Pixel Magazine 13th February 2012

ISSUE NO. 866

THE MAGAZINE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE WORLD OF IMAGING, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

THE INSIDER

Is nostalgia the way forward for selling cameras? 3

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CAMERA LAUNCH MANIA! Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and more by a special edition of the D800 – the Nikon D800E, which offers a

THE NEWS

Movers, shakers, decision makers plus all the news 3-10

aliasing properties removed for extra detail and

THE BIG INTERVIEW

version will retail

Olympus’ Mark Thackara talks to Pixel about creating 4-7 iconic cameras

The New Nikon D800

not to mention new compacts from Panasonic, Sony,

THE BUSINESS

splash in the pro market and will go on sale on 22nd

The views, facts and shaping imaging retail today

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THE NEW WORLD OF IMAGING

The technology you can’t afford to ignore, which is expanding our retail world

It was also interesting to hear that it will be followed

Amazon: not immune to falling margins.

10 down 58 per cent on the company’s net income for

LAUNCH PAD

The latest imaging products launched that you should not miss

For all of these products, see Launch Pad on page 12 and for Pixel’s interview with Nikon’s

12-13 margins and the need to constantly innovate and

INFOLAB

Every issue we bring you an essential update from the 14 printing frontline

Amazon’s Milton Keynes facility

BEHIND THE COUNTER

If you’re hands on in retail we make sure that you are 14 kept up to date and informed

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FOCUS

THE INSIDER Nobody involved in our industry could fail to have noticed that the past is back in fashion and that that the way to the future seems to be very matched based on the past.

Those clean lines, bare steel casings, squared off corners and simple buttons of our favourite analogue cameras are now encasing and controlling the latest digital technology. Nostalgia is the new buzzword in camera design, gone are is the belief in all things ergonomic. The rounded moulded plastics of early digital technology is being banished to the back of the photo kit cupboard. Now we want a camera to look and feel like a camera and not an X box control module, evidently.

To my mind this all started with those lovers of the past and Jehovah’s of cameras past, the design studios at Olympus (anybody remember their limited edition Ecru and O Product?) and Pen. Not only did the look and name take us back to that company’s illustrious heritage it also gave the consumer something new to assess camera choice on, its looks and lifestyle appropriateness. Not slow to build on this success the Pen was soon being updated and revised at lightning pace until it became a must have purchase for all image conscious purchasers. Olympus were back in the game playing with a new set of rules and other manufacturers were not slow to notice.

The design team at to catch on and looked back to the golden days of the Sixties and the classic lines of the Fujicas of that period with a soupcon of Leica down the line retro marketing the FinePix X100 was born, launched and loved. It became the camera that those ‘serious’ about photography had to have; the ultimate enthusiast photo a great little camera.

Meanwhile the designers at Nikon were creating there own ‘must haves’ taking inspiration from the smooth, unadorned, simple lines of Jonathan Ive and Dieter Rams the design gods behind Apple and Braun. The J1 and V1 came to the market for those who like their designs pure and with a hint of the Bauhaus (Echoes of the Ecru and the O Product again?). How successful they have been I am and the marketing campaign behind them has been continuous and impressive.

And there is more! Just as I was writing this article the design team at Pentax have announced that they joined the new game

News New Appointments at PNY Europe

coming in with their own design team ‘Gallactico’. Marc Newson who has been working with Pentax on this latest release is a true design heavyweight and his work on

PNY, a provider of PC upgrade solutions for both the professional and consumer sectors, has appointed three new European key account managers in charge of PNY’s Simon Horton, PNY UK components range.

Joining the European components team are Simon Horton for the UK, Romeo Gramaglia for Germany and Gala Orquin for Spain and Portugal.

The new UK manager Simon Horton’s extensive experience within the components sector includes 10 years Rapid IT Distribution and Realtime.

PNY said they were looking to “decisively and aggressively pursue our

but there is no doubting that the addition of Newson’s name will guarantee that the lifestyle press will be featuring it heavily.

It’s a route that the people at GE followed with their assosciation with the fashion designer Then just as the pitch was starting to look a little crowded, who should chuck another model in for our consideration? Of course, it had to be one of their most loved series, the OM. I loved and still love my OM1 and I have to admit that news of this launch made my heart jump just a little bit. That only leaves the Trip for them to bring back and Olympus will really be the masters of retro branding for a new digital age.

That’s all very well I hear you say but of a period in which the manufacturers are camera by reclaiming the magic and golden days of photography, whilst also waking up to the fact that a camera today is as much a lifestyle purchase as it is a ‘hobbyist’ purchase.

Enthusiasts might be happy with black boxes and technical spec but the majority of consumers are not and the manufacturers know this.

Now it’s our turn to try and evoke this golden age in how we sell these cameras, how we promote photography and how we explain why customers need a camera and why a camera phone can only do so much. So this week’s rallying call is simple and goes out to retailers and manufacturers alike. It’s time to man the barricades with the power of photography, with the love of photography and with the memories of when it was produced by cameras. Because after all that is what we are all trying to sell.

of computer components, and to better satisfy the needs of local markets and customers across Europe.”

PNY have recently launched new ranges of SSD and HDMI cables and will be promoting these solutions throughout Europe in 2012.

For contact details, visit www.pny.com

Mamiya and Leaf Create Joint Brand Medium format camera makers Mamiya Digital Imaging, and Leaf Imaging Ltd., makers of digital backs for the medium

Leaf Mamiya products in synergy

have joined together to form the new “Mamiya Leaf” brand, which will combine both companies’ product lines into one system offering, It is hoped that this new initiative will streamline new product development and allow the companies to establish more systems will comprise a broad range of equipment, from 22 to 80 megapixels.

Cameras, lenses and backs will retain their respective Mamiya and Leaf labels and they will still be sold as individual components. Included with all Mamiya Leaf systems are two native software options: Phase One Capture One and Leaf Capture.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE With decades of iconic cameras under their belt and the massive success of the digital PEN, it’s perhaps no surprise that Olympus’ latest release is another nod to the brand’s heritage.

Pixel speaks to Mark Thackara (pictured), National Head of Marketing for Olympus KeyMed.

works, which is one hurdle tackled, and even for those who haven’t previously known of the product, the letters are part of the name Olympus and not initials anyone else is using at the moment. It’s important for products to have their own identity.

the OM-D and it looks fantastic.

You can’t escape the word ‘retro’ when describing it, though. Why have Olympus chosen to release another camera so catalogue?

Let me turn that question back on you for a moment and ask why can’t a camera be more like a camera? There’s a general groundswell in technology towards traditional looking products, and although the designs may be ‘retro’ the technology is very forward-thinking. I think there’s a good reason for this, and that’s the fact that ergonomics and useage naturally dictate what a camera looks like. There’s nothing to stop you making a camera of any shape, and there have been attempts to differentiate from the standard layout but ultimately, users want length, they want controls that don’t feel like a calculator and this combination of ergonomic requirements brings you back to the classic camera shape. If anything, at the lower end of compacts, this is one of the last reasons some users will still choose a budget camera rather than using their phone, because it feels more natural and easy.

Will you be marketing the OM on its history, as you did with the PEN? We’ve no desire to go down the heritage road too much with this model. We did that with the PEN and it was a lot of fun, it opened up plenty of creative opportunities but we’ll be doing something new with this one. It’s my feeling that the name will be enough to remind those who remember the original OM, but by the same token we don’t want to alienate new customers. so many combinations of letters and numbers reason for choosing OM is that it’s very easy to associate with Olympus. We already know it

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On the subject of identity, who do you expect to buy the OM-D? Put very simply, the people who have asked for it! Some people have been waiting for this camera for quite a while. These are people who either bought a PEN and gave us feedback on what improvements they wanted, or who didn’t buy it and told us why.

It’s useful that we have developed a very

them using a £500 camera and would wonder what they were paying for. You hear all the time of photographers taking along lots of kit they don’t need to assignments now, because improvements in technology have made so much of the bulkier equipment obsolete for what they are doing, but they want their customers to feel they are getting their money’s worth!

There’s also the direct inverse to consider, as photographers are favouring small, inconspicuous CSCs for street photography and going into places where they would not be admitted with a DSLR. This is why you can customise the look of the OM with the battery grip, to suit either desired appearance.

To what extent do you think appearance

a format with less buttons, which means more scrolling through menus but is much cheaper to produce and is ideally suited to the user who Or, as when you are buying a car, you can this case, our higher end users asked for the

“Consumers are happy for prices to be driven down, and then they wonder why specialists can’t compete...”

careful thought about because feedback said people wanted a camera which made them look more like a serious player. They want a camera which gets the results, obviously, but also one which looks the part and the battery grip available with the OM-D makes it look more like a professional camera, as well as serving its primary functional purpose.

Do you think looking professional is something that matters to users of Olympus cameras?

They tell us it is. I’ve heard photographers saying they’d like to use their PEN for shots at weddings and events but, even though the results would be perfectly acceptable, they’re worried their clients will not like the idea of

camera?

It’s a huge deal, even if people don’t admit it. I don’t think it’s considered the done thing to say you bought a camera because of how it looks and of course there will usually be practical decisions behind which camera is chosen, but when the consumer is wearing a camera around their neck, holding it up or carrying it in their bag or pocket, they don’t want something ugly that’s going to attract attention for the wrong reasons.

Having a good looking camera and a trendy You mention professional photographers... are you targeting video professionals as well?

We’re not in the way that some of the full frame manufacturers are, but then for a model of theirs which produces broadcast quality video, you’re looking at three or four times the price of the OM, before you look at the add-ons needed for sound. It’s an interesting area, and one in which I think the user needs to really consider what they need and buy the appropriate product. Our HD video is ideal for an enthusiast who wants to not all cameras offering ‘HD video’ are equal in those terms.

From a consumer point of view, the internal audio on our cameras is better than any other on the market so buying audio accessories, like the Does having audio products within the Olympus brand help with this convergence?

It certainly doesn’t hurt. We can apply our audio technologies in our cameras, hence

THE BIG INTERVIEW

the quality of sound, and hopefully if Olympus photographers need additional audio products, they will look to us. I’m enthusiastic about any retailer who wants to branch out into stocking our audio products. Traditionally it’s been a very separate market, but I do see that, increasingly, it isn’t going to be. As far as other overlapping accessories are concerned, it’ll be interesting to see how the market develops. Hardwarealthough the PENpal device was a successful start, and while I don’t rule out more ‘non-core’ accessories, it’s not something I’d say we’re focusing on.

Really, our emphasis remains the quality still image, for hobbyists and for the convenience user because image quality is important to them even when they want photography to be as simple as possible. It’s about improving the ease of use and accessibility so that people can realise they can take the sort of professional looking images that they are just never going to get on a mobile phone.

Do you think consumers realise that, or do they accept a phone with an 8MP camera can give them the results they want?

That depends very much on the results they want, and that in itself is half of the issue. To an extent, it’s the consumer’s perogative to know what quality of image is good enough for them and what functionality they want or need on their camera, but then it’s also up to manufacturers and retailers to show even the beginner user that they can acheive far better results than their phone snaps with no more effort if they have the right camera. It’s like the discrepancy I mentioned with HD video, and I think consumers need to see a camera in action to believe that just because two cameras offer full HD video, it is not a given that the results will be identical.

Do you not think it’s up to the manufacturer to communicate these messages?

There’s always been a debate about who should be doing what education-wise and yes, something like an infomercial or advertorials in consumer magazines would be great for explaining these messages, but does anyone take any notice of them? It isn’t going to attract attention for the brand, and therefore won’t actually do any good at the point of retail. With image-based and lifestyle advertising, we aim to build the brand up and attract customers to the product, at which point they can be educated What can be done to help the retailers achieve this?

We do offer product training, where it is desired, along with point of sale and educational materials, but I think some of your readers who do use these might be surprised to know how few retailers actually take it up. The larger multiple stores in particular could make much better use of their retail space than they do, be for them. This is why the specialist is still so valuable, because consumers do still appreciate

the personal touch when it comes to learning about a product, the challenge is then making sure everyone can make money. Consumers are happy for prices to be driven down and to buy a product for the lowest price possible, wherever that might be from, and then they wonder why specialists who can’t compete with bulk sellers on price go out of business and the service and knowledge that they provided isn’t available anymore. That said, we’re all guilty of it. Have any Pixel readers bought absolutely everything in their life from a specialist? Their white goods, furniture, groceries, everything? I almost don’t need to ask. We’ll just keep making the educational material and training available for those who want them.

Ultimately though, consumers do know what they want to some extent and cameras are very much a case of “horses for courses”. It’s up to each user to decide what they want to do with their camera and what quality they are expecting, then weigh it against their budget and decide where their priorities lie. There’s enough variety in the market now to cater for each and every consumer, and we’re pleased to have an exciting offering for the high end enthusiast and professional with the OM.

especially not on day-to-day business. All the products which were doing well are still doing well, development is still ongoing and new products are still being released. I don’t see it having any effect. It’s been separated off as an individual issue, and we are getting on with our own business. We’ve not seen consumer

Before I let you go Mark, I must ask what impact the scandal at the top of Olympus has had on the UK business?

The honest answer is it hasn’t had any,

name and branding to a camera which would only be around for a year or two, as so many are now. You never know, that’s all I’m going to say!

you work with the brand it’s easy to overestimate how many people read the business pages in the newspaper! Consumers may have worried whilst the issue was making headline news but they have seen that product is still available and we are still active in marketing and advertising.

new appearance?

We have asked! It does seem to make sense, doesn’t it? Certainly from a marketing perspective it would be ideal for the UK, as people do still remember it as an iconic camera.

The problem is, I’m not sure it would be as relevant to other markets as it is to the UK, so that might be quite a lot of investment to target one territory. It would also have to be the right product. The original Trip was around for about

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THE BUSINESS

Behind the Barcode The personalised barcode concept is being adopted by individuals and businesses. But how does QR code technology get results?

Barcode scanning is a trend which is currently riding a wave of popularity with Smartphone and social media users. social interaction, a QR code allows consumers to immediately view a web page, video or other online content on their smartphone without having to memorise a URL. In this way, businesses can use QR codes to further encourage users of their product or service to connect with them on Facebook or Twitter, view ads or demonstration videos on YouTube, or recommend them via social networking in a way which requires minimal effort from the user.

The QR (or Quick Response) code format was originally developed by a Toyota subsidiary called Denso Wave back in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. A two-dimensional code, they differ from traditional barcodes in the sense that a linear barcode typically holds a simple 12 digit numeric code code can hold up to around 4,000 alphanumeric characters which can be used to do a multitude of things, but usually contains a link to a website.

The growth of the QR code has been proportional to the massive increase in the amount of people using smartphones and mobile computer devices whith built-in cameras which function as their barcode scanners. Apps for reading QR codes and loading the relevant

webpage are available for free on all major smartphone interfaces, giving QR codes the of targeting consumers via their Smartphones are many and varied: they tend to carry and use their phone everywhere, yet they have the ability to show rich content immediately. Depending on the website the QR code directs to, the user might make a purchase, sign up to a mailing list or read more information on the spot.

According to a survey by QR specialists Scan Me, 24% of smartphone owners have used their phone to scan barcodes and this number is growing at over 1,000% year on year. Scan Me itself saw the number of people generating QR codes on its website jump by 300% in a year and they are being seen with increasing frequency on television, at the back of books, on magazine adverts, and so on, but what do they offer for the user that creates them?

Depending on the service used, QR codes can be used to collect complex data about who is doing the scanning. At the very least, using Google Analytics on the page the code links to will tell the user when and where a visitor was when they scanned the code. Data collected in this way can help them to ascertain who is taking notice of their product or advert, and offer those customers a better level of successful marketing.

Photographic Marathon National Portrait Gallery to exhibit Olympic images around the country.

Over 30 printed panels showing portraits of top athletes involved in London 2012 can be seen outdoors in cities around the country this summer. The free outdoor exhibition will go on show in Cardiff on 30 March 2012 before touring to Edinburgh and Birmingham.

All three regions have connections with the sitters and photographers on show. Scotland is represented by Olympic rower Katherine

Grainger and photographer Finlay MacKay; Welsh sitters include Paralympians Nathan Stephens and swimming coach Billy Pye with his protégé Eleanor Simmonds, who was born in the Midlands, which are further represented by West Bromwich-born Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis, and Olympic triple-jumper Phillips Idowu lives and trains in Birmingham.

News Redeye Launches Bursary Photography network Redeye has launched a bursary prize for a rising print star. The annual bursary has been launched with professional photographic printer Rob Sara, who is currently based in Cumbria.

The bursary will involve two days of directed hand printing to produce a series of images for a photographer’s portfolio to the value of up to £750 with an overnight stay. The bursary is purely for work shot on colour negative.

To enter the bursary award, applicants must be Redeye members. They will be judged on a body of work that can be uploaded on the members’ portfolio page of the Redeye website or send in a maximum of six printed images, maximum size A4, unmounted.

Visit www.redeye.org.uk for details.

Nikon 1 Cashback Offer Nikon has launched a new Nikon-1 promotion offering cashback on Nikon-1 J1 and V1 kits.

Nikon J1 Customers are entitled to claim up to £50 (or the 60 euro equivalent) cashback on the purchase of any Nikon-1 J1 or V1 camera or lens combination.

The Nikon-1 cashback promotion will run from 2nd February until 2nd April 2012 inclusive and all claims must be received by the 30th April 2012 in order to qualify. As always, terms and conditions apply.

For more information on the promotion, visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback.

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THE BUSINESS

A Snapshot of 2011, The results are now in for digital camera sales over the last year. With a GfK predict a wireless future for compact cameras.

We now have the full data for 2011, which presents a mixed picture for the digital cameras market. Overall, the entire digital cameras market was down by -7% for both volume and value. As you would expect, this on last year, which is relatively encouraging.

Please bear in mind that our 2011 reporting period contains one extra week of sales compared to 2010. Although this shouldn’t stated, they may slightly exaggerate them.

It was a strong year for the changeable lens market, which grew by 16% and 4% in volume and value respectively, with the Compact System Camera (CSC) continuing to penetrate the market with 48% volume growth.

The CSC accounted for a further 4.2% of the changeable lens market volume bringing it to 21.2% for 2011. The DSLR rebounded from the -2% volume decline in 2010 to increase by 9% in 2011. The more expensive DSLRs still maintained 84.8% of the market value in 2011, down slightly from 86.9% in 2010.

Fixed lens cameras still accounted for 89% of the market volume in 2011, down from 91% lower had it not been for the Bridge and Superzoom (optical cameras with 10X or more optical zoom) cameras, which grew in volume

by 32% and 54% respectively. Together they market volume than they did in 2010, with Superzoom making up 14% compared to 8.4% in 2010. In fact, it was only the lower end, below 10x optical zoom, cameras which declined in the entire digital still camera market by -19% in volumes.

After all the CES press coverage, it appears that that WiFi will be a major talking point of the market this year. Samsung’s WB850F gained their EasyShare M750 and Polaroid are introducing a model which runs on Google’s Android OS. WiFi has slowly been gathering pace over the past 12 months. WiFi enabled/ lens market volume with a peak value share of 13.3% in October 2011. Interestingly, this apparent adoption of WiFi from manufacturers is clearly a movement closer to the smartphone as opposed to the more traditional attempts to differentiate cameras away from the smartphone, such as the development of the superzoom camera.

For further information please contact Aaron Harris in the UK on +44 870 603 8231 or Aaron.Harris@gfk.com, www.gfkrt.com/uk

News Hassleblad Offer Free Studio Time to Buyers Photographers who buy a new Hasselblad camera at the company’s London Pro Centre will now automatically qualify for a full day’s studio time which would ordinarily cost hundreds of pounds. The free studio time promotion also includes all-day access to a professional digital operator, and applies exclusively to photographers purchasing a H4D-40, H4D50 or H4D-60 model before June 30, 2012.

As a further bonus, buyers will be elegible for highly discounted rates on all future sessions in the Hassleblad studio, beginning at just £260 plus VAT for a day.

Hasselblad’s studio hire offer extends to any registered Hasselblad owner; photographers hiring a Hasselblad camera, or even those using a Hasselblad body with a third party digital back.

For full terms and conditions, visit www.hasselbladstudio.com

searches on the internet over Christmas were conducted on a mobile device.

Retail Imaging Show Update

search volumes grew 24% in the fourth quarter compared with the same quarter a

Life Media Group’s Events Director, to give feedback on the Retail Imaging Show.

this increase was driven by a rise in mobile/ tablet search volumes which grew by 169% year-on-year.

“On the 17th of this month, we will hosting our annual advisory board meeting to pick over the bones of the 2011 events,” explains Simon Skinner. “The intention is, of course, to devise an improved show for everyone for 2012.

“Joining us will be representatives from all areas of the imaging industry, including manufacturers, suppliers and people from all areas of the retail channel too,” he continues.

“If you were a visitor to the Grove in Sept 2011 and feel that you have good ideas for the next event or can offer some constructive criticism,

and tablet-based searches accounted for 26% of overall retail searches.

Pre-Christmas searches peaked on 4 December for mobile and tablet devices, but a week earlier on Monday November 30th for online retail searches overall.

Peter Fitzgerald, Retail Director, Google, said: “Mobile/tablet volumes peaked at the weekends, with many consumers likely to have been searching on their devices while out shopping.”

Shoppers googling your prices on their phones? Discuss at pixellive.co.uk!

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we still have space for more attendees so please do come and join us. We have already made some considerable progress which we feel will take the Retail Imaging Show and Pixel Trade on this spot in Pixel Magazine for updates on your trade event of the year.”

If you would like to be involved, please contact Simon on 0870 777 9778.

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THE NEW WORLD OF IMAGING

THE RUMOUR

Samsung get Ahead ...with a headphone manufacturing partner. For a limited time, Jays headphones and Samsung will be offering joint promotions.

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

reach and increase cooperation will

simply things we have heard from those who may know! with selected Jays Promotional Media

which will be

www.jays.se

in a few months.

Panasonic, Integrated wider and more integrated Rumour has it that‌ Samsung may

portfolio of Voice, Text and Image. projectors, interactive whiteboards, presentation aids and displays,

Tracking’ for autofocus.

www.panasonic.eu

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Your Essential Guide to the Latest Launches

Name: Nikon D800 RRP: £2399.99 Release Date: 22nd March Nikon’s brand new 36.3 megapixel FX-format full-frame camera boasts 12-channel readout with a high signal-to-noise ratio, a super broad ISO extendable up to 25600 (equivalent) and down to 50 (equivalent) and frame rates of 30p, 25p and 24p, for broadcast quality Full HD movies. As introduced with the D4, Full HD recording is possible in both FX and DX based formats. The D800 also offers external stereo microphone input, an audio out for external headphones and line input setting for PCM linear recorders is also provided. As with Nikon D4, the D800 offers the possibility to output the uncompressed live view to external recorders at the designated image size and frame rate. All this, and it’s 10% lighter than the D700! www.nikon.com

Name: Olympus OM-D RRP: £1149.99 (Kit, body-only TBC) Release Date: April 2012

Name: Panasonic Lumix TZ30 and TZ25 RRP: TBC Release Date: March 2012 The Panasonic Lumix TZ30 features a Leica DC lens with an extended 20x Optical Zoom starting at 24mm Ultra Wide Angle and a new 14.1-megapixel high sensitivity MOS Sensor.

The light-speed Auto Focus, intuitive automatic shooting modes and wide range of ifeatures are designed to offer enhanced creativity.

Panasonic also launched the Lumix TZ25, which offers a 24mm ultra wide angle 16x optical With the TZ25’s Intelligent Zoom function, the zoom increases its power to the equivalent of 32x. www.panasonic.co.uk

Name: B RRP: £75 Release Date: Immediate this model is designed to provide extra stability and security for particularly active shooters.

The integrated underarm stabiliser holds the shoulder position while the photographer is in action. Worn diagonally across the torso from shoulder to hip it adjusts to

The forty-year pedigree of the OM series is updated with the 5-axis image stabilisation (IS) system, a new 16.1 megapixel high-resolution Live MOS Sensor and an integrated electronic

– the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm 1:2.8 macro – are under development and will extend creative applications for the user.

The OM-D features a FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF system, driving the Live MOS Sensor at 120 fps. The speed of communications for controlling the lens action has been improved, while the Movie & Still Compatible system has also been adopted for AF speed increase and noise reduction in the lens. www.olympus.co.uk

The R-Strap system distributes weight sensibly, and contains dense foam padding for comfort.The included stainless steel FastenR fastens to the standard 3/4” -20 tripod socket on the camera body or lens. Once fastened, the camera hangs upside down, resting securely at the photographer’s hip, stomach, or at the small of the back. www.blackrapid.com

Name: Pentax Optio VS20 RRP: £199.99 Release Date: February 2012

Name: Sony Micro Vault MACH RRP: TBC Release Date: Immediate

Name: Lomokino Smartphone Holder RRP: £19.99 Release Date: February 2012

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology. Available from 8GB up to 64GB, Micro Vault MACH offers data speeds up to 120 MB/s (read) and 90 MB/s (write).

Micro Vault MACH is backward-compatible with USB 2.0, so it works with current PCs and other devices that don’t support the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard. Encased in sleek aluminium, the USB connector retracts for safe and compact transportation and for

Lomo users can simply attach a smartphone to the LomoKinoScope with this clever gadget and turn any 35mm Lomographs into a movie. They just attach the LomoKino Smart Phone Holder to your LomoKinoScope, connect it with your smartphone and start recording while they turn the crank. They can even record

warranty. www.sony.co.uk

computer after recording. www.lomography.com

This camera comes in a durable dust and splashproof magnesium-alloy body and will be compatible with new accessories such as the optional HDL-6 power battery holder grip, MMF-3 Four Thirds mount adapter and

This VS20 incorporates a 16 megapixel sensor, a high-power 20x optical zoom lens, and an 3-inch from an extra shutter-release button and zoom vertical-position shooting. The camera also comes with a new Handheld Night Snap mode which allows users to capture images with minimal blur and noise even in dim light. www.pentax.co.uk

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THE LAUNCHPAD LAUNCH PAD

Name: Nikon Coolpix Additions RRP: £69.99 - £399.99 Release Date: 16th February - 22nd March Nikon has enhanced its Coolpix range with a raft of new compacts.

The P310 (£299.99) is a powerful compact camera that is prepared for serious photography, with a 16-megapixel sensor, a bright f/1.8 NIKKOR 4.2x optical zoom lens with wide-angle coverage, back-illuminated CMOS sensor, advanced lens shift vibration reduction, Full HD movie recording and a customisable function button.

The slimline S9300 (£299.99) features a NIKKOR 18x optical zoom lens, a back-illuminated 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, lens-shift vibration reduction, Full HD movie recording, 7.5 cm (3.0-in.) LCD monitor and built-in GPS. The colourful S6300 (£179.99) packs in a NIKKOR 10x optical zoom lens, a back-illuminated 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, lens-shift vibration reduction and Full HD movie recording.

The P510 (£399.99), successor to the P500, offers a 42x optical NIKKOR zoom lens that reaches a powerful 1000mm super-telephone focal length, down to a 24mm wide-angle. It also packs a 16-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and advanced lens-shift vibration reduction. The 16-megapixel L810 (£299.99), successor to the L120, offers a 26x extreme wide-angle optical zoom lens.

Name: Pentax K-01 RRP: £629.99 Release Date: March 2012 The Pentax K-01 camera features the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens - the smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS unifocal. This latest addition and the new lens were both designed in partnership with world renowned designer, Marc Newson. The K-01 features 16.28 megapixels, high-speed burst shooting, an extra-wide sensitivity range with a top sensitivity of ISO 25600 and Full HD video recording. The camera also features the Pentax K lens mount, so users can make effective use of their entire range of PENTAX www.pentax.co.uk

Waterproof, shockproof and featuring large buttons and simple menus, the S30 (£99.99) is a camera tdesigned for the whole family, with a 10-megapixel sensor, NIKKOR 3x optical zoom lens, 720p video recording The L310 (£199.99) is a high zoom camera that long zoom, a 14-megapixel sensor and 21x wide-angle optical zoom lens.

At the entry level, the the simple L25 (£69.99) features Easy Auto Mode, and the functional L26 (£99.99) offers 16-megapixels and one-touch video recording. www.nikon.com

Name: Sony Cybershot WX50 RRP: TBC Release Date: TBC The new Cybershot features a16.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor for extremely high resolution, low noise images and Full HD video. Designed to offer clear images even in dim light, it offers Extra High Sensitivity for clear images in dimly-lit conditions. The WX50 also carries Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode for steadiest ever handheld Full HD video, even when zooming.

Superior Auto promises professional-looking results in any situation. The WX50 also offers 5x Optical Zoom and 10x Clear Image Zoom and more Picture Effect modes www.sony.co.uk

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INFOLAB

INFOLAB: UPDATED FOR 2012 Infolab becomes InPrint: Retail Solutions for the Print Professional.

For those with a keen eye on trends, it will not come as a surprise that Infolab is the next of our magazines to be brought fully up to date, making it the must-read publication for today’s photo printing business.

When Infolab began, it was subtitled ‘the magazine for the D&P trade’. The developing and processing trade of those days has all but ceased to exist now, but many of the businesses that made their names in the golden age of continued on into a new era. Infolab was later known as ‘the magazine for the minilab and kiosk retailer’ but in 2012, we have an industry that has expanded far beyond this equipment and so, with its new title, InPrint promises to keep abreast of these changes will carry the subheading ‘Retail Solutions for the Print Professional’. Perhaps even more importantly, it also bears the strap line “from the makers of

Pixel Magazine’ which clearly denotes InPrint as a magazine which will not be afraid to move with the times, even when that means taking the brave step of changing a brand that has been in existence for nearly a decade in order to bring it up-to-date.

The climate of photo printing is changing just as rapidly as that of digital imaging, not least because is is reliant upon how and why photographers capture their images. There is no doubt that social networking has had an impact on the quantity of photos being printed, but it has also created a new world of opportunity across various retail operations. More people are taking more photos and sharing them in an arena where they can easily be contacted with marketing material. Some pro-active brands have already made their presence felt in this arena but there is limitless scope for more innovation, which is why InPrint will continue to be the

The New Look Logo

essential read for the sector.

Your new InPrint magazine will continue to bring the news and opinion from the retail printing trade that Infolab was renowned for, with the addition of in-depth interviews and features designed to showcase the opportunities open to the photo printing market. There will also be more updates on products, services and equipment relevant to the printing business, from the core elements of photo printing to the new lines of products which increasingly form part of the printed image world. The aim, as always, is to provide the reader with the information and business, now and in the future.

BEHIND THE COUNTER

IS ATTITUDE THE PROBLEM? no retailer can afford to lose a sale because of poor customer service.

Consumers aren’t happy about the service they receive in shops.

A survey carried out by YouGov and workforce management experts Cognito has found that that 67% of UK residents think customer service has deteriorated in the last three years. They cite impolite staff, stock delays and an inability to get what they want or have their problem solved as that main reasons for being unimpressed.

But can they really be surprised? Speaking to retailers every day, Pixel is inundated with tales of customers wanting refunds for no apparent reason, bringing in lists of prices from the internet and insisting on discounts. Considering the fact most consumers are aware that retailers have been backed into a corner where they are forced to compete with the internet for sales or go out of business, what they are doing is tantamount to blackmail. Is it any wonder, then, their patience? Dare we suggest, in some cases,

it’s the consumer’s attitude that needs adjusting?

Take this small selection of quotes from Pixel Live’s forum as an example: “[Customers aren’t curious because they’re buying gifts], they are people looking for information and to have a bit of a touch and feel so that they can then buy off the net!”

“So a new camera model comes out, having on, then suddenly the immortal phrase “I’ve had a look on the internet...” pops out. At this point I feel the blood drain out of my body and I have to mentally calculate how much I’m going to have to drop the price by and what extras I will have to throw in i.e. memory card, case, the wife, etc, in order to clinch the sale.

“Yesterday had a chap come in asked if I had a piece of kit in, we got it out and demo-ed, answered his questions then he said I only came in to check it out as I intended buying on line, so

CREDITS & CONTACTS Laura Knight 01323 437946 l.knight@parkview-publishing.co.uk

Harriet Weston 01323 411601 h.weston@parkview-publishing.co.uk

Grant Scott 01323 437941 g.scott@parkview-publishing.co.uk

01323 411601

Laura Knight 01323437964 l.knight@parkview-publishing.co.uk

Simon Skinner 01323 433700 s.skinner@parkview-publishing.co.uk

14 www.pixellive.co.uk

Amelia Wellings: 01323 433708 a.wellings@parkview-publishing.co.uk Clare Fermor Amelia Wellings 01323 433708 c.fermor@parkview-publishing.co.uk a.wellings@parkview-publishing.co.uk

I said can we do a deal and he said no as shops make far too much and online warehouses offer the best prices always!

Echoing the sentiment of most forum users, ’s reply was a succinct “I’d have punched him!”

“Is it just me or are our customers becoming more aggressive? I’ve had three people swear “I had a guy throw a punch at me a few months ago beacuse I would not refund a camera that was 11 months old, was full of sand scratches and had no box...he went off on one straight away.”

“The most annoying thing is time wasters, who look at their snaps on the kiosk and leave saying “I don’t really want any printed!” That and “Are your prints instant?” “No sir but we do print them straight away!” “Don’t they just come out infront of me? “No, sir, I’ll bring them to you when they are ready, in just a minute or two.” “Oh... no thanks, I’ll go to Boots. Their prints come out infront of you!” of the people surveyed rated customer service over Christmas as good, Keep smiling, and if you need to vent,

Life Media Group Park View House 19 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3YD 01323 411 601

Gemini Press Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex 01273 464884

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Pixel Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Pixel Magazine assume no reponsibilty for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisment contained within Pixel Magazine. All prices featured in Pixel Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

o

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