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ISSUE NO. 906
NX300 - WINNER BEST ADVANCED CSC
NX300 - WINNER BEST ADVANCED CSC
Photo - imaging - video - audio - tv - print - mobile - stats - people - retail - business - news
News Time to Take Note At IFA this year, Samsung introduced to revolutionary new devices: The Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Gear. These two smart products offer consumers a new world of connectivity and creative convenience. We learn more about them with the help of Jon Penney, Senior Product Manager, Digital Imaging at Samsung Electronics UK.
Restructure at IPC IPC Media are restructuring the teams of Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera? teams - a move that will see AP’s longstanding editor, Damien Demolder, leave the company. The editorial teams of the two magazines will be brought together under one Group Editor, and IPC has asked Nigel Atherton to take that role. The position of Editor of Amateur Photographer will be made redundant at the end of November. “I am extremely sad to be leaving a magazine I love and to which I have devoted so much,” said Damien Demolder. “While I have no specific plans at the moment, I hope I can remain part of this UK photo industry which I have lived, breathed and relished since the day I joined it.” We wish Nigel all the best in his new role, and Damien all the best in his continued career in our industry. You can reach him at damien@ damiendemolder.com
www.pixel.co.uk
4th November 2013
Park Cameras expands to London Park Cameras announces a new store in central London
In addition to the flagship store in Burgess Hill, Park is planning to open a branch in the heart of London’s West End in December. Park Cameras was founded in 1971 by Reg Atkins, who passed the business on to his son, Roscoe, when he retired last year. Roscoe Atkins, MD of Park Cameras, said: “This is a major step forward for our business. We are very proud of our flagship store in Burgess Hill and pleased that we are able to attract customers from all over the UK. The London store will provide a more convenient location to our large customer base in the Greater London area. We believe there is a large market for our specialist model which focuses on quality and choice of brands and an unrivalled level of product knowledge and customer service.”
In an exclusve interview with Pixel, Roscoe explained what the expansion of the business will mean for Park and their competitors. You can read the full story on page 14.
The Alpha Duo The new a7 from Sony combines a 35mm full-frame image sensor and lens interchangeability in a compact body. Alongside the new a7R, the a7 combines portability with the advantages of full-frame photography. It offers higher sensitivity shooting with lower noise, a wider dynamic range, a shallower depth of field and compatibility with a newly extended range of lenses. With the new BIONZ X processor, the full-frame sensor allows the a7 to shoot Full HD video with pro-style features like an audio recording level control and display, plus a ‘clean’ HDMI output that allows video to be viewed on an external monitor or recorded on another device. The D7R is aimed at serious photographers, boasting the highest image quality of any camera
Two new full-frame CSCs from Sony
to date. The brand-new 36.4-effective megapixel full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor delivers levels of detail unprecedented in any camera of its class and has no optical low-pass filter, ensuring that its extraordinary resolving power is fully exploited. For both the new Alphas, images can be displayed directly on a 4K television like Sony’s BRAVIA range. With both Wi-Fi with NFC, both cameras offer one-touch wireless connections with a NFC-compatible Android smartphone or tablet. There are five new full-frame E-mount lenses: two mid-range zooms by Sony and Carl Zeiss, two bright Sonnar T* primes and a premium-quality G lens telephoto zoom. There’s also a new mount adaptor that gives photographers extra freedom to use their collection of full-frame A-mount optics with both cameras. Both cameras and additional accessories will be available mid November. www.sony.co.uk
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THE INSIDER
Saying what you’re thinking and asking the difficult questions. Each week the Insider reports from the front line of our industry
A TIME TO CELEBRATE! So, as you read this, voting for the 2013 Pixel Trade Awards will have closed for the year and those of you who have booked space/been invited, will be dusting down the DJ’s for the glitzy ceremony on the 15th November in London. Although it’s not really my place to rant about these awards, I feel it’s necessary for me to highlight the points of, what I believe, to be the most valuable gongs in our trade. These awards represent a mark of recognition to all those who have strived to achieve excellence in our trade over the last 12 months. Those that win (or indeed, are finalists in their respective categories) should be extremely proud to be so. They should all reap the benefits, insofar as PR opportunities are concerned. Tell the local rag, tell your customers, or if you’re a bigger organisation, do the above and use for internal comms too. These are THE awards for the imaging trade and if you haven’t pushed for votes in your relevant categories, why not? Don’t be
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surprised if you don’t feature in the shortlists! The organisers have offered plenty of tools and support to help you on your quest for glory! For those of you who have worked hard to be recognised, good for you. We may be a niche industry but we are a valuable one. Let’s recognise that, at least. OK, so Pixel, can I come to the ceremony now? Join me to discuss online at www.pixel.co.uk and also on the Pixel Magazine LinkedIn group.
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News New Nissin: The Di600 Kenro, the official UK distributors of Nissin Flash Guns, has unveiled a successor to the wellestablished Di622 Mark II in the form of the Nissin Di600. The new model has the same great feature set to its predecessor, but at a better price point, meaning great value for those in the market for a versatile flash gun for their DSLR camera.
Making a Splash Ricoh Imaging has launched a Limited Edition of the new GR. Featuring a special-colour Ricoh GR camera body, this top-of-therange model boasts all the features of the standard GR model in an exclusive new colour scheme. It has a stylish green, wave-patterned body, accentuated with silver shutter-release button and ring cap and a black grip with a glossy, wood-grain finish, abd it comes with a set of exclusive accessories.
Christmas Cashback Capture Christmas with Canon’s Cashback
The offer gives consumers a chance to earn up to £70 cashback on their purchases, plus an extra £35 bonus if they ‘Mix and Match’ by buying two promotional products at the same time... as there’s a combination of camera bodies, lenses, speedlites and printers on offer, this maximises incentive and saving potential for those looking to update their kit. The Winter Cashback offers savings across a wide range of Canon’s highquality compact cameras, DSLRs and accessories, camcorders and printers. Furthermore, it extends into January to help both retailers and consumers weather the post-Christmas slump.
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Products included are: the EOS 600D; the EOS 700D; the EOS 100D; the EOS M; Various lenses and Speedlites; the IXUS 255 HS; the PowerShot S510 HS; the PowerShot SX270 HS; the PowerShot SX280 HS;the Legria HFG25; the Legria HFR48; the Pixma MG7150. The offer runs from today, 24.10.13, until 26.01.14 for eligible products purchased from UK or Republic of Ireland retailers excluding grey/parallel imports.
A Classic in the Making Nikon’s new AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G, an extraordinary FX-format prime lens pays homage to Nikon’s legendary Noct-NIKKOR lens in its design, while the brand new optical construction enables astounding sharpness, contrast, and resolution. With outstanding resolving capability, exquisite bokeh, and unbeatable performance when shooting wide-open. Perfect for those who want a truly unique signature.
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Telephone 01485 536 200 or email: sales@swains.co.uk
PHOTO
DX Gets Connected
News
Nikon’s new DX-format D-SLR features built-in Wi-Fi and GPS
DDLTD Goes for Silver Digital Distribution have added Evergreen silver frames to their range. Mike Green, the previous owner of Evergreen, has now retired and wished to pass on the Evergreen business, which has been selling its silver frames since 2002. Digital Distribution’s Sales Director Ron Deprez said “we have been looking to add silver frames to our range for a long time, so this was an ideal opportunity. Anybody interested in seeing and perhaps stocking the new lines is welcome to give me a call.”
The First of its Kind As Pixel went to press, Olympus announced the Stylus 1premium compact camera. A genuinely portable, ‘anytime anywhere’ camera, the Stylus 1 offers the manual controls, eye-to-the-viewfinder stability and picture quality that will live up to the expectations of enthusiasts and D-SLR owners looking for a more compact, second camera. A l1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS sensor heads an impressive list of credentials that includes a new and versatile,high-power i.ZUIKO DIGITAL lens and a highperformance TruePic VI image processor; Fast AF and WiFi The STYLUS 1 will be available in for RRP £549.99, from late November 2013.
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The D5300 is the first DX-format D-SLR to feature built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. The camera’s innovative 24.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor is specifically designed with no optical low-pass filter, so the finest details and textures are captured with stunning sharpness. Simon Iddon, Senior Product Manager at Nikon UK, says: “The D5300 is a great camera for creative people who want to share their view of the world through high-quality images. This new model is bursting with impressive features, from the high ISO (12,800) capability for low light shooting, to the powerful new EXPEED 4
image processing engine, and large vari-angle screen for a unique view. He adds: “Built-in WiFi makes it easy to share stunning images with friends and family, which is increasingly important to today’s photographers. Plus you can have some fun by tracking your route thanks to the camera’s GPS functionality. Ultimately, the Nikon D5300 is a pleasure to use and raises the standard of images we share.” The D5300 will retail for a recommended £729.99 (body only) and as a kit, with 1855mm VR lens, for £829.99 from 14th November.
PermaJet Team Grows Joseph Reiner joins PermaJet as new Marketing Coordinator Director Robin Whetton decided to bring in a dedicated marketing coordinator to allow for effective brand communication across the globe. Joseph’s aims are to implement key marketing strategies to help develop PermaJet’s brand recognition over the next few years, both nationally and internationally. A graduate of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Joseph has worked in the photography industry over the last five years.
It was whilst running a photography studio situated in The Mailbox, Birmingham, that Joe first encountered Permajet. “I used PermaJet for a number of years. Hearing it being spoken about by professionals showed me that the brand is a hugely respected one: a company that prides itself on learning from its customers, so I am keen to encourage interaction through social conversation.” We’d like to wish Joe all the best of luck in his new role.
Olympus also announced a competition with Exhibtr, to discover the best photographers in the student community. The theme of the competition is “People & Portraits”. Students entering the competition have the opportunity to win the multi award-winning OM-D E-M5, and the runners-up prizes are just as desirable. The overall winner also gets a M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 lens and two runners-up will receive a high end Olympus compact that hadn’t been announced at the time, that we now might guess is the Stylus
1. The competition is open from now until February 28, 2014.
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0.12s LIVe VIeW aUtO FOCUs
DSLR*
See how LUMIX G punches above its weight at panasonic.co.uk/lumixg
*Similarly priced DSLR vs. LUMIX G6, correct as at 14/06/13.
Faster, CLoser, smarTer
Christmas sales
expected to break all records on Smartphones. With sales of Pay as you go still representing over 45% of the total UK market. Most camera manufacturers are reporting sales of sub £100 are down as a direct result of camera phones. So why not make mobile capture a must this Christmas in your store. The current Vodafone range starts from as little as £9.99 retail for the Samsung E1200 handset and for £14.99 retail you can choose from the popular large button Vodafone 155 or the clamshell Samsung E1195. Camera Phones start from £29.99 for the Nokia 113 with the Entry point Smartphones starting from £49.99 for the Vodafone Smart Mini.
Currently there are ten camera phone models in the line-up many of which include a 5 Megapixel camera and have removable memory.
There is no doubt that Smart Phones will be in great demand this Christmas with a selection of both Android and Windows operating systems, the Vodafone range include models from Blackberry, Nokia and Samsung to satisfy most preferences and pockets! Alan Comer managing director of Swains international plc comments Swains has been involved distributing PAY AS YOU GO phones since 1998 when the first Vodafone proposition was introduced. Following a very successful introduction it was quickly realised that this was a product category that was going to be established for the long term. We therefore broadened the range of networks we offered to include O2 and Orange, however due to the strength of the Vodafone brand and their level of support for us to deliver a consistent retail margin we dropped the other networks in 2006 to concentrate exclusively on our partnership with Vodafone.
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The Pre Pay (Pay as you go) market is massive at Christmas but not in the recognised Photo Channel therefore it is a great opportunity to retail a product with a proven track record. The camera phone is now the most used device for taking pictures, it easily sits alongside conventional digital cameras and potentially introduces a new customer to your store.
Enjoy free data, unlimited texts and 150 minutes when you buy our ÂŁ10 Vodafone Freedom Freebee on Pay as you go. Call 4354 to buy. Free data offer ends 31 December.
Vodafone Power to you
Free data offer: The free data is in addition to the data included in your Vodafone Freedom Freebee. Available to first time Vodafone Freedom Freebee customers only. Lasts 30 days. UK use only. Texts and minutes to standard UK mobiles and landlines (01, 02, 03). Not compatible with other Vodafone Freebees. Terms apply see vodafone.co.uk/freedataterms
Why not make Vodafone cameraphones a category in your store this Christmas. Speak to your Swains Regional Sales Manager to find out how you can take advantage of our Camera Phone Zone programme. More images are captured using mobile phones than ever before shouldn’t you be offering a print service for mobiles?
Swains and Vodafone are here to help you every step of the way! Contact Swains on 01485 536 200 or email sales@swains.co.uk
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Come along to the UK Launch of Kodak Professional’s UV Curable Display Media Kodak Alaris & Tetenal are holding the UK launch of the Kodak Professional UV Curable Display Film & Paper this December. Held at the prestigious Leica Studios in Mayfair, there will be a chance to view the complete range of Kodak Professional medias and a presentation from the newly appointed Kodak Alaris General Manager & Vice President, Lee Palmer. Or even if you’d just like to come along for a drink, a bite to eat and a chat we look forward to seeing you there. And from the ENDURA range: Transparent Digital Display Clear Digital Display Premier Metallic Premier Gloss & Silk Premier Lustre & Matt
Join us on Thursday 12th December at Leica Studios Mayfair, 34 Bruton Place London W1J 6NR
alaris
Samples and literature will be available.
If you would like more information call Tetenal on 0116 281 5748
EXCLUSIVE UK DISTRIBUTORS FOR KODAK PROFESSIONAL MEDIA
JOB OPPORTUNITY Requires a Regional Account Manager for Northern England, Northern Ireland & Scotland We are looking to recruit a Regional Account Manager for Northern England, Northern Ireland & Scotland THE ROLE • Selling Tetenal’s full portfolio of products into existing and new customers across Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. • Maintaining good relationships with existing customers in your area with regular visits, calls and emails. • Develop leads, prospects and new customers/markets for long term growth, 40% of your time will be spent obtaining new business • Representing Tetenal at exhibitions
THE CANDIDATE • Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong track record in the sale of photographic and print related products and have experience in a Business to Business sales environment. • The ideal candidate should be flexible and be prepared to travel over the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. They should have experience in running an area and meeting sales budgets. • Smart, highly motivated and can work with autonomy. • Have a basic understanding of Excel • Strong interpersonal skills • Full valid driving licence
THE BENEFITS • Competitive salary with bonuses • Company vehicle To apply please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter, quoting ‘Regional Account Manager’ to: Phil.Barker@tetenal.com Phil Barker, Tetenal Limited, 2 Meridian West, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1WX Closing Date: 20th November 2013 Tel: 0116 289 3644 Web: www.tetenaluk.com
SPECIAL REPORT
MOBILE DEVICES
4-IN-1 Lens for iProducts Big Screen Beauty
Four creative options in less than one ounce of iPhone-attachable lens tech
to get exactly the shots and videos they want. The new clip is built with the specific field-of-view, light-control and resolution characteristics of the iPhone 5s’ eight mp camera in mind. The wide-angle and fisheye lenses have been improved to deliver sharper images. Additionally, the 10x macro lens has a focus distance of about 18mm, allowing users to get more light on the subject (as compared to its predecessor, the 3-IN-1 olloclip lens) and allowing more depth of field so that more of the image is in focus.
The olloclip 4-IN-1 lens system is out just in time for the festive season, RRP £59.99. With the fisheye and wide-angle lenses on opposite sides, selecting a lens is as simple as flipping it over. The macro lenses are cleverly revealed by unscrewing either the fisheye or wide-angle lens. The olloclip 4-IN-1 lens works with all favourite apps in photo and video mode, making it easy for sports and travel enthusiasts, amateur and professional photographers
A Touch of Brilliance Big screen mobile computing with ultimate 10 Point Multi Touch control Hannspree’s new SN14T71 features a responsive 10 Point Multi Touch display which enables silky smooth navigation around Android 4.2.2 and the ultimate finger tip control within applications especially those that require quick decisive responses. The 13.3” display with a 1280 x 800 resolution makes this big screen Tablet PC a perfect choice for users that prefer a larger viewing area but want to stay mobile. The 13.3inch HANNSpad is pre-installed with a handful of handy apps including the
award winning Softmaker Office Suite. 16GB built-in storage provides plenty of space to take docs, apps and entertainment on the road, whilst a Micro SD Card slot enables users to add an additional 32GB storage. The SN14T71 also includes two cameras. The front facing 0.3 megapixel camera is and a 2.0 megapixel rear facing camera for easy snapping and sharing. The SN1AT71 is available in the channel now with an attractive suggested price tag of £199.99 complete with a 2 years manufacturer’s warranty.
Staples Enter Tablet Fray
Tesco and Argos have opened the floodgates to the market of entry-level tablets experiencing steady growth with the tablets it already sells, which it expects to accelerate between now and Christmas, so it looks as if they’d have very high hopes for an own-brand model.
Staples has become the latest retailer to announce plans to release an own-brand tablet. Staples also claimed to be investigating options to align with an existing brand for a quality product at a price that will need to compete with Tesco’s £119 Hudl tablet and Argos’ £100 MyTablet to make any realPixel impact. Staples1 claims to have 14:53 been 1 Nov.pdf 25/10/2013
Shedding light on the new Lumias
Nokia has launched its first Windows tablet, the Nokia Lumia 2520. “Mobile devices are at the centre of consumers’ lives as they look to capture, curate and share experiences on the go,” said Stephen Elop, Executive Vice President, Devices & Services at Nokia.” “The quality that Nokia products deliver continues to grow. And clearly, with Lumia and Asha smartphones enjoying quarter-on-quarter volume growth in Q3 2013, that quality and value is resonating with consumers around the world.” Nokia’s first Windows tablet, the Lumia 2520, is unsurprisingly rich in imaging technology, with a vivid 10.1-inch HD display that is designed to provide the best readability of any tablet, a 6.7MP camera, and for the first time
ever on a tablet, ZEISS optics. Additionally, the Lumia 2520 includes Nokia Storyteller, an app that introduces a new way to curate images and videos as a story on a map, plus Nokia Video Director, Nokia’s first ever large screen Lumia smartphones, the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320, offer a six inch screen and a 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) enabling sharp images even in the dark as well as oversampling and zooming technology similar to the Lumia 1020. In addition to the new Nokia Camera and Nokia Storyteller applications, the Lumia 1520 offers a 6-inch screen and a vivid 1080p full HD display. People can bring their videos to life with Nokia Rich Recording, an unparalleled audio capture using four built-in microphones.
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Images are not representative of the actual product - Trade Only - While Stocks Last - All prices exclude VAT and Delivery
Take Note
At the recent IFA show in Berlin, Samsung unveiled two new incredible devices, the Galaxy Note 3 and the revolutionary Galaxy Gear. We spoke to Jon Penney, Senior Product Manager, Digital Imaging at Samsung Electronics UK to find out more What is the Galaxy Note 3? Galaxy Note 3 is the newest addition to the Note product range and is packed with innovative features that help consumers tell the story of their lives. Its larger and higher resolution screen provides the best viewing experience and more powerful multitasking, and introduces significant S Pen improvements that make everyday life easier and faster. How does it build on the success of Note 2? We introduced the original Galaxy Note in 2011 and launched a whole new smart device category, combining the power of a smartphone with the versatility and flexibility of a tablet device. In addition to a host of improvements to the core hardware and software, we’ve made a significant improvement to the S Pen, which allows
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users to explore their creativity and push their productivity to new levels. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 comes with a wider 5.7inch full HD Super AMOLED display, yet is slimmer and lighter (8.3mm and 168g) than its predecessor and features a more powerful and longer lasting battery. Equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera with Smart Stabilisation and high CRI LED flash, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 enables users to crisply capture every visual story in their lives, even in low light and active situations. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 offers the latest LTE technologies and supports the greatest number of multiple frequencies. Incorporating the industry’s largest 3GB RAM, the Galaxy Note 3 also provides faster and more powerful performance. In addition to the enhanced specifications, the Note 3 delivers a new premium look and
feel, with a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching. It also features a serration pattern on the side of the device, reminiscent of classic notebooks and planners. What does the S Pen do? The new S Pen reinvents and modernises the classic note-taking experience by providing the ability to accomplish everyday tasks with just one click. It plays an integral role in how users interface with the device, making all daily routines easier. A simple click of the S Pen button while hovering over the screen introduces users to Air Command, a palette of five powerful features that truly make tasks easier and faster. With the Air Command feature, there is no need to toggle between screens, memorise commands or look up different menus. The first feature is Action Memo,
SAMSUNG
which allows users to handwrite a note and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritten information into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list, and more. Scrapbook enables users to organise or track down content and information from various sources including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so they can easily look back at collected content all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source. The Screen Write feature captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image. S Finder allows users to search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting in keywords or filters such as date, location and content type, users can search related documents, events, communication threads, and even the Help page – all in one place. In addition, users can also search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas. Pen Window allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen. What is the Galaxy Gear? It’s a stylish wearable device that connects seamlessly with your Samsung smartphone to make life easier on the go. With the Galaxy Gear on your wrist, you can control your phone, make calls and answer them, see new messages and more. You don’t even have to touch your mobile device. The Galaxy Gear puts all the important things in your life within easy reach. The Galaxy Gear connects wirelessly
“With the Galaxy Gear on your wrist, you can control your phone, make calls and answer them, see new messages and more” with your Note 3 and makes sure you have everything you need right there on your wrist and within reach. You can keep your Note 3 in your pocket or bag, and Gear will tell you when you receive a call or message. When you get a important notification on your Gear, Smart Relay brings up the full message when you open your phone. You’ll have seamless communication from your Gear to your phone. You can even make and receive calls handsfree. The latest S Voice technology means your Galaxy Gear understands your voice and lets you stay in control using voice commands, as well as turning dictated notes into text with Voice Memo. The Galaxy Gear’s built-in camera allows you to take snapshots and short videos at a moment’s notice, too. No more fumbling for your phone – Gear’s always on hand, so you’re free to live in the moment. With a Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3, you’re fully kitted out for whatever the day may bring.
What are you final thoughts on the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear? I think they’re both incredible tools that will enhance productivity and creativity. The Note 3 is arguably the best smartphone that Samsung have ever created and the groundbreaking Galaxy Gear lets users work in new and exciting ways, with an advanced, stylish device that is the perfect companion to their smartphone. I’m really excited to see how this wearable technology category will develop in the future.
Can it be used with any other devices? Yes. Whilst it will support the Galaxy Note 3 and Note 10.1 2014 Edition from launch, firmware updates scheduled for release within November will bring compatibility with several members of the Galaxy Collection, including the Galaxy S4, S4 Mini, S4 Active, Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note 2.
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News This time, it’s personal. HDTV magazine has asserted that 3d television is about to make the big break it has been promised so many times in the last couple of decades. In an impassioned note that recalled the false starts when colour television first entered the market. “3DTV was rushed to market without a coherent marketing strategy,” explained the editor, Ed. “Of the technical deficiencies, probably the most acute was the need for glasses. “But now, all of the building blocks for the true success of 3DTV are present or under development. Everything is in place for history to repeat itself. In five years 3DTV will be the “big thing” (again).”
Awareness is Key It looks as though Smart TV is the latest market to suffer from a lack of consumer awareness. The TV Systems Intelligence Service at research firm IHS, has shown that interest in Smart TV purchase spikes when consumers understand what Smart TVs are and what they can do. 73 per cent of survey respondents said they are not interested in buying a Smart TV during the next year. Among consumers not aware of Smart TVs, purchase intention for this type of television was just 7 per cent. However, amongst those who were aware of the benefits of Smart TVs, more than 30 per cent indicated they intend to purchase during the next 12 months.
Monitors of the Future Professionals collaborate for ultimate imaging accuracy
EIZO Corporation and Magnum Photos have establish a program in which 14 ambassadors from Magnum will integrate EIZO’s ColorEdge monitors into their colour management workflow and provide EIZO with objective feedback on their experiences. “Colour and grayscale accuracy is paramount for photographers.The integration of EIZO’s ColorEdge series monitors into our workflow will aid the production of contemporary photographs by our members.” Alex Majoli, President, Magnum Photos International. Yoshitaka Jitsumori, President and CEO of
You Have the Power Hähnel Industries have recently launched their ProCube charger
This stylish charger has been designed for photographers who have high battery usage and is the ultimate DSLR companion for professional photographers on the go. Its compatibility with the Canon E6 & E8 and Nikon EL14 & EL15 batteries also makes it a perfect accessory for a days shooting or filming. Combining both sleek design and functionality, the ProCube charges two lithium
Revolutionary new software capabilities in DxO Optics Pro 9
Move’N See Today’s passion for excellence in sports has prompted imaging trends - sportsmen are now able to record and screen their own performance, spot areas for improvement using video. But, without the hand of an experienced camera operator, picture quality can end up much below par, especially for those performing outdoor sports.
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ion batteries simultaneously. It also charges 4 AA batteries and has a built-in USB charging facility for charging iPads, mobile phones etc. Estimated charging times are 1.5 hours for single battery charging & 2-3 hours for charging two batteries. The charge time is the same whether charging from the mains or 12V car lead which is included. Hähnel have this available to stock immediately, RRP £59.99!
Introducing PRIME
DxO Optics Pro 9 is now available and introduces PRIME (Probabilistic Raw Image Enhancement) denoising technology, which analyzes the structure of RAW images in depth in order to differentiate between noise and fine details. “In contrast to the usual approach of finding a better compromise between image quality and execution speed, we have created a tool whose sole
Sports snapping steps up
EIZO Corporation said: “The insights Magnum provides about our monitors will contribute to our continued ability to create innovative graphics solutions and simplify the usage experience within a creative workflow while delivering the most accurate colour possible.”
Move’n See’s unique system automates self-recording during sport practice, and helps capture videos that provide practical guidance in improving performance and communication. Designed in collaboration with athletes and coaches, Move’N See automates camera operations, thus making it possible for any sportsman to record his activity within a range of 500 meters (1640 ft). This solution combines the following two components: Move’N See Tracker, a video system with a motorized tripod . When hosting a
purpose is to obtain the best image quality possible,” explained Frédéric Guichard, Chief Scientific Officer of DxO Labs. “For each pixel, more than a thousand neighbouring pixels are analysed. Several minutes may be required to do this, but this process takes place in the background, so users can work on other images and projects while they wait for the results.”
camera, the system enables Pan (moving from one side to another) and Tilt (moving up or down) controls, as well as an automated zoom, so that athletes can be tracked while performing whatever sport is in progress; and the special Move’N See Beeper arm band that acts as a control panel to trigger or disable most camera features.
AV & COMPUTING
Let’s Get to Work
News
Serious contenders in AOC’s new Professional Line
Display specialist AOC has launched three new 61 cm (24”) monitors in a 16:10 format. The 60 series models from the AOC Professional Line deliver a WUXGA resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, adding valuable desktop space in height compared to the widespread 16:9 Full HD format. Coming in a classy texturised black finish and different equipment variants, these high performers will provide for a great viewing experience. Users can also benefit from a number of tailor-made features such as integrated USB hubs, great ergonomics and intelligent software. The three new Pro Line models are targeted at those who require extra desktop real estate for working on complex tables, long texts or
pictures. Due to their wide viewing angles and short response times, however, they are more than well-equipped for movies and games! Both the e2460Pxda and the e2460Sxda utilise an LED-backlit TN panel, providing excellent high-definition picture quality with 1920 x 1200 pixels, a luminosity of 250 cd/m² and a static contrast of 1000:1. Both analogue and digital video signals can be received via D-Sub and DVI-D. In addition, the e2460Pxda offers full ergonomic flexibility, allowing users to adjust the panel height by 130 mm as well as to tilt and swivel the monitor. Thanks to the pivot function, the display can even be rotated into portrait format – perfect for editing photographs.
Training to Create Wacom is sponsoring the Train to Create and Pratik Naik photo retouching series that consists of a seminar at and a one day intensive workshop. Taking place from 15th-17th November
Feel Your Pictures A new technology for display screens may come from an unusual source - researchers at Disney! Their R&D department are working on technologies that allow device users to feel textures on a flat screen. ‘Textured television’ would be hoped to enhance the movie watching experience on large screens, mobile phones and tablets as the next level of touch interaction.
Graphics tablet heroes Wacom support new training initiative
in London, the world-renowned beauty retoucher will share his techniques including his use of Wacom tablets, as well as provide hands-on mentoring to attendees. Pratik is best known for his work with Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, FHM, Cosmopolitan and The
Observer. During the workshops, attendees will get the opportunity to work with Wacom devices including the recently launched Cintiq Companion creative tablets. They will be shown how to customise a Wacom tablet for retouching in order to get the most out of it.
www.pixel.co.uk 13
SPECIAL REPORT FOCUS
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Pixel speaks to Roscoe Atkins, MD of Park Cameras, about the company’s new store opening in London this year Continued from page 1 Will there be any major differences between the two stores, other than the location? Our Burgess Hill store combines our head office functions, our contact centre, our main warehousing/mail order operation and our training rooms along with one of the best stores dedicated to photography in Europe. It offers free on-site parking and good transport links by road and rail. Clearly, not all of this is necessary or possible in central London but we wanted to ensure that when our customers visit us in London, they know they are visiting a Park Cameras. Further exciting details will be announced shortly. Why did you choose the specific area of London for this store opening? London’s Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Whilst we are not on Oxford Street, we are not too far away and we have secured a fantastic store that fitted the brief of a highly accessible central London location, and the right sort of size to be able to show off the rafts of excellent equipment from our key brands. Your new location is not far from some other prominent imaging retailers. Is this helpful for consumers? There are a number of great examples of how clusters of businesses together yield much more than the sum of individual stores and we don’t think that this will be any different. We have not purposefully positioned ourselves to be near any particular retailer as we have always been a destination store. Burgess Hill is certainly not the first place you would choose when picking out locations from across the UK but it’s our home and to where we attract a lot of customers. We believe we will achieve the same for our London store and that may well attract customers to our competitors too. It’s particularly helpful that it’s in a highly accessible location where millions of people visit each year.
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When the London store’s a huge success, would you look at any other locations? Of course. Whilst we don’t have any specific plans to open another location, I believe we have the right formula for what constitutes a fantastic photographic store. Upon our announcement re London, we were flooded with calls and messages requesting us to open all over the UK! We have a sensible approach to expansion so as not to put our business, or our staff’s security, at risk but watch this space. We hear you are looking for staff for the store... tell us a bit more about who you’d want to join your team. One of the key USPs throughout our 42 year history is our reputation for knowledgeable and passionate staff, coupled with the highest levels of customer service. It is vital that we achieve the same in London and so we are looking for staff who have the drive to help us achieve our business goals and who can deliver the best experience for our customers. If any of Pixel’s readers would like to know more, I’d ask them to please visit our website. Once the store is established, will it become the flagship? When you’re rolling out new products or services, will both stores change at the same time? There will be differences between the two stores but the fundamental principles will be the same. Whilst Burgess Hill will remain our head office, we hope to be able to offer additional services in both locations - we’re working on these plans as we speak! How about the Imaging Festival you hold each year, will/might there be an equivalent event for London? Yes, there will definitely be an opportunity for us to hold the Imaging Festival in both London and Burgess Hill. There isn’t another store in London like the one we’re creating and we’d love to bring the Imaging Festival to London. What different challenges do you
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anticipate in London, when compared with your Burgess Hill store? Security issues will probably be a big challenge to overcome. We have been fairly fortunate that our Burgess Hill store has excellent security but also that we have a very high conversion rate on our footfall of customers, so those that aren’t there to buy something are a little more conspicuous. By that token, what extra opportunities/ benefits will the location provide? Our business has never been on the high street and so we anticipate a much wider audience than ever experienced before. Currently, the core of our customer base is the passionate enthusiast and the professional alike. Whilst we’re proud to cater for everyone, we believe our biggest area of growth in percentage terms will be in the sub £600 Interchangeable Lens Camera market, whilst our core customer base will be unchanged. Primarily though, we will bring our services much closer to the 8 million population of London. Another important issue that we’d like our store to help combat is the damaging levels of imported products to the UK. We have always only ever bought UK-sourced products but we feel that there’s still a huge population of the UK that are unaware of the issue and the pitfalls for the consumer. We hope that we can attract consumers into store that might otherwise have bought online and provide them with the support and safe knowledge of UKsourced products.
Park is currently seeking knowledgeable, passionate staff to join their team in what they are hoping will become the “best camera store in London”. Those who feel they have what it takes are invited to email in confidence: londonjobs@parkcameras.com.
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