PMA Primer

The photo marketing trade show (PMA) opened with a bang; make that a click yesterday previewing some sure bets for shutterbugs everywhere.


HP Photosmart 812
HP continues to impress digital photography enthusiasts with its Photo Smart 812 digital camera. This four-megapixel camera features a new technology that allows you to select, on the camera, up to 14 destinations (including e-mail, printer) for your photos. This way you can shoot a group shot of your spring break pals under a beer can pyramid, instantly tell the camera to email it, and next time you connect to your computer the photos will be sent hassle free. Available just in time for Spring break it will sell for $500. www.hp.com


Memories Disc Creator
Speaking of hassle free, HP is also previewing new software called Memories Disc Creator. With Memories Disc you can create digital photo slide shows on your recordable CD drive complete with title screen and music. Playback is easy on PCs or even better, most DVD Players. Great for storing your images too, you can save up to 499 pictures per 34-cent CD. The software sells for $30. www.hp.com


Canon S900 Wide Format Printer
Canon printer’s comeback is complete at this year’s PMA with its new S900 wide format photo printer. Featuring six individual ink tanks and an industry leading 3,072 nozzles (more spray the faster) it delivers 4x6 prints in only 29 seconds and 8x10’s in one minute. To compliment its printer line Canon is also debuting Photomat-style borderless 4x6 photo paper. The printer will be available next month and sell for $499. www.usa.canon.com



Nexicam
The coolest new digital camera for PDAs at PMA is Nexicam’s slide on camera attachment for Compaq’s PocketPC. What’s nice about the Nexicam is it connects to the PocketPC horizontally allowing you to hold the PDA naturally like a camera and take pictures using PocketPC’s killer TFT color screen as your viewfinder. Other features include a 2X zoom, lens cover and a Compact Flash card slot for additional storage. Available March for $199;www.compaq.com, www.nexian.com/product/nexicam.asp



PMA stalwart Kodak is promoting its nationwide network of Kiosk as the future of photofinishing. Dubbed the Kodak Picture Maker there are currently over 21,0000 kiosks located at drugstores, supermarkets and photo processing stores. At each Kiosk You can scan pictures or download images to get quick and easy enlargements, reprints and creative gift options for your pictures in just minutes. The Picture Maker also allows you enhance the quality of your pictures through cropping, eliminating red-eye, adjusting colors and brightness all without the negative.

The Kodak Picture Maker is also great for digital camera users, especially if you haven’t figured out how to get your pictures out of your digital camera. You simply insert your digital camera memory card, CD or floppy disk into the kiosk, and you can easily print your pictures and even email them to friends and family directly from the kiosk. Prints cost anywhere from $5.99 – $9.99 per 8x10 sheet. www.kodak.com