British Photographic industry News December 2022 & January 2023

Putting the photo trade in the picture for over 35 years www.bpinews.co.uk

How to get your business plans and finances in order for 2023, with an overview of the points most relevant to the photo trade from the recent Autumn Statement

We

Don’t get left behind

This is a great opportunity to launch your company into the New Year by showcasing your products and services. This event takes place before any other industry show in 2023.

Meet your customers

Network with over 10,000 industry specialists and photographers who are looking to make informed decisions on which kit and services to invest in.

Refine your strategy

Gain invaluable market insight by speaking to the people who are going to be using your products and services. Find out what they expect and how you could expand your client base.

Raise your profile

Join a highly targeted and integrated visitor campaign reaching in a excess of a million contacts and maximise your brand exposure in the photographic industry.

Full Convention: Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 March

FREE* Trade Show Dates: Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 March Venue: Novotel London West Hammersmith, W6 8DR

are committed to ensuring that your company will find great value in working with The Societies of Photographers.

All the latest photographic equipment, products and services will be on show, and attendees will be able to watch demonstrations from leading manufacturers on their products.

All the major players in the industry will be exhibiting, so it’s a good opportunity to meet the key personnel behind the latest photography equipment.

Many of the 100+ brands exhibited will also be offering special deals on their products and services, exclusive to the show with Park Cameras and Camera Centre UK the main supporting dealers.

REGISTER TODAY FOR YOUR FREE TRADE SHOW TICKETS.* AS “THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW” REPOSITIONS TO 2024 WE’RE NOW THE ONLY UK PHOTO SHOW IN 2023 CAN YOU AFFORD TO MISS EXHIBITING WITH US? & London Photo Show NOW IN ITS 20TH YEAR! CALL TO

ACTION SCAN ME

thesocieties.net/convention/

Open to all from aspiring to pro... Put the dates in your diary now

*Visitors can Pre-register before 1 Feb 2023 for FREE and avoid £10 entry fee to Trade Show.

Photographic

Published monthly

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

EDITOR

Gavin Stoker

Tel: 020 8274 0578 Tel: 07990 974 367

ART EDITOR

Michael O’Connell, Crocus Creative

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Publisher’s Office: 31 New Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7HZ.

Legacy Media Ltd accept no ultimate responsibility for accurate reproduction of digital artwork created by third parties. Insurance and carriage of products submitted for inclusion in reports rests with the owner. News, data, prices, interviews and opinion are printed in good faith E&OE. Content including advertising artwork created by Legacy Media Ltd or its agents is ©2022 Legacy Media Ltd.

ISSN: BPI News (Print) ISSN 2634-1344 BPI News (Online) ISSN 2634-1352

Stoker, Editor gavin@bpinews.co.uk @GavinStoker

Idon’t want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need. Like most of the trade, that’s certainty; certainty to plan ahead, rather than living weekto-week, certainty to be able to attempt to grow a business without the world turning upside down. Hopefully 2023 will gift us this, not more of the same.

At BPI News Towers, we’ve just recovered from the deluge of Black Friday emails that potentially put cash in the tills of retailers on the run-up to the big day, and often exceed the sales boost of Christmas itself. If you took advantage this year, we hope it proved a profitable one.

While this season has us looking to the future, there are inevitably pangs of nostalgia too. These come complete with flashbacks to my Christmas job at the local branch of Currys aged 16, Wham’s Last Christmas and John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band’s ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ blasting from the shop speakers as I fitted a plug on a toaster for a customer (most electrical

goods came without the essentials in the late 80s), or helped lift a TV into their car parked on double yellows outside. The worst of it, though, was delivering washing machines to upstairs flats. The hot fear that coincided with the cold metal slipping through my fingers, as my body decided it couldn’t heft a metal box with a lump of solid concrete inside it any further, has stayed with me.

At least the fast paced environment of in-store Christmas retail sales meant time passed quickly – as it did during a later festive stint at Our Price, and when, as Deputy Editor of What Digital Camera, I worked out of the basement of CameraWorld in the early 2000’s. Yes, before IPC Magazines took the publication in house, that was our makeshift office. And fun it was too, seeing first hand what Jason Mitchell and Tony Stent were selling. Despite cramped conditions and lack of daylight, these felt like the good times. Tony retired back in 2019, and news now reaches us that Jason is doing the same, as is John Walshe of Nikon. We also learnt this month of the sad death of Jamie Harrison, our one time colleague on What Digital Camera and AP magazine.

While it feels like times are changing (as they always do), the one constant is the support and bonhomie of the photographic community. Like families, we don’t get together as often as we should, but it’s always fun catching up with old colleagues and sharing stories. If you’ve any of your own to tell, we can be reached 24/7 via info@bpinews.co.uk

All that remains is for BPI News to wish you a profitable Christmas and growth in 2023. Don’t omit to check our Review of the Year on page 12, and see you on the other side!

Gavin

NIKON GOES BACK TO BLACK

Fulfilling what it calls ‘customer demand’, the photo stalwart has announced a Nikon store exclusive of its retro styled Z fc mirrorless camera inspired by its heritage models, which now comes in stylish black, as well as the original ‘classic’ silver. Chunky controls and dials for ease of use, a vari angle LCD monitor plus 4K video shooting capability are further selling points of the black liveried body.

Likewise new from Nikon this month is a compatible Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 (SE) lens. Described as compact and lightweight, the f/2 aperture promises to deliver ‘beautifully round-shaped bokeh’ for your photographer customers. The design aesthetic

has been inspired by classic Nikkor lenses released during the same time frame as the original Nikon FM2 film camera, the inspiration for the Z fc camera. The focal length here becomes the equivalent of 60mm when mounted on a Nikon DX format, APS-C sensor incorporating camera. The physical length of the lens is a compact 45.5mm while it weighs approximately 170g. Minimum focus distance is 0.29m. For more on Nikon’s key lens releases of year, see our page 16 article www.nikon.co.uk

OM Digital Solutions tempts Xmas custom via cashback

The former Olympus is seeking to drive sales of its OM-1 flagship mirrorless camera by offering potential buyers £175 cashback up until January 1st, 2023. It tells BPI News that it hopes anyone who has been ‘umming and ahhing over the OM-1’ will be tipped into making a purchase this festive season. At the same time there is additionally up to £170 cashback on most OM System lenses, enabling, it suggests, photographers to build a high performance and lightweight outdoor photography kit for less.

Full details of the scheme and all the deals can be found via the below URL: https://shop.olympus.eu/en_GB/promo.html

WINTER LENS PROMO HAS COOL SAVINGS

Switched-on retailers will already be aware there is a Tamron Winter Instant Savings promotion running until January 8th, 2023. Cash discount is applied at the point of purchase and covers seven renowned and award winning Tamron lenses as follows: 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD and 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD, available for Sony E and Fuji X mounts with an £80 instant saving; plus the 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD, 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD and 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for the Sony FE mount, at an £80 saving for the 28-200mm and £100 saving for the others.

Finally there is £100 instant saving on the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. As participating dealers will be aware, Transcontinenta UK is the distributor to

contact regarding everything Tamron. In related news, a unique Tamron Lens Utility Mobile app for Android OS is now available for download. This is said to enable the customisation of various functions to match the video and photography style of anyone using the lens; something that can now be carried out via a smartphone without requiring a computer. Newly added is the ability to control the A-B Focus function, which smoothly shifts focus from one pre-selected subject to another, without actually having to touch the lens. Tell your customers to head to the Google Play store to download. www.transcontinenta.co.uk

Supported by

NOT SHY, BUT RETIRING

Two long-standing UK photo industry figures – former Camera World Managing Director Jason Mitchell and John Walshe, Vice President at Nikon Europe – have announced their retirement this month.

John (below) has spent the past 11 years with Nikon, and notes that: “the last decade has been one of incredible change. Those manufacturers and retailers who have successfully adapted to the new landscape have a great future ahead. Brands are continuing to invest in innovation, with products like the Nikon Z9 providing ground-breaking features for consumers who, despite other cost of living pressures, continue to spend on their hobbies.”

Asked what his most memorable moments have been during his tenure, John reflects: “All of my stand out memories involve the people that I have met in the industry. If I had to choose one thing that I feel most proud of, it’s having built a strong team at Nikon. With Charlotte Kemsley stepping up into the role of Regional Director, Nikon Northern Europe, I have every confidence that the Nikon brand will go from strength to strength.”

It’s all change at retailer Camera World too, following Jason’s announcement 22 years after he first established his initial shop in Wells Street

in London, alongside Tony Stent. Since 2000, Camera World has grown to three locations, plus a thriving e-commerce site. Current Director Jake Helman, who has been with the retailer for the past six years, is now taking over the reins, with Jason (above) telling us: “The continued sales growth and expansion of Camera World is testament to its customers, both traditional and digital, and a progressive brand. We are pleased to create an opportunity for Jake, whilst ensuring continuity for the business; Both Abby and I have finalised an MBO that sees him take over the business with immediate effect and develop his own management team. Jake has proved himself worthy since joining us, gradually taking over day-to-day decisions and driving the business to ensure growth during difficult economic times.

“We are proud of what we have achieved with the business over the years, and we will stay involved, supporting Jake through a transition period to aid the continued success of Camera World.We would also like to thank the trade and our suppliers, for all the support you have given us over the years.”

Swains instant camera brochure to drive sales to independents

Noting that instant camera sales continue to be on the up as young consumers experience this type of analogue photography for the first time, Swains has put together an A5 8-page colour brochure focusing on instant photography, with the support of Fujifilm, Polaroid and Canon. The proactive distributor says its main aim is to drive consumers into high street stores. The booklet, going by the name of ‘Instant Chic’, is being inserted into women’s magazines Red and Grazia, potentially reaching over 53,000 female subscribers, it claims.

“I know with all the doom and gloom from the media things don’t look too rosy, but we

continue to support the independent channel with our one-stop B-to-B site, coupled with visits from our regional sales managers who continue to visit and bring you up to speed with any exciting new launches and many special offers,” says Swains MD Danny Williams. “We are always looking at ways in which we can further support photo independents, so please feel free to send us any ideas on how we can help you drive your business.”

The photo trade can see a copy of the Swains’ brochure by following the ‘catalogues’ link at the foot of the home page at www.swains.co.uk

FINGER CLICKIN’ GOOD: NEW PENTAX KF, SEE?

New Pentax branded releases via manufacturer Ricoh almost slip under the radar these days, especially as the market is almost exclusively mirrorless cameras. But our ears pricked up at the mention of a new compact DSLR, set to replace the Pentax K-70. The new camera has a dustproof, weather resistant body and tilt and swivel LCD screen, which has an increased resolution of 1,037,000 dots. Attendant features include a 24 megapixel sensor, 77 segment multi pattern metering system, body integral shake reduction, maximum ISO102,400 light sensitivity, 4K video shooting and Wi-Fi connectivity. Interestingly, a unique Night Vision Red Light LCD function claims to minimise eye strain and fatigue when attempting nightscape and astrophotography. The camera is available body-only and as a kit including 18-55mm standard zoom. www.ricoh-imaging.eu

BPI News is your mouthpiece to reach peers in the photo trade, so use it. Send ad bookings & press releases to info@bpinews.co.uk

ALL ‘ART SYSTEMS’ GO: NEW DISTRIBUTION PARTNER FOR HAHNEMÜHLE UK

With its Natural Line Digital FineArt papers voted ‘Media Of The Year’ in our BPI News Trade Awards for 2022 last month, Hahnemühle is back in the headlines with a new partnership that should benefit both it and the photo trade

Inkjet paper specialist Hahnemühle has a long and distinguished heritage that extends to its latest award-winning range of Natural Line Digital FineArt inkjet papers, voted ‘Media Of The Year’ by industry peers in last month’s BPI News Awards. Noting that even in challenging times Hahnemühle as a brand continues to go from strength to strength, it’s back in touch this month to tell us that its sales structure and strategy has just been reviewed under the stewardship of newly appointed UK Managing Director Nancy Janes (see BPI News April/May 2022). This is in order to meet the future growth aspirations of Hahnemühle’s three main business units: Digital FineArt, Traditional FineArt and Life Sciences.

As a result of the review, from December 1st this year, all Hahnemühle Digital FineArt products (the very self same BPI News Award winner) will be supplied to its approved UK resellers via a newly appointed UK distributor, Art Systems (www.artsystems.co.uk).

Hahnemühle believes the partnership makes a lot of sense, as Art Systems is already a major UK distributor for many brands including Hewlett Packard and Epson. For those not already in the know, Art Systems is part of the Westcoast Group, which is a major distribution company with revenues of over £3.5 billion. Westcoast / Art Systems has a 341,000sq foot warehouse based in Andover, where all Hahnemühle UK inventory was moved in August of this year.

“Hahnemühle products have been used by Picasso and NASA, and we remain craftsmen into the digital age, with generations of knowledge to pass onto our customers and partners,” reasons Hahnemühle UK MD Nancy Janes. She adds: “We need quality time to grow the Hahnemühle brand in the UK and having

Hahnemühle’s BPI News Award winning Digital FineArt products are now distributed via Art Systems

a best-in-class distribution partner in Art Systems will enable us to do that.”

From December 1st, all Hahnemühle Digital FineArt end user sales enquiries to www.hahnemuehle.co.uk will be directed to approved Hahnemühle reseller partners.

The Hahnemühle corporate website at www.hahnemuehle.com will remain the reference site for all Hahnemühle content, and additional support will be provided via a new Hahnemühle app.

As a refresher for those not up to speed, the BPI News and TIPA award winning Natural Line of Digital FineArt papers for inkjet printers is notable for using renewable and sustainable fibres in its production. Currently comprising four different innovative papers in Bamboo, Hemp, Agave and Sugar Cane, all are claimed to deliver rich colour, deep blacks and excellent aging resistance. In

addition, proceeds from the sales of these papers go into a ‘Green Rooster Fund’ – allying to the rooster reference in the manufacturer’s logo – that helps finance reforestation and conservation projects.

To find out how you can become a Hahnemühle reseller partner, please see the contact details below.

HAHNEMÜHLE STUDENT AWARD

Finally, the brand has announced the Hahnemühle Student Award, in association with Photo London 2023.

It aims to support early career talent within the photography industry and provide an exciting new opportunity for students enrolled in photography degrees at UK universities, in bringing developing photographers’ portfolios to international attention. Nominated

students will be picked by faculty members at the universities with shortlisted candidates benefitting from opportunities including exhibiting at the Photo London Fair, VIP passes, and overseeing the production of their exhibition prints at one of Hahnemühle’s UK certified studios. The overall winner will spend time at the Hahnemühle mill in Germany and oversee the production of a new body of photographic work using Hahnemühle papers. For more, and full details of the judging panel, please see the below URL.

https://photolondon.org/ hahnemuhle-student-award/

For UK sales / commercial enquiries, please visit www.hahnemuehle.co.uk , email hello@hahnemuehle.com or phone 01603 759266

Hahnemühle Digital FineArt range now distributed via Art Systems. For UK sales / commercial enquiries email hello@hahnemuehle.com

“We need quality time to grow the Hahnemühle brand in the UK and having a best-in-class distribution partner in Art Systems will enable us to do that.”

Hahnemühle UK MD Nancy Janes

Creating What’s Next

MAC Group Europe proudly distributes award-winning brands backed by great service and support. For more information on how we can support your business during the festive season and beyond visit www.macgroupeu.com

Transcontinenta UK travel tripods support photographers & retailers alike

Voted Distributor Of The Year in our BPI News Awards last month, Transcontinenta UK is back to highlight travel tripods from its key brands Leofoto, Peak Design, Cullmann and Velbon that look set to strongly support photo specialists

With the world having opened up again to travel, now is the time for specialist retailers to take advantage of the opportunity to sell travel tripods. The appeal is easy to understand: these accessories can be packed small by photographers wanting to travel light, while the retailers that sell them have the opportunity to make a larger margin than they can just from selling cameras.

No fewer than four of Transcontinenta UK’s distributed brands – Leofoto, Peak Design, Cullmann and Velbon – are currently offering travel tripods. These are available at a variety of price points and feature sets to suit photographers’ budgets and individual passions.

MORE THAN A LEG TO STAND ON

Known for its expertise in precision engineering, the product line up of Leofoto (www.leofoto.com) includes leveling bases, ball heads, monopods, lens supports, magic arms, adapters, L plates, fluid and video heads, clamps and centre columns, quick release plates, leg warmers, camera cages, conversion adapters, multi function clamps, gimbal heads, mobile phone accessories and light panels. However the fact remains that a key strand for retailers to focus on is the Leofoto Ranger tripod series. As most recently highlighted in BPI News September / October, key features of Leofoto Ranger tripods include a 10-layer carbon fibre construction, as opposed to the eight layer construction favoured by most rivals. This enables an increase in rigidity and stability while maintaining lightweight functionality. Additionally, the Ranger series also offers your photographer customers excellent value for money, with a range of price points to suit and the peace of mind of a 10-year warranty. As we’ve noted in the past, Leofoto’s tripods are offered complete with

Home on the Range(r): the precision engineered Leofoto travel tripod (shown right & below) is a key product for distributor Transcontinenta UK, and one that should support strong sales at retail in 2023

ball heads, as with the recommended items below, or as a set of legs only.

Worth singling out from the series is the Leofoto Ranger LS-223C tripod + LH-25 ballhead, available now at £175 SRP. Claimed to be smaller, lighter, yet more stable, this three-leg-section device weighs just 0.72Kg including the ball head, but can cope with a maximum payload of 10Kg. With a folded length of 270mm, maximum height is 370mm and minimum height is 118mm.

The Ranger LS-254C + LH-30 ballhead for £329 SRP meanwhile affords a maximum height of 1614mm with centre

column (or 1285mm without), as well as a minimum height of 152mm. This 4-leg-section tripod has a folded length of 520mm and can cope with a maximum payload of 8Kg, while the tripod itself weighs just 1.24Kg with ball head.

The third recommended Leofoto travel tripod is the Ranger LS-284C + LH-30 ballhead for £399 SRP. Again, it can achieve a maximum height of 1609mm with centre column or 1280mm without, and, conversely, a minimum height of 150mm. This 4-leg-section tripod has a folded length of 520mm and can cope with a 10Kg maximum load, while it weighs just 1.43Kg with ball head.

If your photographer customers are looking for compactness and strength from the same package, the Leofoto Ranger travel tripod series will prove hard to beat.

Make travel tripods from Leofoto, Peak Design, Cullmann and Velbon your firm foundation for strong accessory sales in 2023.

The second brand we’re focusing on is Peak Design (www.peakdesign.com), which, while it has been known for producing best-in-class camera bags and carrying solutions since 2010, also offers a very snazzy Peak Design Travel Tripod (below & beach shot) There are two options here: a version in aluminium for £349.99 SRP that weighs 1.56Kg, or a carbon tripod for £599.99 SRP that weighs 1.27Kg. Peak Design says that it has spent four years re-designing its tripod from

A CULLMANN-ATION OF OPTIONS

The third travel tripod manufacturer worth recommending is Cullmann (www.cullmann.de). This German brand boasts products with well thought out operation, reliable functionality, unique design, high quality materials and a long service life. Again, it can offer the trade more than just tripods, in that it also specialises in bags and on-camera lighting, but the particular option we’ve chosen here is the new Cullmann Nando range. Nothing to do with fried chicken, these travel

A cheeky Nando: the Cullmann branded travel tripod (right) is noteworthy for its inclusion of a monopod and centre column that can be reversed to allow for macro shots close to the ground, as seen bottom left of page

the ground up, in doing so creating a travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle, without compromising on height, stability or features. It’s furthermore claimed to be ‘radically faster’ to setup – in as little as 9.8 seconds – and take down, thanks to ergonomic adjustment points. It’s been built for use with full frame DSLRs and telephoto lenses, while also featuring a mobile phone mount that stows away magically. There are no bulky or confusing knobs, just a single adjustment ring. Peace of mind comes courtesy of a lifetime guarantee.

tripods are notable for including a monopod, and will fold down to between just 39cm and 49cm in length, while the weight of available options varies from less than 500g to just over 1,500g. Boasting a serious looking black finish, further points to communicate include that the series features CNC milled screw connections for high stability, plus a centre column that can be reversed to allow for macro shots close to the ground. An aluminium ball head provides for a quick camera release, while the tripod’s legs are made of anodised aluminium or carbon. SRP’s for the range vary between £76.99 for the Nando 530TM RB8.5 (far left) to £159.99 for the Nando 580MC RB8.5 (left) Finally, the fourth travel tripod brand available to the trade via Transcontinenta UK is Velbon (velbon.net), which has been setting trends for versatile products for over 65 years. Notable

innovations include the fact that it was the first tripod manufacturer to use magnesium alloy to solve weight and stability problems. Today its carbon tubes are manufactured in France with stateof-the-art technology to achieve what are claimed to be ‘supremely stable’ results.

Key Velbon products for specialist retailers to add to stock include the UT-3AR at £109.99 SRP, EX-Macro at £49.99 and M-43 at £69.99.

The aluminium UT-3AR (left), aka the ‘Ultrek’ tripod, features a 180° folding leg for extreme compactness, while, alternatively, it can be extended up to 5x its folded length. Weighing 0.78Kg, the UT-3AR can support a mirrorless camera or DSLR of up to 3Kg, boasts a 135cm max height and has a folded length of 29.5cm; which is 2mm less than the length of a sheet of A4 paper. Its head includes an Arca Swiss style quick release plate.

The similarly travel friendly M-43 (left) is a four-section aluminum tripod with a ball head capable of supporting up to 2Kg and achieving a maximum height of 156cm with the centre column raised, or a minimum height of 44.6cm. Lightweight at only 0.88Kg, a case is included.

Lastly, Velbon’s EX-Macro (below) boasts a 56.3cm maximum height, a 20.3cm minimum height and weighs 0.57Kg. This compact and lightweight three-leg-section tripod has a pan and tilt head with a quick release plate, capable of supporting up to 1.5Kg. This means it’s best suited to compact cameras and smaller DSLRs with kit lens attached. Eminently transportable, the EX-Macro folds down to a portable length of 28.1cm. For more on the exciting options from the Leofoto, Peak Design, Cullmann and Velbon travel tripod line ups, speak direct with Transcontinenta UK on 0203 966 5947 or email info@transcontinenta.co.uk

Stand space filling up for only national photo show in 2023

It’s great to get positive feedback from BPI News advertisers, with The Societies’ CEO Colin Jones reporting an encouraging number of new trade exhibitors now signing up for its 2023 event at London’s Hammersmith Novotel, which runs March 16-18th.

As we reported last month, trade stand packages for the 3 days start from £999 + VAT, with more details on the inside front cover of this issue. Scan the QR code to download the exhibiting proposal.

With The Photography Show repositioning to 2024, it leaves The Societies’ successful London Photo Show and Convention, now in its 20th year, as the trade’s only national photo show in 2023.

The organisation tells us that online and print advertising campaigns have already started to

Jamie Harrison

1966 – 2022

As BPI News was going to press last month, we received the shocking news that our former colleague Jamie Harrison, whom those in the industry will know from his time as Technical Editor for both Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera magazines, had died suddenly. He was 55. A well-respected journalist and photographer, Jamie’s photographic career started on the cruise ships, a career path he shared with Amateur Photographer Editors Nigel Atherton and old bunkmate Damien Demolder. After leaving the magazine, Jamie had spent several

pull in strong visitor registrations, with 100+ brands already at the trade show backed by a full programme of free demonstrations and schedules of masterclasses, business schools, print competitions and qualifications.

Get in touch now for full details of available stands via 01745 356935 or info@thesocieties.net

Finally get your staff and key customers to register for free trade show tickets (pre-register before 1st February 2023 to avoid the £10 entry fee) at www.thesocieties.net/convention

THIRTEEN TO PROVE LUCKY FOR WEX

It’s rare to hear of a new camera shop opening. But in recent times when we do it’s inevitably a new Wex Photo Video location. In fact the retailer has just announced its 13th physical store, due to open on Green Street in central Cambridge this January, so allowing it to make a claim for ‘the UK’s largest specialist photographic retailer.’

Alongside sales of new and used gear, the plan is that Wex Photo Video Cambridge will offer rental, repair, trade-in and a free camera set up service. The 2,019 sq ft location has an interesting history too, once having been a ‘Beer House’ known as the Highland Piper some 150 years ago.

“Our newest store will bring the Wex Promise to the heart of Cambridge, with the largest range of imaging products and independent, expert advice,” enthuses CEO Louis Wahl. “More than ever, people are indulging their creative side through serious photography. We’re really excited to open a new space where Wex colleagues can generously share their experience with enthusiasts and professionals alike.” www.wexphotovideo.com

years working as a marketing consultant and studio photographer in Southend, a role that highlighted to many just how skilled a photographer he was. Earlier this year, he relocated, setting up his new studio in Welwyn – a venture that he was characteristically enthusiastic about and which would undoubtedly have been a success.

Jamie was universally liked for his sharp wit, genuine nature and under-stated talent, a fact testified by the outpouring of grief on social media and strong attendance at his funeral.

GO BIG IN 2023: EPSON LARGE FORMAT POINTS THE WAY TO PROFIT

Official Epson reseller the DPS Group suggests the route to taking advantage of big demand for personalised photo printing services is to install its large format SC-P7500 and SC-P9500 printers

Got big plans for 2023? Then fortunately Epson has a couple of big solutions in its large format SureColor SC-P7500 and SC-P9500, available now via official reseller the DPS Group

At sizes of 24 inches and 44 inches respectively, these 12-ink printers provide retailers and minilabs with the ability to add to or expand on their personalised photo printing services. It goes without saying that the machines are real workhorses, capable of providing both high volume and high quality output without compromise.

DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel advises: “The SC-P7500 and SC-P9500 are brilliant, cost effective replacements for the hundreds, maybe thousands of Epson, Canon and HP large format printers already in retailers that are definitely due an upgrade. These Epson printers will improve productivity, provide even higher quality prints and, as they are more efficient than previous generations, save retailers money into the bargain, meaning that the potential to profit from the boom in personalised photo printing is even higher.”

FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR PROFIT GENERATION

Whether the 24-inch SC-P7500 or 44inch SC-P9500 proves the perfect match for your business, both printers boast a solid, proven construction with the flexibility of printing on fine art paper, canvases, photo paper and more.

The 12-colour Ultrachrome Pro ink set with K3 technology utilised by both printers – a resource available direct from the DPS Group – is likewise worth highlighting, in offering Epson’s widest ever colour gamut with 99% Pantone coverage and exceptional dynamic range. The inks can be individually replaced if they run low, meaning that there’s no more choosing between ink sets. Speed and reliability is also an Epson hallmark. The machines’ print heads use up to 800 nozzles for each colour,

Profit big via Epson’s ‘big beasts’ the SC-9500 (above) and SC-7500 (below), both available to install now via the DPS Group

Group

producing accurate dot placement and eliminating misprints, while printing up to 4.3x faster than prior generations.

Interested parties are strongly advised to get in touch NOW about Epson’s ‘P’ series printers via sales@dpsb.co.uk or by calling 020 8466 7230.

“Come and talk to us now about the SC-P7500 and SC-P9500 and we’ll be

able to advise on which solution is best for your business,” Maneesh concludes. “Get on the front foot to start the New Year and make sure 2023 sees you maximise the potential for profiting from personalised photo gifts.” www.thedpsgroup.co.uk www.dpsb.co.uk

Epson SC-P7500 & SC-P9500 benefits at a glance:

Both printers offer identical classleading features, including:

„ A 12-colour ink set, which delivers Epson’s widest ever colour gamut with 99% Pantone coverage for increased accuracy

„ Advanced print heads, which use up to 800 nozzles for each colour

„ A μTFP12 print head with 300dpi resolution and 12 channels, delivering high speed and high quality

„ A 4.3-inch touch panel LCD with a range of configuration options

„ Deeper blacks, achieved via black enhancement over-coating technology, producing even more striking and dramatic prints

„ Support is included for fine art papers, canvases, photo paper and more

“These Epson printers will improve productivity, provide even higher quality prints and will save retailers money into the bargain, meaning that the potential to profit from the boom in personalised photo printing is even higher.”

DPS

MD Maneesh Patel

2022: HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

Twelve months of more dramatic twists and turns than a soap opera; it’s been hard to keep up with it all. Fortunately then, BPI News is here to help us re-cap and reflect on a year like no other – well, since the last one – and accentuate the positives, with the trade once again proving surprisingly resilient…

If we’d thought that the previous two years had been ‘challenging’, then 2022 threw a whole extra bag of spanners into the system. However, adversity encourages us to focus on what’s truly important and to find positivity in small victories. If we’re still here, we must be doing something right. Right?

Looking back through our reports this year, it is clear that despite a welcome lack of lockdowns and restrictions and ostensibly matters appearing ‘back to normal’ on the surface, Covid-19 continued to cast a long shadow. This year it was joined by the unexpected war in Ukraine

and the perhaps slightly more foreseeable cost of living crisis that, with various governmental mishaps along the way, has resulted in the UK ending 2022 back in recession.

How this affects demand and sales in our industry as we enter 2023 remains to be seen, but those trade figures we’re solicited opinion from here encouragingly remain broadly bullish. We’ve also witnessed some excellent products being introduced throughout 2022, which we re-cap on here.

So without further ado let’s examine the year that was…

two years; a refreshing change given reports of the death of the high street. As 2022 ended, we’d be reporting on Wex’s 13th new store, this time in Cambridge. Elsewhere that month, Irelandbased Hähnel blamed Brexit for the fact it was stopping direct sales to the UK after 25 years, instead enlisting the aid of Transcontinenta UK from January 1st. With 2021 having been a year of mergers and acquisitions, the year ended with news of another; Vitec Imaging Solutions – itself to be re-branded as Videndum in 2022 – was acquiring Savage Universal Corp, known for its studio photographic backgrounds, and its affiliates. One of the best-received features in this edition of BPI News was us asking prominent members of the photo trade ‘What the pandemic has taught me…’ the answer broadly being that the world of retail and our industry within it was changing at pace.

FEBRUARY / MARCH

Solutions were back in our pages again, this time with the acquisition of the microphone brand Audix, to sit alongside its other audio brands

Mark Thackara, Senior Manager, Marketing, OM Digital Solutions

DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

Simultaneously the last issue of the year and the first new one, this edition of BPI News found us reporting on a new Wex Photo Video store for Newcastle, its fourth new opening in the space of

With spring within our grasp, we found the photo trade rebooting itself, with the first new releases of the year including a premium priced Leica M11, Canon EOS R5 C hybrid cinema camera and a clutch of lenses from Nikon, Samyang and Sigma. News from overseas included that Japan’s premier trade show CP+ was being cancelled for the year because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, while Vitec Imaging

The forward view of 2023 does look challenging, but my outlook is going to be one of focus and priority. We’ll be making sure we’re putting our efforts where we can make the biggest impact. There will be a lot to go after in 2023!”

Mark Skold, Head of Sales – Retail & Photo Specialists – Canon UK

It is years like 2022 that make me wish I had kept a diary over the decades to compare notes on whether this one really was crazier than all the others. It was pretty clear early on that a large majority wanted to get away, as evidenced by the travel stories over the spring and summer. Demand has been good, balanced by the supply challenges faced by the whole industry for much of the year. If there is a net positive effect of all that, it has been that scarcity helps margins.

Uncertainty makes planning ahead for activity that much harder and this is something we all need to address as there is certainly a demand from consumers for more ‘experiences’. Workshops, talks – we can all do more using ambassadors to get people out there learning and taking better pictures. It stimulates interest and demand for upgrades and accessories. Given the considerable negative sentiment about the economy and the near future, let’s hope for a mild winter, peace and rebuilding, to make 2023 a year of optimism.

Despite all the world chaos, the government’s inability to govern and the media’s ambition to frighten the whole of the UK population, photography has performed well. Film continues to have a revival, new products come thick and fast and the pre-owned market thrives… so bring on 2023”

David Parkinson, MD Wilkinson Cameras

Hazel Soper, Group Marketing Manager, The Photography Show

We all know that it’s been a challenging time for the imaging industry for so many reasons and the resilience of some of the companies we work with continues to astound me. From the perspective of The Photography Show team, the UK’s imaging community is hugely better than most sectors at working collaboratively – even if their products compete – and recognising that customer bases can and will change. There’s a necessity to embrace new audiences and interests to ‘feed the funnel’ and everyone’s so driven to evolve accordingly. Visual content creation – be it photography, video, or something else in the future – will always play an important part in so many realms, from informing and educating, to improving well being and recording memories – and I can’t wait to see how the industry advances over the coming year.

Rycote and Joby. We were also introduced to some new faces in the trade at distributors MAC Group and Transcontinenta UK, while we

learnt that, in the world of mini labs, Fujifilm’s CX3240 Creative Duplex Printer was acting as a pandemic booster; helping boost the fortunes of retailers savvy enough to install the device, that is. Our Product of the Month this issue was the Sony A7 IV full frame mirrorless, of which we posed the question: will it appeal as equally to stills photographers and videographers as it intends? And the Nikon Z 9 too, of which we asked, can it justify the expectations of both its manufacturer and its intended audience.

deliveries to Russia. Wex Photo Video was yet again in the news, this time with regard to it acquiring a majority stake in Poland’s market leading omni-channel retailer of camera and video equipment, Cyfrowe.pl. Growth was also prompting the Lumesca Group to relocate its comprehensive product warehouse and the Birmingham branch of The Flash Centre, now under its ownership, to adjacent units just outside of town. Ricoh, a brand rarely featuring in these pages of late, was back with a special ‘urban edition’ of its GR IIIx enthusiast targeted compact camera, while we reported on perhaps the major happening of the previous month; March’s belated return of The Societies Of Photographers’ annual London Convention and Trade Show, postponed by Covid-19 since 2020 and the first under new CEO Colin Jones. Finally, this issue also brought news of Chinese brand Venus Optics expanding its Laowa lens business in the UK.

Colin Jones, CEO, The Societies Of Photographers

It’s fantastic to see the photography industry bouncing back and thriving again after an ‘interesting’ few years. We had an incredible Convention in March, which was very well attended, and have been back out on the road, meeting photographers and working with the trade at our Photographic Roadshows.

APRIL / MAY

We’d been waiting for a new camera from the former Olympus for a while – but didn’t expect the OM-1 from OM Digital Solutions to arrive with us still bearing the Olympus name; yet here it was at a body-only price a penny shy of £2K. Panasonic also had a new camera in the frame in the Lumix GH6, another flagship digital camera to incorporate the Micro Four Thirds mount. Elsewhere we learnt of the photo trade’s solidarity with Ukraine in the wake of Putin’s illegal war and how various familiar photography brands had suspended sales and

Alongside these events, we have travelled the country providing in-person training with several speakers, held two sold out Judging Schools at our HQ in North Wales, plus continued our online support for our members with Webinars and one-to-one Zoom calls, while our Members Facebook Group is busier than ever! It’s been great to help facilitate the industry re-connecting with each other after two years of isolation. We are already looking forward to 2023, which is set to be another bumper year, as our diary is already filled to the brim with events. I am looking forward to working with you all in the New Year and continuing to provide essential opportunities for the photography industry to develop, socialise and grow.

The future of our small and getting smaller industry really is for the suppliers to start talking to their retailers who work hard on the ground to sell their products”

Alex Falk, Owner, Mr Cad

thoughts on where the photo trade is going in 2023? Please get in touch with us and your peers via info@bpinews.co.uk

David Parkinson, MD Wilkinson Cameras

You just couldn’t make up the challenges the country, its citizens and businesses have had to deal with these past 12 months; 2022 has just been unbelievable!

However, despite all the world chaos, the government’s inability to govern and the media’s ambition to frighten the whole of the UK population, photography has performed well. Film continues to have a revival, new products come thick and fast and the preowned market thrives… so bring on 2023.

A word of caution to the industry, however: the last three years have shown that customers are prepared to pay for quality and the latest technology. So, as supply chain difficulties ease, let’s not revert back to the days of discounting. The industry needs to retain profitability, as all businesses are looking at severe extra costs in 2023 and beyond.

With that in mind, have a great Christmas and profitable 2023.

JUNE

This issue found us celebrating 60 years of the venerable Mr Cad, having moved from its longtime home in Croydon to the streets of Central London, where it is still doing a thriving trade in film stock and second hand camera bodies. We also met the TIPA Award winners for

Demand has been good, balanced by the supply challenges faced by the whole industry for much of the year. If there is a net positive effect of all that, it has been that scarcity helps margins”

Mark Thackara, Senior Manager, Marketing, OM Digital Solutions

2022, as voted for by technical magazines and websites around the world (including BPI News), and caught up with David Parkinson, MD of Wilkinson Cameras, for our semi regular ‘Big Interview’ feature. As regards new cameras, the main talking point this month was the new high speed X-H2S from Fujifilm, direct successor to 2018’s X-H1. Also worthy of note, especially for those retailers looking to tempt customers from DSLR to mirrorless, or smartphone users into the hobby for the first time, were DSLR-lookalikes from Canon in the EOS R7 and EOS R10; the first cameras in the EOS R series to feature APS-C sensors. Elsewhere in the same issue, Leica stated it was renewing its

Skold, Head of Sales –Retail & Photo Specialists –Canon UK

Being new to the industry this year, I’ve been overwhelmed at the level of excitement that exists around this category. While the ubiquity of smartphones has been a challenge for the lower end of the camera market over the last 10 years, the engagement that comes from all forms of content creators is incredible. This presents us with a fantastic opportunity to encourage them to trade up and generate some seriously exciting high-quality content.

As the world continues to get back to normal, words like ‘pandemic’ are becoming more and more taboo and all eyes remain firmly forward. The economic outlook is concerning for all, but we’re recovering, with supply levels improving and internal stability enabling us to buckle down and get the job done. The forward view of 2023 does look challenging, but my outlook is going to be one of focus and priority. We’ll be making sure we’re putting our efforts where we can make the biggest impact. There will be a lot to go after in 2023!

partnership with Panasonic under the banner of ‘L Squared Technology’ (an acknowledgement of the ‘L’ of Leica and the ‘L’ of Panasonic’s Lumix brand), while interestingly Leica was also hooking up with Xiaomi, described as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer. Photo trade news aside, the bikini clad lady on the cover of our June issue also bizarrely (and briefly) prompted our online platform hosts to flag the magazine up as only suitable for those 18+, and temporarily shield it from anyone who wasn’t.

JULY / AUGUST

It was all about the photo and video industry courting the content creators for this edition, with our lead news item focusing on Nikon’s change of tack via a declared ‘video first’ camera in the Z 30. The manufacturer promised that it would let users create what their smartphone can’t. Elsewhere LED lights continued to be popular with photographers and videographers alike, with the Nanlite Forza 150B introduced via distributor MAC Group Europe and Kenro bringing out its own range of aptly named ‘Smart Lites’. Also attractive to consumers were instant printing and instant cameras,

Hazel Soper, Group Marketing Manager, The Photography Show

Mark

There’s a necessity to embrace new audiences and interests to ‘feed the funnel’ and everyone’s so driven to evolve accordingly. Visual content creation – be it photography, video, or something else in the future – will always play an important part in so many realms”

with Fuji’s latest product of the Instax Mini Link 2 printer bridging the gap between the two. In this edition we also found out which photographic luminaries would be lighting up the Super Stage at The Photography Show come September. Arguably the biggest news of the month was the former Vitec Group rebranding as ‘Videndum’, partly, as we learnt from Chief Marketing Officer Chris Carr, to take into account the growth in its range of audio products alongside its imaging ones in order, he told us, to service today’s multi skilled content creators. The same Q&A piece noted that the total addressable market for microphones is the same size as imaging. We also asked the trade to nominate and vote for their personal favourites in terms of products, retailers and individuals for our annual BPI News Awards, the winners of which would be revealed in our November edition of the mag.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

One of the big news stories this month was that of Tetenal partnering with Noritsu to distribute its range of dry labs in the UK, while we also showcased the winners of the annual EISA Awards for 2022-23. We also discovered that life begins at 40 for Fujifilm – 40 megapixels that is – as the high resolution X-H2 camera was introduced, while we also learnt that Wex Photo Video had opened a short-lived ‘pop up’ camera store atop Snowdonia for World Photography Day. For those seeking out third party lens options there were a clutch of Tamron lenses on the way for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z series cameras, while we also found out what was new from Peak Design, Zhiyun-Tech and Leofoto via the distributor for them all, Transcontinenta UK. Talking of third party lenses, Sigma was also back in the news, celebrating a whopping 10 years of its ‘Global

Alex Falk, Owner, Mr Cad

This year has been blighted by the lack of film – 35mm really; Colour and Reversal.

While some big names appear to have disconnected from consumers and retailers, Kodak has spent the year changing and working hard to rectify the amount of film being produced and being shipped out.

The future of our small and getting smaller industry really is for the suppliers to start talking to their retailers who work hard on the ground to sell their products. For us, we are a very niche market and intend to stay that way, so really rely on our connections and relationships with the suppliers and manufacturers. Come talk to us, have a coffee on us.

Vision’ enterprise and range, which had growth from a single lens to nearly 50 across a range of mounts since the concept was first introduced at Photokina 2012. Elsewhere, we heard that the Lumesca Group was expanding its offerings once again in being appointed an exclusive distributor for Light & Motion’s StellaPro

to attend Rotolight’s preview of two new soupedup LED lights in the NEO 3 PRO and the AEOS 2 PRO, offering various industry firsts to entice photographers and filmmakers alike. Elsewhere there were bags of great ideas from Snapperstuff, which introduced SpeedTop camera bags from Think Tank Photo to the trade. We also found out the names of the winners in our BPI News Trade Awards for 2022, with familiar faces and products joined by campaigns and promotions voted for by you the reader.

We are already looking forward to 2023, which is set to be another bumper year, as our diary is already filled to the brim with events. I am looking forward to working with you all in the New Year and continuing to provide essential opportunities for the photography industry to develop, socialise and grow”

Colin Jones, CEO The Societies Of Photographers

line for the UK and more besides. In terms of printing, PermaJet introduced the photo trade to its new ‘Heritage’ range of premium inkjet papers plus the fact that it was also offering the industry revolutionary 3D scanning capabilities, as a possible alternative revenue strand.

NOVEMBER

Our Black Friday coinciding issue included probably the biggest concentration of new camera releases of the year so far. We found Canon, in particular, fully loaded with a tranche of new gear for retailers including its new EOS R6 Mark II, plus new lens, flashgun, camcorders and even a high end remote ‘PTZ’ camera designed for broadcast scenarios. Not to be left out there was another new Fujifilm camera in the X-T5, while a new OM System camera appeared, this time without any Olympus branding at all, in the OM-5. We took time out

The other big news of the month was that, following its September 2022 event, The Photography Show had elected to miss out on 2023 entirely, aiming to return to its prepandemic March calendar position for 2024. It told us the switch was based on feedback from exhibitors. This leaves The Societies Convention and Trade Show (also March) as the only major trade event in the UK for next year, and brings our round up of 2022 to a close.

thoughts on where the photo trade is going in 2023? Please get in touch with us and your peers via info@bpinews.co.uk

NIKON’S ‘MAGNIFICENT 7’ MIRRORLESS LENSES

The past 12 months have witnessed no fewer than seven new NIKKOR lenses launched in support of Nikon’s popular Z series of mirrorless cameras. As 2023 dawns, here are the essentials...

With major manufacturers favouring continued development and expansion of their mirrorless camera ranges, seeking out new audiences while converting existing DSLR owners to a lighter, smaller format, it’s fair to say Nikon has been one of the busiest brands around. Barely an issue of BPI News has been published this year without an exciting new announcement that puts its Z series frontand-centre in the minds of photographers and specialist retailers alike.

The NIKKOR Z lens family is equally worthy of the trade’s focus, and indeed sales – so that’s what we’re showcasing here. From compact primes suitable for anyone starting out to super telephoto

Big hitters: The NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S (left) NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S (above, left) and NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S (above, right) are all from Nikon’s top quality ‘S-Line’ of professional lenses

options from Nikon’s professional S-Line series, there truly is something for everyone looking to get creative with mirrorless photography and videography.

GLASS WITH CLASS

Nikon expanded its mirrorless collection in 2022 with some big hitting full frame lenses. These included a new super telephoto lens – the first of its specification to join the NIKKOR Z family – in the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S

As an S-Line quality lens that would go on to become a Red Dot, TIPA, and

EISA Award winner, this professional telephoto option promises a phenomenal AF performance and exceptional image quality, whether shooting at its native 400mm, or, with the activation of its built-in 1.4x teleconverter, at 560mm. Also the first lens to feature Nikon’s ‘Silky Swift’ Voice Coil Motor (VCM) focusing system, its AF is quieter and faster, while subject acquisition and tracking is spot on. Due to its centre of gravity being towards the rear, a more stable operation is provided, while Vibration Reduction and a removable tripod foot lend extra support. Providing sports

for more from the award winning NIKKOR Z lens range. Photographers and videographers alike now have an ever

Compact yet full frame: The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 (below) and newest NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (top) are ideal for those wanting maximum power from relatively compact proportions, thus matching the mirrorless cameras to which they’re attached

and wildlife photographers alike with an ideal creative companion, controls can be customised and functions assigned to the lens’ FN ring.

A second super telephoto S-Line lens arrived in the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, again for Nikon’s full frame mirrorless cameras. This lens came with the aim of supporting the ambitions of photographers, from advanced amateurs to professionals. Promising whisper quiet AF and up to 5.5-stops of image stabilisation thanks to built in Vibration Reduction, it went on to be named Best Telephoto Lens in the EISA Awards 2022-23. Those photographers looking for a more affordable 400mm reach didn’t have to wait too long, as the summer of 2022 saw the announcement of the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, described by its maker as a ‘super portable super telephoto’ lens with ‘S line quality’. Inlens Vibration reduction gives a 5.5 stop advantage, and despite the impressive focal range it is relatively lightweight and travel friendly too at 1245g. Furthering creativity, it can be used with Nikon’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters to provide

the equivalent of 560mm or 800mm. This weather-sealed lens went on sale at the same time as Nikon’s Z 30 camera.

The year was rounded off by yet another S-Line big hitter in the NIKKOR Z series; the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S. This lens features a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, providing the equivalent of a 840mm f/5.6 lens and, in effect, making it seem like having two lenses in one. Key features include a ‘next level’ AF system, Vibration Reduction, allowing for photographers to shoot at up to 5 stops slower than they would without it, plus, again, the manufacturer’s ‘Silky Swift’ Voice Coil Motor. Also featuring is a ‘Meso Amorphous’ coating to control ghosting and flare, plus dust and moisture resistance. Weighing 3,260g, it’s a claimed 20% lighter than its predecessor.

S-Line lenses aside, further products of note have included the smallest and lightest full frame ‘Z’ series prime lens to date in the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8. Given the wide-angle viewpoint, landscape and streetscape photographers are the ideal audience here, as are those shooting portraits in situ. With a minimum focus distance of just 19cm, if used on a DX format Nikon Z camera this lens offers a 42mm angle of view, making it perfect for candid portraits and vlogging. As suited to shooting video as stills, focus breathing is dramatically reduced. At an affordable price, a further bonus is a weather sealed construction that means neither dust or water droplets are a problem.

Those seeking a full frame zoom option are gifted the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8. Boasting a wide angle to telephoto zoom range, as well as a constant fast aperture, Nikon recommends it as ideally suited to

photographing street scenes, landscapes and portraiture, while again it also works very well for video. The zoom range can cover wide establishing shots and medium shots, with focus breathing suppressed. Finally the newest edition to the mirrorless lens range is the very recently announced NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE). Compact and lightweight, its f/2 aperture promises photographers ‘beautifully round-shaped bokeh’. The design aesthetic was inspired by classic NIKKOR lenses released during the same period as the original Nikon FM2 film camera, itself the inspiration for the Z fc camera. The focal length here becomes the equivalent of 60mm when mounted on a Nikon DX format, APS-C sensor camera. With a minimum focus distance of 0.29m, the physical length of the lens is a compact 45.5mm while it weighs barely anything at 170g. For more on this and all the above lenses, please visit the URL below to find out more. www.nikon.co.uk

NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE):

Special Edition f/2 prime lens

Expressive yet compact at just 45.5mm in length

Lightweight at a mere 170g

Delivers beautifully rounded ‘bokeh’

Focal length equivalent to 60mm when mounted on a DX format camera

bokeh too

good for video as focus breathing is suppressed, while being great for establishing shots and medium shots

expanding range of choices, from professional S-Line lenses to compact prime lenses perfectly suited to its Z series mirrorless cameras

We are the print champions: Fujifilm & One Vision Imaging partnership proves to be pure quality

Fujifilm’s Print To Prove It campaign has seen it partner with nine pro labs, including originator One Vision Imaging, to champion professional photo laboratory methods and show photographers the value of high quality photo printing, encouraging them to put print at the heart of their art

It’s fair to say that in recent decades the demand for high quality photographic prints has fallen significantly – at least as far as the mass market is concerned –with the digital age making the process of putting pictures in albums seem somewhat outdated. At the same time, pro photographers were being asked by clients for digital only packages – with resultant images provided on CD or DVD. However Fujifilm believes that viewpoint is now changing, as more photographers, particularly professionals, are rediscovering the benefits of high quality printing and the profitable photo merchandising opportunities afforded. But don’t just take the manufacturer’s word for it. Market analysis reflects this. For example, between 2018 and 2024, the UK photo merchandising market is projected to grow by 57.9% to £330m. This rise in demand provides an opportunity for all photographers to expand into the increasingly and lucrative popular photo printing space by offering high quality printed products as part of their service.

Consider also that the younger generation has grown up with photography as a series of digital files that are shared electronically and rarely printed. And even if they are printed, it’s usually on an inkjet printer at home using inferior quality papers, with disappointing results. An aim to change this mindset was one of the founding principles of Print To Prove It – an initiative featured in our April/May edition this year, which was subsequently named ‘Campaign Of The Year’ in November’s BPI News Awards – seeking to educate younger photographers who may not be fully aware of the unrivalled quality and depth that professional quality photographic printing can offer. Fujifilm has once again teamed up with professional print lab One Vision Imaging to demonstrate, it says, just how far the advancements

of pro lab standard prints on Fujifilm photographic paper have come.

ILLUSTRATING THE QUALITY GAP

It goes without saying that the difference between home or studio printing and a professional lab’s capabilities is quite significant. Now more than ever, Fujifilm believes that photographers need to prioritise quality printing to showcase how the medium can rival and moreover exceed digital image sharing when done in a way that effectively represents the quality of the image taken.

As part of the Print To Prove It campaign, the challenge for Fujifilm and One Vision Imaging was to offer photographers an opportunity to see for themselves the quality of professional laboratory prints and spotlight the

“When devising the campaign, we wanted people to really see that using a professional photo lab is hugely important for showcasing work and building a reputation for providing quality photographic prints.” One Vision Imaging founder Derek Poulston

benefits of true photo printing in a digital world. In addition, the aim was to encourage partnerships to develop between photographers and pro labs, breaking down any barriers and soothing any apprehension that there might have been when faced with the wide range of photo printing services available.

lab produced photo print. As a result Fujifilm believes it can be difficult for younger photographers especially to grasp the level of image quality that can be achieved by seeking out the services of a professional photo lab.

The Print To Prove It initiative gives all photographers the opportunity to

The UK photo merchandising market is projected to grow by 57.9% to £330m by 2024. This rise in demand provides an opportunity for all photographers to offer high quality printed products as part of their service.”

Fujifilm and One Vision Imaging both agreed that there were a significant number of photographers disappointed with the results that they were achieving via home or in-house studio inkjet printing.

Communicating to photographers the benefits that the right photo paper has on the quality of the resultant print was therefore crucial in the creation of Print To Prove It. The initiative saw photographers being given the opportunity to claim three free 10x8-inch or 12x8-inch photo prints on Fujifilm colour paper from One Vision Imaging, so they could see for themselves up close and personal the beauty of a true photographic print.

REALISING POSSIBILITIES & GETTING RESULTS

One of the key points to make here is that, for photographers who have never experienced silver halide, there is perhaps an assumption that an inkjet print is the same quality as a

experience for themselves the difference in quality between inkjet and lab printed images, as One Vision Imaging founder Derek Poulston explains: “When devising the campaign, we wanted people to really see the difference when printing professionally. Finished photo prints will often be how a photographer’s work is judged, and so using a professional photo lab is hugely important for showcasing work and building a reputation for providing quality photographic prints.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or an amateur; all photographers stand to benefit from reviewing and improving how they print their work. This is why the Print To Prove It challenge has been created, and with Fujifilm’s support I look forward to seeing it continue to grow.”

Since its inception, the Print To Prove It challenge has been taken up by more than 2,990 photographers, many of whom have stopped inkjet printing themselves in favour of using professional photographic laboratories; thus the initiative has grown beyond the

initial founding partnership between Fujifilm and One Vision Imaging to include nine photographic lab partners across the UK. In taking the campaign national, it has offered photographers easy local access to personalised, high quality photo printing services for professional photographers, with partner labs in London, the Midlands, South East, North East and Scotland.

Fujifilm UK Commercial Marketing Manager for Imaging Solutions

Gloria McCann concludes: “We are so passionate about photographers seeing the potential of professionally printed photos for themselves, which is why we partnered with nine professional labs during the launch of Print To Prove It. Since launching the campaign, thousands of photographers have expressed an interest in seeing the quality provided when partnering with a professional lab. The feedback on the campaign has been fantastic so far. We are already looking for ways to build on this success in 2023, so watch this space!”

CLAIM YOUR FREE ‘PRINT TO PROVE IT’ VOUCHER!

Share the difference with your own customers and clients. And don’t forget to tag any social media posts with #PrintToProveIt once your finished prints have arrived.

Find out more at www.fujifilmprinttoproveit.com

or by visiting www.fujifilmphotoservices.co.uk

with Fujifilm Photo Print Services at photoimaging_uk@fujifilm.com

Business Advice

A FOCUS ON FUTURE FINANCES

An overview of the key points from the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement that may impact the photographic trade. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, nothing is certain except death and taxes. So, to take the positive view, at least we now have a degree of certainty and the ability to make plans for the mid term

Are you fit and ready to face the challenges of an austerity Christmas? With the country said to be experiencing the worst drop in living standards since 1956, at the time of writing the soothsayers are predicting cash strapped Brits will spend an estimated £4bn less on presents and festivities this year, compared with 2021. In our road, neighbours are opting for battery-powered Xmas lights to save on energy bills.

This all comes off the back of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement of late November 2022 and the confirmation that we’re now, once again, in recession. Although the Statement thankfully came and went without the disastrous market reaction prompted by September’s now infamous Mini Budget, which were the

relevant take homes for the photo trade?

As the HM Treasury page at www.gov.uk notes, prices are rising around the world – blamed principally on Putin’s war on Ukraine – and shops and businesses are facing these costs head on. So, how is the Treasury helping?

Business rates for those operating on the high street have been a contentious issue for a long while now. One positive to take home from the Autumn Statement is support for those paying business rates in England, with many rates significantly reduced from April 2023 as part of the Chancellor’s total £13.6 billion package of relief measures. That’s also the date at which many businesses are facing new business rate bills following new valuations of their properties to reflect recent market conditions. To protect against

rising inflation, for 2023-24 the business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure will increase from 50% to 75%, up to a capped £110K per business for those eligible. To give one real world example, a small camera shop with a rate-able value increasing from £20K in 2017 to £21,500 in 2023 will receive relief worth around £8K, subject to the cap. The Government suggests its increased relief for retail, hospitality and leisure is worth almost £2.1 billion in all, which it claims (outside of Covid-19 support) is the most generous in-year business rates relief in over 30 years. It says it will mean that the total increase in business rates bills will be less than 1%, compared with a possible figure of over 20% without intervention.

While some would however argue that business rates need a total reform– and

Got your own ideas about how the photo industry can counter the challenges arising from the cost of living crisis,

since we’re all likely to be taxed more anyway, not all of the possible benefit will be felt – targeting support towards small businesses can be viewed as a step in the right direction and it’s hoped that if it works, it could provide part of the key to a national recovery. Against the backdrop of recession, it’s also of course been designed to provide some certainty for businesses, in terms of short and mid term planning.

Small businesses that lose eligibility for either Small Business or Rural Rate Relief due to new property valuations are also being given some protection, via a Supporting Small Business scheme said to be worth £500 million. It’s

claimed those eligible for this scheme will not see an increase greater than £150 per year, or £12.50 per month.

Businesses favouring a multi channel approach to selling – online, as well as bricks and mortar – will also breathe a sigh of relief that the idea of an online sales tax (or ‘OST’) has been scrapped, for now at least. The theory behind the online sales tax was to rebalance business rate bills paid by bricks and mortar retailers, when compared with online-only rivals. However, there were gripes that it would lead to higher prices for consumers amidst the existing cost of living crisis and could create unfair outcomes across different business models.

As it is, the Autumn Statement did slightly address the ‘bricks versus clicks’

Taxing times: Autumn Statement deconstructed

Business rates for those operating on the high street have been a contentious issue for a long while now. One positive to take home from the Autumn Statement is support for those paying business rates in England, with many rates significantly reduced from April 2023”

imbalance by reforming transitional relief – the support for ratepayers facing large increases in their business rates as a result of revaluation. Businesses lucky enough to see a declining business rates bill as a result of revaluation will now benefit from the decrease straight away, with the government claiming this helps to address the tax burden imbalance between online retailers and retail on the high street. While total business rates paid by the retail sector are expected to fall by 20%, in contrast they will rise by up to 27% for large distribution warehouses, to reflect the growth in the online sales sector. So, in theory, there’ll be higher bills for the warehouses of online marketplaces, while high street stores who are seeing a fall in their bills will receive a full reduction, due to the fact the government is doing away with a downwards cap on how much a rates bill can reduce due to revaluation.

Those retailers looking to make improvements to the property they occupy may be frustrated to learn however that the Autumn Statement revealed the intended improvement relief – which aimed to make sure ratepayers don’t see an increase in their rates for 12 months as the result of making improvements that qualify – is being delayed until 2024, running thereafter until 2028. Originally due to kick in from April 2023, this could mean that business put on hold plans to make intended improvements as, at least for now, there is no incentive or benefit from the point of view of business rates to do so.

To drill into more detail on the above, visit: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/autumn-statement2022-business-rates-factsheet

BEST LAID PLANS

For anyone running a business, another one of the chief take homes from the Autumn Statement was that, instead of the current flat rate of 19%, corporation tax is due to increase to 25% from April 2023 for companies with taxable profits above £250K. However the rate for companies with profits below £50K stays at 19%. Those companies with profits between £50K and £250K will pay tax at the main rate, reduced by marginal relief, providing a gradual increase in the effective corporation tax rate. Experts predict that the above is likely to have more effect on trading businesses than anything else in the Autumn Statement.

However, for those company directors who pay themselves via dividends, the dividend allowance has been reduced from £2K to £1K from April 2023, and will drop by a further £500 from April 2024. On top of this, the National Living Wage aimed at those aged 23 and over increases from £9.50 to £10.42 per hour. The latter could potentially affect profitability for businesses for whom profit margins are already tight, while the reduction in dividend allowance could mean that those with a limited company find extracting profit is more costly – and again could affect a small business’ plans for the future. Some things however are staying the same. For example, employers’ National Insurance contribution threshold has been frozen, while the VAT registration threshold will stay at £85K until March 2026.

In the midst of the current energy crisis, small business owners face slightly more mixed news via the fact that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, providing support for non domestic customers, is to be reviewed and beyond March 2023 may be significantly lower, as well as being more targeted (in theory towards those most affected). Again, this raises a degree of uncertainty for those businesses looking to plan ahead.

A further interesting tidbit from the Autumn Statement is that the annual investment allowance (or ‘AIA’) limit of £1M announced in the Mini Budget –which allows all businesses to write off their first £1M of capital expenditure against their tax bill – is to be made permanent. Designed to incentivise businesses to invest in qualifying plants and machinery upfront, it had been due to revert to its original £200K level from 2023. AIA can prove particularly useful for small businesses as it covers all eligible capital expenditure in a year for nearly all of them.

While there are inevitably always winners and losers in every fiscal ‘event’ such as this – and not every change or policy retention as detailed above will be an attractive one, or go far enough for some – ultimately as we look ahead to 2023 a stable and consistent tax system at least allows businesses and individuals to plan ahead with a degree of certainty; certainty being something that’s been in short supply these past few challenging years. As ever though, the devil is in the detail, and the long-term picture remains somewhat unknown.

or care to share what’s working for you (without giving away trade secrets)? Then do get in touch direct via info@bpinews.co.uk

LEICA ENLISTS GHOST & SEAL FOR Q2 SALES

The premium brand continues its series of limited edition camera collaborations with the Leica Q2 ‘Ghost’ by Hodinkee, which follows on from the Leica M10-P ‘Ghost’ of 2019. The company tells us the newest release pays tribute to an iconic diving watch known as ‘Ghost Bezel’, thanks to its rare grey bezel, with Hodinkee itself described as a leading platform for watches. It’s claimed the new camera’s cowhide grey leather cover has been given a special coating to protect the Leica Q2 ‘Ghost’ (below) against the environment. With an SRP of £5,180, sales were due to start on December 8th via Leica Stores and authorised dealers.

This latest limited iteration of the Q2 follows on from the recently announced hook up with singer Seal – whose other passion is photography – for the Q2 ‘Dawn’ edition (right). Each of these 500 cameras features a unique Japanese woven fabric inspired by the ‘dance’ between light and shadow as well as the golden glow of a sunrise. The camera also arrives with an Italian made scarf in collaboration with the Rag & Bone brand plus a rope strap adorned with hand written lyrics from Seal’s ‘Kiss From A Rose’. As with the Leica Q2 ‘Ghost’, the technical features of this special edition are identical to the regular production model, specifically a 47.3-megapixel full frame sensor married to a fast Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens.

Once again your customers were being asked to dig deep to snag a covetable unit, which are priced at £5,550 each via Leica stores and online. We’ve put both on our Christmas wish lists. www.leica-camera.com

Four ‘X’s in a row from Sigma

Sigma has announced its fourth lens to offer compatibility with the Fujifilm X mount in the 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary, which was already available for L-Mount and Sony E-Mount cameras. At a weight of just 290g, Sigma claims it’s the smallest and lightest constant f/2.8 aperture crop sensor standard zoom on the market for mirrorless cameras. The Fuji compatible lens went on sale at the beginning of December for £429.99 SRP. In terms of how to pitch it to photographer customers, its manufacturer suggests it’s an ideal upgrade for a standard kit lens, balancing well with APS-C sensor incorporating mirrorless camera bodies and offering the full frame equivalent zoom range of 27-75mm. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

SONY TOUGHENS STANCE ON MEMORY

The electronics leviathan has bolstered its SF-G series ‘Tough’ memory card line up with the addition of a new 256GB capacity UHS-II V90 SD card.

The latest card claims to offer up to 299 MB/sec write speeds and up to 300MB/sec read speeds, enabling, the manufacturer says, it to keep up with the latest Sony Alpha cameras and the demands of today’s photographers, filmmakers and content creators. SRP for the new 256GB capacity Tough card is £470, and it’s available now. www.sony.co.uk

Lomo turns 30 with 3 new cameras

Hard to believe, but fun analogue photography brand Lomography is 30 years old – and to mark the occasion is releasing a trio of cameras in the Lomo LC-A+, the Lomo LC-Wide (both 35mm) plus the Lomo LC-A 120, at £299, £399 and £449 retail, respectively. Available in quantities described as ‘very limited’, the cameras boast a unique handcrafted leather design with a colourful metal emblem logo. There is also an assortment of Lomography pins, stickers and magnets being released to celebrate three decades in the business. For everything Lomography, check out distributor sjfphoto.co.uk

BPI News is your mouthpiece to reach peers in the photo trade, so use it. Send ad bookings & press releases to info@bpinews.co.uk

© Ben Staley

Part of the glue that binds together our industry, British Photographic Industry News has been with you through the thick and thin of the past 40 years, covering seismic shifts for the trade; including the transferal from film to digital and the changing face of retail, as the high street presence has expanded to involve a more multi-platform sales push. With a lot of misinformation out there, a curated approach to the developments of the day and exclusive input from industry leaders is what continues to ensure the relevance of a trade-focused magazine. As we seek to guide you through choppy waters, you in turn can lend your support from just £30 per year. Simply click through to www.paypal.me/bpinews to send your £30 subscription direct, or get in touch via gavin@bpinews.co.uk or info@bpinews.co.uk if you’d prefer to pay via bank transfer.

NOW WITH ADDED LOVE & SUPPORT

including

Noritsu Green Machines just got even better!

Owners of Noritsu Green Dry Labs are already aware of their unparalleled quality, user friendliness and efficiencies, including speed and productivity. What you may not be aware of is that Tetenal are now official partners with Noritsu for the supply of Hardware, Consumables and Technical Support in the UK.

With Tetenal you have access to Noritsu Wet and Dry Labs as well as a wide range of media to suit all your printing requirements with competitively priced original Noritsu inks.

In addition to equipment and consumables, our team of in-house and external technicians and engineers are able to offer a complete support service including installation, training, repair and maintenance.

If ever you need help or support quickly, our dedicated Service Team will do everything they can to ensure your equipment is up and running as quickly as possible.

Come and see the Noritsu Green IV for yourself

It’s not just our passion and expertise in the photographic and print industry, but our offer of a full-service solution, from selecting the right products, to distribution, to installation and technical advice and support that makes us a truly unique partner. It’s what we like to call The Tetenal Difference.

Part of the Tetenal Difference is our dedicated showroom where you can see the Noritsu Green IV in action for yourself. The build and print quality of Noritsu Labs deserves to be seen at first hand.

If you’d like more information about Noritsu Dry Labs and consumables or the full range of products and services we can offer, simply drop us an email to marketing@tetenal.uk.com or call us on 0116 2893644 and we’ll take it from there.

We’re ready and waiting to hear from you!