Wrap up

PMA is in Las Vegas again this year and the the photographic industry is in town en mass. Perhaps because it's a Photokina year, or because many of the big announcements were made before the show, the whole event seemed a little quieter than usual. This didn't stop the big manufacturers trying to make their stands as eye-catching and attention-grabbing as possible, whether through talks by photographers, the groove of funk bands or the athleticism of breakdancers. And it's always good to get a chance to handle the new products and watch the responses they get.

Sony's announcement of its full-frame intentions generated the predictable press scrum and there was plenty of high-end exotica in amongst the big brands' offerings. Memory cards got bigger and faster, Hoodman brought its inflatable stand again and Minox showed off an updated version of its miniscule DCC Leica M3 replica. Minox also had a Bugsy Malone-style mini flashgun to match the DCC as well as the slightly more sensible prototype digital eyepiece for spotting scopes.

Things are winding down at the show now as the industry stops showing off its wares and gets back to the important business of selling is products to the public. Until Photokina, that is.