Camera Expo Comes To Town
Event begins tomorrow at J&R downtown
Special to amNewYork

The science of digital photography has been progressing rapidly since NASA switched to digital imaging systems on its moon probes in the 1960s. Today the technology is readily available and affordable to most New Yorkers, and this week thousands of amateur and professional photographers will head to J&R for one of the largest store-based digital photography expos in New York City.

Representatives from Nikon, Canon, Olympus and other cutting-edge commercial camera makers will be on hand to show off the features of their newest models, as well as providing informal classes about photography hardware and technique.

With more than 100 models of camera to choose from at the J&R store on Park Row, even an experienced photographer can use a little guidance from the experts. Boxes of brochures and free customer gifts are already piled high inside the camera store, and manager Mark Hyacinth says he is expecting a bigger turnout than in years past.

"Digital has returned the fun the taking pictures again," said Hyacinth. "There are still certain things that can only be accomplished on film, but the ease and low cost of digital photography has made it appealing to a wide group of users."

Out of the 12 camera sales stations at J&R, only one features traditional film cameras. The J&R store itself, founded in 1971, has been around longer than digital cameras.

While traditional photography is almost 200 years old, the 30-year-old technology of digital has progressed quickly from novelty to industry-standard. The first film-less electronic camera was patented in 1972 by Texas Instruments, but it wasn't until Kodak invented the first megapixel sensor in 1986 that the foundation for today's cameras came to the market.

The first Kodak cameras were capable of capturing 1.4 million megapixels, although their cost put them out of the range of most consumers. Today, it is not uncommon to see a 5 million megapixel camera available for less than $300.

The cameras available at this week's Camera Expo range in price from $99 to $1,000, and those willing to pay for it can find cameras with up to 8 million megapixels. The manufacturer representatives should match a customer with the camera that is best suited for his needs, and the regular J&R sales staff will be on hand for a second opinion.

J&R spokesman Abe Brown says the annual camera expo has gained a reputation as a "photography happening" in the city, and draws professional photographers who have questions about their hardware. But, Brown added, first-time camera buyers will also find a wealth of information.

Perhaps the most innovative products at the store this week will be the "digital frames," futuristic picture frames that can cycle through photos in a continual "slideshow" that will make a room look different every hour. It's the future of photography, and it's on display this week at J&R's Annual Camera Expo.

J&R Music and Computer World's Annual Camera Expo runs tomorrow to Sunday at 34 Park Row. Call 212-238-9000
 
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