I also returned with a wicked cold, the flu, and overall exhaustion from the travel (September weather in Cologne is typically blah!). Last time I went, I had to wonder if the show was worth the hassle, given the fact that I already had been given sneak peeks at nearly every product of importance introduced at the show, and the information on those I hadn’t seen was available on the internet within 24 hours. That was even before the dollar took a nose dive against the EURO and hotel prices skyrocketed to over $500 a day (within 5 miles of the show.)

The 21.1MP Full-frame Canon EOS 5D Mark II with unique 1080i HD movie recording mode gets my award for top intro at Photokina 2008. But I saw it the week before, so why travel to Germany?

This year, given that my expenses weren’t being covered by a major publication or news organization, I decided to miss the show. Looks like I made the right choice, too. By the time Photokina kicked off on the 23rd of September, I’d been briefed on 90% of the hot products that debuted at the show. The only real surprises were the Leica S2, a super-expensive medium-format digital Hassalblads, and a few Foveon-based cameras by Sigma. Of course, I have to admit that I missed some of the great parties, unusual exhibitions, and lack of inhibitions displayed by fellow journalists during afterhour beer hall visits), but I also didn’t have to put up with lousy weather, crushing crowds, transportation delays, and questionable ingredients in the sausages being sold on corners. If I wanted those, I could have hopped on a train to NYC!
So Scott Shepard and I decided to cover the news and new products from show from the comfort of our own turf in an extended version of the McNamara Report that aired during Photokina:

To listen to the Sept. 27 segment of the McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo click on the play button;

After the show, while everyone who did go was recovering from jet lag, colds, and exhaustion after the show, I was feeling fine for a change. Now I’m wondering if I can do the same thing during that other GIANT nightmare of a show called CES in January. Wait! I like going to that show!

Nikon & Canon save best? DSLRs for last

Mike — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:17:10 +0000

Photokina, the largest photo-trade show in the world, kicks off in Cologne, Germany on Sept.23. Predictably, manufacturers announce their top models just prior to the show, and this year it’s no different. Both Canon and Nikon just made back-to-back announcements of their top advance-amateur DSLRs (we’re still hopeful for pro announcements prior to the show!) In this radio segment, Scott and Mike take sides in a verbal shootout of the features to see if Canon’s 50D ($1,400) is a better deal than Nikon’s D90 ($1,000).

Which of these cameras is the best value? Listen to the spirited debate on the Inside Digital Photography radio show (slide forward to the 11 min mark for this segment).

Or do your own comparison with some help from the lists below:

Nikon D90 Key Features:

12.3 MEGAPIXEL CMOS sensor with LIve View
Records HD movie clips (720p at 24fps, 1280×720)) up to 5 minutes on fast SD cards
920,000 dot 3-inch screen
4.5 fps burst mode, stores to SDHC card
Built-in commander mode for external flash
11 point AF with scene recognition and face detection. Up to 5 faces. Auto zoom to faces in playback.
Live view with contrast detection AF.
New Expeed processor for fast start up and low noise
ISO 100 (normal 200) up to 3200 (expanded to 6400).
HD video with VR lenses activates VR during capture.
Advantage in movie depth of field control vs most camcorders
Built in audio mic (no external input)
Kit lens adds 3-stop VR. AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.
New in camera editing and image processing includes distortion control, lens abberation, straighten, and fisheye effect.
Shutter tested to 100,000 cycles
Up to 850 shots CIPA rating on battery.
New Pictmotion slideshow playback feature
New optional GP-1 GPS unit.
$999.95 MSRP body
$1299.95 with 18-105 lens
Nikon Capture NX 2 optional ($180), Camera Control Pro 2.0 Software ($149)

Canon EOS 50D Key Features:

15.1 MP CMOS sensor with live view function
Built like the 40D, with magnesium alloy frame, weather seals, and 100,000 cycle shutter.
Digic 4 processor, 14-bit A/D conversion
ISOs from 100 to 3200, enhanced to 6400 and 12800.
6.3fps burst mode, with up to 90 JPEGs in one burst or 16 RAW
Takes UDMA Compact flash cards (higher capacities available than SDHC)
Automatic Peripheral illumination adjustment: smart term for vignetting control based on library of lenses.
Comes with Digital photo pro software RAW converter and other neat programs.
Auto Lighting Optimizer control—smart auto levels control.
3-inch, 920,000 dot LCD screen.
HDMI video out
9-zone AF system with 9 cross sensors and super sensitive central sensor (works as cross even with f/5.6 lenses.
Microadjustment feature for fine-tuning lenses.
Creative full auto setting has adjustable controls.
Live view mode includes QUICK MODE AF (phase detection)< LIVE MODE AF (contrast detection)< and Face detection live mode AF (contrast detection ).
Detects up to 35 faces!
Two small RAW formats: 7.1MP and 3.8MP
Ultrasonic CMOS sensor cleaning system
$1399 body, $1599 with 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.
Canon also announced a new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS usm lens for $699.