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IN THIS ISSUE…
NIKON LATEST
EISA AWARD WINNERS
PRINT SOLUTIONS
BUSINESS ADVICE
With its Z 5 camera recently launched, we find out how this entry-level full frame mirrorless can win the brand & its retail partners fresh custom
Direct your customers to who won what in the annual showcase for the best photographic innovations, to help you make that crucial sale
Lords Photography tells us how its relationship with Fujifilm Photo Print Services is helping it weather the pandemic & how your business could too
Finding local solutions to trading in a global pandemic, while keeping business and staff ‘Covid secure’. An impossible task? Not for BPI News’ expert
#WhyILoveOlympus One translation of ZUIKO is ‘Golden Light’ Michael Chan: OM-D E-M1 Mark III. M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 45mm F1.2 PRO. F2 at 1-500sec, ISO200.
Editorial | Sept / October 2020
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hile most of us may be wishing that 2020 would hurry up and be done with, chances are the world will not magically re-set on January 1st, 2021. Indeed, with the threat of a no deal Brexit hanging over us, at the time of writing, things may potentially get more, ahem, ‘challenging’, before they get better. So, while living in hope of a better future, it seems like good sense to make the best of now. Making the best of it, as children have returned to school, and workers returned from furlough this September, has been my over-riding thought and motivation when putting this issue together. We’re publishing at a time that would, at one point earlier in the summer, have seen the re-scheduled Photography Show taking place at the NEC. With Covid-19 continuing to make large gatherings inadvisable, however, this month’s event is now a virtual one – and kudos to its organisers for bothering at all when, like many others, they could conceivably have pushed everything back by a whole year. As we say, it’s about making
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the best of unusual circumstances. Continued social distancing has inevitably meant more Microsoft Teams and Zoom app enabled calls this past month, as new products – reported on over the page – were shown to us on screen, rather than in hand and in person. I don’t know about you, but I seem to have about half-a-dozen meeting apps installed now across various phone, tablet and desktop devices – and, typically, no two meetings in a row decide to utilise the same ones. The quickly exhausted phrase ‘the new normal’ has now mutated into the new abnormal – or, as Fuji quip over the page, ‘business as unusual’, which raised a smile at BPI Towers. Something, along with the positivity I hope BPI News always seeks to impart and encourage, I feel we all need right now. While we’re all living in the moment, do get in touch and let us know how your business is doing – as we discover from Lords Photography and Grays of Westminster – to take just two examples, this issue – and impart any nuggets of advice that could be useful to your peers. Here’s one from us: marketing may be one of the first things to slide in any crisis or recession, but it’s vitally important to keep up awareness. If customers don’t know you exist, or what you’re offering, how can they buy from you? Makes sense to us, more than ever right now.
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‘BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL,’ SAYS RE-EMERGENT FUJI Like many of us, after a brief pandemic-related pause Fujifilm UK has ploughed on with business. Trade at its re-opened House of Photography in Central London has been, it tells us, “buoyant”. That said, Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades acknowledges: “I wouldn’t say it’s been business as usual, more like business as unusual.” The brand has also reacted to more people working from home by, Andreas notes, “trying to shoehorn some webcam facility into our range.” People are also literally the focus of its new monster of a portrait lens – the XF 50mm f/10R WR (above)– on sale from September 24th. Weighing 845g and with a filter size of 77mm, SRP is £1499. “We’ve 70 years experience in optics, so we’re not some flash in the pan brand,” Andreas notes. “We still aim to be number one for the APS-C system and have got 34 native lenses for ours – the most out there. For us it’s all about the colours, product design and the quality of our lenses.” It’s worth noting therefore that the new optic is, Fuji claims “the first f/1.0 auto focus lens for mirrorless cameras,” delivering soft and beautiful bokeh for portraits. Its
manual focus ring is said to have improved operability, while its weather and dust resistant build – comprised of 12 elements in 9 groups – should ensure it keeps working down to -10°C. While, as one would expect, the new lens is primarily aimed at portrait and wedding photographers, “the lens’ breathing is minimal at 0.095%, so it’s good for video work too. And if you compare the price with other manufacturers it’s actually less. This is not just a statement lens to sit on a shelf; we expect people to buy it and to use it.” A shoe-in for Fuji? As well as the new monster portrait lens, retailers should direct both X and GFX series customers to its equally new EF-60 shoe mount flash and EF-W1 wireless commander (right). Compact bodied, the former (at £389 SRP) is described as its maker’s first radio controlled wireless shoe mount flash, promising ‘an impressive power output and multiple functions’. It has a Guide Number of 60, the flash head is adjustable by 90° upwards
or 180° left or right, plus, if the built-in diffuser is used, the flash range of 24mm to 200mm (equivalent in the 35mm film format) can be extended down to 16mm. Powered by four AA batteries, it comes with a mini stand and a carry pouch. The equally new EF-W1 (£199 SRP) uses radio communication to control flash units – including, naturally, the EF-60 – with the ability to precisely adjust the output of multiple flashes in 1/3EV increments and with a minimum output of 1/256. Both devices are compatible with the GFX100, 50S and 50R, as well as the X-H1, X-Pro2, X-Pro3, X-T1, X-T2, X-T3, X-T4, X-T20, X-T30, X-E3, X100F and X100V. www.fujiflm.co.uk
Wilkinson axes stores Citing “an immensely challenging time for all retailers,” Wilkinson Cameras has permanently closed its Lancaster and Bury stores, with the loss of six jobs, some of which were part time. Nearest alternative stores for the former are Kendal and Preston, while, for Bury customers, Burnley and Preston will now be most convenient. MD David Parkinson (pictured) said the decision had been taken “regrettably,” adding: “We’ve seen a significant drop in footfall in these smaller towns over the past few years as customers migrate to larger cities and retail parks. That, combined with the more recent challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, has meant it is no longer viable to have a retail presence in Lancaster and Bury. “Fortunately, many of their customers are
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now shopping with us online, or visiting larger stores where they can still access the expert knowledge of our staff and enjoy excellent face-to-face-customer service. We remain fully committed to the future of our retail presence and understand the need for customers to see, touch and feel products before purchasing.” A case in point: its Chester store, acquired late last year, is currently undergoing a full refurbishment. www.wilkinson.co.uk
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PHOTO TRADE SHOWS SWITCH FORMATS, DATES A product of the on-going situation with Covid-19, the first-ever virtual Photography Show takes place this September 20th and 21st, as previously reported. Organiser Future was at the time of writing promising 120+ online demos and talks, with the opportunity for those booking a free ticket (whereupon you’re sent an online link) to also access expert exhibitors (of which there are said to be 100+) plus those all important ‘show deals’ on kit. Online panels will include the selfexplanatory if grammatically tortuous ‘Women Who Photo & Film’, while Emmy and Bafta winning documentary photographer and filmmaker Doug Allan will be providing what’s described
as a ‘compelling’ interview. Visitors can also access ‘Editing 101’ sessions, aimed at both the novice and seasoned pro, or learn how to fly a drone via the ‘Out & About’ stage. Go to www.photographyshow.com With The Photography Show having shifted from its usual March calendar window to September – and the next ‘physical’ show due to take place in September 2021 – the annual The Societies Convention and Tradeshow has seized the initiative and likewise shifted dates, this time from its usual January slot to now take place in March 2021. Back in its usual venue of the Novotel in Hammersmith, the new dates for this are Wednesday 17th through Saturday 20th March, with the Trade Show element running from Thursday through Saturday inclusive. With 100+ exhibitors promised, interested parties can pre-register before February next year for free entry to the Trade Show (usually £10). Head to https://thesocieties.net/convention/ For anyone still keeping up, Photokina, which has always traditionally been Europe’s biggest trade photo show, is still due to take place from May 18th to 21st, 2022 – almost four years since the last event in September 2018. For latest developments, see www.photokina.com
Swains promises ‘instant’ sales on new Polaroids The distributor is offering the trade the latest Polaroid branded product line up for this autumn, including its ‘Now’ range of cameras, which are available with a variety of different colour ‘accents’ for £119.99 SRP. Available separately is a Hi-Print pocket printer, a dye sub device that retails for £89.99 SRP and comes with its own app that allows printing from Android and iOS gadgets. Compatible Hi-Print 2x3-inch media is priced at £14.99 SRP for 20 sheets and delivers credit card sized hard copies. The perfect Christmas gift perhaps? Contact Swains direct or your local rep for more. www.swains.co.uk
PENTAX’S SILVER MACHINE As the digital camera market contracts, is niche and limited edition the way to go? Perhaps. Pentax may have been relatively quiet since its announcement of three lenses and a proposed new DSLR flagship back in May (see June’s BPI), but the lull has been broken with the reveal of a new K-1 Mark II Silver Edition DSLR plus three limited edition silver lenses (600 units of each) to match, in the D FA series 50mm f/1.4 (£1199.99 SRP), 70-200mm f/2.8 (£2,299.99) and 85mm f/1.4 (£1,999.99) Silver Editions. Pentax says the above have been produced for ‘users who are particular about the colour and design of their photographic equipment’. The camera
(£1899.99 SRP), limited to 1,000 units worldwide with a unique serial number for each, is being sold together with a silver-coated detachable battery grip and two exclusive batteries, supplied in an exclusively designed box. With the exception of the 85mm lens, which is due in January 2021, the camera and other two lenses are available from September 25th. Also available now are a handful of new Pentax branded binoculars in the ‘stylish’ UD series.
New here are carry anywhere UD 9x21 models in a variety of eye catching colours at an affordable £69.99 SRP and weight of just 195g, plus the higher magnification two-tone coloured UD 10x21, also at £69.99 SRP. Alternatively there’s the new VD 4x20 WP that cleverly features detachable lens barrels, thereby transforming the binoculars into two monoculars, if so desired. Waterproof and with a minimum focusing distance of 50cm, SRP is £299.99. Lastly there’s Pentax’s VM 6x21 WP monocular (£149.99 SRP), available with optional accessories including a V-SA1 smartphone adaptor (£49.99) and V-MS1 macro stand (£49.99), with a built in LED light. These three items can also be bought together as a complete kit at £229.99 SRP. www.pentax.co.uk
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CANON ADDRESSES HEAT ISSUE, LAUNCHES VIRTUAL TRADE EVENT It may only have been out for a matter of weeks but Canon has already announced an EOS R5 firmware upgrade Ver 1.1.0, with further software fixes promised in the pipeline for both the R5 and its EOS -1D X Mark III. The R5 firmware addresses some early criticisms of the camera with regard to improving temperature detection and video recording time control – enabling users to potentially extend video recording times in some situations. The planned additional future fixes also focus on video, enabling various bit rates and introducing a Canon Log 3 option. In related news, at the time of writing Canon was running a #FreeYourStory competition with a Sept 21st closure date, targeting ‘Generation Z’ and millennial groups, for whom, the company says, research has shown that 60% own a digital camera, while 45% identify as ‘snapshot photographers.’ Comprised of two pictorial challenges – the ‘Mirror
David Newton and editorial and beauty photographer Tina Elsen. Interestingly, Canon also tells us it will be launching its own virtual trade show platform – ‘Canon Vision’ – online on September 24th and 25th. This will tie in, it says, with details being revealed of a new Canon cinema camera. ‘Product specialists’ and ‘industry leading professionals’ will be on hand – virtually of course. Interested parties can register at: www.canon.co.uk/pro/events/canon-vision/ See more Canon news on page 14 with it riding high in the EISA awards this past month. www.canon.co.uk
Selfie’ & ‘Forced Perspective’ – prizes included Canon gear and photography masterclasses. Online entry forms were available via www.canon.co.uk/ campaigns/free-your-story/photo-contest/ Last but not least, the manufacturer has announced its virtual speaker line up for the two-day online Photography Show this month, who will deliver talks including ’15 cool things about the EOS R5 and R6’. Names in the frame include landscape photographer David Noton, family portrait photographer Helen Bartlett, award winning wedding photographer Sanjay Jogia (see BPI News July/August for our interview with Sanjay), photographer and filmmaker
PermaJet… and protect! Not content with helping photographers print their images, PermaJet is now helping them protect their printers via its range of robust and waterproof slip-on Protective Printer Covers, designed for A3+ and A2 Canon and Epson desktop inkjets. Manufactured from tough polypropylene fabric, the covers also offer UV protection from hot sunlight and are available in medium, large and extra large sizes, with dimensions available online. Apparently the first batch of Printer Covers soon sold out, so get in touch if you don’t want to miss out and make sure your customers have added protection this autumn. www.permajet.com
BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 6 September / October 2020 | BPI News
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Get ws e N I P B to d e r e v deli or & o d r u yo ust j r o f x in-bo £3y0 r! a e r e p 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.
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PANASONIC’S S5 A GREAT DEAL FOR VIDEOGRAPHERS Sales begin on a new 4K shooting, full frame sensor L-mount camera this month. BPI News discovers the S5’s target user, in order to aid your own sales
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mbodying its ‘commitment to meeting the passionate demands of all creators,’ the electronics giant has updated its full frame mirrorless camera line up by unveiling the S5. “The reason it’s called the S5 is because it’s really a full frame GH5,” explains Panasonic’s Head of Category Marketing Barnaby Sykes, although he adds the new L-mount camera is lighter, despite shoehorning in said sensor. The launch coincides with a new slogan for the manufacturer: ‘moving images forward.’ The ‘moving images’ bit seems appropriate, as video is the S5’s chief focus. “We think the next 10 to 15 years of this industry will be based on video technology,” Barnaby adds. “The fact that we currently have seven 4K mirrorless cameras in our range will enhance our credibility even further.” Aimed at what it terms the ‘passionate creator’, the full frame L-mount S5 can record 4K resolution video at either 50 or 60fps with a small crop, or at 30fps full frame. While 10-bit video footage can be recorded to a 30-minute maximum duration – at which point anyone filming can immediately start recording again – “if you want to record 8-bit then there’s no time limitation.” Barney adds that, thanks to its heat dispersing design, the S5 will maintain continuous recording even in 40°C heat. “We don’t want a professional to take this on a paid shoot and then suffer; so that’s our commitment to the industry.” The manufacturer also divulges that the S5’s sensor is identical to that of the
Twist in the tale: Panasonic’s new S5 not only re-introduces a vari-angle LCD, but also offers up an optional battery grip (shown below) for power users
6K shooting S1H. With V-Log fully accessible from the get go, over 14 stops of dynamic range are offered by the camera, alongside HDR video and dual native ISO “which is automatic – and basically means that it will see in the dark.” Core light sensitivity runs from ISO100 to ISO51200, while time-lapse video is also provided. Panasonic claims that its S1H has sold more than the S1, despite having had a later start, “which further gives us the confidence that video is important.” This is, it says, backed up by a report via industry watchers Zinklar revealing 41% of photographers would like to do more with video, while 50% of them admit to seeing more video online these days than photography.
BEST OF ALL WORLDS Despite all the excitement over the S5’s appeal for videographers, stills photographers haven’t been forgotten by this all-in-one hybrid. Maximum resolution is a respectable 24.2 megapixels, with the ability to shoot up to 96 megapixel composite images in JPEG or Raw format. Of course auto focus – and the improvement and refinement of – is another battleground for today’s camera manufacturer, and on the S5 is promised to be “like nothing you’ve ever seen
before – reaction has been very positive.” Human and animal recognition is claimed to have been improved by 5x, while, as well as eye recognition and human body recognition, ‘head detection’ has been added for the first time. As it sounds, the camera will keep focusing on the head even if it moves about the frame. “It offers really good quick recognition and strong tracking,” promises Barnaby. In terms of build there’s a splash and dust proof body with 6.5 stops of built-in image stabilisation, while the manufacturer has brought back a free angle LCD. We also get a 2.3 million-dot resolution eye level viewfinder, a double memory card slot, battery charging via USB, microphone and headphone sockets, plus micro HDMI output. The S5 ‘ships’ from mid September at £1,799 SRP body only, or it’s £1,999 SRP with a 20-60mm lens. Accessories include a new DMW-BGS5 battery grip plus new backwards-compatible BLK22 battery. Finally, the company has also revealed a Firmware roadmap suggesting the S5 will support 5.9K video at 29.97/25 fps by the year’s end, while its S1R will offer 5K video recording. A new lens roadmap also includes a 85mm f/1.8, due to ship November for a sub$1000 price. For more, talk to your local Panasonic rep and watch this space! www.panasonic.co.uk
Panasonic’s new 24.2 MP full frame sensor, L-mount S5 offers 4K video capture up to operational temperatures of 40°C 8 September / October 2020 | BPI News
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BPI News Product Focus
A CLEAR FOCUS FOR INTRO 2020 New Cokin & Hoya filters, Samyang lenses, plus special deals from the pro-active distributor
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usily introducing new products to the trade, even during lockdown, it feels timely to get a refresher from Intro 2020 on its latest essential offerings. For those who’d also like a virtual catch up – the best we can seemingly hope for this year – it’s showcasing the full Samyang and XEEN ranges for photo and video users at The Photography Show’s online weekend this month (see also News). As an extra carrot it has exclusive special offers available via the Intro 2020 Dealer Portal for ordering online 24/7, so contact the team now if you’re not signed up for access! Get in touch via Sales Director Peter Mott on 07795 032838 or petermott@intro2020.co.uk or call Intro 2020 Sales Office on 01628 799 901 or email sales@intro2020.co.uk.
PUTTING SOME YANG IN YOUR YIN Renewing two classic and respected manual focus lenses are the Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4 MK2. On full frame cameras the 14mm boasts an ultra wide angle 115.7° view while the 85mm telephoto lens boasts a 28.3° view. Both these weather sealed lenses are available in Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony E full frame mounts, or Fuji X and Canon M APS-C and MFT fittings. Featuring a 9 aperture blade construction, a declick aperture ring plus a separate focus lock ring, SRP’s range from £359 to £439, dependent on model and fitting. Also new is the Canon EOS R compatible Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 RF, described as an auto focus, fast aperture, short telephoto portrait lens. At £599 SRP it’s capable of delivering some beautifully shallow depth of field ‘bokeh’ effects.
Likewise worth stocking is the newly updated Samyang VDSLR MK2 Cine lens range comprising the most used focal lengths: 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and 85mm T1.5. What’s new? Well,
filters in 77mm and 82mm diameters that are competitively priced between £110 to £160 SRP. Additionally it’s worth focusing on Hoya’s updated black and white filter range of Red, Yellow, Green, Orange and Yellow/Green options (see below).
weather sealing, focal lengths and distance scales visible from both sides for more professional use, plus 9-aperture blade construction to deliver smooth and circular bokeh. Described as highly versatile, the range is available in seven camera mounts – including Canon RF and Sony FE – all with full frame coverage. With SRP’s ranging from £399.99 to £639.99, a further lens in the VDSLR 14mm T3.1 MK2 is promised for early 2021.
Wide appeal: Samyang has two new ‘MK2’ manual focus lenses in the MF 14mm f/2.8 (shown) and 85mm f/1.4, fitting a broad variety of camera mounts
CALL FOR COKIN, HOLLER FOR HOYA
Avoid burn out... by directing photographers to Hoya’s competitively priced ProND Grad filters, helping maintain sky and foreground detail
Two other key Intro 2020 brands that offer great add-on sales opportunities – lens filter specialists Cokin and Hoya – are also vying for attention this autumn. Japanese brand Hoya has a new UX (‘User eXperience’) filter range (see above) aimed at the entry-level user, redesigning the old HMC range with new water repellent coating. Replacing the PRO-1D series meanwhile is the Hoya Fusion One (see below) filter line up (£20 to £100 SRP), featuring pro grade optical glass that’s flare resistant, stain resistant and water repellent with availability in sizes from 37mm to 82mm diameter. Also worth checking out are Hoya ProND Grad filters (see right) aimed at helping photographers avoid burnt out skies in landscapes or lost foreground details. These are compact, round, screw-in type
Newly expanded meanwhile is the Cokin Nuances glass filter range – designed for use with the new Cokin EVO filter holder, with the promise of exceptional colour neutrality. New here are the Nuances Infrared 720 filter, ideal for capturing dramatic landscapes, plus the Nuances Extreme ND8 filter – a solid neutral density filter which reduces light transmission by three stops, allowing the use of longer shutter speeds and wider apertures. Or alert your customers to the Nuances Extreme Full ND kit (see below) comprising the aforementioned ND8, which is here joined by the ND64 (6 stops) and ND1024 (10 stops).
To order stock of these product suggestions, or enquire about the rest of Intro2020’s extensive brand line up, get in touch via the contacts listed above. www.intro2020.co.uk
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For more on Samyang, Cokin and Hoya call the Intro 2020 Sales Office on 01628 799 901 or email sales@intro2020.co.uk @bpi_news
BPI News | September / October 2020 9
News
PRINT BACK ON THE RISE Some good news amongst the bad: photo printing in Western Europe has returned to value growth – according to industry watcher Futuresource Consulting – with photo prints, photo books and photo merchandise leading the charge. It also projects value growth will continue to rise by 10% for the period between last year and 2024 – which is in contrast to a decline seen over many years up until 2019. And apparently we have the younger ‘Millennial’ and ‘Gen Z’ age groups, as well as app-based resellers, largely to thank for the positive figures. Though the report acknowledges that Covid-19 lockdowns and retail closures in the first half of the year inevitably had a negative impact – with photo prints value down by 3% overall in 2020 – this was off-set by some customers moving online, while instant print photo kiosks remain popular. It also notes that there was some significant uplift in photo book and photo merchandise orders in March, April and May, driven by customers at home with more time on their hands (though this slowed in June and July with the easing of some lockdown restrictions). Though volumes (in contrast to value)
Turning a new leaf in lockdown: Photo books and photo merchandise have proved popular these past six months, while a younger audience wanting instant prints are also driving demand, according to Futuresource. Image: Photokina 2018
NEW SALES DIRECTOR FOR LEE FILTERS Described as an ‘industry veteran’, Tim Haskell has been appointed as Lee’s new Sales Director. He takes over from Ian Clark, who retired at the end of July. Tim’s previous roles include senior sales positions at Rotolight, XP Distribution, Bowens and Calumet. Based in Andover Hampshire, the plan is that he will travel globally to support the company’s clients. Lee Filters’ MD Paul Mason enthuses: “Tim is a respected industry professional who brings valuable experience and expertise with retail, manufacturing and distribution in relevant industry and market sectors. I am sure he will continue the hard work and progress led by Ian to build upon our industry-leading position and develop deeper relationships and partnerships around the world.” Tim can be contacted in his new role via sales@leefilters.com www.leefilters.com
may be down overall, says Futuresource, instant print photo kiosks and ‘web to home’ services in particular are still experiencing growth. Photo merchandise volume is also expected to rise by 10% in 2020, riding on the lockdown ‘spike’ (ordering personalised greeting cards from home via services including Moonpig was particularly popular), even if price competition is expected to deliver a lower overall 6% value rise.
The industry watcher believes that for several years the Millennial and, latterly, Generation Z audience have shown an interest in photo prints, having grown up in an era of digital imaging. This has partly been driven by the success of instant print cameras from Fujifilm and Polaroid which in turn lead these consumers to instant print kiosks in store, or to seek a higher image quality when ordering online. www.futuresource-consulting.com
Sony announces Cinema Line ‘Content creators’ are being targeted by the electronics manufacturer with the introduction of a new Cinema Line of products, with the promise of being able to deliver that coveted cinematographic look beloved of digital filmmakers. While a new device in the FX6 camera
(shown) should be with us by the end of this year, the manufacturer says that it is also folding existing ‘Venice’ digital movie production and FX9 products (the latter said to also have a ‘outstanding’ track record in documentary production) into its newly christened range. An FX9 Version 3 upgrade is also promised in 2021. Sony Professional Europe’s Claus Pfeifer says: “At Sony, we celebrate and have the deepest respect for filmmakers, cinematographers, and storytellers. With Cinema Line, we’re tapping into our DNA from both the film industry and digital imaging prosumer market and combining it to develop new creative tools. This line of products will enable creators to push their creative boundaries further and capture the emotion in each and every frame.” www.sony.net/cinema-line
BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 10 September / October 2020 | BPI News
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Talk of the Trade
35 YEARS OF GRAYS OF WESTMINSTER
Grays of Westminster, the multi-award-winning Nikon-only shop founded by Gray Levett, will be celebrating a significant anniversary this month: thirty-five years in business. Here the retailer’s Gillian Greenwood details its milestone moments
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he last three decades barely register as a brief moment in the chronology of time, yet, even in the blur of modern life, they delineate the rite of passage between two millennia, the old and the new. Wars have been lost and won, governments have changed, dictatorships brought to an end. The world has moved forward, reshaped by its changing priorities, defined as much by its secular inventions as by wisdom learnt. Gray Levett, together with his multitalented team, has guided Grays of Westminster throughout the years with a combination of intense focus, inspiration and artistry, to create the distinguished store it is today. His very singular idea – a concept considered almost revolutionary in 1985 – of creating a single-brand, world-class camera store, offering a service that was second to none, proved to be not only intuitive but also remarkably successful. What is a shop? A mere place to buy things or a window to the world? Grays of Westminster has always been the latter; even its own front windows host an everchanging display of breath-taking images taken by celebrated Nikon photographers. A Grays of Westminster window is not there to alert you to reductions in camera prices, or to advertise how much you may care to spend on lenses. Rather, it remains defiantly artistic, aiming to inspire and captivate, perhaps to invite
Above: Grays of Westminster’s shop front, the Coat of Arms and below, their brass plaque
Left: Gray Levett with his original black Nikon F Right: An Aladdin’s cave of second-hand equipment awaits visitors to the lower floor of 40 Churton Street
instructive live-streams have been launched, led by General Manager Becky Danese, as well as a wide diversity of webinars. While inventing a new type of retail environment for a new you to take out your camera and shoot type of client, Grays of Westminster images for the pure joy of creation and spearheaded a bespoke level of customer to share those images with others. care, building an exemplary reputation upon the provision of the finest of Nikon A NUMBER OF and unparalleled service. Its unique SIGNIFICANT FIRSTS hallmark is profound product knowledge rendered with superlative courtesy. Over the past thirty-five years Grays A timeless passion to provide the of Westminster has achieved a number highest standards lies perhaps in the of ‘firsts’ in a variety of fields: the firstconstant and unstinting endeavour to ever Nikon-only store in the world, relate to their customers with the spirit, the first camera shop to be granted a consideration and empathetic enthusiasm Coat of Arms by Her Majesty’s College often missing in the modern retail world: of Arms, the first to publish the Grays to attend to detail because it matters, of Westminster Gazette and Nikon Owner to inform and advise because they can, magazine for the Nikon enthusiast. and, finally, to offer the same grace, It has pioneered photographic willingness and good manners that workshops with Nikon UK at a country they believe is every customer’s due. manor house and held Grand Christmas Having been garlanded with industry Dinners at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall with world-renowned guest speakers awards year after year, mainly voted for by the public, they have been defined such as Joe McNally, David Yarrow, and David Attenborough producers Neil Lucas and described in multitudinous ways by the photographic community, the media and Michael Pitts. More recently, during lockdown, an array of popular and highly and many of the 59,000 clients they look after worldwide. As one commentator remarked, ‘This is a deeply civilised store with utterly flawless service.’ Perhaps it’s not surprising then that Grays of Westminster won the coveted ‘Retailer of the Year’ award in 2019 and once again in 2020, presented by British Photographic Industry News. www.graysofwestminster.co.uk
Discover Grays at 40 Churton Street, London, SW1V 2LP. Visit www.graysofwestminster.co.uk or email info@graysofwestminster.co.uk NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Read BPI News online at issuu.com/bpinewsonline
BPI News | September / October 2020 11
Nikon advertorial
Wake up to the Nikon ‘Z’ series
Showcased virtually at The Photography Show this September 20th and 21st is the Z 5, Nikon’s most accessible ‘Z’ full frame mirrorless camera to date, plus its much anticipated pro-end D6 DSLR
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ikon announced its exciting entry-level Z 5 full frame camera – pitched as an excellent opportunity for users to move into mirrorless for the first time – just as we’d sent our previous issue to print. So, while we squeezed in a brief ‘stop press’ mention,
YOUR NIKON Z 5 CRIB SHEET: 24.3 MP full frame CMOS sensor 4K video recording capability 273-point Hybrid AF system Same 3690K dot resolution EVF as found on the Z 6 and Z 7 models Fully compatible with Nikon’s FTZ Mount Adapter, allowing the use of F mount lenses without loss in quality Ultra portable size and weight, with dust and moisture resistant magnesium alloy body Deep camera grip aids usability Light sensitivity range of ISO100-51200 5-axis Vibration Reduction system built in On-board Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity Lens kit available including compact Nikkor Z 24-50mm lens – claimed as the shortest and lightest mirrorless zoom lens around, thanks to its clever retractable design
the fact that it’s being showcased online for The Photography Show’s virtual weekend at the end of the month gives ample reason to investigate further. As those in the trade will be aware, the Nikon Z 5 is an entry level full frame mirrorless camera that joins the existing Z 6, Z 7 and Z 50 models in the current line up. Featuring a 24.3 megapixel CMOS sensor offering the ability to shoot 4K video, it includes the same electronic viewfinder as the Z 6 and Z 7. What’s more, the Z 5 offers dual SD card slots to make the ‘Z’ system more accessible to first time adopters (who conceivably will have a drawer full of SD media already), while just as conveniently it can be powered or re-charged via USB. Undoubtedly one of the best people to highlight the Z system’s strengths is Nikon pro photographer and ‘Z Creator’ Nigel Danson, who’s been shooting landscapes with the Z 5 along with various kit options, including Nikon’s equally new Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens. At the time of writing this combination of camera body plus compact zoom was a suggested £1,719. “The Z 5 is everything that you expect from Nikon in an entry level full frame form,” enthuses Nigel. “When you’re out in nature shooting, the number one priority is being able to trust your camera to be able to deliver in those fleeting moments of stunning light appearing on
the landscape. I was immediately comfortable with how it felt in my hand and the quality with the 2450mm kit lens really surprised me, for such a lightweight and low cost lens. “It makes a great secondary camera alongside my Z 7 for this very reason. The addition of dual SD slots is a bonus, as anybody moving over to this model will likely already have the cards. For me the big pluses are weather sealing, in-body image stabilisation and amazing image quality in a body that is familiar to me as a Z 7 owner.” Landscape photographers like Nigel will no doubt be further encouraged by Nikon’s latest ‘Z’ lens roadmap, which includes a new wide angle 14-24mm f/2.8 scheduled for release later this year – and the fact that the Z series lens line-up is expanding all the time. As the latest roadmap indicates, lenses still to be announced include a 50mm f/1.2, 28mm and 40mm, along with a Micro 50mm and Micro
A compact camera that delivers big results: The Z 5 plus wide angle 24-50mm lens is suitable for a wide range of subjects. Landscape imagery by Nikon ‘Z Creator’ Nigel Danson
New from Nikon for autumn 2020: Z 5 full frame mirrorless plus Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 zoom, plus TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x Teleconverters.
12 September / October 2020 | BPI News
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Nikon advertorial
“The Z 5 is everything that you expect from Nikon in an entry level full frame form…” Pro landscape photographer Nigel Danson
105mm. Forthcoming zoom lenses with no firm date as yet include a 24-105mm, 100-400mm, 200-600mm and 18-140mm. See the chart on this spread for more. On top of the above, Nikon also announced firmware upgrades for its Z series mirrorless cameras over the summer; version 2.00 for the APS-C
sensor Z 50 and version 3.10 for the Z7 and Z6. The updates improve the performance of the Z mount system, with the Z 50 given animal detection AF support and improved subject tracking with still image shooting, for a more flexible operational feel. The updates to all three cameras further support Nikon’s two new Z series TC-1.4x (£549 SRP) and TC-2.0x (£599 SRP) Teleconverters. The latter expand telephoto shooting possibilities when used with compatible lenses, beginning with the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S and future interchangeable lenses for Nikon mirrorless
cameras. The 1.4x gives 40% more reach, while the 2.0x doubles photographers’ available focal length. Suited to those looking to capture nature and wildlife images in the great outdoors, both are moisture and dust sealed. Make sure to speak to your local Nikon rep at the earliest opportunity for more on all of the above. www.nikon.co.uk
Nikon at The Photography Show As well as new cameras and lenses, the manufacturer has recently expanded its prestigious and renowned Nikon ambassador family, with the addition of pro photographers Donna Crous and Andy Parkinson. Donna specialises in food photography and is described as a dedicated Nikon user, preferring to shoot with natural light where possible. A book entitled ‘A Healthier Family For Life’ is due for publication next year. Andy Parkinson is a multi award winning wildlife photographer whose images appear in the likes of National Geographic, while he also works for Getty, The Discovery Channel, The New York Times and the RSPB. His expertise and passion for the natural world sees him mentor wildlife photographers of all abilities. Both professionals will be appearing as part of a seven speaker line up on the virtual Nikon School ‘Stand’ at The Photography Show across September 20th and 21st, with the aim of educating and inspiring photographers of all abilities. The fact that the show is taking place online only this year has also allowed the manufacturer to cast its net wider and include photographers from further afield – a case in point being Nordic photographer Froydis Geithus. The
other four speakers include Jasin Boland and Carolyn Mendelsohn, along with Ricci Chera and Neil Freeman, both Nikon School trainers. The Nikon School stand is just one of three that will feature at the show, however – the other two being the main Nikon Stand which will be focusing on the must-have hardware, along with the Nikon Sport Optics Stand, which will be displaying sport optics as well as some video content. In addition to showcasing its ‘Z’ series camera family as detailed above, Nikon will be highlighting its D6 professional DSLR, released back in the spring at £6,299 SRP and originally covered in our February/March edition. Fittingly described as suited to every pursuit, ‘from hard news to international sports’, in terms of its all-important AF performance there are 105 all selectable cross type sensors, with 1.6x higher density coverage than the D5. Burst rates of up to 14fps with full AF/AE or 10.5fps with AE tracking in Silent Photography mode will also please its intended audience of demanding professionals. Of course, many visitors traditionally come to the annual event to get their hands on enticing show deals, with Nikon telling us it will be running some exclusive promotions over the two days – still to be announced as we went to press.
See Nikon’s full line up, including D6 DSLR, ‘virtually’ via The Photography Show online, the weekend of September 20th and 21st
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BPI News | September / October 2020 13
BPI News Extra
PHOTO TRADE ON A WINNING STREAK AT EISA’S
As we attempt to get back to normal, this year’s EISA Award winners have been unveiled. Are there any surprises among the usual names garlanded by the editors from specialist consumer magazines across Europe? Let’s take a look…
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s long-term BPI News readers will be aware, the annual EISA (Expert Imaging & Sound Association) Awards – which have taken place since 1982 (broadly as long as BPI News itself has been going) – are decided on by 55 specialist interest magazines across 29 countries. This year, once again, Canon was the most garlanded brand, taking home no fewer than six awards from the judges, with some very recent models in the frame. The Canon EOS 90D was named Best APS-C Camera, while Best Professional Camera went to the Canon EOS-1DX Mark III and its EOS R5 was named the year’s ‘Camera Innovation’. The manufacturer also bagged Lens of the Year for its Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM was named the year’s best Standard Zoom Lens. Sticking with optics, Canon’s sixth award was for its RF 600mm and 800mm f/11 IS STM, which jointly won best ‘Lens Innovation’ for the past year.
that it ‘quite simply represents the stateof-the-art for compact cameras today.’ Not to be outdone, photography stalwart Nikon was the recipient of the EISA judges’ award for ‘Best Buy Camera’ for its mirrorless Z 50 model, while the relatively new D780 DSLR took the award for best Full Frame Camera. Best Professional Telephoto Zoom Lens went to the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED
products, Canon has something for every photography professional, filmmaker and enthusiast to get excited by.” Fujifilm however was the one to take home ‘Camera of the Year’ for its X-T4 model, while best Compact Camera went to the same manufacturer’s X100 V. EISA experts described the X-T4 as ‘surely the best APS-C mirrorless camera yet. It combines a compact size with very high image quality, impressive speed and professional video capabilities.’ While noting that Fuji’s second winner in the X100V ‘looks similar to its predecessors’, the judging panel agreed
Of the sextet of wins, Canon Europe Senior Vice President Issei Morimoto commented: “Despite this year’s unprecedented global challenges, Canon launched a line-up of industry leading products with its own cutting-edge technology that delighted and exceeded our customer’s expectations around the world. With award-winning
SR VR. The Nikkor Z 85mm f/18 S meanwhile was heralded as the year’s best Portrait Lens. As one might expect, EISA’s specialists praised the Z 50 for its ‘competitive price and excellent quality.’ Their comments for the D780 included the fact that the camera delivered a ‘slew of upgrades’, a case in point being that its hybrid AF system was ‘vastly improved.’ The Nikkor Z 85mm was called ‘a stunning addition’ to Nikon’s mirrorless Z system, while the 120-300mm was singled out for delivering ‘exceptional resolution on full frame DSLR cameras.’
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EISA Awards 2020-2021 BIG NAMES IN THE FRAME Sony also showed up on the judges’ critical radar. Its Alpha 7R IV bagged best Advanced Full Frame Camera, while the equally new ZV-1 took the prize for Vlogging Camera of the year. The prize for Super Telephoto Zoom Lens went to the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.66.3 G OSS, while the same maker’s FE 20mm f/1.8 G bagged best Wideangle Lens. Finally a Sony mobile phone also made the grade, with its Xperia 1 II winning best Multimedia Smartphone. Of the Alpha 7R IV, the judges noted it ‘is the first full frame mirrorless camera to boast an incredible resolution of 61 million effective pixels. It’s also equipped with one of the industry’s best auto focus systems.’ Its innovative ZV-1 camera for bloggers, meanwhile, was singled out for being ‘an excellent production tool which lets vloggers easily create content.’
Fellow electronics colossus Panasonic also caught the eye of the EISA panel this time around for its Lumix DCS1H camera, which, fittingly for a company that prides itself on its hybrid products, took the prize for the year’s best Photo/Video Camera. Of this one, the judges enthused: ‘an excellent electronic viewfinder, in-body image stabilisation and a beautiful touchscreen
Lens specialist Sigma was also singled out for praise. Its 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art series lens was awarded the year’s best Wideangle Zoom Lens. ‘This large aperture, wideangle zoom
Despite this year’s unprecedented global challenges, Canon launched a line-up of industry leading products that delighted our customers around the world.” Canon Europe Senior Vice President Issei Morimoto
Comments on Sony’s 200-600mm zoom included the fact that this is ‘affordable yet lightweight for its class, delivering great sharpness even at maximum aperture,’ while the FE 20mm f/1.8 G was praised for its ability to provide ‘really sharp images in all areas of the frame.’
in a robust and versatile body.’ Third party manufacturers weren’t forgotten in this year’s EISAs, either. Tamron – distributed by Transcontinenta UK – picked up two plaudits. Its 70180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD was named best Telephoto Zoom Lens, while the same manufacturer’s 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD was named Travel Zoom Lens of the year. Interestingly, Tamron says it has won EISA Awards for the past 15 consecutive years and has been recognised with two awards each year for the past four years. Of Tamron’s 70-180mm, the judges said: ‘a classic telephoto zoom for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, it delivers excellent sharpness and contrast across the frame at all focal lengths. This lens is a bargain in its class, both for photography and video.’ Comments made for the 28-200mm meanwhile included ‘an impressive optical performance, giving clean, sharp images.’
for full frame mirrorless cameras provides excellent quality at a very competitive price. The result is a superb lens that’s perfect for a wide range of subjects including architecture, landscapes and astrophotography,’ raved the EISA judges.
Finally, when it came to camera drones, the market leading DJI was once again in the frame, with its Mavic AIR 2 bagging best Camera Drone for 2020-21. For the full line up of winners and more detail still, point your Internet browser at: https://eisa.eu/awards/photography
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BPI News | September / October 2020 15
Minilab News
DOING THE ‘LORDS’ WORK: FUJIFILM AIDS RETAIL RECOVERY Fujifilm’s recent post-lockdown ‘Shop Local’ campaign has provided just one arrow in the sling of independent retailer Lords Photography. Owner Steve Lord fills us in on how brand recognition and a loyal customer base can additionally help fellow specialists weather the current crisis
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righouse based photo specialist Lords Photography and its owner Steven Lord have graced these pages in the past under the auspice of winning Fujifilm’s coveted ‘Shop of the Year’. With such a prestigious pedigree, then, it stands to reason that we’ll want to pay attention to how an outlet heralded as best-in-class is meeting the challenges of a Coronavirus ravaged retail landscape. Last month Fujifilm told us that all retailers in its 170-strong network have been provided with Covid-19 safety advice to encourage both safe working practices for staff and shopping experiences for customers. It added that its own operations and production team have led by example and have taken every precaution themselves to ensure compliance with the ever fluctuating
Servicing the community: Fujifilm’s support with promotions plus a loyal local customer base is helping Lords Photography weather the Covid-19 ‘storm’
government guidelines. On top of this the manufacturer paused its usual fees and hosted webinars at the height of the pandemic, and, upon restrictions easing, launched a nationwide ‘Shop Local’ campaign to encourage customers to support its re-opening retailer
dealers – Steven Lord owner of Lords Photography, which is described as a digital printing store operating under the Fujifilm branding, being just one. “We were closed for three months with staff on furlough and the re-opening was a big worry,” Steven notes. Like
“We are in a small market town and I think this is a great benefit; the local community is very supportive of our town and therefore keen to ‘Shop Local’” Steven Lord, owner Lords Photography partners at a local high street level and help them ‘bounce back’ following the long period of enforced closure. Such support has been welcomed and appreciated by the re-opening retailers in Fujifilm’s network of
many in the photo trade, a big concern was that when his shop re-opened and wages started being paid, would there be enough business to cover costs? “However we had an initial rush of customers when we re-opened mid June
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Fujifilm advertorial – and then trade settled down to a steady level which was sustainable,” he adds. Lords’ owner has been utilising Fujifilm’s arsenal of tools to maintain custom – including advertising and encouraging use of its long running Imagine smartphone app, which enables customers to order prints and photo gifts from the safety of home, and then collect in store. This flexibility for orders to be placed remotely has helped his business, as Steven notes: “Social distancing can be
a problem, particularly when helping customers connect their phones to our kiosks.” Like most of us, Lords has had to get used to added safety measures in store, including – in following Fujifilm’s advice and general good practice – plastic screens and PPE, and, he notes, such measures are helping to overcome any potential issues and encourage footfall. Though of course there are still occasions when business is up and down, “encouragingly, the recent trend is definitely upwards, and we have had some very busy days.”
GETTING VOCAL ABOUT SHOPPING LOCAL Fortunately, Fujifilm’s recent ‘Shop Local’ campaign, with promotional activity shared across its 170 strong
The ‘new normal’ is definitely different from before lockdown but I think there are definitely different opportunities out there to grow the business” group, has struck a chord with both Steven Lord and his customer base; and this with the caveat of still having to operate within an on-going pandemic. “We are in a small market town and I think this is a great benefit; the local community is very supportive of our town and therefore keen to ‘Shop Local’,” he reveals. “People can walk into town and avoid bus and train journeys, which are perceived as high risk. Some members of the older generation are very wary about venturing out and shopping. These people definitely don’t want to venture far from home at the moment, so the local High Street is their preferred destination. My feeling is that smaller towns are better placed to benefit from any uplift in shopper numbers than cities or shopping centres. I hear that Leeds and Central London, for example, are still very quiet. Thankfully we are a community shop and have a loyal customer base.” Again like most of us, Lords Photography is having to rapidly adjust to societal shifts and changes in working practices – some of which may be alterations that stay with us for a long time, perhaps forever. But again, changing habits don’t need to be viewed by retailers as a disaster – more a chance to seek out potential fresh opportunities. “The ‘new normal’ is definitely different from before lockdown but I think there are definitely different opportunities out there to grow the business,” Steven agrees. “I’ve been focusing more on social media, Internet marketing and click and collect printing than ever before. Instore trade falls off very quickly in the
Touching from a distance: Fujifilm’s Imagine print ordering app is helping its independent retailers continue to profit even when they can’t engage in person
late afternoon, perhaps because a lot of people are working from home still.” Set against this however are other positives to have come out of lockdown – for example people finally having the time to sort through collections of photos and digital files… and do something about preserving such memories. “We have seen an upsurge in demand for cine to video transfers and copies of old photos and slides as a result of customers’ lockdown projects – and
so this is an area of the business we are heavily promoting,” enthuses the switched-on Steven. “We will build on this community approach and, hopefully as we get closer to Christmas, our trade will be on an upward trend.” With official figures revealing that a surge in online sales these past six months has made up for at least some of the loss of trade on the high street, those retailers like Steven adopting a multi channel approach seem best placed to ride out the current storm. An of course, with business advice and input from Fujifilm continuing for those in its retail network, there is the added benefit of not having to face that storm alone or unaided.
GET IN TOUCH To learn more about how Fujifilm Photo Print Services can help advise, inspire, improve and moreover support your business and turnover in these testing times, get in touch with Marketing Manager Gloria McCann now on via photoimaging_uk@fujifilm.com and visit www.fujifilmphotoservices.co.uk
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BPI News | September / October 2020 17
BPI News, your tool to educate and communicate. Over the past 35+ years we’ve enjoyed with you the successes and weathered the storms that have affected the photo trade. These past few issues we’ve attempted to address the biggest one of our lifetimes; a pandemic that is affecting us all, big and small, along with the economic challenges that will follow once the immediate health crisis has subsided. No one business – or magazine – can do it all however, so we want to know how we can best help you, how we can better communicate with our industry – and how our industry can best help itself. Get in touch now via gavin@bpinews.co.uk or info@bpinews.co.uk
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BPI News Product Focus
NEW BENRO ACCESSORIES MAKE FOR SMARTER SALES
MAC Group Europe launches two new Benro branded products this month in the ArcaSmart 70 camera plate & smartphone adapter, plus Snoppa Vmate gimbal camera, that you’ll want to add to stock immediately
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eading distributor MAC Group Europe is back with a bang for the back to school season with the unveiling of two new versatile Benro branded products for September, that should enable switched-on retailers to expand their customer markets. A clever case in point is the ArcaSmart 70, a streamlined product described as both a professional camera plate and a smartphone adapter in one. “Whilst there are many camera plates and phone adapters on the market, this is a one-product-fits-all solution, that can be used for both types of hardware at an affordable price,” says MAC Group Brand Manager for Benro, Mark Hoskins. What’s more, the fact that it features an Arca-Swiss style plate means that the ArcaSmart 70 is conveniently compatible with most Arca-Swiss style ball heads, three-way heads and gimbal heads. Mention to your customers that the unique design allows photographers to quickly go from taking photos or videos with their professional camera to capturing behind the scenes footage on a smartphone. “In short, the ArcaSmart 70 lets you utilise all of the features of each camera you own while still benefitting from the precision your ball head, three-way head and gimbal head offers,” adds Mark. Also featuring is a cold shoe accessory mount onto which a microphone or lighting accessory can be attached.
On top of the above pitch, the fact that the machined aluminium device – with stainless steel rods provided for securing a smartphone – retails for an affordable £40 SRP should make for an easy sale for retailers too.
Two-in-one: a professional camera plate and a smartphone adapter is the ArcaSmart 70’s attractive sales proposition
DIRECT YOUR SHOPPER TO THE BENRO SNOPPA The second new product to check out this month is the Benro Snoppa Vmate, which is described as a handheld 4K gimbal camera that has come about through a collaboration between
G’day ‘mate’: the Benro Snoppa Vmate should prove a perfect lure for anyone who is looking to create online content easily
Benro and Snoppa brands. SRP for the palm-sized device is £269. The advantage here is not only the compact, carry-anywhere portable size – while also being extremely lightweight at just 120g – but also the micro three-axis stabilisation system provided. The camera features a rotatable lens and the ability to shoot 4K resolution clips up to 60fps, or up to 8x (240fps) slow motion footage at 1080P, thanks to a built in 1/2.3-inch Sony sensor. The grip features a 1.22-inch touch screen, two different microphones, a power/record button and SD card slot and a built-in type-C port. Because the camera lens can be rotated through 90°, users can alternate between landscape and portrait ratios with a simple flick. Providing the ability for users to engage in live streaming, picture-inpicture filming and offering wireless remote control – all making it a perfect all-in-one option for the video blogger – the Benro Snoppa Vmate may be small, but it’s also big on features. The pitch is that compared to traditional gimbals Vmate is quicker and easier to set up as it doesn’t require a smartphone to be mounted and balanced – it’s ready for operation straightaway. Also included is a carrying case that not only protects the gadget – it comes with a foldable phone holder which lets a phone be attached for what’s claimed as a more comfortable grip. A range of optional accessories – including an accessory bracket – are said to be coming soon. For stock, get in touch with MAC Group NOW on 01902 255500 or via info@macgroupeu.com www.macgroupeu.com
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BPI News | September / October 2020 19
Business Advice
BPI NEWS: HELPING MAKE YOUR BUSINESS ‘COVID SECURE’
It’s a phrase we’ve heard a lot in recent months – usually referring to breaking out the hand sanitiser, maintaining physical distance, mask wearing and installing protective screens. But how about seeking to secure your livelihood against negative financial impact from the on-going pandemic too? BPI News has some advice…
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aximising efficiency while minimising spend and overheads is not just good practice in a crisis, but sound and sensible advice for any business at any point. We may be in oft-repeated ‘unprecedented times’ and facing challenging circumstances that have, to an extent, required the tearing up of the rule book – but the above
example is just one way to underline the fact that there are still tried and tested means of making headway, even when abnormal has fast become the norm. Keeping calm and positive and carrying on, while exploring every possibility, is preferable to panicking. While we entered recession over the summer, most of us can recall how we worked through the
last major global shock a decade back. Self employed at the time, I was advised to simply ‘work harder, for less’ by someone longer in the game than I. But while that’s sustainable for a while and can get us over an initial ‘hump’, maintaining that level of energy over longer periods with no resolution in sight – arguably where we are now – can prove draining.
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Best practice in a pandemic Perhaps the best advice this time around, then, is to think creatively. We’ve already witnessed businesses ‘pivoting’ and re-focusing on products people are asking for –protective masks and hand sanitising gel in the early days of the lockdown – and the delivery systems they’re demanding – courier or postal delivery direct to their door – rather than trying to push pre-existing product for which there may currently be less requirement. With bricks and mortar businesses shuttered during lockdown, those who were able to shifted their energies toward online sales – with some pundits
Office through the same period – in March, July and again on 1st September. Once again a multi channel/platform approach – something many businesses will already have set in place before the world had heard of Covid-19 – seems the best way of giving ourselves
suggesting we’ve fast-forwarded the inevitable trend towards the virtual shop by anything up to five years in just the past six months – and that people’s newly acquired buying habits are probably here to stay. But even for those doing business that way it’s not all good news; a knock-on effect being we’ve seen three sets of price changes from the Post
SAFETY FIRST, TO PROFIT LATER
shop layout (even if, like some, operating a one-way arrow-led system through the store) may be offering product demonstrations or collections of online orders by appointment only, or within certain times frames – perhaps over lunch or at the end of the day when most
It’s true that running a business recently has felt more like an exercise in crisis management. But by taking a step back, surveying what it is you do well and how close that matches what your customers actually want, you’ll be in the best position to make the most of it…” a fighting chance in the present predicament. For those with physical stores on the high street, encouraging local footfall is still key – and here ever-accessible software apps, allowing for orders to be made online and collected in store with minimal and safe staff/customer contact, can help. The above can be implemented while still keeping in touch with a loyal and hopefully engaged local audience – this can be done via work hard on your promotions and mail-outs to remind existing customers that you are still here and still able to fulfill a broad range of services for them. Though ‘Zoom’ and ‘Teams’ meeting fatigue may have quickly set in after the initial excitement of trying something new, with more people on social media more often, you’ve a captive audience to market to. Plus, with just as many folks desperate to get out and attempt to lead a closeto-normal existence again, our high streets – especially those outside of major cities and areas in local lockdown – are starting to look busier again. Even if steady, predictable trade remains elusive. Capitalising on that local audience is therefore essential. Lots of local retailers will already have built up a buffer of sorts against a harsh trading climate by engaging with their local communities, camera clubs and schools and colleges, as these pages have advised in the past. And perhaps all your audience needs is a nudge and a reminder that they should continue to shop locally and support local business in preference to the multinationals, with the argument that once their local facilities are gone, they’re unlikely to return, even in better times.
Of course when customers arrive at your store you’ll still have all the current Covid-19 safety precautions to implement and deal with. Smaller outfits unable to do much in the way of social distancing within the confines of their
workers, if they are back in the office, may conceivably be able to call round. Being able to ‘showroom’ product, steer customers towards the item that best meets their particular need and on occasion up-sell product are all still advantages even smaller bricks and mortar stores have over their big name, online-only rivals. So this should still be leveraged to your advantage if safety precautions allow – even if that means breaking out the anti bacterial wipes to clean surfaces and devices after customers have left, or cleaning key areas of the store at certain regular intervals. Obviously customers randomly picking up cameras without supervision and putting them up to their face is presently a no-no, while kiosk touch screens should also be wiped clean. Many will have also used the lockdown period over the summer to spruce up their stores and push whatever was working well – or could conceivably do so in the current climate – to the forefront. Photo crafting tables outside are going to be less than practical as the weather cools and the nights draw in – but there will still be that lucrative Christmas market to capture. And that’s when the multi channel ‘best of all worlds’ approach, with the option to shop with you online as well as in store, is really going to help, as we’re unable to predict what pandemic peaks and troughs the coming autumn weeks will bring. It’s true that all of the above means running a business recently has felt more like an exercise in crisis management. But by taking a step back, surveying what it is you do well and how close that matches what your customers actually want, you’ll already be in the best possible position to make the most of things if and when the promised ‘bounce back’ arrives. Yes, there are plenty of challenges around at the moment and the road ahead appears full of potholes, but by looking hard enough and deploying some creative and lateral thinking, fresh opportunities may also exist.
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ICONIC IMAGERY JUST GOT SMARTER SmartFrame, a technology which allows photographers to protect, track, control, present and monetise their content online, has partnered with Iconic Images, which represents a number of the world’s most prestigious photographers, to launch a new online licensing platform, Iconic Licensing. The move makes over two million shots from Iconic Images’ vast archives – including photographs created by the likes of Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson and Ted Williams – available for licensing.
SmartFrame’s technology allows licensees to zoom progressively into images so that details can be finely scrutinized, together with the option of full screen views at the tap of a button for optimal image display. On top of this, SmartFrame also provides download and screenshot protection technologies to enforce the licensing system on offer and prevent unauthorised image use. Iconiclicensing.net Smartframe.io
‘Staggering’ number of photos stored on smartphones A new survey by Cartridge People suggests that one in five Brits has ‘at least’ 7,500 photos stored on their smartphone. Unsurprisingly, lockdown has also affected behaviour in this regard, with the same report discovering that one in five of us also sent more photos during lockdown than usual, with a higher percentage of women sharing photos than men. Added to this it found that those in the 18-24 age bracket sent a higher number of pictures to pals in lockdown than any other age group – and that less than 35% of over 45’s use Snapchat for image sharing. Interestingly there is also a psychological angle to all this. Commenting on the survey, marketing agency Etica Leaders’ Abdul Shakur says: “Taking a selfie and making yourself feel great has the same emotional effect as shopping. Seeing
our images is a reminder that we are amazing. So we can’t let go of them because they make us feel a certain way.” Incidentally, Cartridge World suggests that 7,500 smartphone photos equates to 67.5GB of storage space, or 50 wedding albums with 60 pages each. See more at the URL below. www.cartridgepeople.com/info/ blog/smartphone-photo-statistics
WORLD’S FIRST INSTANT BACK FOR 4X5 CAMERAS Now here’s an interesting ‘development’. Budget/fun brand Lomography has a new product with large format professionals in mind in the LomoGraflok 4x5 Instant Back. Described as an individual light-tightened instant film ejection unit for 4x5 cameras and using Fujifilm Instax Wide film, the 500g device is estimated to arrive next April and retail at £129 (though those pre-ordering now are able to bag one slightly cheaper at £116). As the name suggests it’s claimed to be compatible with all Graflok-equipped 4x5 cameras, which, it notes, is most 4x5 cameras on the market. https://shop.lomography.com/en/lomo-graflok-instant-back
No faff, set yourself ‘3’ with Vanguard With product availability promised from this October, a new Vanguard VEO 3+ tripod has been announced. Said to be inspired by the ‘experience’ of its original Alta Pro and Alta Pro 2+ tripods, the new option features: a multi angle centre column that moves through 360°; a tripod leg that can be converted to a monopod and extended over 1.8 metres; three easy-to-set leg angles; a 15Kg maximum load capacity; a choice of Arca compatible heads, plus either rubber or spiked feet. Despite the extensive features its maker says it’s been designed for intuitive use ‘so you’re not faffing in the field, trying to set it up.’ SRP for the VEO 3+ is £229.99. www.vanguardworld.co.uk
BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 22 September / October 2020 | BPI News
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