Awards Highlight Exceptional New Imaging Products & Services Featured at PhotoPlus Expo 2002 Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2002 in New York City

NEW YORK -- Oct. 29, 2002 -- Many Award-Winning Products Will be Shown for the First Time in the US

Photo District News in association with VNU Expositions has announced the winners of the first annual PhotoPlus Expo Vision Awards. The Vision Awards were created "to acknowledge innovative, trend-setting and creative new imaging products and services" on display at the 2002 PhotoPlus Expo which runs from October 31st to November 2nd at the Javits Center in New York City. Exhibitors were asked to submit products in 16 categories and a panel made up of Don Franz, (Publisher, "Photo Imaging News"), Reuel Golden, (Editor, "PIX Magazine"), Joseph R. Meehan (Technical & New Products Editor, "Photo District News") and Andrew Rodney selected the winners.

Many of the products selected will be making their US debut representing the very latest advances in photographic and related technologies. Dominating the awards is the most recent wave of high-end digital capture and output products, many of which were announced within the last month at Photokina in Germany. These include the first 11-million plus digital SLR cameras from Canon (EOS-1DS) and Kodak (DCS Pro 14n) producing images "as good or better than 35mm film." Award winners in the high-end digital camera back category feature greatly improved portability as well as such innovative features as: a palm-sized digital screen for on-the-spot digital proofs (Leaf Valeo); continuous image capture rates of 1.5 frames/second up to 1,000 images (Imacon Express); and record breaking captures of more than 22-million pixels (Sinarback 54).

Other new digital cameras include the Sinar p3 view camera system and the Sinar m Modular Medium format camera that can use Hasselblad, Nikon or Sinaron lenses. Film camera award winners include Hasselblad's brand new H1 645-format SLR camera system with seven dedicated lenses designed to meet the needs of both film and digital photographers. Also receiving camera awards, the Rollei 6008AF, the "world's first 6x6 auto focus SLR" and the Leica M7, that company's first ever electronic rangefinder camera.

Digital output winners include two large format and one desktop inkjet printer from Epson (Stylus Pro 9600 and 7600, Stylus Photo 2200) that use a new 7-ink system combining print longevity with brilliant color and full toned black and white output. Kodak's large volume thermal dye ML 500 Digital Print System capable of speeds up to one print per thirteen seconds and Kodak's 8500 desktop printer that can make an 8x10 thermal print cheaper than most mini-labs.

Other Vision Award winners reflect a range of clever designs and problem solving equipment to simplify workflow. For example, Pocket Wizard's "Wireless Freedom" technology from Mamiya that places remote sensors in strobe packs, cameras and light meters eliminating all wire connections and the first ever system for the accurate control of color in digital projection from GretagMacbeth called the "Beamer." Consumer digital cameras will enter a new era of data storage at PhotoPlus with the debut of the Olympus C-5050 Zoom camera using the just announced xD-Picture card technology that promises in camera image storage of up to 8 gigabytes.

Some of the winners in the area of photographic lenses include: Schneider's Apo-Tele-Xenar 800/600 Convertible View Camera Lens; the Cooke Portrait PS945 soft focus lens based on a revered optical design from the 1930's; and Canon's innovative and unique 400mm f/4 DO telephoto lenses using a weight saving diffractive design.

A complete list of categories and winners is attached. All winners will also be featured in the December issue of PDN, as well as on the PDN Web site www.pdnonline.com and in Photo Imaging News.

For more new products at PhotoPlus Expo 2002 consult the Show Guide and/or the Photo Plus Expo web site at www.photoplusexpo.com/photoplusexpo/exhibitors/new_products.jsp

About Photo District News

Photo District News Magazine (PDN), the leading publication for professional photographers and creatives, offers up-to-date information on technologies, techniques, market forces and trends to those who take pictures and those who use pictures.

About VNU Expo

VNU Expo produces more than 50 conferences and trade shows annually for professionals in fields ranging from presentations and training to travel, design and retail merchandising. VNU Expos reach thousands of industry leaders each year in collaborative environments designed to inspire, inform and entertain.