Chris Dodkin
West Coast Correspondent
I'm back home after two exhausting days at CES - it's just mind boggling how huge the event is
This pano shot shows about 2/3 of it - there was another hall to the right, and the halls each go back for acres.
Most photography manufacturers were there with trade stands, new products, demo facilities etc - it's clearly a big deal for the retail industry.
Lot's of other tech stuff as well - most noticeable were the hundreds of companies making stuff to add on to your iPod, iPad, iPhone - and if you want a Hello Kitty anything, it's there!
On the AV side - 4K TVs were the thing - they look great, are HUGE, and expensive - and there's almost no content for them - but since when did that stop a good sales pitch!
Nikon
Had one of the largest stands - huge area of demos kit, meeting rooms, a low light area etc
All the big toys were on display
They had a bar where you could pick up and try the kit - under the watchful eye of a Nikon rep
He looked a little upset that I was shooting Fuji
Their stand was buzzing - very busy - I don't know the kit well so didn't engage that much, but things looked very healthy, and people were enjoying getting hands-on
Canon
Canon had a big stand - mixed cameras and printing technology, as well as video.
Same set-up as Nikon - I went to the camera bar and tried the new EOS -M Mirrorless with native and EF lenses
Complete joke - it would be quicker to send a carrier pigeon to get the focus distance! No idea whey they ever released this camera with the EOS name on it - it's dead in the water IMHO
Also played with the flagship EOS 1DX
This think is like the Terminator - it's just a mean machine that looks and feels unstoppable - very impressive viewfinder image, and faster than thought AF (well faster than I think!)
Would love one - but the price is just insane
Lots of big glass to try
The other big feature for Canon is their move from the 5D series, into 'proper digital cameras for motion pictures.
They devoted a large area to this growing section
And there was some very very tasty kit on display
For the consumer, this kit is crazy expensive - but for movie studios, it's cheap as chips compared to just a few years ago.
Red were also at the show, but were only showing content delivery, not the cameras.
Fuji
I already covered in my first post - they did have a lot of other kit on show, including the instant cameras, pro TV cameras for studio and OB, and the Fuji photo printing machines you see in photo labs.
They have a stated goal of being #3 in the camera business by the end of 2013 - so they are pushing hard.
Olympus
Oly are odd in that they didn't have a stand on the trade floor - instead they has a suite upstairs in the meeting rooms. This means they get no passing trade, and you have to go seek them out. It does however mean that it's quiet, and yu can get a conversation with the Oly reps.
I played with the OM-D a lot - very nice build - lovely rear screen - AF nice and fast
This is clearly a serious contender, and looks the mutts nuts in black (IMHO) - especially with that grip
I have been eyeing up an Oly waterproof snappy cam for pool/beach use with the grandkids - so was interested to see the TG-1 (which they had in a fish tank)
But no sooner had I spotted that, than the Oly rep pounced and showed me the new model, the TG-2!
It comes with a built-in lens, and can take a fisheye adapter or a Tele adapter as well, and still be used down to 50' depth
With Fisheye
With Tele
This is now on my wish list for spring/summer - Retail for camera is under $400 they said.
Pentax
Pentax had a large booth, and were really pushing their consumer models - with a wall of options for color choice
Seriously - how many colors do you need?
They had a new 'retro' mirror less - the MX-1
They made a huge play of this camera having 'brass' plate top and bottom.
Having tried it - it feels like a cheapish body with metal strapped to it - no weight or heft - not very impressive build - took photos ok, but I wasn't sold. More of a me-too effort I think.
They had their MF kit on display - but it was mostly behind glass, so didn't get to play.
Samsung
Samsung are making a real effort - they had multiple new models, with built-in WiFi, some running Android, all with Apps that cam upload images to the cloud, or email to people from the camera.
They had remote viewing and control from phones and tablets - and some interesting lenses as well.
This little NX model has an 85mm f/1.4 lens on it!
The cameras performed well, although I find them hard to hold as they are very small - and over balance easily with larger lenses
They are clearly innovating like crazy, and will be a force to be reckoned with for sure.
Other folks who were there include Polaroid, with new cameras, Pelican with cases, Tiffen and Hoya with filters and accessories, Velbon with tripods, Domke with bags etc
But what I did see were a flood of mostly Chinese companies, producing own brand or knock-off products for photography. They are flooding the market and bringing down the prices.
Here's a direct copy of the Wimberley Head - but made in China and pitched at a much lower price point
No idea if it is as good, better, same as the original, but it's clearly a rip-off of the original design.
Some Chinese companies makes the OEM product brands we know in the West, and are now doing their own Chinese brands to market direct.
All I can say is that prices will be going down, but we'll have to keep an eye on quality.
Finally, props to Aston Martin, for realizing that there would be a hoard of guys trapped in a hall for a week, who might like to look at something other than gadgets.
This was all they had on show - but what a beauty!
In two days I maybe walked 2/3 of the show - I failed to even see 80% of the products I'd guess - but it was great fun, and it was nice to speak in depth to the reps.
I'll be looking to go again next year I think
This pano shot shows about 2/3 of it - there was another hall to the right, and the halls each go back for acres.
Most photography manufacturers were there with trade stands, new products, demo facilities etc - it's clearly a big deal for the retail industry.
Lot's of other tech stuff as well - most noticeable were the hundreds of companies making stuff to add on to your iPod, iPad, iPhone - and if you want a Hello Kitty anything, it's there!
On the AV side - 4K TVs were the thing - they look great, are HUGE, and expensive - and there's almost no content for them - but since when did that stop a good sales pitch!
Nikon
Had one of the largest stands - huge area of demos kit, meeting rooms, a low light area etc
All the big toys were on display
They had a bar where you could pick up and try the kit - under the watchful eye of a Nikon rep
He looked a little upset that I was shooting Fuji
Their stand was buzzing - very busy - I don't know the kit well so didn't engage that much, but things looked very healthy, and people were enjoying getting hands-on
Canon
Canon had a big stand - mixed cameras and printing technology, as well as video.
Same set-up as Nikon - I went to the camera bar and tried the new EOS -M Mirrorless with native and EF lenses
Complete joke - it would be quicker to send a carrier pigeon to get the focus distance! No idea whey they ever released this camera with the EOS name on it - it's dead in the water IMHO
Also played with the flagship EOS 1DX
This think is like the Terminator - it's just a mean machine that looks and feels unstoppable - very impressive viewfinder image, and faster than thought AF (well faster than I think!)
Would love one - but the price is just insane
Lots of big glass to try
The other big feature for Canon is their move from the 5D series, into 'proper digital cameras for motion pictures.
They devoted a large area to this growing section
And there was some very very tasty kit on display
For the consumer, this kit is crazy expensive - but for movie studios, it's cheap as chips compared to just a few years ago.
Red were also at the show, but were only showing content delivery, not the cameras.
Fuji
I already covered in my first post - they did have a lot of other kit on show, including the instant cameras, pro TV cameras for studio and OB, and the Fuji photo printing machines you see in photo labs.
They have a stated goal of being #3 in the camera business by the end of 2013 - so they are pushing hard.
Olympus
Oly are odd in that they didn't have a stand on the trade floor - instead they has a suite upstairs in the meeting rooms. This means they get no passing trade, and you have to go seek them out. It does however mean that it's quiet, and yu can get a conversation with the Oly reps.
I played with the OM-D a lot - very nice build - lovely rear screen - AF nice and fast
This is clearly a serious contender, and looks the mutts nuts in black (IMHO) - especially with that grip
I have been eyeing up an Oly waterproof snappy cam for pool/beach use with the grandkids - so was interested to see the TG-1 (which they had in a fish tank)
But no sooner had I spotted that, than the Oly rep pounced and showed me the new model, the TG-2!
It comes with a built-in lens, and can take a fisheye adapter or a Tele adapter as well, and still be used down to 50' depth
With Fisheye
With Tele
This is now on my wish list for spring/summer - Retail for camera is under $400 they said.
Pentax
Pentax had a large booth, and were really pushing their consumer models - with a wall of options for color choice
Seriously - how many colors do you need?
They had a new 'retro' mirror less - the MX-1
They made a huge play of this camera having 'brass' plate top and bottom.
Having tried it - it feels like a cheapish body with metal strapped to it - no weight or heft - not very impressive build - took photos ok, but I wasn't sold. More of a me-too effort I think.
They had their MF kit on display - but it was mostly behind glass, so didn't get to play.
Samsung
Samsung are making a real effort - they had multiple new models, with built-in WiFi, some running Android, all with Apps that cam upload images to the cloud, or email to people from the camera.
They had remote viewing and control from phones and tablets - and some interesting lenses as well.
This little NX model has an 85mm f/1.4 lens on it!
The cameras performed well, although I find them hard to hold as they are very small - and over balance easily with larger lenses
They are clearly innovating like crazy, and will be a force to be reckoned with for sure.
Other folks who were there include Polaroid, with new cameras, Pelican with cases, Tiffen and Hoya with filters and accessories, Velbon with tripods, Domke with bags etc
But what I did see were a flood of mostly Chinese companies, producing own brand or knock-off products for photography. They are flooding the market and bringing down the prices.
Here's a direct copy of the Wimberley Head - but made in China and pitched at a much lower price point
No idea if it is as good, better, same as the original, but it's clearly a rip-off of the original design.
Some Chinese companies makes the OEM product brands we know in the West, and are now doing their own Chinese brands to market direct.
All I can say is that prices will be going down, but we'll have to keep an eye on quality.
Finally, props to Aston Martin, for realizing that there would be a hoard of guys trapped in a hall for a week, who might like to look at something other than gadgets.
This was all they had on show - but what a beauty!
In two days I maybe walked 2/3 of the show - I failed to even see 80% of the products I'd guess - but it was great fun, and it was nice to speak in depth to the reps.
I'll be looking to go again next year I think
