THE PAST
Spending six days in Vegas used to be the best part of the season in the retail camera business.
I just returned from a week in Vegas and here are some of my thoughts on Photography, Food and Travel.
In the past, we went to the PMA show and spent three days in the convention center with reps and friends, two additional days for travel, and one day at Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, or the Valley of Fire.
Crap tables and roulette, poker and twenty-one took up the rest of the time with the exception of food, we spent lots of time at the buffets which were amazing.
Since I write a culinary blog, and have no morals, no heart, and a rabid taste for good omnivorous food, I will share some insight at http://www.aljacobskitchen.com . I will tell you the ones we attended on that site and we have a new winner in the game of "Which is the best Buffet". The list of the few we went to are indicative of a new economy. A local comedienne expressed part of the buffet scene at Vegas and it is hilarious. See John Pinette - StumbleUpon
THE MEETING
Many things at this meeting were business financial confidential and I am sworn to secrecy. But a lot of product information was available and should be available online, especially in the "Point and Shoot" category.
Overall it looked like new runs of older stuff with increased megapixels, new algorithms for night lighting, back lighting, smile, bad teeth repair and fart detection, with a couple of unique things thrown into the mix. Actually some of the advances are astounding.
MY THOUGHTS:
The niche seems to be, let the camera fix the pictures and not have to go to Photoshop. Surprise! We can't get them to just take pictures, now we have to teach them Photoshoping on the fly.
The headliners in point and shoots will continue to be (in alphabetical order) Casio, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Samsung. Our friends at Canon, Sony and Panasonic due to distributor, financial, political reasons did not attend this dealers only meeting.
Another problem I see with some of these models is where do you store all those fingers holding this thing so it doesn't fall. I call my thumb "Mr. Menu" because every time I pick up the camera, I get the menu.
CANON DETONATES with DEALERS:
It's been allover the web so this is not new. With little profit for the dealer, independent camera stores and tough financing due to the losses they sustained with the Ritz Blitz, the last Mom and Pops have a tough time selling heavy Canon ware. Canon held their MAP prices but raised dealer costs and you can't sell a late model Canon pro body with an L-series 70-200 lens and make ten percent, eat sales tax (6-7%) and pay credit card fees (3.5%) and stay in business. It don't add up. You lose selling a kit.
This isn't new, the gap with cost and MAP has been shrinking for years and Canon is the toughest in the industry. You have to be a big box to survive, like Adorama and B&H. They get the advertising dollars, cash discounts and the promos to promote things that the local dealer can't afford. One day Canon might just be 'big box stores" but thats what got them at RITZ for millions.
TRAVEL VIA SOUTHWEST: We went SOUTHWEST - Non-stop. Five hours to Vegas and four hours back due to tailwinds this time of year. Less cost, less bullshit, free baggage, fun people both crew and customers and you can bring food on board. We were welcomed by the co-pilot "Chuck Roast" and treated to the complimentary glass of water.
I asked the stewardess during the flight for a couple of peanuts and got two peanuts in a paper towel. When asked for two bags, I got two trash bags. I asked for a wing seat and was asked in turn "How far out on the wing". In the last 34 times I have flown SOUTHWEST we were never late, this is amazing. Laughing and joking with the crew makes the time go faster.
I wish they (all the airlines) would dump the promos, classes, movies, split cabins, luggage rules and charges, classes and crap and keep the costs relevant. Thats Southwest's model. Keep it simple stupid. I may be crazy but I love that airline. I paid less to fly SOUTHWEST, got the same size seat I would have on coach on Delta or American, US Air, and round tripped Tampa to las Vegas for 315.00, nonstop, including all charges, free baggage and two peanuts served with ice water.
THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL: We had a split group, one of us stayed at the Renaissance, a true business hotel next to the convention center, no gambling, great TV's (LG 37's) good bedding, not a lot of food courts, no kids seen or heard, no gambling. Excellent bar. This is a med-high scale business hotel with a very good reputation and nice rooms. The monorail is right outside their door and next to the convention center is great for the big tiring shows. This is a business hotel, period, lots of nooks and crannies for important and private conversation.
THE LUXOR HOTEL
My friend and I stayed at the Luxor because I had a deal I could not refuse. I have stayed there several times because I always have a car in Vegas courtesy of Hertz Gold and getting in and out of the Luxor is easier than the strip mid-way because of the traffic. I like Hertz in Vegas, with a Gold card in and out quick. I asked for a GPS and they said at my age, they were giving me a map with large print.
I know the town and I was coming and going at all times, we ate in Henderson, and outside the strip on occasion, so the location was paramount to quick exits. The Valet service was excellent especially when you tip and they recognize you. Maybe the Mandalay next trip or Caesars Palace and take the back way out.
Years ago, my first trip to the Luxor (aka the Pyramid) was a Five. The second was a four and a half. This trip was a three and a half. Complaints, not anything substantial, the rooms are dated, it's fifteen years old now and just got sold to MGM.
The drapes drooping, bedding cheapened, same TV I had three years ago, an old Panasonic non-digital, the elevators are slower, when they worked, we had a breakdown and 19 floors away from our room and the carpeting looks worn.
All those things are signs of age. But, room service FOOD CARTS uncovered left by the elevator for two and a half days (it was Veal Parmigiano and starting to smell) is not acceptable. I told the manager via email on checkout. In addition we found newspapers, magazines and a broken hair dryer on the floor while going to our room. People problems but no one to clean it up. I know not to blame the maids but they walked past it two days in a row and it never got reported. It was still there the day we left.
Cabs will rip you in Vegas telling you the freeway is faster than the strip route when going from one end to the other. Unfortunately it is ten dollars more road mileage and gets them another fare quicker. I use streets like Koval and Flamingo and other routes that are off the main trail and we went where we wanted to go faster at any time. No real traffic, even though the strip was all backed up and thats how the cabs make more money.
Some of the hotels have changed hands and have gone downhill. In fact, the three things you need in Vegas, like room, food and entertainment were slightly down from the past.
THE BUFFET AT The "M"
My article "Bluffing and Buffing In Vegas" will indicate the best Buffet we found was not on the strip. It was a short distance away.
Vegas and Buffets are synonymous because of the surge of people that have to be fed. It's just faster when the customers cart the prepared food themselves. Chefs don't have to be creative, they have to be repetitive and consistent.
In the past the locally approved best buffet was at the RIO hotel and it was on our list of places we were looking forward to. This year it was not the winner. Sadly, it dropped on all grounds. They were getting busy and only had two lanes open for seating. When I go to eat , I like to eat now, not wait 45 minutes looking at empty tables, and the bus folks jabbering, the seating boss doing nothing and my stomach growling.
The food was mediocre, sauces were skimmed over, drying out, the featured Crab Claws were subs or smaller, the chef was serving the prime rib like he personally paid for it. The Wedding cakes on display above the deserts were falling apart. The hallway to the buffet or waiting area smelled (stunk) really bad from tobacco. I was about to bolt the line and leave because of the odor of the tobacco. We were going to catch a show there after dinner, but I could not leave fast enough. The Shrimp had a funny frozen taste and the Sushi looked commercial. Nothing like it was in the past. I could have nitpicked a hundred other things but it wasn't impressive anymore. It's the economy.
NEW BUFFET WINS PANTS DOWN
The great buffet winner this year is the Studio B buffet at the "M" hotel. The only problem, it's not on the strip, and word has gotten out how good it is. You have to pick your times. Like everything in Vegas the weekend is the worst. First they actually host a food channel TV show there, by integrating a state-of-the-art restaurant with a live-action cooking studio.
In the main dining room, chefs prepare delicious appetizers, entrees and out-of-this-world patisserie desserts. Guests may also enjoy beer and wine selections at no additional cost. The dining experience is made truly unique by the ever-changing live cooking and technique demonstrations by culinary experts that are broadcast on 110' x 6' video monitors inside the main buffet so everyone can watch.
With continually evolving flavors and entertainment, no day is ever the same at Studio B. Here you come to eat, but you leave entertained... and very full.
Decor: *****
This is a new and refreshingly different looking buffet and it is awesome. The interior is very clean and roomy. It's big enough with a big nice separate room in the back.
The seafood is fresh. It is an international bazaar of food. Choices are great and free wine. The desserts are sublime. I actually wished I had a bigger stomach, it was all good from crabs, pasta, clams to desserts.
Price: *****
Very reasonable for the quality of seafood. Seafood + Free wine + awesome desserts = Reasonable price
Service: ****1/2
TOUTING
TSG - Another thing in Vegas thats getting anoying is touting. Through the hotels you will get stopped by the TSG (Time Share Gestapo). Their job is to offer you a free room if you go to their presentations on your next trip to Vegas. They will get in your face with a smile, and a pain in the arse. Last thing I want in Vegas is to be touted.
WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION
HOOKER FLIPPERS - When you walk through the strip about Midway you will be accosted by a group of gnarly looking street folks handing out the "escort cards of Vegas's best built and voluptuous working girls" who offer room service, "your room at no extra charge."
The cards are about the size of baseball cards. It must get depressing to feel that rejected, the streets are littered with cards as people who get tagged throw them in the street to avoid bringing evidence home the wife might find.
To prevent boredom and attract attention, they flip the cards against each other making a slapping noise. And they get aggressive since there is a "pit-boss crew leader watching them".
Since these girls are not part of the legal brothels in Nevada, the health checks and requirements are not founded and you may get more than just screwed for services rendered. If you do partake please check with your doctor when you get home and make sure "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". No airline I know charges extra for clap, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV, just baggage. VD rides free.
Note: The City of Las Vegas has tried everything to get rid of the flippers. It went to those conservative thinkers on the Supreme Court. This is an example of those who test the laws of this country and sometimes Freedom of Speech goes too far in our society.
The Supreme Court felt that handing out prostitute cards was protected by Freedom of Speech. Our Supremes are too frickin conservative in allowing "Freedom of Speech" to protect illegal prostitution in Vegas and recently another disgrace, the defaming of the funerals of our fallen soldiers by the Westport Primitive Baptist Church. Thanks Mr. Bush for putting Justice Roberts on the bench.
THE NIKON PART OF THE TRADE SHOW
Combined with Nikons CMOS sensors for greater sensitivity and EXPEED dual image processor, I am reminded by my companion, How do they get that all in that little box?
The user friendly P100 will be replaced by a new P500 with an incredible 36X zoom. Thats 22.5 to 810mm based on a 35 mm format. The Nikon Clone of the Canon GII, Nikons 7000 is another formidable player in the market with almost identical specs of the Canon. New versions like the L24 and the S80 are upgrades of previous models now carrying an incredible 14 Megapixels. There is also debuting a S9100 with 12 Megapixels and an 18X zoom reach. The new 3100 replacing the 3000 will come with features unheard of in a base entry level camera and great in low light.
THE CASIO CREW
TRYX STYLE
The EX-H20G is equipped with a Hybrid-GPS system that combines a GPS engine with autonomic positioning made possible by a motion sensor. The system sets a new standard for geotagging and offers exciting new ways to use a digital camera. With the new EXILIM Engine HS, the EX-H20G features all of the essential capabilities expected from a camera. When used with Casio’s Single Frame SR Zoom function, the 24mm wide-angle, 10X optical zoom lens actually offers a 15X zoom range that maintains the image quality needed for 14.1-megapixel high-resolution photography.
SAMSUNG
Enhanced image clarity with CMOS Technology - The Samsung NX10 is equipped with a super large APS-C size CMOS sensor that reproduces rich and natural colors for exquisitely clear images even in low light settings.
Brighter screens with AMOLED technology - Colors pop and shadows become saturated on an AMOLED screen. A response rate 3000x faster than an LCD display creates a brighter screen with reduced glare at any angle, even in direct sunlight.
Full HD-quality video in a still camera - Capture high definition 1920x1080p video at 30 frames per second on your still camera and leave the camcorder at home. H.264 format has a recording time that's 4x times longer than MJPG and a stereo microphone for crystal-clear audio. Connects to any HDTV or HD monitor with an HDMI cable.
Basic menu for easy navigation - Whether you’re a beginner or a professional shutterbug, complicated settings and menus are a thing of the past. Now you can spend more time getting the perfect shot with a menu that makes navigating easier and faster.
PENTAX KRI have no idea who inspired the Chairmen Mao's version of their excellent KR series but I can imagine this would be a hot seller in China.
The PENTAX K-r competes with higher-end DSLRs and looks great doing it.
More coming....