Pixel Magazine - 19th June 2012

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Social Networking for Retailers - Sorted!

A new blog is to provide everything a photo retailer needs for successful social networking.

“The best thing you can do is not talk about yourself on Facebook. Sharing interesting information instead may help retailers build their connections,” said Glynn Lavender of Creative Photo Workshops. “Most stores would love to do more social networking, but don’t necessarily know where to find material, so the idea is that I will collate all the cool stuff on photography I find on the net and put it in one place for stores to access.”

Glynn aims to collect hundreds of links on the page for stores to be able to quickly choose something and put on their own pages daily. “I’d love to make the site a two-way street, where people who find something cool send it to me to post on the blog.” photoretail.blog.com

Nikon Summer Cashback Announced As part of a new promotion now running, consumers purchasing any Nikon 1 J1 or V1 camera or lens combination are entitled to claim £50 cashback. The promotion runs from 31st May - 31st August 2012 (inclusive) and is aimed at encouraging families with young children to invest in the camera in time for the summer holidays. All claims must be received by the 30th September 2012 in order to qualify. www.nikon.co.uk/cashback

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for sale: jacobs Freitag, 11. Mai 2012 18:06:15

Administrators seeking a buyer for the UK’s largest independent photographic retailer.

We are sorry to report that Jacobs has called in the administrators and closed seven shops so far, making 46 redundancies.

“It’s desperately sad to see a family-run business such as Cecil Jacobs encounter problems,” said PFK in a statement. “The company’s rich heritage and loyal customer base has not been enough to see it through the on-going economic slowdown.

These measures are painful for everyone involved but are essential if we are to have a reasonable prospect of finding a buyer for the business as a going concern.”

Family-run Jacobs was established in 1939 and employs about 154 staff across its 19 stores. It is currently the largest independent retailer in the UK. Cecil Jacobs founded the business as a chemist shop in Leicester in 1939, and started selling cameras in the late 1940s. As the second generation of Jacobs joined the company, the store

moved firmly in the direction of photography and by the late 1980s, Jacobs had opened a superstore and expanded outside of Leicester.

The stores in Birmingham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Sheffield, Derby, Hull, Kingston-Upon-Thames have been closed, leaving 12 for sale. As Pixel went to press, PFK said they were “in a position to begin negotiations” with parties that have expessed interest. www.jacobsdigital.co.uk Photo by Pig Sty Avenue on Flickr

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Panasonic to Invest £400 m in Olympus?

Huge cash boost would secure Olympus’ financial position and buy Panasonic a majority share in the business.

Reuters has reported that Panasonic will arrange to become a top shareholder in Olympus, by providing up to 50 billion yen ($635 million) that the scandal-hit company needs to strengthen its operation. Shareholders’ equity in Olympus fell under 5 percent of its assets in March, against a recommended minimum for a financially stable company of at least 20 percent. The news has already had a positive impact on Olypmus’ share prices.

Reuters cited the Kyodo news agency for the report, which came after Olympus’ HQ denied the rumours recently. There has been no comment by Olympus since the most recent reports.

Kyodo suggests that Panasonic aims to secure a new source of revenue by investing in forming an alliance with Olympus in its mainline operation of medical devices. Due to a quiet period for television sales, Panasonic posted a record net loss in last financial year and it is suspected that the company is interested in expanding its healthcare business, as it offers more stable revenues. This is an area of traditional strength for Olympus.

Kyodo also reported that Panasonic may cut up to half of its Osaka headquarters’ employees within a year in order to reduce costs. www.panasonic.com www.olympus.com

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The Insider

Saying what you are thinking and asking the difficult questions. Each issue ‘The Insider’ reports back from the frontline of our industry.

I sat down to write this column with a firm idea of what to write about. Based on recent personal experience I was going to address the issues of the photo industry’s need to get people to print their photographs and the resultant need for picture frames. Then with a trill sound, a retailing bombshell landed in my inbox: Jacobs had gone into administration.

Whilst the rest of the country were celebrating or suffering royal-inspired death under a deluge of Coronation chicken and bunting, one of the major retailers in our industry was preparing the papers that no business wants to prepare. The administrators are looking for a buyer and I hope that they are successful, however, anyone who knows the true state of our retailing industry will not be holding his or her breath.

I am forced to ask myself some fundamental questions about the how, why and what next?

Jacobs had 19 stores, they did well when everybody did thanks to the growth of the digital market and their staff were regularly praised for their informed level of service. But how did they respond to the dramatically changing environment of the high street?

Well, here is my personal opinion. I have been into a number of Jacobs stores and I have to say that on not one occasion was it a pleasant retail experience. The shops felt stuck in a time warp. They were scruffy, tired and uninviting. I tried to buy a camera from their stand at Focus on Imaging and did not because they refused to

take one out of a box to show me before buying and they had none on show. Their graphic identity and website feels dated and confused...

I could go on but there is no point.

Every time I sit down to write this column I do so with the hope that some of the points I make are picked up by the reader and considered.

Perhaps even acted upon. I have regularly addressed the issues that I have outlined with reference to Jacobs with the hope that we will not see more store closures. Sadly, it seems that I may well be wasting my time. The high street and online are competitive markets, where we are competing with retailers from all areas. If we are not competing we are going to loose.

The Jacobs site offers free delivery for orders over £200, buy something on Amazon and free delivery is offered across the board. You may argue that you can’t compete but if you don’t you may have to start preparing those papers.

A Turning Point for the Trade Life Media Group’s MD, Lee Mansfield, comments on Jacobs’ Administration “Whilst the closure of some Jacobs stores may give a bleak picture of our trade on the UK high street, it is important for us all to remember the opportunities open to us.

“Indeed, whilst we’re all extremely sad about the Jacobs’ closures - and the Jacobs family are good friends of mine - these closures could well create some opportunities in the local areas, as those who are keen to shop independent look for somewhere new. Whilst we may cynically believe that this is a very small number of people these days, it’s still a significant customer base and one which has remained loyal to Jacobs for years. This speaks of the determination of that

minority of consumers to buy from experienced, knowledgeable specialist retailers, and this is something we are confident will strengthen and increase with the release of ever more exciting premium products which need to be demonstrated and educated on for full effect.

Hopefully a buyer will recognise the remaining Jacobs business as the fantastic opportunity it is and snap up the going concern, saving the remaining jobs and stores.

“As a trade, we must not allow this latest adminitration to crush our spirits, but instead look at areas that will allow us to diversify, grow and remain profitable.”

FOCUS

News Panasonic Promotion to Target New Families Following new findings about consumer camcorder buying habits, Panasonic has announced a new cashback deal on their HD camcorder range.

With the impending summer holidays just around the corner and to highlight their new campaign ‘some memories are too precious to lose’, Panasonic has announced a cashback promotion, offering either a £50 cashback or £60 Mamas & Papas voucher on purchases of selected HD camcorders between 1st June 2012 – 31st August 2012. www.panasonic.co.uk/homemovies

Tiffen Moves to Pinewood Studios Tiffen International is moving to one of the most iconic British film studios: Pinewood.

Tiffen International is responsible for the sales and marketing of all Tiffen products outside of the Americas. The company has recently opened offices in Sydney, Australia and Hong Kong.

“The company has had exceptional growth in all product and geographical areas. We have outgrown our current office in Bicester,” said Terry Carey, Managing Director. “Where better to move than to the home of such blockbusters such as the James Bond films and many other famous movies and television shows? It makes complete sense for Tiffen International to be based at Pinewood Studios as many of our customers use these facilities”.

Tiffen International will be operating from Pinewood from 11 June. The London Filter Company, will move from their current offices in South London into the new Tiffen International offices later in the year. www.tiffeninternational.com

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Something for Everyone It’s all systems go at Pentax HQ! Pixel stopped Pentax General Manager Jonathan Martin for a quick discussion of the brand’s bid to cater for all areas of the consumer photography market. and make Pentax an appealing option for photographers at all different levels, expanding our appeal.

Jonathan Martin

What’s new at Pentax?

As your readers have no doubt seen by now, we have just launched a brand new DSLR, the K-30, as well as a new compact, the LS465. The K-30 is a new mid-level DSLR model which is perfect for new SLR users as it has a compact, weather-resistant, dustproof and lightweight body for worry-free photography.

The LS465 is a great looking, stylish compact camera that packs lots of features and functions into its pocket-size body. We are really excited about these two new launches and are expecting them to perform really well in the market.

What is the inspiration behind the latest releases?

Primarily, our current aim is all about continuing to expand our product range and making our products as desirable and interesting as possible, to existing and potential new customers.

With these new models, we are adding more variety and different options, plus advanced features that really push the brand forward

What trends in the industry are influencing the development of Pentax cameras at the moment?

We are always looking for new and exciting ways to capitalise on new trends and develop new ways of engaging with the consumer.

As you can see from the designs of the new

“We are always looking for new and exciting ways to capitalise on trends and to engage with the consumer.” releases, at the moment that means developing new technology which will fit in with today’s active lifestyle and stand up to every day carrying and use.

We want to encourage consumers to take as many pictures as they desire, and to grow their photography hobby, and to do that you need products that consumers are comfortable carrying round with them every day, both in terms of robustness and style.

How has the new relationship with Ricoh affected Pentax’ imaging launches?

We are still in the early stages of the relationship, as the takeover happened on 1st October 2011. It’s been business as usual so far and the future is really positive - we, and Ricoh, expect great things. It’s great that, with Ricoh’s support, we’ve still been able to do things in the traditional Pentax way.

We’re also enjoying plenty of support from retailers and we are looking forward to photokina, which will be the major launch platform for the partnership in the second half of the year.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities in the imaging trade right now?

Interchangeable lenses are such a big deal in the industry at the moment, they’re something consumers really want to experiment with and get behind.

By driving sales of DSLRs and compact system cameras, manufacturers and retailers are able to increase the opportunities to sell lenses and accessories, which not only extend the creative photographic experience for the consumer and so encourage their future investment in photography, but also often offer more sustainable margins for the retailer.

How can retailers make the most of this with Pentax?

The retailer is in a great position to enhance the photographic experience of the consumer with value added sales of lenses and accessories.

Most importantly, they can also provide the photographic expertise and advice not normally available from the mass merchandisers, so this is an area in which high street retailers can really push their advantage and make the most of the products on offer.

Have you got any upcoming promotions you can tell us about?

We currently have a fantastic promotion running with our K-5 camera.

Anyone looking to invest in a top-of-therange DSLR can purchase the high performance Pentax K-5 and receive £50 cashback, on the body only and £80 cashback on the K-5 with any Pentax lens. The cashback campaign is currently running and will run until 15 July 2012.

Retailers can refer their customers to www. pentax.co.uk/k5cashback to download all the information they need to claim their cashback and find a list of Pentax stockists. www.pentax.co.uk

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The Business

Word Up Word Up is Pixel’s eye on people on the move in the imaging trade.

Panasonic Corp. may cut up to 4,000 of the 7,000 employees at its headquarters, within the current financial year, through internal transfers and early retirement, according to Kyodo. The drastic workforce downsizing at Panasonic’s Osaka headquarters will be discussed in July. Of the 7,000 employees at the headquarters, 4,000 belong to the administrative sector, 2,000 to research and development and 1,000 to production and engineering.

Sony Europe has announced the appointment of Masaru Tamagawa as the new President of the Company, effective July 1, 2012. The current President, Fujio Nishida, will step up to become Chairman of Sony Europe to oversee the company’s transformation programme. Mr Tamagawa has been Managing Director of Sony India since 2007 where he has overseen a growth business, increasing revenues. He previously led Sony Gulf, based in Dubai.

He is also a key advocate of ‘One Sony’ and convergence - leveraging the mutual and unique strengths of the company’s entertainment and electronics businesses.

Accessorising in Challeging Times

GfK on ow imaging accessories are weathering the storm of Q1 2012.

The latest April data does not fill us with optimism. Total digital cameras declined by -15% in value with fixed lens category down by -20% and DSLR down by -15% on last year. The only segments enjoying growth in value terms this month were bridge cameras – up by the moderate 5% on April 2011 and compact system cameras – maintaining the top performing position with 31% year-on-year uplift.

The accessories market responded erratically to the volatile conditions in the hardware sector.

With the start of the New Year, interchangeable lenses sales have begun a volume decline in line with the troubled DSLR market. However, in value terms, interchangeable lenses have maintained a healthy growth– 8% on average in the year-to-date period.

Image device bags sales have mirrored the performance of the total digital cameras market with a year-on-year decline of -13% in value and -19% in units in April. Tripods however, seemed to have had a more independent behaviour.

While volume results are not too different from the hardware downturn, value sales maintained marginally positive with 3% growth on last year in January to April 2012 period. The more

optimistic value performance comes as no surprise if we look at the average price for a tripod in Great Britain – in March and April 2012 it reached its highest ever price of £37 and £38 respectively.

While market conditions remain challenging, we may hope for better Q2 results with the first few weeks of May looking, if not positive, relatively better in comparison with April. With the upcoming Diamond Jubilee and 2012 Olympics, market conditions should flourish with increasing consumer demand.

Zhelya Dancheva, Senior Account Manager, Photo, zhelya.dancheva@gfk.com www.gfkrt.com/uk

The magazine that provides retail solutions for the print professional, distributed free with Pixel magazine.

Her MaJesty Joins Snappy Snaps Day Out Royal Cardboard Cut-Out travels with “photo advisors” on picture taking trip round the capital’s landmarks.

To kick start National Photography Month (NPM), Photo & Digital Specialists, Snappy Snaps, set their in-house team of photo advisors a challenge. On Friday 1st June their team of photo advisors had one day to hit the streets of London in an event celebrating 30 of the most photographed sights of London, with a photo tip recorded at each location and broadcast through social media.

Throughout June, the UK is holding its first ever National Photography Month. This nationwide initiative will be a celebration of the importance of photography in our daily lives and all that photography can do.

Since it was founded in 1983, Snappy Snaps has become one of the leading UK retail franchises. With more than 120 stores nationwide, Snappy Snaps are at the forefront of the photography market and one of the UK’s long-established franchise businesses.

The team of photo advisors started their challenge with their first photo tip broadcast live through social media from Trafalgar Square, London’s number one most photographed

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tourist attraction and the second most photographed place on earth after the Empire state building in New York (as poled by Flickr).

The challenge highlights NPM, which has been born out of new findings that show that whilst consumers are taking more pictures than ever before, the throwaway nature of digital photography means they are printing fewer pictures and are in danger of losing images. The days of the family album are in danger of being numbered, which in turn leaves pictures to be forgotten in the oversaturated territory of cyber space and the public’s hard drives.

As the Photo & Digital Specialists, the leading UK retail franchise Snappy Snaps started with their Snap Attack event, with NPM continuing throughout June with the campaign based around the theme ‘Capture and Keep’.

Snappy Snaps’ Marketing Director, Ann Simpson comments: “With so many fantastic photo opportunities in June and throughout this year, we felt, what better way to celebrate what’s great about London 2012, than to set our team of photo advisors the challenge to visit 30 of the

most photographed sights of the city in one-day, recording a photographic log of photo tips”!

Members of the public are invited to take part and track the challenge photo tips throughout June by joining the Snappy Snaps team for live updates on www.facebook.com/snappysnaps and Twitter @SnappySnapsUK.

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News Digital Distribution Celebrates Wine Winners All 168 of the UK’s independent retailers stocking the full range of Samsung media cards through Digital Distribution had the chance to enter a competition for the best use of point of sale material.

16 cases (192 bottles) of fine wine went to the weekly winners, who were: Celtic Cameras; Hyde Cameras; Lesling Ltd; Snappy Snaps Croydon; Photcraft; Sutherlands Photo; Lords Photodigital; The Photoshop; The Camera Centre (Lerwick); Staffs Camera Centre: Clifton Cameras; Rapid Snaps; Refresh Ecommerce; Wessex Photographic; A&B Photography and Pixel-Ate. Congratulations! www.ddltd.co.uk Cliff with his wine at the Photoshop Cottingham

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The Summer of Hope

Sales getting closer to year-on-year averages as high street sales grow and business sentiments improve.

Retail sales volumes rose strongly in May compared to a year ago, and sentiment regarding the business situation for the next quarter has improved. But sales were still reported to be below average for the time of year.

The CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey, conducted over the first two weeks of May, shows that 43% of retailers reported an increase in their volume of sales compared to a year ago, and 23% said they had seen a fall.

Sentiment regarding the business situation for the next three months has also turned positive (+3%) for the first time since November 2011 (+11). However, retailers reported that sales were below average for the time of the year (-19%). Despite the increase in sales volumes, stock levels rose unexpectedly relative to expected demand (+23%, compared with an expectation of +3%), with the survey balance now similar to that in March.

The number of people employed in the retail sector increased on a year ago (+12%), for the first time since February 2003. In June retailers expect to continue recruiting more staff compared to a year ago (+7%).

Year-on-year price inflation in shops

remained robust (+54%), but still below the peak seen at the beginning of 2011(+73%). Retailers expect this to remain at a similar level next month. Looking ahead, retailers expect sales volumes to grow again on a year ago in June and the business situation to be stable over the next three months, following expectations of a modest deterioration in recent quarters.

Judith McKenna, ASDA Chief Operating Officer, said: “It’s encouraging to see high-street sales up compared to a year ago, and that business sentiment about the next three months has improved. However, sales are still below the average for the time of year and the combination of high unemployment, slow wage growth and weak consumer confidence means that the retail sector is likely to remain under pressure in the short term.”

In the wholesale sector, the volume of sales grew solidly (+36%) and the volume of orders placed upon suppliers also increased.

Initial results for May show that UK retail sales values were up 1.3% on a like-for-like basis from May 2011, when they were down 2.1% on a year ago. On a total basis, sales were up 3.4%, against a 0.3% decline in May 2011, which continues a positive trend for 2012. www.cbi.org.uk

THE BUSINESS

The Jessops Equation

Photo chain reports positive results for 2011 and is “cautiously optimistic” for 2012.

Despite product supply challenges, Jessops grew sales by 3% to £236.8m with like-for-like sales growth of 1.3% against a camera market backdrop of 7% decline.

Sales growth was accompanied by margin improvement and cost control resulting in an increase in EBITDA from £4m to £5.7m in 2011.

Jessops has continued to drive market leading shares in the DLSR, CSC, Lens and Accessories categories and saw significant growth in the DSC category too. Jessops experienced 13 months of consecutive market share growth in the Total Digital Still Cameras Sector.

During the year a further 20 “black” store refurbishments were completed and 6 new stores were opened. The refurbished and relocated stores delivered an uplift of over 20% on pre-refurbishment sales. Customer dwell time

and visit frequency has also improved.

Jessops’ online business grew by 79% in the year following growth of 100% in 2010. Online now accounts for 32% of total business with 70% of online customers choosing to collect their products in store.

Jessops continues to be more accessible to a broader customer base with initiatives such as order online and collect at store, in-store large format printers enabling wall art to be produced within an hour, photobook design services, iPhone and iPad apps, instant gifts and passport photo services. The Photo Legacy service will land in June, enabling customers to scan, store and reprint old negatives.

Trevor Moore, Jessops CEO commented: “We will work to optimise our store portfolio and invest in a further 25 store refurbishments.The online platform will be evolved to include a new mobile and integrated photo platform. Jessops will continue to work closely in partnership with its suppliers to present new technology and innovation to the market with the aim of being the best channel to market for our suppliers and the first choice destination for all our customers imaging needs. We remain cautiously optimistic in the outlook for 2012.” www.jessops.com

News Olympus Whilsteblower Accepts Settlement Former Olympus CEO Michael Woodford is thought to have accepted an outof-court settlement from the company.

Woodford was fired from Olympus last October, and claimed that his dismissal was unfair and down to the fact that he had begun to uncover a scandal at Olympus HQ. The inquest that followed uncovered a £1.1 billion accounting coverup, dating back to the 1990s. Woodford was placed under police protection whilst the investigation was carried out.

Amateur Photographer reported that a spokesperson for the East London Tribunal confirmed that a settlement has been reached between both parties and that hearings had been concluded, but no figure was revealed. Reuters believed the arrangement to be a ‘multi-million-pound deal’ and the Financial Times reported that Woodford was prepared to accept £10m. www.olympus.com

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THE NEW WORLD OF IMAGING

Camcorders on Top

The Rumour

Camcorders remain the favourite choice for capturing special occasions.

Amidst the increasing popularity of smart phones and digital still cameras for recording video, the HD camcorder market is still growing year on year by 27%. The key driver for purchasing a camcorder being the importance of capturing special moments, according to recent research by rdsi, on behalf of Panasonic.

47% of participants cited holidays as a key reason to purchase a camcorder Another top reason for buying a camcorder is the arrival of a new baby – with 23% purchasing for this reason.

Long recording times in particular are a key benefit of camcorders, as digital still cameras only allow a maximum recording time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds – not great for example when considering the average marriage ceremony is over half an hour long.

A camcorder is designed for one purpose: recording high quality video, so every aspect has been optimised to ensure the very best picture and sound quality. High zoom lenses, face detection, wide angles and directional mics make capuring what you want easy. According

The Rumour is a round up of gossip and hints currently circulating the internet. The views here are not necessarily those of Pixel Magazine and have not been communicated through official channels, they are simply things we have heard from those who may know!

Rumour has it that... Olympus will be focusing on mirrorless cameras and high end compacts, in addition to its medical business, as part of its company restructure. Sources also suggest that the troubled company may be about to make up to 2,700 redundancies in the next two years, reducing its core workforce by around seven percent over all. Olympus is soon to publish a five year vision which will aim the company at an 11 percent operating profit by 2017 and see the brand on much more stable footing.

Via The Wall Street Journal

Sound on the Move

Rumour has it that... the next generation of iPhone will feature significantly improved cameras on both the front and the rear. Sources say the rear camera will still be 8 Megapixels, but will be slimmer and feature an increased aperture. The rear camera will also feature a wider aperture and a slimmer voice coil motor and CMOS image sensor.

The front-facing camera should receive a boost from the phone’s 16:9 display and a re-worked assembly preocess should offer slimmer production.

Via Mac Rumours

New product releases validate cross-over category

Rumour has it that... Samsung’s photokina line up will include new NX and compact cameras plus a new cameraphone concept from the Galaxy line. Previously rumoured lenses have apparently been cancelled and substitutes are being developed for release between photokina and early next year,18/11/11 depending 16:44:24 Fuji Quarter Page Advert.pdf on the model.

Via Photo Rumours

Common ground between the new key areas of mobile sound and extreme sports has come in the form of new wireless bike-mountable speakers from Soundmatters.

The foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit works with any bicycle to mount the foxL HiFi speaker, letting the rider enjoy wireless music and handsfree speakerphone capabilities while biking, thereby avoiding the dangerous isolation of earbuds, which can hinder helmet effectiveness and rider awareness of surroundings.

Using earbuds whilst riding is also illegal in parts of the USA, Australia and Canada, so this is a market sure to take off quickly. soundmatters.com

to the rdsi research, people perceive camcorders to have differentiating functional benefits over other multi function devices – including better picture quality, better zoom and longer recording capabilities. Picture quality is by far the most important feature identified in the research findings, with 82% of the participants stressing its importance for those special moments.

As well as the key usage stats, the research heavily highlighted that participants missed out on important moments in their life having not owned a camcorder and that they regretted not having bought a one earlier. www.panasonic.co.uk/homemovies

Mosaic to Capture iPhone Generation Barrel Man Apps aims to encapsulate the iPhone photo generation in one image Revolution Mosaic will combine a total of 360,000 iPhone photos from around the world to create one single mosaic image to symbolize the mobile generation.

“In future generations, many iconic photos will be captured on mobile phones,” says Ian Tuason, Founder of Barrel Man Apps. “We have this powerful tool in our pockets and it only takes a tap to take a photo and share to the world.

Let’s make that first iconic image a collection of all our perspectives joined together.”

Once 360,000 photos are uploaded to the Revolution Mosaic, Barrel Man Apps plans to create a platform of multiple mosaics. http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/revolutionmosaic/

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Your Essential Guide to the Latest Launches

Name: Lowepro Flipside Sport AW Series RRP: TBC Release Date: Immediate Both the Flipside Sport 15L AW and the Flipside Sport 10L AW incorporate body-side access and removable camera compartment, and all weather protection as well as being lightweight for ease of carrying, with the Flipside Sport 15L AW carrying up to a Pro DSLR with grip and attached 300 mm f/2.8 lens, whilst the smaller 10L AW will accommodate a DSLR with attached 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

The unique, body-side access design provides an easy way to get to gear without having to remove the pack. To create even more flexibility for outdoor photographers the Flipside Sport AW Series has also been created with a removable camera compartment including the classic Lowepro adjustable and padded divider system – but with an added dimension – the entire compartment being able to be removed, securely strapped with a storm-flap closure and put in a safe place whilst the pack is converted to a fully functional daypack. www.lowepro.com Name: Billingham V Bridge Insert RRP: £12 Release Date: Immediate The V Bridge helps users easily store their camera with lens attached inside their Billingham bag. It spans the width (front to back) of a camera bag base to cradle the underside of a lens. This makes storage and organisation easier and also allows the user to get their hands onto their equipment quickly. There are two sizes available, depending on the camera bag they are to fit inside.

The 12 fits the f/stop range and also some other smaller bags with a base width of 120mm.

The 15 fits the 107, 207, 307, 225, 335, 445, 555 and 550 bags, along with older bags. www.billingham.com

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Name: Verbatim Store’n’ Go Micro RRP: TBC Release Date: Immediate These rugged portable solutions feature a modern design for go anywhere storage that is tough enough to withstand rough handling.

Compatible with both Mac and PC’s, these sleek and ultra-portable USB 2.0 drives comes in several storage capacities, ranging from 4GB to 32GB. Built to withstand everyday elements including water, dust and dirt, the new Store ‘n’ Go flash drives come in 7 trendy colors including: Black, Sunkissed Yellow, Hot Pink, Eucalyptus Green, Caribbean Blue, Violet and Volcanic Orange. www.verbatim.com

THE LAUNCHPAD LAUNCH PAD

Name: Canon EOS 650 D RRP: £699.99 (Body Only) Release Date: 15th June The EOS 650D is the first-ever EOS to feature a dual AF system, which ensures detail in stills and continuous autofocus tracking when shooting movies. The 18 megapixel Hybrid CMOS sensor, enables the capture of full resolution images up to 5 frames per second. A Vari-angle capacitive touch-screen makes camera operation quick and easy, providing instant access to settings and scene modes.

Ideal for shooting in low light without flash, the camera features a native 100-12,800 ISO range, allowing the capture of shots with minimal noise, while an expanded ISO 25,600 range also offers the ability to shoot in more extreme low-light conditions. The EOS 650D is the first entry-level EOS to be powered by Canon DIGIC 5 processing, offering greater speed, responsiveness and advanced colour rendition. DIGIC 5’s 14-bit image processing provides beautiful and subtle transitions between colour tones, such as those of an evening sky, and its vastly-increased power also makes the camera ideal for capturing fast-moving action such as football or other sports.

Additionally, a new Hybrid AF System offers continuous autofocusing during movie recording, and when shooting in Live View AF in Live View and Movies - subject to use with Canon stepping motor (STM) lenses mode. www.canon.co.uk Name: Sony SLT A37 RRP: TBC Release Date: Immediate

Name: Benro Classic Series Kits RRP: £119.94 to £185.94 Release Date: Immediate

With a potent combination of speedy shooting, non-stop phase detection autofocus and continuous live image preview, even when you’re shooting Full HD video, the A37 has plenty to offer. The precision 3-cross 15-point AF system, with tracking autofocus, keeps faces and fast-moving subjects in sharp focus. Translucent Mirror Technology also lets the A37 grab split-second action with a burst of sharplyfocused images.

The A37 has been designed to help inexperienced photographers craft top-quality portraits without effort. Auto Portrait Framing mode identifies the subject’s position, trimming the scene to create beautifully composed, high-resolution portraits using the compositional ‘rule of thirds’. Adjustments to exposure and other creative picture settings can be previewed in real time, either via the TruFinder or the tilt-angle LCD screen.

The 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor inside the A37 captures finely-detailed, low noise stills and Full HD video. It’s teamed with the latest BIONZ image processor that extends sensitivity to a generous ISO 100-16000 range, broadening options for atmospheric low-light shooting without flash.

Shared with all ASLT cameras, SteadyShot INSIDE cuts the effects of camera shake by up to 4.0 stops for clearer handheld images with any A-mount lens. www.sony.co.uk

Made of aluminium with alloy castings, the new Classic Series has been designed for the outdoor photographer. The new models have adjustable leg stops that can be independently locked into place for shooting on uneven surfaces.

The reversible centre column gives the photographer flexibility when shooting, It also features a hook so the photographer can hang weights at the tripod’s centre of gravity, increasing stability. The Classic Series are supplied with a Benro N Series Ball Head designed forsmooth movement and stable camera positioning. www.benro.com

Name: Minox DTC 600 RRP: TBC Release Date: Immediate

Name: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 RRP: TBC Release Date: End of July 2012

There is a growing demand for game cameras from domestic users for use as covert monitoring equipment. Minox has now responded to this development with the DTC 600 model in an unobtrusive grey finish, which takes recordings of all activities discretely and inconspicuously, and thanks to its black filter in front of the IR flash it is completely invisible to people.

With a useful resolution of 8 megapixels the Minox DTC 600 provides an outstanding imaging quality with pin-sharp details, high contrast and natural color rendition. The wavelength range of the flash is completely invisible to peopledue to a black filter positioned in front of the infrared flash. www.minox.com

The Cyber-shot RX100 holds the world’s first 1.0-type Exmor CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, partnered with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with 3.6x optical zoom range. In common with its specification of high-performance DSLR optics, the lens features a sevenbladed circular aperture.

Experienced photographers will appreciate the unique Control Ring that surrounds the lens body.

Allowing smooth, fingertip adjustment of exposure, zoom, ‘Picture Effect’ and other functions, it makes versatile DSLR-style creative control easily accessible. The RX100’s customisable functionality also allows the user to assign functions to the Fn button, making the RX100 an intuitive piece of kit.

Just like a DSLR camera, there’s a choice of auto and manual focus modes for even greater control.

There’s also a generous choice of artistic options to expand shooting possibilities for enthusiasts and novice photographers alike. www.sony.co.uk

www.pixellive.co.uk 13

INSIDE TRACK

The Passport Story So Far It’s been onbserved on the Pixel forum that the PMA campaign to save the ID photo market seems to have gone quiet latelty. Pixel asked PMA’s Nigel McNaught for an update.

“It should be recognised that this i battle is being fought on several fronts. We need to encompass the general public, the DVLA and the subsequent users of ID photos such as the Identity and Passport service, and we also need to fight the political battle.

“So what’s been happening? Freedom Today Magazine featured a favourable article in the Spring/Summer edition. This is the main Conservative Party membership magazine and is influential in how the MPs think and what their constituents are saying to them. This is an achievement as many people said that the issue was too minor and insignificant to warrant inclusion in the magazine.

“BPI Magazine carried an extensive interview with Olivier Gimpel in which he outlined some of the strategies of the campaign. Which? magazine is also currently investigating the system. We are also in regular contact with the national newspapers, in addition to the coverage we have had in Pixel and InPrint.

“Meetings have taken place with officials at the DVLA and with the Under Secretary of State, Mike Penning. Appointments have also been made with Norman Lamb, the Minister

responsible for the Post Office; with John Redwood MP; with the business editor of the Mail on Sunday and with the National Federation of sub Postmasters as they need to understand that our solution allows for them to benefit from the government plans. We might get to the point where they could support us!

“The petition is now over 16,000 strong and I would like to thank you all for your efforts in this respect. Retailers are urged to continue to collect names as our target is 50,000 and to send the forms to me at PMA, Wisteria House, 28 Fulling Mill Lane, Welwyn, AL6 9NS. “The petition will be handed over at 10 Downing street in a few weeks time. We will let you know when. This endorsement of our campaign by the general public is of vital importance when it comes to ensuring interest at the highest possible political level.

“Many retailers participated with letters to their local MPs which was very successful in bringing it to their notice. We are now taking this to the next level and a new wave of letters is being prepared and will be finalised after we have received an answer to the recent letter we sent to Francis Maude of the Cabinet office.

Photo Month Backed by New Stats UK initiative launched with new findings that show the importance of photos.

It seems the UK’s first National Photography Month initiative has not come a moment too soon, as new findings reveal UK residents love taking photographs but are in danger of losing their precious images.

Research comissioned by the PMA and PIC to mark the event revealed that 83% of consumers use photos to connect with past memories, but 37% of us have lost important images that are special to us. This figure is worse for younger photographers; almost 70% of the age group

Credits & Contacts

16 - 24 have lost treasured pictures due to their reliance on modern digital technology.

Our nation now takes more photographs than ever through mobile phones and affordable digital cameras but 64% of us do not print out and keep hard copies of our photographs The family album is in decline, as the survey revealed 77% of people now don’t make albums because they think it would be too time consuming, complicated or are ashamed of the quality of their pictures To mark the beginning of the campaign Tony Hadley appeared on 16 different BBC local Radio shows across the UK to talk about his love of photography and why he is supporting National Photography Month’s campaign to ‘Capture and Keep’ your favourite photographs. www.nationalphotographymonth.co.uk

Editor: Laura Knight 01323 437946 laura@lifemediagoup.co.uk

Editorial Assistant Harriet Weston 01323 411601 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Subscriptions Amelia Wellings: 01323 433708 amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editorial Director: Grant Scott 01323 437941 grant@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 411601 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production Design: Laura Knight 01323437964 laura@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Marketing Director: Simon Skinner 01323 433700 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Accounts: Clare Fermor Amelia Wellings 01323 433708 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

14 www.pixellive.co.uk

“We held a review meeting at the end of May at the House of Commons when it was agreed that Sir Paul Beresford is going to push his MP colleagues and approach Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Transport, again.

“As you can see there is a lot happening We all know how important this market is to the photo industry and in order to keep you better informed we have added a regular news section to the website. We have met with a digital media agency and are preparing for a more active social media campaign.

“We know that many photo retailers will be threatened if this market disappears and this is one of the thrusts of the political aspect of our campaign. You can all help by getting the petition filled in and by sending the new letters to MPs when they become available.” www.pmai.org www.savethephotographers.co.uk

Best Buy Chairman and Founder resigns Richard Schulze, founder and largest shareholder of Best Buy has resigned.

He issued this statement: “I continue to believe in Best Buy and its future and care deeply about its customers, employees and shareholders. There is an urgent need for Best Buy to reinvigorate growth by reconnecting with today’s customers and building pathways to the next generation of consumers. Accordingly, I have shared my views with the Board and today informed them of my decision to resign.”

Schulze, 71, served as Best Buy’s CEO, Chairman and a director for 36 years until 2002.

He has continued as Chairman and a director since 2002 and controls approximately 20.1 percent of Best Buy shares. www.bestbuy.com

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