The worlds largest annual photography trade show is set to start for another year. PMA 2008, held in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 2nd, has already seen a few announcements of the DSLR side of things.

In a widely expected move, Canon have announced the successor to the 400D, to be called the 450D (Rebel XSi). With 12 megapixels, a new 14-bit processor and Live View, it’s sure to be a big seller for Canon. DPReview has all the details.

Pentax have announced a couple of new cameras. As an entry level camera, the K200D replaces the K100D, and the K20D replaces the K10D.

The sensor technology in the Pentax was developed and made by Samsung, so it comes as no surprise to see a Samsung DSLR announced as well. The GX-20 is essentially the same as the Pentax K20D with a slightly different body design and a different menu system.

The worlds largest annual photography trade show is set to start for another year. PMA 2008, held in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 2nd, has already seen a few announcements of the DSLR side of things.

In a widely expected move, Canon have announced the successor to the 400D, to be called the 450D (Rebel XSi). With 12 megapixels, a new 14-bit processor and Live View, it’s sure to be a big seller for Canon. DPReview has all the details.

Pentax have announced a couple of new cameras. As an entry level camera, the K200D replaces the K100D, and the K20D replaces the K10D.

The sensor technology in the Pentax was developed and made by Samsung, so it comes as no surprise to see a Samsung DSLR announced as well. The GX-20 is essentially the same as the Pentax K20D with a slightly different body design and a different menu system.

Well, the 2007 PMA is now over, and, possibly as a result of coming hot on the heels of Photokina, seems to have been relatively quiet. Over 100 new products were introduced, but the majority of these were minor upgrades and lower-end consumer products.

The biggies were undoubtedly the Canon EOS 1D MKIII, the new Olympus DSLRs and Sony’s suggestion of a couple of new DSLRs.

DPReview and Luminous Landscape, as well as the PMA site, all have indepth reviews of the whole show.

Here’s a full list of this show’s announcements, taken from DPReview.

In a pre-PMA announcement, Olympus has detailed the release of two new DSLRs, the E410 and E510, and 2 new Zuiko lenses, the ZUIKO Digital 14 – 42 mm F3.5 – F5.6 which will be the kit lens and the ZUIKO Digital 40 – 150 mm F4.0 – F5.6 which is a handy telephoto zoom. The two lenses together give a zoom range of 28-300mm in 35mm equivalency.

The E410 is the upgrade to the E400 that was announced for Photokina back in September 2006. The E410 makes the switch from a Kodak CCD to a 10mp Matsushita Live MOS Image Sensor that is capable of providing full-time live view on the rear LCD. New features include -

• Ten megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor (provides Full Time Live-View)
• Auto Focus in Live View (although still requires live view freeze and mirror flap)
• TruePic III processor (faster, better image quality, better noise reduction)
• Shadow Adjustment Technology (as a play mode filter)
• Improved continuous shooting; still 3 fps but unlimited at JPEG HQ or 7 RAW
• No warning message at higher sensitivities (E-400 warned from ISO 800 upwards)

The E510 builds on the E500 and also features a 10mp Matsushita Live MOS Image Sensor that is capable of providing full-time live view on the rear LCD. The E510 also sports in body image stabilisation. The key features include -

• D-SLR with built-in image stabiliser
• 10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
• Live Preview
• New image processing engine
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0
• 2.5”/6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD
• Supersonic Wave Filter for dust protection
• 28 shooting modes (incl. 5 exposure, 5 creative & 18 scene modes)
• Built-in pop-up flash (GN 10)
• 3fps with up to seven images in RAW buffer
• AF-lock functionality
• Depth of field preview function
• Bracketing function (Exposure, White Balance, Focus)
• Detailed playback info screen with histogram
• Based on Four Thirds Standard, making it compatible with almost the entire range of system accessories.

Pricing for the two cameras and lenses is -

• E-410 body only
US: $ 699
• E-410 + 14-42 mm lens
US: $ 799
• E-410 + 14-42 mm + 40-150 mm lenses
US: $ 899
• E-510 body only
US: $ 799
• E-510 + 14-42 mm lens
US: $ 899
• E-510 + 14-42 mm + 40-150 mm lenses
US: $ 999

Finally, the press release also makes mention of a successor to the top of the line Olympus E1 however details and specifications have yet to be released.

Nikon D40x Less than four months after the release of the Nikon D40, Nikon have announced an upgrade in time for PMA. The D40x is mostly the same as the D40 but with three major differences. The pixel count has been upped, from 6.1MP on the D40 to 10.2MP on the D40x. A lower base sensitivity of ISO100 (ISO200 on the D40) and faster continuous shooting at 3 frames per second (2.5fps for the D40). They also claim an improved Image Processing Engine and longer battery life. The key specifications/features are :

• 10 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)
• Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)
• New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
• ISO sensitivity range 100 – 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
• 3.0 fps continuous shooting, unlimited in JPEG
• No status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screens
• Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)
• Large 2.5″ 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Bigger viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)
• Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
• Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
• In-camera retouching
  • D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
  • Red-eye reduction
  • Trimming
  • Monochrome
  • Filter effects
  • Small picture
  • Image overlay
• USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
• Very compact, light body (smaller, lighter than D50)
• Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
• New EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)

Set for a global launch on March 22nd, the Nikon D40x is priced at $799 with the 18-55mm kit lens.

Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200 mm lens Along with the D40x announcement, an updated version of the AF-S DX 55-200 mm lens was announced, the AF-S DX VR 55-200 mm F4.0-F5.6G IF-ED. Designed specifically for Nikons DX Format DSLRs (D80,D40, D40x), it features Nikon’s VR (vibration reduction) system for image stabilisation and sports a Silent ave motor for fast, accurate autofocusing. When used on a 1.5 crop body such as the D40x, the 55-200mm lens gives an equivalent field of view of 82.5-300mm.

Pentax have announced a couple of new lenses – smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM and smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM. Designed exclusively for use with its digital SLR cameras, these zoom lenses are the first models of the new high-performance smc PENTAX-DA* lens series.

The SDM system is a new autofocusing motor that provides smoother and quieter AF through the inbuilt supersonic motor. This will only work on the Pentax K10D after a firmware upgrade – on other Pentax DSLRs, conventional AF will still operate.

These new lenses are also sealed against dust and moisture.

Here’s the specs for them.

smc Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
• Angle of view: 83-31.5°(when used with Pentax digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.3 m
• Filter size: 77mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.21X
• Dimensions (DxL): 84mm x 98.5mm (3.3 inches x 3.9 inches)
• Weight: 565g ( 19.9 oz) without hood, 600g ( 21.2 oz) with hood

smc Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 18 elements in 14 groups
• Angle of view: 31.5-11.9° (when used with Pentax Digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 1.0 m
• Filter size: 67mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.17X
• Dimensions (DxL) : 76.5mm x 136mm (3.0 inches x 5.4 inches)
• Weight 685g: ( 24.2 oz) without hood, 765g ( 27.0 oz) with hood

There’s also the possibility of a digital MF, the Pentax 645, with a Kodak designed CCD, however they’ve been saying this for a few years and it hasn’t appeared yet

Digicam-wise, some new Pentax Optio’s have been announced – the W30, A30, T30 and M30.

For months the internet has been flooded with rumours of what Canon will introduce for PMA 2007. Top of everyones wishlist seemed to be an upgrade to the Canon EOS 5D, or the replacement of the EOS30D, generally assumed to be a 40D. The Canon Hong Kong website even briefly showed a page for a 40D, but with no actual information about it, just the name.

On February 21st, Canon issued a press release that brought some suprises. No announcements about a 5D or 30D replacement were included. What they did announce however, was the EOS 1D Mark III, a 10.1 megapixel DSLR that will replace the EOS 1D MarkII N. Sporting dual “Digic III” processors and capable of 10 frames per second in a burst of 30 RAW or 110 large JPEG, the EOS 1D Mark III is the worlds fastest DSLR and is expected to be available in spring 2007.

New features in the EOS 1D Mark III include a 3″ live view LCD (previously unavailable on any DSLR), Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, a shutter upgrade of 50% to 300 000 actuations, the ability to shoot at ISO up to 3200, with 6400 available as a custom function and a new auto focus system with 19 high precision cross-type sensors (up from 7) included in a total of 45 AF points.

To go along with the new EOS 1D Mark III, a new lens, the EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM. Internally focusing, the lens features new coatings to reduce flare and is sealed for mositure and dust resistance.

An upgraded flash was also announced, the Speedlight 580EX II. Like the new lens, the speedlight is sealed against moisture and dust, and comes new features including a metal hot shoe, external meter for non-TTL flash exposure control and a PC socket.

Finally, two other accesories for the EOS 1D Mark III were introduced. The Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 allowing fast wireless transmission and the Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3 for image verification and encryption security.

In digicam news, Canon announced 8 new models – Powershot TX1, Digital ELPH SD1000 and SD750, and Powershot A450, A460, A550, A560 and A570IS.

The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) annual trade show and convention runs from March 8th to 11th in Las Vegas, USA. PMA is the world’s largest photography and imaging trade show, where photography companies and manufacturers unveil new products for their 2007 lines.

In the coming days, I’ll have news from the various manufacturers about new product releases and the various goings-on.