ISSUE NO. 982
December 2017
SONY: THE a7R III IS UPON US ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: LEICA’S NEW CL CAMERA | THE BILLINGHAM 72 REVIEW | THE ROTOLIGHT ANOVA PRO II WEX PHOTO VIDEO‘S NEW STORE | LOMOGRAPHY’S CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE | & MORE www.pixel.co.uk 1 www.pixel.co.uk
A D V A N C E D
L E D
L I G H T I N G
SEAL OF
BKSTS
APPROVAL
CINEC
AWARD WINNER
AWARD WINNER
AWARD WINNER
Technical and Scientific Achievement Award
Guild of Television Cameramen
Lighting Engineering
WE ARE HIRING! If you are an experienced, driven & ambitious sales manager looking for an exciting opportunity in a fast growing, award winning photographic / video lighting company - we want to hear from you. Available Positions:
UK SALES MANAGER INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER COMPETITIVE SALARY Send your CV & Cover Letter to: recruitment@rotolight.com
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WWW.ROTOLIGHT.COM
NEWS
WELCOME To Pixel Magazine We’ve included two reviews in this issue. We believe true product insight is valuable to everyone in our trade. We had the pleasure of attending the launches of two new products, the Leica CL camera and Rotolight’s Anova PRO 2. Is Reg Roach the oldest December, we are here... Just photographic retailer still behind as many industries start slowing the counter? Read all this and down for the festive period, ours more in our December issue. is in full swing with news and We look forward to seeing what releases as frequent as ever. our incredible industry has is This month’s cover feature store for us in 2018! belongs to the new Sony a7R III. We share our favourite features Luke & Mandy Woodford, and initial thoughts. Co Editor in Chief
Hoya ULTRA-PRO & NX-10 Filters Two new filter ranges have been added to the Hoya product line up, both are exclusive to the UK. ULTRA-PRO is the new top of the range consumer filter that is both scratch and stain resistant, plus water and oil repellent. With 16 layers of anti-reflective coating on both the UV and Circular Polarisers, these filters have a very impressive light transmission of 99.5% for the UV and 90% for the CPL.
Industry News Bites Find out more info on this month’s news bites at Pixel.co.uk
Panasonic Lumix Announces the G9 Camera Panasonic have introduced their new flagship Compact System Camera, the LUMIX G9. It’s branded as The Ultimate Outdoor & Wildlife Camera. The camera has the highest picture quality in the history of LUMIX cameras. It also includes advanced Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) and Dual I.S, outstanding tracking performance and high-speed, high-precision AF.
A High Resolution mode is also added that provides stunning 80-megapixel equivalent images in JPEG /RAW formats. T h e Ve n u s Engine renders h i g h p re c i s i o n yet natural images with its Multipixel Luminance Generation and Intelligent Detail Processing. www.panasonic.com
Billingham Appoints Joe Hancox as Director Joe Hancox has been appointed to Billingham’s board of directors to support international business growth.
transmission of 98%, plus they are water and oil repellent. The CPL is uncoated. www.hoyafilter.com
The second new Hoya range is called NX-10 and is aimed at the beginner and serious amateur photographer. The UV filter features 10 layers of coating with a light
Ha nc ox c omme nt e d, “ I have followed Billingham’s tremendous success story for many years, and it has been a privilege to work with the team as an external financial advisor. I greatly admire the dedication and ambition of the Billingham family in driving forward its business strategy, and I look forward to contributing to this next exciting stage in the firm’s growth as it builds its presence in global markets.”
Hancox joins the company as it embarks upon a new period of international growth and expansion and is responsible for financial management.
The Original is back! Polaroid Originals is bringing back analogue instant photography straight from its iconic roots – reinvented for today For more information
www.swains.co.uk
www.pixel.co.uk 1 sales@swains.co.uk
01485 536200
NEWS
Travel Beyond
Fast and secure setup with the M-Lock technology Smooth, instant framing with the new 494 ball head Top performance in just 40cm travel size Forget the way you used to travel before, no rules, guidelines or styles to follow. Change your perspectives and broaden your horizons with the only travel companion that can truly enhance your experiences. Photo by Philip Thurston
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manfrotto.co.uk
Lights, Camera, Action to Paris LCA Lights, Camera, Action is opening an office and warehouse in Paris, France. LCA Lights, Camera, Action France will offer a one-stop-shop for lighting, grip, power, distribution, cables, consumables and much more. The facility will be open for rental houses, TV and film studios, independent lighting directors and cinematographers looking to purchase a wide range of products from major manufacturers including LiteGear, Rosco, Manfrotto, Briese, Chroma-Q, Cineo, LitePanels, Bebob, Quasar Science, RatPac – to name a few. Located in the heart of the motion picture and broadcast area in the north of Paris, LCA Lights, Camera, Action France will be headed by Yann Blitte and Gregory Merlet. Yann Blitte has 20 years of experience in the film and broadcast industry, recently working as Technical and Operating Director of Panalux. Blitte began his career working for a rental company, quickly progressing to Warehouse Manager. He then moved to a new rental company based in Saint Denis, Paris, where he helped to build the company. For the last seven years Blitte has been at Panalux.
Gregory Merlet started in lighting 15 years ago as a gaffer working on TV programmes, clips and live shows. From here Merlet worked on implementing lighting in many different areas including stage, events, film sets With the combined experience of Blitte and Merlet, LCA Lights, Camera, Action France will offer all customers’ exceptional technical knowledge and support. More on this story when the opening happens.
www.lcauk.co.uk
Manfrotto Introduces the Twistgrip System Manfrotto innovate once again with their new TwistGrip System. This is a solution that enables smartphone photographers and videographers to perfectly convey their on-themoment creative storytelling. We can’t help but see this also as a great tool for the enthusiastic and evolving blogger who approaches their work with a certain level of dedication. The new TwistGrip System consists of a HandGrip and BaseGrip. Constructed in Italy to a high standard, the elements in the new TwistGrip System work together to unleash the full image-making potential of any smartphone. Key Points: The ergonomic HandGrip easily connects to the TwistGrip via the quick wheel attachment. It ensures a steady,
comfortable grip as you shoot perfectly stable smartphone videos. It features a ¼” connection for attaching to a bigger support when required. The HandGrip and BaseGrip Kit enables the attachment of multiple accessories and can work as a convenient filming rig for smartphones. The BaseGrip accessory bar multiplies the possibility to add photographic and video accessories to your smartphone. You will also have maximum versatility and modularity for your smartphone shots. Manfrotto’s TwistGrip System easily secures your smartphone so it stays safe, regardless of the shooting perspectives you choose. The new TwistGrip System retails at £34.95. www.manfrotto.co.uk
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COVER FEATURE
SONY: The a7R III is Upon Us This month, Sony gave us the a7R III, the latest addition to their mirrorless lineup. The features make it a worthy upgrade from the a7R II but it still fits in perfectly with the a9 and a7S II. “Welcome to a new world of imaging with resolution, sensitivity, dynamic range, processing speed, and shooting response further enhanced. The α7R III packs prostyle operability into a strong, compact body to give you greater flexibility to take brilliant shots in any situation. With such high power, precision, and potential at your command, you can capture oncein-a-lifetime experiences. - Sony” We‘ve picked out some of our favourite features from Sony’s new beast:
Eye AF for A-mount lenses mounted via an adaptor. A quantum leap in AF performance An evolved image processing system and α9 camera. AF algorithms optimized for the α7R III improve AF speed, precision, and tracking performance. 399 phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points provide high-density widearea coverage. Up to approximately
Shoot for more professional lengths
Back-illuminated 42.4 MP fullframe sensor The 35 mm fullframe Exmor R CMOS image sensor features 42.4-megapixel resolution, back illumination and gapless on-chip lens design for extraordinary sensitivity and dynamic range, anti-reflection (AR) coating on sensor seal glass, and other innovations that unleash the sensor’s power to make images look realistic. Eye AF with doubled15 tracking performance Eye AF’s enhanced precision, plus two times greater AF speed and AF tracking performance further assist you to easily shoot a portrait of a moving subject using AF-C even during continuous shooting, and even if the subject looks down and away from the camera, or is backlit with face in partial darkness. The α7R III’s E-mount body supports
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about 1.8 times faster. Enhanced image processing realizes lower noise and further extended dynamic range across a wide sensitivity range of up to ISO 32000 (standard ISO, expandable to ISO 50-102400 for stills). Moreover, upgraded Detail Reproduction and Area-specific Noise Reduction achieves noise reduction — equivalent of approx. one stop — in mid-range ISO settings. Also, reproduction of skin color has been dramatically improved, which is advantageous for portrait shooting. The α7R III also supports 14-bit RAW output even during silent shooting/continuous shooting.
two times faster AF speed and two times more precise AF tracking performance let you capture and maintain focus on nimble wildlife in unpredictable motion. The α7R III also autofocuses reliably down to EV-3 brightness. Further enhanced image processing engine The latest front-end LSI makes data readout from the image sensor approximately two times faster and the BIONZ X image processor is now
For extended periods of confident shooting, the NP-FZ100 battery has approximately 2.2 times the capacity of a NP-FW50 battery, and an optional VG-C3EM Vertical Grip can hold two batteries. USB Type-C™ and Multi/Micro USB ports allow external mobile batteries to power the camera for extended recording. Even more conveniently, accessories such as a remote control unit can be used via Multi/Micro USB port while power is supplied via USB Type-C™ port. n-body 5-axis image stabilization with up to 5.5-stop25 shutter speed Now more effective than ever for the α series, this comprehensive system compensates for five types of camera shake that tend to blur images: pitch/ yaw shake when shooting at longer focal lengths; X/Y shake in close-up (including macro) shooting; and roll shake when recording stills at night and movies. It effectively achieves 5.5-stop-faster25 shutter speed, so the α7R III can take full advantage of its 42.4-megapixel14 and live-view
COVER FEATURE image performance. Furthermore, it functions with A-mount lenses attached via mount adaptor, as well as E-mount lenses. WHAT WE THINK Sony have had a fantastic year in imaging and they’ve certainly finished with a bang. The a7R III fits really well in between the a7R II and the a9. For photographers that can’t quite stretch to the price tag of the a9 but
crave t h a t e x t r a battery life and memory card slot, these additions will be a dream. The extra memory card slot will be welcomed with opened arms to the event and wedding photographers. We hear a lot of people say that anything above 25 MP is pointless, but we couldn’t disagree more. The Fine Art photography market is rapidly growing and these photographers often need to enlarge their prints to extreme sizes. Having 42.4 MP in the a7R III means that these people can shoot in with the peace of mind, knowing that they
don’t have to worry about turning down a client that wants a gigantic image on their wall.
size shows another benefit. The majority of people would rather not carry the extra weight that other bodies have.
The menu functionality is great. It will never be to everyone’s taste due to the extensity of it but if the owner can take 15 minutes out of their life, they can simply add all of their relevant functions into one custom menu. Yes, the menu’s are big but it’s 2017 and as technology grows, so does the options. Sony do a good job of managing them as best as possible.
We feel that the a7rIII is great for photographers of practically all genres.
The physical design is much the same as the other cameras in Sony’s mirrorless. We think that’s a good thing. Much like DSLR’s, photographers get used to the feel of the camera bodies they are shooting. If they shoot with a particular brand, they are likely to not want the shape to change much, if at all. We feel that Sony are wise to stick with the same ergonomic ethos that they have created. The a7RIII will appeal highly to the photographers that see the benefits of the cameras photography features but who also shot films. This is where the
2 0 1 8 is sure to be another big year for Sony and we are eager to see what they have in store. The era of the DSLR is gone and we have entered a transition era. Will sales of mirrorless cameras continue to rise and DSLR’s fall? As more photographers start to make the switch, 2018 is guaranteed to be a roller coaster of a year! Next month we interview Sony’s James Loader about his new position within the company. You can read more about the Sony a7R III on our website and at www.sony.com
www.pixel.co.uk 5
Introducing the
NEW
DP-SL620 II ALL-IN-ONE COMPACT KIOSK
Small Investment Small footprint
BIG returns What’s NEW? • Larger touchscreen, now 11.6” • Smartphone area with no-slip rubber surface • Improved smartphone cables for Lightning, Micro USB and new USB type C
All in one Kiosk & Printer from Tetenal at only
£1,495 + VAT The complete photo retail solution that enables you to capitalise on the ever increasing demand for instant prints from smartphones, whilst offering additional products including profitable Passport and ID photos Passport photo function
Large variety of print sizes
Simply take the customers photo and the SnapLab software will create your ID photos to meet the official requirements of any country.
In addition to traditional photo sizes of 6”x 4”, 5” x 7”, 6” x 8” and 6” x 9”, the SnapLab can print lots more sizes including strips, squares and up to 20” x 6” panoramics
Selection of photo finishes
Compact yet high performance
With the SnapLab DP-SL620 II, customers can select from a choice of Glossy, Matte and Luster print finishes, with only one single media loaded. Saving you time and money.
Small footprint of only 27.5 cm wide x 40 cm deep means you can squeeze it in just about anywhere. No counter space at all? Include a cabinet for the special price of only £100 +vat
Contact Tetenal for more information, or to book a demonstration 6 www.pixel.co.uk
Tetenal Limited | TEL: 0116 289 3644 | marketing@tetenal.uk.com | www.tetenaluk.com
REG ROACH
Age is But a Number
Is Reg Roach at 86 years young - the oldest Photographic Retailer still behind the counter of his business? High Street Radio & Photographic was started by Reg in 1959
Pat Roach standing in the doorway of High
Reg Roach (86 years young) proprietor of High Street Radio & Photographic (also known as Croydon Photo Centre) along with his son Paul can be seen every day at their family Photographic business in the High Street, Croydon, Surrey.
Reg and son Paul now specialize in pre-owned and classic photographic equipment particularly Leica, Canon & Nikon. Reg’s love for Leica Cameras began when he was 17. He purchased a Leica IIIB body with 5cm Summitar lens for £95 (old money) & has been collecting & trading them ever since. Paul said “the film market is smaller but more specialized now with more people of all ages finding the joy of film photography. We try and cater for all enthusiasts, with prices ranging from a few pounds to several thousand” Sales of pre-owned good quality cameras and film have increased dramatically. Reg with wife Pat (now retired) started the business in 1959 selling televisions, radios & electrical goods. Paul joined the business as soon as he
Street Radio (circ 1960)
Reg says “age is just a number, all the time I feel fit enough to carry on I will”. He is a firm believer that retirement only shortens people’s lives, despite having a few hiccups along the way such as bowel cancer, broken hip, minor stroke and heart failure. Reg can be seen in his favourite place behind the counter conducting business with customers and friends.
was born and could always be found at Dad’s side after school fiddling with (he maintains learning about) the equipment at the shop and has been there ever since! Building the business they specialised mainly in Bang & Olufsen hifi and Leica Cameras, being main dealers for both marques. Over the years changes in the audio industry meant they had to give up selling Bang & Olufsen, so they concentrated their efforts on Leica Cameras and all other high quality camera systems.
Do you know someone older than Reg Roach in the photographic industry? If so, get in touch with Pixel!
Reg & Paul “Still BIG into LEICA”
Due to an ever evolving industry, Reg and Paul gave up selling new equipment & continue today selling all makes of pre-owned & classic cameras. www.pixel.co.uk 7
Binoculars Range
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WEX PHOTO VIDEO
Wex Photo Video: The UK’s Largest Photo Retail Outlet
This month, Wex Photo Video opened their new 7,000 ft 2 (650 m 2 ) store in Whitechapel, London.
W
ex Photo Video has created a world-class destination for photographers and videographers. In November, the retailer opened it’s new major flagship store on Commercial Rd, London E1. With 7,000 ft 2 (650 m 2 ) of retail space, the Whitechapel shop is the largest of its kind in the UK, featuring a huge selection of cameras, lenses, video equipment and accessories. It also features a drone flight zone, a permanent photography gallery, a theatre zone for live demos and a dedicated events space for seminars, workshops and screenings. Rental and repair services will be provided in cooperation with Fixation, Wex’s imagingsolutions centre in Kennington.
The Drummond St team have moved to the new Whitechapel flagship. As a result of this substantial investment in new retail capacity to serve the Greater London market, Calumet’s smaller London shop on Wardour St will close for business before Christmas 2017. Any job losses will be kept to a minimum as Wex expands its operations in other locations. Altogether, this represents the biggest single investment in expanding Britain’s photo retail capacity in years. Wex CEO David Garratt commented: “This investment in range and shops illustrates our ongoing promise to help the country’s photographers and videographers fulfil their creative goals.”
“The new London store is beyond incredible. The permanent gallery and event spaces show that the Wex Photo Video team understand that real human engagement is still key in 2017/2018.” - Luke Woodford www.wexphotovideo.com
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LEICA
Leica:
Alluring the Industry With Their CL Camera Leica expands their APS-C System with the Leica CL. The new family member innovates technologies, handles beautifully and incorporates an iconic compact design.
L
eica’s new CL camera has an ideal balance between state-of-the-art technology, mechanical precision and compact construction which makes it the perfect everyday companion – especially for spontaneous and discreet pictures. We had the pleasure of attending the launch in London where we were able to get our hands on the CL. The first thing you notice is the impeccable design, as always. It really is a thing of beauty. Superiorly stylish but with an unparalleled build quality. One of the outstanding features of the Leica CL is its electronic viewfinder with EyeRes technology developed by Leica especially for this camera. With a latency time below the threshold of perception and a resolution of 2.36 million pixels, the EyeRes® viewfinder offers an impressive viewing experience and numerous advantages: As the final image is visible in the viewfinder before the shutter release is pressed, users have complete control over the composition of their subjects. In combination with the high-resolution, 24 MP, APS-C format sensor of the Leica CL, a Maestro II series processor and fast autofocus with 49 metering points guarantee maximum picture quality in all photographic situations. The Leica CL is not only an impressive still picture camera, but this also applies to moving pictures captured with its video function at a resolution of up to 4K at 30 frames per second. Sarah Lee, one of Leica’s ambassadors was at the launch. She says“It really feels like a small professional camera in your hand, it’s not a compromise”
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In combination with the high-resolution, 24 MP, APS-C format sensor of the Leica CL, a Maestro II series processor and fast autofocus with 49 metering points guarantee maximum picture quality in all photographic situations. The Leica CL is not only an impressive still picture camera, but this also applies to moving pictures captured with its video function at a resolution of up to 4K at 30 frames per second. The Leica CL is also equipped with an integrated Wi-Fi module. Pictures and videos can be sent by wireless connection to smartphones, tablets or computers and quickly and easily shared by email or on social networks with the Leica CL App for iOS or Android. In addition to this, the remote function of the app allows mobile devices to be used as an off camera viewfinder or to alter exposure parameters – for example when shooting with the selftimer function or from unusual angles.
The Leica CL looks to be another masterpiece. We eagerly look forward to getting our hands on one in a real shooting setting to put it through it’s paces. You can read more about the Leica CL at www.pixel.co.uk and www.uk.leica-camera.com
Photo by Sarah Lee using the Leica CL
ROTOLIGHT
Rotolight:
Back With Another Beast - The Anova PRO II Rotolight has announced the launch of Anova PRO 2; a pioneering continuous light and High Speed Sync (HSS) flash for creative image-makers.
T
he Anova PRO II is redefining the standard for professional LED lighting in studio or location, Rotolight’s new creation is one of the brightest LED lights ever launched in its class, delivering 10,700 lux at 3 feet. Packed with innovative features for television, film production, and photography, the Anova PRO 2 is the 4th generation of Rotolight’s award winning studio/location light. The Rotolight Anova PRO 2 embodies the pinnacle of LED technology, designed for the most demanding of professionals. Offering 70% more power output than its predecessor, Rotolight Anova PRO 2 provides the best power to consumption ratio in the industry, as one of the most energy efficient LED panels ever designed. With a mere 72W consumption, Anova PRO 2 reduces operating costs for TV studios, whilst providing unrivalled battery performance on location.
“The Rotolight Anova PRO 2 is the perfect light for working in the live television environment. We are able to light people accurately, very quickly, saving us time, mistakes on air and a lot of money,” says Wesley Dodd, CEO Celebro Media. Rotolight is the lighting provider of choice for Celebro, London’s first fully 4K television studio regularly used by global broadcasters such as the BBC, MTV, and the Discovery Channel. As an existing Rotolight customer, Celebro Media was keen to be the first in the world to get its hands on Rotolight’s latest lighting innovation. For television and film production, Anova
PRO 2 includes a customizable suite of Rotolight’s award winning CineSFX™ (Fire, Lightning, TV, Gunshot, Paparazzi etc) which eliminates the need for expensive, time consuming legacy ‘flicker-box’ workflows. Designed in conjunction with Stefan Lange, Visual
FX veteran (Batman, James Bond ‘Skyfall’, Tomb Raider), the patented CineSFX™ suite has been updated with ‘enhanced realism’ and the addition of a ‘Chase’ FX capability, to simulate the effect of motion on static sets. The
What we think: Rotolight have been one of the stand out brands of 2017. They continue to bring the very best in lighting technoligies with every release. The Anova PRO II is another hit. We can’t wait to see what the Rotolight team bring to 2018.
newly integrated wireless Elinchrom Skyport receiver enables wireless control of CineSFX, colour temperature and brightness from up to 656ft(200m). For professional photographers, Anova PRO 2 also features an updated High Speed Sync (HSS) flash capability (1/8000th), with a 250% power boost in flash mode. With zero recycle time, you’ll never miss a shot, making it the perfect choice for today’s high frame rate capable cameras. Anova PRO 2 can be simultaneously a continuous ‘modelling light’ and HSS flash, allowing the photographer to easily acquire focus in dimly lit situations and optimise composition. The unique circular shape also provides a naturally soft, flattering light output, with Rotolight’s signature catchlight effect.
You can watch the Anova PRO II launch on Rotolight’s Facebook page and read more about all of the brands latest products at www.Rotolight.com
Martin Stanford introduces the Anova PRO II with Rotolight MD Rod Gammons and Celebro CEO Wes Dodd www.pixel.co.uk 11
Resolution Master The 42.4MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor with the latest generation image processor captures the finest details, in 10fps high-speed continuous shooting with accurate AF tracking. The real potential of full-frame is now unleashed. INTRODUCING THE
FROM SONY
Discover more at: www.sony.co.uk
12 www.pixel.co.uk ‘Sony’, ‘
‘ and their logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
BILLINGHAM
Billingham Review: The 72 Camera Bag By Luke & Mandy Woodford
We had the pleasure of taking the new Billingham 72 out for a play… this is what we thought. So let’s start with the obvious shall we? Its beautiful! As always, in the iconic and instantly recognisable Billingham style. This brand is faultless when it comes to style and we pray they live forever! We can see that Billingham have been working really hard on the designs of their bags.
One of our favourite features is the incredible foam base that Billingham have now implemented “the padding that makes up the front, rear and side walls of its body is constructed from two overlapping layers of closed cell foam cut in different patterns – keeping all edges and corners fully protected. Further padding has been sewn into the bottom of the bag, and we have also included a removable padded
base. Beneath the outer lid is a top flap, once again made of foam, protecting the camera on all six sides in the event of a knock or fall.” – Billingham This foam makes the bag feel pretty indestructible. You have to see and feel it to believe it, but it’s probably the best camera protection we’ve ever seen in a bag. It gives you complete piece of mind if you’re prone to bumps and drops. www.pixel.co.uk 13
BILLINGHAM
The quick release system isn’t anything new from Billingham but it’s worth a mention because, especially on a bag like this, it’s so useful. We all know how annoying it is when you’re out and about shooting and you have to keep putting down your bag to get your gear out. With the quick release it’s so convenient and you don’t get a bad back – bonus. The official dimensions of the Billingham 72 are 150 x 130 x 190mm (WxDxH). The size isn’t for everyone. The 72 is specifically designed for small mirrorless kits and premium compacts. We managed to fit our Sony A9 with Loxia 50mm in there but it’s a bit of a squeeze. If you’re going for a trip and you need to take a few lenses and your laptop, then grab your Hadley. If you want to take minimal kit and walk around feeling as unrestricted as you possibly can, then get yourself a 72. This bag is perfect for street photographers, travel photographers, style conscious bloggers and the casual shooter. “it’s ideal size for premium fixed lens cameras such as the Leica Q, Fujifilm X100 range or Sony DSCRX1R series, and many small mirrorless system cameras with one small standard lens, such as 14 www.pixel.co.uk
the Fujifilm X-T2, Olympus OMD E-M series, Leica M rangefinders or Canon EOS M kits. It is also ideal for many old 35mm (and even a few 120 film) cameras of a similar size.” – Billingham The 72 also offers incredible water resistance. This is due to Billingham’s 3 layer manufacturing. We hope you don’t ever have to have your bag out in a storm, but if you do you can rest assured that you have the ultimate in resistance and defence. We recently tested it at Camera World Live and it was faultless. There is a small pocket on the front of the bag which is ideal for a few accessories e.g. lens caps and memory cards.
The 72 is of course covered by Billingham’s 5 year manufacturer’s guarantee and is made at their factory in England. If you have a system that will fit the 72 then buy one. If you don’t, buy a system that does and then buy a 72. This was a great call from Billingham to release a bag to cater to this market. A brand that is clearly very aware of what’s going on around them and listens to its customers.
www.billingham.co.uk
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MANFROTTO
Manfrotto Review:
The 290 Dual Tripod & BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head By Antony Meadley As a professional photographer, I find that it’s the little details which make all the difference in regular use. The fact that the legs slip open effortlessly, saving a second or two here and there soon adds up when you are taking photos on the move. The legs have 4 leg angle positions to open to, up to 90 degrees. This allows you to position your camera anywhere from 4.5 inches (6cm) to almost 6 foot off the ground! There are 3 leg sections, with robust and easy to use flip locks. Even at its maximum height of 165cm, the tripod is rock solid. As with many of the current range the bottom of the centre column. Tighten the lock again to secure it. There is also a hook to attach weights to in order to prevent movement in windy conditions. The tripod is available in 3 versions: legs only, with a 3-way head or with a ball head. I tested it with the BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head. Able to hold an impressive 10kg (22.05 lbs) payload, the aluminium and magnesium ball head seems to be strong enough for most normal camera/ lens combos. I tested it with a Canon 5DIII and a 70-200mm f2.8 lens without any trouble at all. The XPRO lets you fine-tune your adjustments, thanks to separate knobs for both the ball and the 360° panning as well as a friction control knob to help with precise positioning. The panning
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seems rather stiff, but this might ease after repeated use. The two bubble levels let you adjust your camera so the horizon is level. One very minor quibble is that it would be nice if the bubbles lit up for use in darker environments. It comes with a 200 PL quick release plate.
Having used this tripod and head for several weeks now, both in and out of the studio, I am very impressed with its performance and build quality. Overall these products are amazing value for money for a solid full height tripod and head. It’s slightly heavy to carry around all day, but if weight is
MANFROTTO a major concern, it is also available in carbon fibre weighing 300g less. There is of course the option to mix and match with other Manfrotto products.
290 Dual Tripod Specs:
Weight - 1840 g Material - Aluminium Safety Payload Weight - 5 kg Legs Tube Diameter - 26, 22.5, 19 mm Leg Sections - 3 Leg Angles - 25°,46°,66°,88° Top Attachment - 3/8” screw Min Height - 6.2 cm Maximum Height - 165 cm Maximum Height (with Center Column Down) - 139 cm Closed Length - 62.7 cm Upper Disc Diameter - 60 mm Carrying Bag Included - none Center Column - rapid Color - Black Easy Link - No Leg Type - Single Leg Lock Type - Flip Lock Max. Working Temperature - 60C Min. Working Temperature -30 C
BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head Specs:
Weight - 500 g Collection/Series - X-PRO Ball Head Safety Payload Weight - 10 kg Material - Aluminium, Magnesium Head Type - Ball Head Top Attachment - 1/4” screw, 3/8” thread female Base Diameter - 60 mm Plate Type - 200PL-14 Friction Control -Yes Front Tilt - -90° / +40° Lateral Tilt - -90° / +40° Panoramic Rotation - 360° Base Type - 45 mm Ball Locking - Yes Bubble Spirit Level (No.) - 2 Color - Black Easy Link - No Independent Pan Lock - yes Independent Tilt Lock - yes Maximum Working Temperature - 60C Minimum Working Temperature - -30 C Pan Bar Included - No Pan Drag - NONE Quick Release - Yes Working Height - 1.5 cm Tilt Drag -NONE
You can read more about these Manfrotto products and more at www.manfrotto.co.uk
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More at www.lomography.com
PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY NOW! Full Convention 10–14 January 2018 FREE* Trade Show 12–14 January 2018 Hilton London Metropole Hotel
Europe’s Largest ‘All-Welcome’ Photographic Convention
TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Attend The Societies 2018 London Photographic Trade Show for free* All the latest photographic equipment, products and services will be on show, and attendees will be able to watch demonstrations from leading manufacturers on their products. All the major players in the industry will be exhibiting, so it’s a good opportunity to meet the key personnel behind the latest photography equipment. Many of the 150+ exhibitors will also be offering special deals on their products and services, exclusive to the show with Cameraworld and Park Cameras the main supporting dealers.
REGISTER TODAY FOR YOUR FREE TRADE SHOW TICKETS.*
OVER 40 HOURS OF FREE SEMINARS AND DEMOS.
Register today to secure your FREE tickets to the 2018 Trade Show. “As an amateur, it is good to be able to see work and facilities at the professional level. It’s great for developing my own ideas and aspirations.” – Brian Cable
What’s on • • • • • • • • •
FREE* to enter Trade Show 4 day of Masterclasses Hands-on Superclasses Business School Location Seminars Qualification Assessments 20x16” Print Comp Judging Awards Dinner Welcome Party
Masterclasses Don’t miss out on the chance to start off the year with inspiration from some of the world’s best photographers.
200 hours of Masterclasses confirmed … 92 Speakers. Masterclass Tickets: Day Pass from £50 4 Day Full Pass from £150
YOU CAN ATTEND THE FULL 4 DAY MASTERCLASS PROGRAMME FROM JUST £150.
REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS BEFORE JAN 5 swpp.co.uk/convention/
*Pre-register before 5 January 2018 to avoid £10 entry fee to Trade Show.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Fujifilm sponsors 20x16 Print Competition THIS YEAR The Societies’ Rhyl-based HQ expects anything up to 1500 20x16 prints to drop on its mat. Entries to the now world-renowned Annual Print Competition (judged each January at The Societies’ London-based Convention) are at an all-time high… and now Fujifilm, having recently launched its innovative ‘Fujifilm Original Photo Paper’ campaign, has just signed up as a major sponsor. But why is this competition so successful? The organisation’s Terrie Jones explains: “Our Annual 20x16 Print Competition was born over a decade ago following a decision to turn the monthly competition into an online contest. We really wanted to keep a print element going alongside the new online option – and subsequently each year the entries have grown. Now it has gone crazy with more and more photographers entering more and more images. An average photographer entry is now around five prints but we have had some people enter up to forty. “The kudos of being crowned ‘Photographer of the Year’ in this competition is truly immense. We have a large number of wellknown international names who also enter – so if an aspirational photographer wins a category that the likes of Jerry Ghionis, David Edmonson and Johnson Wee have entered, they know they really have arrived!” But she notes: “We completely understand how daunting it can be for new photographers to enter a key competition like this so our Nouveau category is only open to firsttime entrants. No ‘big-name’ photographer can win in that category.” The 20x16 competition categories include: Wedding; Portrait; Documentary; Illustrative; The Natural World; Monochrome; Open and Nouveau. Every category and sub-category winner (e.g. avant-garde weddings) receives a prize and a trophy – and every merited image (those awarded a minimum of 80 points by judges) is displayed on exhibition at The Societies’ annual Convention at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. The overall winner this year picks up more than prestige. He or she will also win a valuable camera and lens, a trip to the WPPI Convention and a marketing ‘makeover’ pack.
Judgement Day The Societies (including The SWPP) enjoy a close working relationship with the WPPI (the US-based Wedding and Portrait Photographers International organisation) with a number of UK Print Competition entries being sent to Las Vegas to also be judged in the WPPI competition. Says Terrie: “Both organisations employ a rigorous and highly professional judging procedure – which is always held in public. The Societies has a ‘bank’ of over 30 world-class judges from across the globe that form our
‘The Societies are on a mission to constantly improve the quality of photography and this year we are witnessing unprecedented interest and growth in our 20x16 print competition’ – Terrie Jones Why 20x16 Competition prints really are worth the paper they are printed on Says Terrie: “This is a print competition so we are really seeking true print quality. It’s such a shame to see images that could have done so much better if only they had been printed on the most appropriate paper. It’s very frustrating for judges to see a beautifully composed image that has all the elements in perfect harmony but fails on print quality.” She adds: “Now we are delighted to have Fujifilm on board as a key sponsor. Fujifilm produce world-class papers that photographers know they can always trust.” Peter Wigington, Fujifilm UK’s marketing manager Photo Imaging Group adds: “We are delighted to become sponsors of this prestigious print competition. Our Fujifilm Original Photo Paper campaign is all about highlighting the real advantages of photographers using highest quality silver halide papers with matchless longevity assurances”. Check out the full range of Fujifilm Original Photo Papers at:
www.originalphotopaper.com
panels. And they sit in judgement in three rooms for two full days at The Convention in January each year.” The first thing judges seek in an image is impact. They make an initial assessment as to whether the print is worth a Merit score (80 or above). All Merit winning prints will go into the exhibition. Any entrant scoring less than 70 is deemed to be below competition standard. 70-74 is deemed average. 75-70 is above average. Above the merit category images are ranked ‘excellent’, ‘outstanding’ or ‘exceptional’. Explains Terrie: “It is vital that photographers can come and see for themselves how their work is judged. Thus, they can note the skill sets it takes to gain merit status and above. They can sit through judgings and listen to the critiques and comments on all the elements that judges look for in a compelling image; including composition, colour balance, posing etc. The images are judged, including the mount and border….and entrants can clearly see what they must do to push their own boundaries. This competition really sets the standard now and every single picture is treated with ‘white glove’ care from the moment it drops on our mat in Wales.” Open to members and non members. Entry deadline December 22 2017. Judging dates and times at The Convention: January 10-11, 2018: 9am-5pm. For T&Cs and entry details see: http://swpp.co.uk/convention/20x16.htm Send your prints to 20x16 Print Competition, The Societies of Photographers, 6 Bath Street, Rhyl, Denbighshire LL18 3EB
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These high-end photo papers are for professional use and requirements. They have a luxurious look and feel and a thick base, and produce deep blacks and exceptional sharpness.
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POLAROID ORIGINALS
Polaroid Originals : The Saint Laurent Collaboration
F
rom the 27th of November to the 20th of December, Saint Laurent will take a unique residency on the first floor of the multi-brand store Colette. The analog instant photography brand co-signed with Saint Laurent a series of two collector objects exclusively on sale at Colette. Polaroid Originals presents a unique modification of the iconic SX-70 camera, commissioned by Saint Laurent. First introduced in 1972, the silver metal Polaroid SX-70 has been customized with bespoke black leather panels and
CREDITS & CONTACTS
embossed branding detail. Each fully refurbished camera has also been modified to operate with Polaroid 600 film, allowing for broader use under low light conditions, and for compatibility with the wider range of Polaroid 600 instant film types. Priced at €500 and available in custom packaging, the Polaroid SX-70 for Saint Laurent will be available exclusively in a limited edition of 50 pieces. Alongside the camera a special edition Polaroid Originals 600 Black & White
Managing Director: Lee Mansfield 01323 819007 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk
Director / Editor: Mandy Woodford 01323 819007 mandy@lifemediagroup.co.uk
Director / Editor: Luke Woodford 01323 819007 luke@lifemediagroup.co.uk
Subscriptions: Linda Grace 01323 819015 linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk
Published by: Life Media Group LTD 33 Enys Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 2BD Printed by: Gemini Press, Unit A1 Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6NZ
Black Frame Saint Laurent film has been produced exclusively for the collaboration. This will be available at €30. We love how creative the Polaroid Originals brand is and we’re excited to see what collaborations they have in store for 2018.
www.uk.polaroidoriginals.com
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X-Pro2 (body only) X-Pro2 XF23mm F2 Graphite Edition
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X-T2 (body only) X-T2 XF18-55mm KIT X-T2 Graphite Silver
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X-T20 (body only) X-T20 XF18-55mm KIT X-T20 XC16-50mm II KIT
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XF LEN S ES XF18mmF2 R XF27mmF2.8 XF35mmF1.4 R XF60mmF2.4 R Macro XF14mmF2.8 R XF16mmF1.4 R WR XF23mmF1.4 R XF56mmF1.2 R XF10-24mmF4 R OIS XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
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GET MORE, FOR LESS FUJIFILM-PROMOTION S .COM Terms Conditions apply. Offer only available via an Authorised X Series stockist. Ask in store or visit online for more details. Promotion ends on 15th January 2018. 26 and www.pixel.co.uk