A couple more stray thoughts from the PMA photofest:
Apparently there's a new rule that every camera vendor displaying at PMA must have a fish tank with a couple of cameras -- either waterproof out of the box or encased in a sturdy
plastic aftermarket shell -- bobbing away in O-ringed safety. This might lead you to believe that underwater photography is the hot new thing, but* au contraire*. A Fuji rep confirmed our suspicions that most underwater housings are bought by people who have no intention of taking them for a swim. Instead, it's folks who love their digicam and want some reassuring protection when they take their camera along on a trip to the beach or ski resort. And camera vendors are happy to oblige, as profit margins are always better on accessories.Wanna know the most reliable way to get a cheap laugh at PMA? Go up to a rep for any one of the dozen or so vendors selling inkjet cartridge refilling systems, and tell him in a low, conspiratorial voice: "You know, the HP booth is right over there, and those guys didn't seem too happy whenever I saw 'em looking in your direction. Think I overheard something about 'DMCA' and 'intellectual property' and 'FBI raid.' Just a word to the wise."
Three most common phrases overhead at PMA:
- "Sure, we'd love to have a distributor in (insert name of Chinese province, emerging Latin/Asian democracy or former Soviet republic)."
- "Of course film is still relevant."
- "Are you running Vista? Because we haven't been able to get our drivers certified."
