Pixel Magazine 15th March 2012

ISSUE NO. 868

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

THE INSIDER

Is Focus on Imaging targeting the right part of the industry?

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THE NEWS

Movers, shakers, decision makers plus all the news 3-10 that’s fit to print THE BIG INTERVIEW

Pixel speaks to Rob Hennessey, John Lewis’ Imaging Buyer

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THE BUSINESS

The views, facts and figures 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

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Big brand presence and even bigger product announcements draw the crowds to the NEC for Focus on Imaging

Despite the drizzle, thousands made their way to Birmingham’s NEC between 1st and 4th March for the annual Focus on Imaging exhibition. Early annecdotal evidence reports an extremely busy start to the show, with consumers flocking in to see the latest products from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Fujifilm and many other brands who condensed their ranges into the 20,000 square metres of Halls 9 & 10.

Despite squeezed margins and pressure from the economic climate, many of the stands were offering prominent show deals which were snapped up by bargain-hunting enthusiasts, even as the immortal words “I’ll see how much it is on eBay” echoed around the exhibition. There certainly seemed to be some truth to retailers’ feverent hopes that dedicated hobbyists and professionals still value hands-on demonstrations and expert advice.

Visitors to Focus on imaging get hands-on

Visitors to the show were also invited to sign the Save the Photographers petition on several stands, further bringing this campaign to the attention of the public in an environment where its relevance was undeniable.

Read what our Insider though of the show on page 3, and see what retailers exhibiting at Focus had to say on page 7.

Canon Launch 5D Mark III First glimpse of the latest addition to the EOS range at Focus On Imaging.

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INFOLAB

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

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

15/03/2012

FOCUS: THE MAIN EVENT

LAUNCH PAD

The latest imaging products launched that you should not miss

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The Newly Released Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Visitors to Focus were able to get their hands on the brand new and hotly anticipated Canon 5D Mark III if they were willing to brave the queues, and many were. The newly-announced camera was the centre of buzz at the show that saw Canon’s stand packed to capacity for the duration of the exhibition.

“The EOS 5D Mark III represents a big step forward for the EOS 5D series,” commented Kieran Magee, Marketing Director of Professional Imaging at Canon Europe. “The EOS 5D Mark II is an exceptional camera and we’ve listened carefully to feedback from its passionate community of users to improve performance in every area. This new version of the camera has been designed to meet virtually any creative challenge – it’s faster, more responsive and features the tools to adapt to everything from studio photography to creative videography, while producing results of the highest quality.” New features include improved 22.3 megapixel resolution and increased autofocus performance.

View more details of the 5D Mark III on page 12.

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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.

As I set off early on a wild, windy and had made an effort and the excitement around rainy Sunday morning in early March all of their recent launches was paying off. Even to the vast architectural nightmare that is Kodak were there in force.

Birmingham’s NEC, for Focus on Imaging, I But of course Focus is not just about camera have to admit that I am filled with trepidation. manufacturers and support for the show Trepidation about what this year’s event is from retailers, print, tripod, lighting, bags and going to say about our industry, about both software/hardware manufacturers was evident its economic and creative health and it’s in innovative stand designs and new product. practitioners, all of our customers.

The overall atmosphere to me felt like that of I’ve been to Focus many times and there is an industry working hard to succeed and I no doubt that some have felt more positive, hope they did. Tthe feedback I have received busy and encouraging would suggest that than others. This year I it was actually a very felt that it was vital that successful show Focus felt good, when financially for many of so many retailers are the exhibitors. having such a difficult So far so good then, time. In short I wanted but any regular reader that ‘feel good factor’, of this column will know I wanted to see a that I am not here to vibrant, engaged and write up easy going eclectic audience eager promotion pieces. I’m to spend. However, here to ask questions, immediate appearances and to get you thinking, Crowds at Focus on Imaging 2012 did not bode well. to make observations, In previous years the march from the car which may not always be comfortable to hear. park and into the halls was marked by large So here goes… marketing campaigns from manufacturers such Having recently visited the Broadcast and as Nikon. This year there were none.

Video Exhibition at Earls Court, I couldn’t I should say at this point that I always attend help but notice how broad the age range Focus on the Sunday and Monday, the most was of those attending and, by listening in popular consumer days. Why? Because I go on conversations, how informed they were to learn, to stand around counters to listen in about both kit and image making. At Focus on to conversations, to see which stands are busy the Sunday and Monday the conversations I and what is being asked. I hope to be informed listened in to were also informed but they were in those two days about what I should be doing the conversations of the ‘dyed in the wool’ over the following year. enthusiast and not of the wider demographic of I arrived just as the doors opened and the today’s image makers (although I understand queue started to shuffle inside. It wasn’t a big that on the Tuesday it was a much younger queue but they looked like hardy souls well crowd). The Focus crowd, were predominantly versed in the world of photography, they knew male (BVE had a much healthier mix of sexes) what they were there for and on that basis I and over forty. This in itself is not a problem felt confident that the quality of visitor that first but as I said I was looking to see if Focus this morning could well be high. That feeling was year reflected what I see and what our industry further supported on entering the hall. Canon see’s as its future. I think that on the whole the were back with a bang and a big stand rammed exhibitors did but I don’t think that those who with kit, seminars and visitors (no doubt buoyed attended matched those exhibitors ambitions by the strategic announcement of the 5DMKIII as fully as they could have. You could of course just two days before). Nikon also had a strong argue that the age and sex of the person buying presence featuring kit and seminars, again does not matter, as long as those tills are ringing boosted by the recent launches of the D4 and who cares? This is of course only my personal the D800. Olympus bought the sexy glamour of opinion. The show then was positive, the Strictly Come Dancing’s Ola Jordan and partner demographic of the attendees slightly less so. to the show along with their recently launched This is a great show that should be seen OM-D on a slick looking multi purpose catwalk by a wider cross section of people in the way stand (Olympus also provided the show bag that The Gadget Show is, at the same venue. marketing, filling the show with their strong It would be encouraging to see all four days of graphic black and white marketing campaign for Focus filled with the young, mixed sex audience their latest phoenix from the flames launch). The we all engage with throughout the year, as well Fuji multi entrance stand was also packed with as it’s current devoted fans. I am a firm believer people trying to get their hands on their highly that Focus On Imaging is a great show with a successful and desirable retro inspired recent great future, if that future includes an expanded launches. The manufacturers who were there audience demographic.

FOCUS

News Swains Heiresses Sue Over Inhertiance Tax The four daughters of the late Swains entrepreneur Chris Swain are suing the solicitors that handled the buyout of the Swains business, claiming that the firm’s negligence has cost them at least £1million.

In his Will, Chris Swain left his daughters a combined estate including his £1.5million home in Norfolk and a lump sum from the buy-out of Swains International PLC, estimated to be about £5million.

Chris Swain’s daughters believe that the firm should have warned their father to delay the sale of his business because of his ongoing ill-health and related surgery.

If the sale, which was completed just two weeks before Chris’ untimely death at the age of 61, had not gone ahead, his daughters would have been covered by business property relief and would not have had to pay the £1million inheritance tax they have been charged. They also believe they lost out on around £200,00 of capital gains tax relief as a result of the solicitors’ failure to give the correct advice on the sale of the business.

The original claim was rejected last March, but Gemma, Christa, Abby Swain and Claire Swain-Mason have now taken the case to the Appeal Court.

Broncolor announce Scoro Trade-in Offer Broncolor has announced its ‘best ever’ trade in offer of up to £2,100 off Scoro Power Packs its world Scoro power packs.

From now until May 31st, photographers still using the company’s now discontinued Grafit packs can upgrade and get 30% off the top of the range Scoro A2S 1600J and its sibling, the A4S 3200J. The offer is on a ‘like for like’ basis, so customers who trade in an old working A4 can now buy a Scoro A4S unit for £4,899.30 (ex VAT) instead of £6,999.

Similarly, a working Grafit A2 trade-in will give the customer a 30% discount on a new Scoro A2S. That price comes down from £5,299 to just £3,709.30 (ex VAT).

Broncolor have said they will also be offering customers still working with other aging bron packs, such as like Pulso a 20% trade-in for a new Scoro system. www.broncolor.com

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NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERSOLD For nearly 150 years, John Lewis stores have been a prominent presence on the UK high street and recently, the retailer’s success has become the barometer by which the retail climate is measured. Pixel spoke to Rob Hennessey, Buyer for Audio, Imaging & Gaming at John Lewis to understand how the brand’s approach to imaging is changing.

Rob Hennessey

Rob, we meet you as the buyer for both imaging and audio at John Lewis. To what extent do these roles overlap?

There is certainly a degree of overlap, especially in recent years and I do feel that it is increasing.

Really, this overlap began with products such as the iPod, which then lead to the iPod touch and the real game-changing moment was when they introduced video playback, camera features, et cetera at the entry level. This was when we began to see definite convergence between audio and imaging products and I think it’s a great thing. For my experience, it has certainly introduced new people to photography, as they are able to take quick snaps on devices they already have in their pockets. But, as they then begin to enjoy this, their needs advance and they outgrow the imaging abilities of their devices, so they step up to dedicated photography products and further develop their hobby.

Do John Lewis stores actively promote this step up?

It’s a very natural progression, so we do promote it indirectly because our staff are extensively trained to be able to point out the cameras which most suit a customer’s needs. Sometimes, if a customer wants to take quick convenience snaps and also has other needs, the best combination for them will come in the form of an iPod touch, perhaps, whereas sometimes it is a higher end product which will help them achieve the photos they want. Now, especially, you have to take into account other products which the customer may already have or may want as well, and help them decide what is going to provide the best combination of features for them.

Having an awareness of all of these products and the ability to cross sell through sections such as cameras and personal audio or perhaps display is very helpful when it comes to assisting consumers with these decisions.

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Where does video fit into this view of image capture?

It’s an interesting one because more and more cameras have video capabilities included now, and more have such good video functions that it’s difficult to see why many consumers would need a separate video camera in addition to their compact camera, CSC or DSLR. Personally, I’ve come from carrying four or five devices in my nag to having one in my pocket, and this convenience is what inspires a lot of purchases in the technology sector. You can certainly cover the majority of needs with a couple of devices…

I find an iPhone and a DSLR will cover my needs, and I think it would most people’s.

Is this affecting your camcorder sales then?

Individual video cameras are certainly difficult at the moment. Video itself is hugely important but the way people capture it is changing and that’s something retailers and camera brands will need to adjust to.

What training do John Lewis staff receive on imaging products?

It begins with learning our generic sales techniques, which is all about talking to the customer and finding their needs, price ranges, what individual features they want and helping them choose the net product. This is the

“We’re a very different type of retailer to many mass stores... many of our counter staff are specialists in their own right.” basic standard for John Lewis staff training. In consumer electronics it’s especially important as in many cases, stores will try to sell the most expensive model but we think it’s important not to encourage someone to spend more money than they want to only to end up with a product that has features they will never use, as they will regret the purchase and that isn’t good customer service.

On top of this, we collaborate with key brands in order to offer increased staff training in key products and ranges, to incentivise the staff and make sure they are confident in selling the

products. We have reps come in on a regular basis to help introduce the products, and generally receive all the support we need.

Is this offered to you by the brands in question, or do you have to ask for it?

I’d say it was a collaborative approach with the big brands as they are aware of the benefits of reaching John Lewis’ customers and the wide range of people our stores will allow them to reach, so they see the value of offering training and assistance. This in turn means they are assured that we can offer the best staff knowledge and high standards, so we don’t have to ask for help. From our point of view, it’s important to offer that high level of service so it works for everyone.

Do you think you can offer the same level of service as a specialist photographic retailer?

We’re a very different type of retailer to many mass stores as every member of staff has a share in the company. This means we have low staff turnover and attract a different calibre of staff, so some of our imaging staff in particular are real enthusiasts, true ‘photo people’. If you go into one of our imaging departments, you might find the staff have been there ten, fifteen years because they’re able to progress through the career path they’ve chosen, so they are specialists in their own right.

Does this help with your sales?

It can do, as the quality of a demonstration depends to an extent on the enthusiasm of the member of staff. One of our guys in Oxford street, for example, really goes out of his way because he’s an enthusiastic photographer himself. He’ll take the same photograph on five different cameras and then use those to illustrate the qualities of different models when he’s selling.

Our sales staff are of a generally high standard but that’s an advanced level due to the member of staff in question’s love of the subject and ideally, that’s the level we’d like everyone to be at.

How important is a successful imaging department to John Lewis?

It’s a very important category. Our three key pillars are electronics, fashion and home - they all contribute an equal turnover to our business.

Within electronics, imaging is one of the key

THE BIG INTERVIEW

purchases, so with the Jubilee and the Olympic Games in London, 2012 looks to be a big year for these sales.

How actively is John Lewis marketing its imaging offering?

You’ll have seen our major advertising campaigns, which I think it’s fair to say were some of the key marketing moments of last year, especially at Christmas. We also had the electornics though the ages television ads, through which we are promoting our two key messages: “leader in technology” and “never knowingly undersold. It’s important to communicate both as we really want to dispell the outdated thinking that only the affluent elder population shop in John Lewis... we hope nobody thinks that any more, our customers certainly don’t.

On the imaging front, we’ve produced a million technology catalogues that we mail out and give to customers. There’s also web and email activity, plus other marketing techniques that we can apply thanks to the John Lewis card.

Through the data store card holders give us, we can see what their interests are and what they have bought in the past, which allows us to come up with targeted promotions. This is a benefit of the department store format, where we have other products and methods of reaching customers.

What plans do you have for John Lewis’ imagng business this year?

We’re really working on growing our market share in this category, so we’ll be working very hard this year as always.

My plan is to reduce the focus on entry-level cameras, as we have seen sales in this area declining and they do not offer much potential growth in margin or interest. Instead we will ‘turbo charge’ our strength in step-up products and the premium end as we see that this is where the best opportunities lie. To this end, there will probably be some changes to the range we stock throughout the year, as well as bringing in key new releases, of course.

A John Lewis Imaging Department

areas. I would say our hero products in that area are amongst cameras and televisions.

Would you say it was a growing category?

I think it’s just about static. Other categories within electronics have seen game-changing developments recently such as tablets and the like, so whilst imaging has not fallen in value for us, other things have taken priority at times.

That said, imaging is an ongiong priority and certain categories within imaging are particularly important to us, as premium products for good value prices are what John Lewis is good at.

What trends do you see affecting John

Lewis’ imaging business at the moment?

On a market trends level, we’re definitely seeing a decline in entry-priced cameras because people are completing this first step of photography with their smarthphone or other devices.

This means that when it comes to buying an actual camera, they are starting at a higher level. What this does is create a hunger for slightly more capable and feature-rich camera products, which is why we’ve seen so much growth in the compact system camera, bridge camera, entry-level DSLR and high zoom compact categories. We tend to find major life events such as weddings and holidays inspire

Will you be expanding your range of accessories in line with video, tablet and audio trends?

We always look at what accessories our customers may need as attaching sales is an important service as well as an essential means of generating profits Our customers expect to go home with everything they need when we make a sale, so if they leave and then realise that they have not got the necessary memory card to get started, or that they don’t have a camera bag, then the sale was not complete.

Add-on sales are a service in this way, and of course they’re also another motivation for the customer to spend their money with us. This is an increasingly important consideration in the current climate, and the wide reach of the imaging industry should only make the colletion of a kit of interacting products easier and more appealing for consumers in time. www.johnlewis.com

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SPECIAL REPORT

The Main Event

Focus on Imaging 2012 offered an energised view of the photographic trade for visitors, but what did those on the stands think of the show?

At the time of going to press, Focus On Imaging had just closed its doors, so no official attendance figures were available, but it was clear to visitors and exhibitors alike that the show was a busy one. You only needed to try to walk between any of the packed major stands or attempt to queue for a glimpse of the Canon 5D Mark III to realise that 2012’s Focus On Imaging was the most popular for several years.

Filling two halls of Birmingham’s NEC, as always, this year’s show saw the return of big names with bigger splashes than ever before.

“It’s certainly been the busiest opening to the show I can remember, “ commented Hardy Hasse on the Flaghead Photographic stand on Monday. “And, people are actually spending money, which can’t always be said! We consider exhibiting at Focus to be absolutely essential because of the long term benefits for the business, but of course it’s even better if the sales we do at the show turn a profit in their own right. Even if they go some way towards covering the cost of exhibiting, that’s a great help and it looks positive for that this year, even though it’s early doors yet.”

A canvas of exhibitors revealed an echo of Focus’ usual trends - Sunday and Monday

were the busiest days for the enthusiast, student and consumer photographer, with a stronger professional presence on Tuesday and Wednesday. The pressure to offer show deals, and even greater discounts at the end of the show, was as present as ever.

“I don’t think pricing will be too different to store prices this year,” said Anthony Jacob, CEO of Jacobs, just ahead of the show. “There’s just no more room for discounting. And it’s a real shame that some of the exciting new products which will be driving visitors to Focus aren’t ready for sale yet.

“Sales-wise, we do sufficiently at Focus but really, exhibiting is a long term investment as it is one of very few chances to directly reach up to 30,000 enthusiasts. The current trading environment is so difficult that you need all the exposure you can get, and it’s difficult to measure, but you do get customers coming into store months after the show because they saw you there.

“The trade needs Focus, as it’s the only event of its kind in the UK, where customers get to try out products and see a wide range of accessories and technology before they buy,” concluded Anthony.

Up Close at CP+ Shortly before Focus captured the UK’s attention, CP+ brought the latest in imaging to more than 65,000 worldwide visitors to Paifico Yokohama, Japan. Pixel spoke to Park Cameras’ Reg Atkins, who visited CP+, to see how the show compares to its UK counterparts.

What was your main reason for visiting CP+?

My primary reason for visiting is to make key people in Japan aware that without more selective distribution products for specialist photo retailers, the UK retailers will not survive in anything like their current numbers as we cannot go on trying to match prices on the web.

Other reasons for visiting were to see the latest products and understand long term road maps with suppliers, to experience the latest selling techniques and showrooms at Yodobashi, Big C and other Japanese stores, and to meet with friends and industry contacts.

How does CP+ compare with UK shows?

It’s about the same size as Focus but in one

Olympus brought glamour to Focus on Imaging

With great turn out and an impressive show of effort and support from the industry’s biggest brands, 2012’s Focus On Imaging painted a postivie picture of the imaging trade going forwards and cemented the future of the UK’s largest consumer imaging show within the changing world of imaging. www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk

number of stands indulging in memorabilia.

I found that the Pentax Q was amongst the product that was far higher priced in Japan yet having far more interest in it than the UK. Canon’s stand, whilst very large, did not have the queues they would have had if the 5D Mark III had been available. It was disappointing not to be meet up with any Canon personnel though.

Do people from the UK trade need to be going to CP+?

Only if they are going to implement new ideas they gain from going to Japan. The show itself is insufficient reason for going, in my opinion, but visiting Yodobashi and Big C will open up many retailers’ eyes.

CP+ drew crowds of more than 65,000

hall with no retailers. The key difference was the presence of at least 5 of the big brands’ CEOs and these all had time to have meetings with us.

What were the most interesting products and trends you noticed at CP+?

Very briefly, the show was much better, in my opinion, for having no retailers.

The Japanese public were prepared to queue for hours for a 3 minute handling of the D800, OMD and X1 Pro. The Nikon, Olympus and Fuji stands were extremely busy, and Panasonic had good interest in their compacts, especially the latest TZ30. Just as at Focus, there were a

Is there anything else Pixel readers should know about CP+?

If you go to Japan, allow at least 14 days so you can take in the culture as well as visiting Japanese electronics stores to see how they do business. CES/PMA badly needs to be held in Japan instead of America to get a true Asian manufacturing influence and to mix with visitors from all over the world.

Also, what I would give for us to have Japanese retail prices here! A Lowepro Slingshot for example being sold by Amazon UK at £49.99 was £106 in Japan. All of the prices were 15 to 40% more expensive with less tax, which really makes you think about the value of products and the extent to which retailers dictate them. www.cpplus.jp/en

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THE BUSINESS

CSC Growth Redefines Camera Bag Market The popularity of compact system cameras has prompted a consumer shift toward higher-end camera bags, according to GFK’s latest findings.

A lot of what GfK has been writing about over the past year has been to do with the surge in sales of changeable lens cameras. This growth has finally tipped the balance in the camera bags market: in January, for the first time, bags designed for changeable lens cameras (photo backpacks, SLR/Compact System Camera (CSC) bags and shoulder SLR/CSC bags), have achieved a significantly greater value share than bags made for the humble compact.

Over the course of 2011, changeable lens cameras accounted for 37.5% of every pound spent on cameras, which translated into an extra 4.2% of the market value compared to 2010. This was largely driven by volume growth of +16% in changeable lens cameras, as there was extensive price erosion in the segment of £55 from 2010 to 2011.

This ever increasing flow of money to the changeable lens segment from the fixed lens has meant that the makeup of the camera bags market has changed dramatically. Changeable lens camera bags in January made up 52.1% of the market value, which was a hefty 15.4% more than the compact camera bag, a difference which has not been seen before. It is largely thanks to the greater volume growth in changeable lens camera bag sales (+34%), relative to growth in compact camera bags (+1%) which has led to this change; the average selling price of the higher end camera bags

actually fell by £3 in 2011 compared to 2010.

In terms of the future, it is likely that this balance in favour of the higher end camera bags will be reinforced. It is expected that the consumer will increasingly purchase changeable lens cameras and either buy suitable camera bags simultaneously or realise after that they need an appropriate bag to accommodate their new cameras. This will be especially true the more first-time buyers there are in the changeable lens segment.

For further information please contact Aaron Harris in the UK on +44 870 603 8231 or Aaron.

Harris@gfk.com, www.gfkrt.com/uk

Shoppers “Return to Reality”

Official figures reveal that consumers have once again cut back their budgets after minimal ‘splashing out’ at Christmas.

Following an encouraging burst of growth in December, retail sales have fallen back into year-on-year decline in the first two months of 2012 according to figures by KPMG (advisory services) and the British Retail Consortium.

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail, KPMG explained: “After a stronger than expected December, these latest figures are sobering. The return to negative like-for-like sales reflects the trend seen throughout most of 2011 and is a stark reminder of the challenges facing retailers.

“In January, retail didn’t benefit from the catch-up effect we saw last year after December 2010’s snow disruption.

“The underlying health of the sector remains a key concern, with margins and profits squeezed by the relentless need to discount to generate demand, and in most cases pricing remains more strategic than ever.

“Consumers remain reluctant to spend unless encouraged by promotional activity. Thus, while

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the market is still growing slightly in headline sales terms, profitability continues to be eroded through loss of margins.

“Many retailers feel they’re fighting very hard just to stand still at best and don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. However, there are retailers out there who deliver what the customer wants and needs – in terms of product, brand and price – which proves that if the proposition is spot on it is still possible to outperform the market and the competition.”

With a substantial injection of new products and promotional activity, the imaging industry certainly looks fit to stand its ground, although few can ignore the threat posed by the prospect of further discounting and promotions.

Fortunately, experts across the board predict lifted sales surrounding the summer’s Jubilee and Olympic Games, which should provide a welcome boost for the UK high street. www.kpmg.com

News Photoshop Available on iPad 2 Adobe’s Photoshop Touch is now available for the iPad 2, via the iTunes App Store.

Photoshop Touch offers core Photoshop features, as well as new capabilities for creating and sharing in an app custom-built for tablets.

Photoshop Touch gives users the ability to combine multiple photos into layered images, make edits and apply professional effects to create artwork, touch up photos, paint, lay out ideas and much more. The Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep, and then what to remove. Touch also helps users quickly find images and share creations through integration with Facebook and Google Image Search.

The app is a central component of Adobe Touch Apps, a family of six intuitive touch screen applications, inspired by Adobe Creative Suitesoftware. iPad versions of the other Adobe Touch Apps are expected later this year. www.adobe.com

Ricoh Updates GR IV Firmware Ricoh has released the first functionexpansion firmware update for the GR DIGITAL IV, which was launched in October 2011.

The firmware update incorporates ideas taken from the many opinions and requests that Ricoh received from collecting surveys of the opinions of customer registering their GR IV cameras online.

The update adds new functions and an increased number of settings that can be adjusted on the GR DIGITAL IV, thus improving its performance and ease of use while also giving it the latest functions aimed at improving user experience and the customisability of the camera.

The update adds a newly developed function for including copyright notice within the image data. It improves Auto Exposure Speed and adds a function for customising the Snap Focus distance for convenient shots, and a function for displaying photo information for Interval Composite photographs. The latest update also adds floating black level adjustment function for interval composite mode shooting, for improved creative control.

The firmware and user manual explaining its functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website. www.ricoh.com

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THE NEW WORLD OF IMAGING

THE RUMOUR 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... Breakfast’s Instaprint printing device for Instagram photos may soon be a reality. The prototype was made last year and was able to turn tagged instagram photos into Zink prints instantly. The company is now trying to raise half a million dollars through $400 preorders to manufacture the printer.

Via PetaPixel Rumour has it that... three new lenses will soon be available from SLR Magic including a toy pinhole lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, a version for Q mounts and a version for E mount cameras. If these releases follow SLR Magic’s usual patterns, they will be up for sale on eBay shortly.

Via Photo Rumous Rumour has it that... Samsung will soon be announcing a phone with a new “premium” 8MP sensor. The snappily named 8MP S5K3H7 will feature backside illumination (BSI) technology for better quality photography in low light, to rival the iPhone 4/4S camera, zero shutter lag and 30fps 1080p video all while using less power than previous generations.

There is not yet any information about the phone itself Via Engadget Rumour has it that... Nikon maybe discontinuing the D700 in several territories. The camera was listed as discontinued in Japan in January, and is nowrumoured to be following suit in Canada. In the US, the price has been reduced by $500.

Via Nikon Rumours

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Nokia’s 41 Megapixel Phone Nokia’s latest release boasts a massive 41 megapixels, but can a phone ever really take a camera’s place?

Nokia have announced their first smartphone to feature PureView technology, which offers astounding photographic abilities in a smartphone.

The Nokia 808 PureView features a 41-megapixel sensor with Nokia’s performance Carl Zeiss optics to date and brand-new pixel oversampling technology, which goes some way to explaining the almost unbelievabl inclusion of a 41 megapixel sensor.

The technology means that rather than taking 41 MP photographs, the camera is designed to A sample image from the PureView 808

optimally take smaller shots (Nokia suggest 5 megapixels). The camera can use oversampling to combine up to seven pixels into one “pure” pixel, eliminating the visual noise found on other mobile phone cameras. The oversampling technology also offers significantly improved low light performance over camera phones: compared to a typical optical zoom camera used at full zoom, the Nokia 808 PureView captures over 5x more light.

Of course, video has not been overlooked at the 808 PureView allows for 1080p recording at 30fps, with 4X zoom thanks to the huge sensor.

In sound, Nokia also claim the PureView also sets a new standard. The Nokia 808 PureView is the world’s first video recording device to allow recording without distortion at audio levels beyond the capability of human hearing for “stereo CD-like audio quality”. Last and definitely not least, it’s also a smartphone, which may just be the one feature that holds photographers back from snapping up this model. www.conversations.nokia.com

Samsung/Sensio Switch Electronics giants reach an agreement over 3D switching technology

Sensio and Samsung have reached a patent license agreement over the SENSIO S2D Switch. As a result of this agreement, Sensio will allow Samsung Electronics the right to implement the S2D Switch in its 3DTVs. The proprietary Sensio S2D Switch, which is protected by U.S. and international patents, enables users to switch viewing mode of a 3D feed from 3D to 2D or between different 3D viewing modes.

“We value our relationship with SENSIO Technologies and respect its intellectual property,” said a representative at Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. “This agreement will allow Samsung to continue using the patented technology developed by Sensio for the benefit of consumers who buy our 3D-enabled televisions around the world.”

Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO at Sensio, released a statement saying “for us, signing a patent license agreement with the world leader of 3DTVs definitely enhances the value of our S2D Switch patent and our overall patent portfolio, and demonstrates that leaders in the industry value our intellectual property. We expect this agreement to positively influence our ongoing negotiations with other TV manufacturers who have deployed our S2D switch technology.”

The financial terms of the license agreement will remain confidential.

More information on Sensio and its technologies is available at www.sensio. tv and information on Samsung and its products is available at www.samsung.com

www.pixellive.co.uk 11

Your Essential Guide to the Latest Launches

Name: Canon EOS 5D Mark III RRP: £2399.99 Release Date: 22nd March

Name: Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic RRP: £189 Release Date: Immediate

The EOS 5D Mark III builds on the performance of the legendary EOS 5D Mark II, offering improved speed, greater resolution, enhanced processing power and extended creative options for both stills and Full HD movies.

Incorporating feedback from photographers,the EOS 5D Mark III offers improved performance in virtually every area.

A new 22.3 Megapixel (MP) full-frame sensor offers the ideal balance of resolution for stills and HD movies and up to 6 fps shooting, whilst a 61-point AF system and 63-zone metering provide speed, flexibility and accuracy. Powered by the latest DIGIC 5+ processing technology, the EOS 5D Mark III also features enhanced video functions alongside greater audio control – redefining creative possibilities for photographers and amateur videographers alike.

Lensbaby has released its 80mm Edge 80 Optic, the newest addition to its Optic Swap System. This new optic is compatible with the Lensbaby Composer Pro, Composer, Muse, Scout and Control Freak, and will transform any of these bending lens bodies into a tilt lens that delivers a selective slice of sharp focus through an image.

The Edge 80 provides a flat field of focus that, pointed straight ahead, takes photos that are sharp from edge to edge. Tilting the Edge 80 allows photographers to create vertical, horizontal and diagonal slices of focus through the image. wwwl.lensbaby.com

Name: Canon Professional Accessories RRP: As Below Release Date: As Below

Name: Pocketwizard Plus III RRP: £129.99 Release Date: Immediate

Canon has also extended its range of acclaimed accessories with new models designed to offer enhanced flexibility and new creative control to its professional and mid-range EOS Digital SLRs. Sitting at the top of Canon’s range, the Speedlite 600EX-RT is Canon’s first flash unit to feature inbuilt wireless radio connectivity and replaces the advanced Speedlite 580EX II. It will carry an RRP of £679.99 and will be available from the end of March.

The WFT-E7 is a new wireless file transmitter for a wide range of EOS models.

For those who need to transfer their images quickly and easily, the new WFT-E7 provides enhanced versatility through high-speed Wi-Fi and support for wired connectivity over Ethernet. The WFT-E7 offers super-fast image transfer direct to an FTP server or DLNA-enabled HDTV, will retail for £789.99 and will also be available from the end of March.

Also new is the GPS receiver GP-E2 – a new hot shoe GPS unit which makes it easy for photographers to geo-tag their images with longitude, latitude and altitude data as well as the direction in which the shot was taken, adding information to the EXIF file of the image. It will be available from the end of April, RRP £299.99.

For photographers who want to shoot for longer with the EOS 5D Mark III, the new ergonomic battery grip BG-E11, doubles the battery life with two additional LP-E6 batteries, with the added flexibility of using AA batteries as an emergency back-up. It is available from the end of April 2012, priced at £329.99 www.canon.co.uk

Modelled to fit the needs and budget of the Plus Series market, the Plus III offers significant upgrades only found on the ultimate PocketWizard. Impressive features such as 32 channels (16 Standard and 16 Quad-Zone Triggering channels) allow the photographer to activate or deactivate remote flash units or cameras wirelessly in four separately controllable zones, just like the MultiMAX. In addition, the New Plus III Transceiver is a selectable Transmitter, Receiver or Transceiver radio incorporated into a new contoured modern housing. It offers familiar features such as AutoSensing Transceiver Mode and Relay Mode in addition to cool new advanced features never before offered in an affordable radio. www.pocketwizard.com

Name: Grablet RRP: £35 Release Date: Immediate

Name: Delkin 700X Compact FlashCard RRP: £46 to £ 188 Release Date: Immediate

Name: Lomography La Sardinia Western RRP: £179 Release Date: immediate

The most comfortable way to an iPad, this gadget has been developed by a husband and wife team of iPad lovers. This brand new accessory has been a runaway success in the USA. Now available for the first time in the UK & Ireland, it will soon become an indispensable accessory for the iPad user community. www.grablet.com

Delkin’s latest CompactFlash memory card has been designed to cater to high definition video and RAW DSLR files produced in today’s highend cameras.

The UDMA 6 enabled memory cards offer transfer rates up to 105MB/s and write speeds of 67MB/s, making them ideal for demanding digital SLR applications and video modes such as slow motion recording.

The CF 700X cards are ready to begin shipping in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, with a 128GBin production and estimated to be available from the end of the month. www.delkin.com

These two new oxidized metal Sardina clones offer ultra-wide-angle snapshots. Otherwise the specifications are the same as the original Sardinia, offering creative 35mm photography in a compact body.

The intricate filigree design of these cameras is said to be inspired by arechetypal wanted woman, famous outlaw Belle Starr. www.lomography.com

12 www.pixellive.co.uk

THE LAUNCHPAD LAUNCH PAD

Name: Luminair RRP: From £150 Release Date: Immediate Bowens have introduced a nine model-strong range of softboxes.

Lumiair products have been designed to carefully control the colour temperature of the reflected light and prevent fluorescence. Integral tension in Lumiair rods that creates the straightest edges possible for absolute control over light direction and shadow cut-off.

The new, easily portable range has been created to give the most efficient light possible at a competitive price. The company has teamed with Lighttools, the Canada-based manufacturer of the original, Soft Egg Crate (interlocking cloth strips) light control system, to offer a bespoke range of fabric egg crates for the new Bowens softboxes. www.bowensdirect.com

Name: Booq Bags RRP: £83 - £230 Release Date: Immediate Four new bags, the Python courier, Python pack, Python sling and Python toploader combine the signature aesthetics associated with Booq and the practicality required by photographers.

Python courier is a shoulder bag designed to protect a large DSLR with attached lens, four additional lenses and an iPad. Inside its rigid camera compartment, padded walls cradle the camera, and densely padded dividers can protect any other equipment.

The Python toploader camera bag is a shoulder bag designed to protect either any size DSLR with a larger lens attached, or a DSLR with a smaller lens attached plus a second small lens.

Python pack is a backpack designed for 1-2 DSLRs, up to 4 mid-size lenses, 1 large zoom lens, tripod, iPad, and a MacBook up to 15-inch. Its ergonomic shoulder strap design and side-loading camera compartment lets the photographer access their gear while wearing the bag.

Python sling is a sling bag designed for 1-2 DSLRs, up to 4 mid-size lenses, 1 large zoom lens, tripod, plus an 11 or 13-inch MacBook Air or iPad. www.booqbags.com

Name: Sony Cybershot WX100 RRP: £629.99 Release Date: May 2012 At just 17.5mm thick, the styled Cyber-shot WX100 is the world’s smallest, lightest camera to offer a powerful 10x optical zoom range. An Advanced Aspherical lens boosts zoom range while allowing a far smaller lens body. The precision optical design adds an extremely thin lens element, increasing maximum magnification without compromising image quality or optical performance. Optical SteadyShot now offers enhanced image stabilisation when zoomed-in, both for still and movies. www.sony.co.uk

Name: Sony Handycam GW55VE RRP: £550 (approx) Release Date: May 2012 The new Handycam GW55VE camcorder is waterproof to depths of 5m. It also resists dust and shocks from a height of up to 1.5m.

The Exmor R CMOS Sensor is teamed with a high-quality G Lens by Sony, capable of capturing everything from wide-angle scenes to dramatic closeups. Extended Zoom boosts 10x optical zoom range to a powerful 17x maximum magnification. Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode that corrects hand-shake for stable results.

In a Handycam first, it features Intelligent Sweep Panorama. Also new to Handycam, Self Portrait Timer ensures properly framed, clearly focused arms-length photos with Face Detection. www.sony.co.uk

www.pixellive.co.uk 13

INPRINT

Epson’s new SureLab

INPRINT IS COMING!

Your first copy of InPrint magazine will be out soon, bringing you updates on the latest products, challenges and opinions from the world of print.

Pixel readers wiho have previously received Infolab magazine will soon receive their first ever copy of InPrint. This reinvented magazine has been carefully tailored to bring you the essential news and opinion from the image printing world, an this issue could not come at a more important time.

Visitors to Focus on Imaging, to the Pixel Live forum or to any of the Photo Marketing Association affiliates’ website will be aware of the Save The Photographers campaign, which aims to prevent the Government awarding a monopoly on ID photo printing to the Post Office. Your Pixel and Inprint team has investigated the situation and the coming issue of InPrint includes comment from the industry names spearheading the campaign as well as an explanation of the threat to our industry.

Thankfully, InPrint will not launch without any

positive news to share with the trade and it’s the perfect occasion on which to introduce Epson’s first foray into the minilab market.

Nick White, sales manager for Pro-Graphics at Epson, says: “For the past decade, Epson has supplied components to the digital dry lab industry, and the SL-D3000 draws on this expertise. The Epson brand is synonymous with the highest quality in professional photo printing, so we felt that the time was right to introduce an Epson-branded digital dry lab that brings added value to the market.”

Full details of the new Epson SureLab SLD3000, along with a host of other products offering creative options for the photograohic print business, are available in InPrint on our dedicated Launch Pad pages.

These developments are just two examples illustrating the juxtaposition between concerns

for the printing industry’s future and the wonderful new opportunities open to printing businesses. InPrint aims to tackle the industry’s issues head-on and bring its readers advice and information that will help them to equip their business for further success in the varied and promising future of printing.

If you did not previously receive Infolab and would like to subscribe to InPrint in time for the first issue, call our subscriptions hotline on 01323 433706 or drop an email to a.wellings@parkview-publishing.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

CLIFTON CAMERAS WIN £1000 Innovative and stylish window display nets staff £1000 in challenge set by distributor.

In the run up to Christmas, DayMen International Limited ran a competition with its retail partners which saw them in with a chance to win a cool £1,000. In order to take part, DayMen stockists were challenged to design and install a window display using the products and brands DayMen distributes to the photographic Industry.

After some close competition and long deliberation by the judging committee, Clifton Cameras in Dursley in Gloucestershire took the honours along with a cheque for £1,000.

On acceptance of the cheque from Daymen Regional Sales Development Manager Louise Brettle, Simon Taylor of Clifton Cameras said “This is fantastic. We’d like to say a really big thank you to Louise and all at DayMen International for running the competition and for the products that inspired our winning window.

“We’re all really excited about what 2012 holds and looking forward to a successful CREDITS & CONTACTS

year with Lowepro Bags & Accessories, B+W Filters and Giottos Tripods,” concluded Simon.

For 2012 DayMen have more exciting plans to both support their current Dealer network and

Editor: Laura Knight 01323 437946 l.knight@parkview-publishing.co.uk

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

Subscriptions Amelia Wellings: 01323 433708 a.wellings@parkview-publishing.co.uk

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

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 411601 l.mansfield@parkview-publishing.co.uk

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

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

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

14 www.pixellive.co.uk

also entice new consumers into the Photo Specialty stores which are the backbone of the industry.

DayMen International is one of the UK’s leading distributors of photographic accessories. From its headquarters in Wolverhampton, DayMen owns and distributes Lowepro – the market leading brand of camera bags and carrying solutions; Acme Made, a wide range of functional and supremely stylish photo accessories and the most recent addition to the the DayMen stable, the immensely popular Joby Gorillapod range.

DayMen is also the sole UK distributor of Giotto’s tripods; world-renowned German engineered B+W filters; the range of Rogue FlashBender lighting products as well as ExpoDisc photographic accessories.

For more information on DayMen International please visit www.daymen.co.uk Published by Life Media Group Park View House 19 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3YD 01323 411 601

Printed by 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.

Copyright Life Media Group LTD 2012 ©

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