Pixel April 2013 by Life Media Group

IssUE No. 894

Connect and Print in an instant from your smartphone

Kodak Kiosk Connect App

PHOTO - IMAGING - VIDEO - AUDIO - TV - PRINT - MOBILE - STATS - PEOPLE - RETAIL - BUSINESS - NEWS

18616716_KEX_PIXEL_COVER_EARS.indd 1

3/27/13 5:30 PM

News New Season, New Pixel Yes, as you have no doubt noticed by now, we’ve had another facelift! In celebration of the huge variety of opportunities open to the imaging trade, we have divided your Pixel magazine into more sections so that we can cram in more news, more opinion, more industry statistics and more products that could make all the difference to YOUR business. Better reflecting our widening readership, you will find new categories throughout the magazine, and the Big Interview can now be found at the back, for those of you who skip to the sports pages!

It’s Official: Diversity is Key Retail sales figures for March weren’t hugely positive, but according to Nigel Catlow, Business Group Director for GfK UK these highlight the necessity of selling the RIGHT product. Whilst tablets remained the unsurprising principle driver of IT growth, connected sales such as “connected audio, wireless docking systems, and connected/changeable lens cameras” boosted sales. “In addition, ‘jumbo’ TVs continue to thrive as consumers have had little access to affordable products of that size previously. Accessories also remain a key part of any growth with wireless keyboards (for tablets), sound bars (for TVs) and camera bags, all being examples of accessories showing improvement. In replacement/high ownership categories, growth is harder to find but is often in the premium, “better than what the consumer already owns“, segments. You read it here first!

www.pixel.co.uk

April 2013

tHe BUsiNess Is oUT THErE 18616716_KEX_PIXEL_COVER_EARS.indd 2

3/27/13 5:30 PM

euronics actively seeking to widen business with independent retailers following successful shiow Euronics recently held the Euronics Showcase, which more than 95 per cent of their members attended. They were joined by potentail new members of the group and interested suppliers, keen to see how working with a group like Euronics could benefit their business. Stuart Cook, the group’s chief executive, said he was “absolutely delighted” with the turnout. “The feedback from members is that there is business out there, although margins are under pressure, but our members are doing the business. More than 60 suppliers exhibited their products and services at this year’s Euronics Showcase at the NEC in Birmingham. Mr Cook reported that around 30 prospective Euronics members had attended this year’s Euronics Showcase. “We’ve had some really positive meetings with those guys, who have now seen what we are all about – they can see the benefits and I’d be very surprised if we didn’t sign up the majority of them.” Mr Cook revealed that some prospective suppliers to the group had also attended the Euronics Showcase, but didn’t comment as to whether any of those were imaging brands.

Mr Cook revealed that some prospective suppliers to the group had also attended the Euronics Showcase, but didn’t comment as to whether any of those were imaging brands. On current trading, Mr Cook said: “There is no Mr Cook pointed out that Euronics welcomes approaches from brands wanting to deal with independent electrical specialists. “The door is also wide open to brands that have a clear channel strategy,” he said

Join our day at The races ...with a difference!

Pixel will host an intense and exhilarating day of racing on the tracks at Daytona Milton Keynes, provided by a number of key manufacturers and distributors for the FREE enjoyment and networking of independent retailers. We’re pleased to announce that, in congruence with Pixel’s vision of the integration of the imaging trade, a number of consumer electronics retailers have now confirmed their attendance, keen to meet with their peers from the more traditional photographic sector and see the imaging opportunities available to them. With 30+ dealers confirmed for the event so far - a good percentage of which are representatives from outside of what was once exclusively considered to be the imaging trade - we still have

some places open. So if you’d like to come along for a day of go-kart endurance racing, refreshments and business opportunities - including exclusive show deals that would be worth coming along for alone - at no expense to yourselves, get in touch with Simon Skinner- simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk.

Turn to page 512

Kodak Express helps kick-start new Independant Retailer Pixel April 2013_new.indd 1

Quality prints in store, in minutes

Picture Kiosk 26/04/2013 16:33

Let your imagination run wild – then run with it. Your creative talents and the OM-D are all you need. The OM-D packs D-SLR picture quality and high performance into a slim design. It’s ready to go whenever you are. With the world’s first 5-axis image stabilisation and extremely fast autofocus. So capture those spur-of-the-moment scenes – you’ll always be ready for whatever comes your way in life. The Olympus OM-D.

2 www.pixel.co.uk

Find out more at your local dealer or visit www.olympusomd.com

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 2

26/04/2013 16:33

tHe INsIdEr saying what you’re thinking and asking the difﬁcult questions. each week the insider reports from the front line of our industry. Buying Group 4 Imaging Kindly invited as I was, to join the Pixel people in attending the recent Euronics Showcase event in Birmingham, I was extremely keen to see just what might benefit me and my business from a potential membership. Of course, there were an awful lot of washing machines and toasters littered about but what struck me was the sheer level of importance placed on the visitors there. 600 members over two days, the event seemed quiet when compared to largely consumer events like Focus on Imaging or the Gadget Show but the fact that every visitor represented multiple sales seemed to hold

great respect (not to mention investment in fancy stands) from the exhibitors. Coming from a photo background, this felt quite alien to me but very refreshing indeed. So, this makes me think, where is the imaging buying group? I know that a couple of suppliers in the photo arena collate group deals on occasions but there is no independent organisation that I know of. There were a good number of products that I would have liked to have bought in to at the event (memory, TV, compacts etc) and wonder if more of this will appear via CIH/ Euronics in the future? I know that I for one would sign up if so. Join me to discuss online at www.pixel.co.uk

smaller, lighter 30x sigma lens Update sony cybershot HX50

Boasting a 20.4MP sensor and built-in image stabilisation, Sony’s Cybershot HX50 delivers beautifully vibrant photos and Full HD videos. It’s the world’s smallest, lightest digital still camera that packs a powerful 30x optical zoom range. The HX50 gives photographers plenty of great reasons to invest in a dedicated pocket camera. Powered by a 20.4-megapixel3 Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor, the HX50 produces high-resolution, high quality images with exceptional low-light performance.at high speed. Available from May

Sigma have released a redesigned 120300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM.

The lens will be available in early May in Sigma and Canon mounts. With redesigned mechanics and performance, this Sports lens is an update from the February 2011 edition, with a maximum focal length of 300mm and a wide-open aperture of F2.8. It is dust and moisture resistant, and allows users to switch between two custom settings created via the USB dock Under the new Sports category, the lens also has the manufacturing year stamped on the barrel.

paYING Fair How will the latest increase to minimum wage affect the imaging retail trade?

The National Minimum Wage will be increased by 1.9 per cent in October to £6.31 an hour for those over 20. According to the British Retail Consortium, 97.3 per cent of retail employees are currently paid above the minimum wage, and the UK’s CE and imaging retailers seem to contribute to this statistic. Pixel spoke to Nick Richens, MD of London Camera Exchange which - with 160 employees - is now one of the largest employers in the independent photo trade. “I can see why this news would receive mixed reactions, as anything that potentially puts costs up isn’t wonderful news for employers, particularly small businesses.

However, this raise will not affect us as we are already paying above that minimum wage bracket for our staff, as I believe this is crucial for maintaining the skilled retail experts that add real worth in this trade. I would think this practice, and the belowinflation nature of the increase, means it will not have much of an effect on specialist imaging retailers.

pHoTo

News Global Camera Growth Centred in Asia Ken Research has highlighted Asia as the next hotbed of sales for the camera industry. The firm predicts the camera market will “achieve high growth in coming years.” The reason for the geographical shift is thought to be the maturity of demand in economically developed countries, but this is expected to be countered by growth in emerging economies such as India and Brazil.

One Camera Becomes Two Lomography’s new medium-format camera allows users to shoot all types of 35mm film. Designed for the Belair X 6-12, this accessory is fully interchangeable. The innovative adaptor capitalises on the trends for both analogue film and panoramic shooting, allowing creative photographers to achieve interesting results.

HD Digital Slide Duplicator Kenro has announced the launch of a fast and inexpensive way to breathe new life into old slides. The Digital Slide Duplicator boasts HD capabilities with a high-quality achromatic close-up lens that makes it easy to photograph your slides with a Video, DSLR or SLR camera. Digitising once-forgotten slides using the HD Digital Slide Duplicator opens up a wide range of possibilities for consumers and businesses alike.

Canon and Nikon Pledge Earthquake Aid Two of the largest names in our industry have, together, pledged around £1/2m for the aid of earthquake victims. The earthquake that hit the Sichuan region of China last Saturday is thought to have killed at least 200 people. Canon and Nikon have confirmed their donations but not yet clarified which of the many relief organisations currently working with those affected by the disaster will receive the money.

www.pixel.co.uk 3

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 3

26/04/2013 16:33

pHoTo

News Industry First from Sigma The Sigma USB dock, an industry first, works in conjunction with Sigma Optimisation Pro (software to connect a photographer’s lens to their computer and the internet to update firmware and other parameters. Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma said: “Our USB dock is the first in the industry of its kind, and we’re confident that it will be a ground-breaking product in helping photographers as they work.”

HD Handycam Gets Tough Waterproof up to a depth of 10 metres, Sony’s new Handycam GW66VE shrugs off dust, drops and freezing temperatures. The GW66VE records video in the AVCHD format for enjoying on a Full HD TV or burning to Blu-ray Disc, or MP4 for easier sharing. For the most impressive results, users are advised to view their videos on a compatible BRAVIA TV as they support Triluminos Colour.

Panasonic’s New Range The LUMIX DMC-G6, offer is a 16.05M Live MOS Sensor, the advanced process noise reduction systems and a ‘Low Light AF’ function. Panasonic has also launched the LUMIX G VARIO 14140mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S lens, an interchangeable lens suitable for shooting everything from vast, open landscapes to action packed sports photos. Panasonic’s new LUMIX DMC-LF1, the latest addition to its high-end compact range, is perfect for enthusiasts looking for the very best in imaging, editing and design. The camera provides unrivalled versatility, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, lets you share images and video instantly.

Bowens Celebrates, Binos get Connected capture and share! Expands and gives ‘togs a chance to WIN The new DEV-50V digital recording Happy Birthday Bowens!

binoculars from Sony give a sensational close-up view, and now steady photos and stunning HD video footage can be captured at the touch of a button. 30% lighter than its predecessor, the splash and dust-resistant binoculars combine the benefits of individual spotting scope, binoculars and digital camera without carrying extra gear. Unlike ordinary binoculars, there’s no need to keep focusing manually. Speedy and precise autofocus makes sure everything stays pinsharp, even while zooming. These binoculars can be connected to a television for HD viewing of the day’s shots or to a PC o digital photo frame using the memory card. They’ll be available from June.

Bowens International is fifty years old and the company is ‘lighting up the town’ with an exclusive competition. All you (or your customers, if you’re not a photographer yourself) need todo is send a photo to Bowens using the theme ‘50’. The Bowens Litebook team will shortlist its favourite images which will then appear on the Bowens Facebook page. The public will then choose a winner who will pick up £600 worth of Bowens lighting equipment. Said Bowens International marketing director Robert Cook: “The company began by making flash units in the backroom of a Victorian mill and over the past half a century it has grown to become one of the largest lighting manufacturers in the world. With a sharp focus on the next fifty years we’ve also established Limelite – our new videolighting division” Enter at www.bowensdirect.com/50years

what’s the Good News?

a rocky housing market is taking its toll on the high street, but as property expert Kate Faulkner explains, it’s not all bad news for retailers The residential property market has taken a battering over the last five years. On average, property values are down by 12% in England, rents have remained the same, on average, since 2008. From a retailer’s perspective if your business is in an area such as London where the economy is doing well, things should be pretty good and only get better as the economy slowly improves. Unfortunately these areas are few and far between, So you

need to understand the property dynamics if you want to really know what potential there is in your area. However, there is good news! Firstly, as more people rent in their 20s rather than buy, they are more likely to be able to afford consumer durables as they aren’t saving for a deposit. Secondly, by 2014 Kate Faulkner more people who own a home will own it outright – rather than with a mortgage, meaning yet again more disposable income to spend.

Travelling in style Manfrotto’s new collection for fashionconscious photographers

The StilePlus collection combines Manfrotto’s signature Italian style with excellent functionality and great protection. StilePlus comprises a range of shoulder bags, totes, messenger bags and backpacks, available in black, black iris (blue) and dove. The Manfrotto Diva 15 is a multi functional and stylish tote bag for everyday use, with a super protective removable insert for photo gear. The insert is made with Thermoforming technology to provide the perfect protection for photographic equipment while remaining

lightweight. It is also made to accomodate aCSC with attached zoom lens & additional lenss tablet and other accessories. The Manfrotto Amica 10 is a stylish shoulder bag for everyday use. It has extra padding and pockets to hold photography kit and accessories. The Manfrotto Amica range is available in larger sizes with even more pockets in the Amica 20, 30, 40 and Amica 50.

4 www.pixel.co.uk

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 4

26/04/2013 16:33

ADVERTORIAL

Kodak Express Helps Kickstart New Independent Retailer As you may have read in 25th February’s Pixel, staff at a former Jessops store in Bicester have taken over the premises to open imagex. We can now reveal that imagex has joined to Kodak Express network, inspired by the quality and capability of Kodak’s products, and the popularity of the Kodak brand When Jessops announced that they were to cease trading earlier this year, two former employees of the Bicester branch took the brave decision to take over the lease and re-open the store as an independent imaging business: iMagex opened its doors on 1st March. Despite all the negativity surrounding high street retailing following the recent closure of leading brands, Robert Peckham and Paul Crockett knew that their blend of expert product knowledge and customer service would continue to be a hit with Bicester’s consumers, so they called upon the support of key imaging brands to help them make the iMagex dream a reality. The iMagex team wasted no time once the lease was secured, and the store’s Facebook page kept its many fans up-to-date with how the reopening was progressing. One of the most exciting and well-received items of latebreaking news was that iMagex had signed up to be a Kodak Express store. Robert Peckham explains that the decision to discuss Kodak with Tetenal – Kodak’s UK distributors – came very late in the day, when the team had almost cemented their other plans. ‘We thought we’d found the right partner in one of Kodak’s competitors but wanted to hear what Tetenal had to offer.” “It totally blew me away. I was astounded by the quality of the new G4XL widescreen Kodak Picture Kiosk, and by Kodak’s ability to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for smartphone users through its Kodak Connect App. This really exceeded what I’d experienced of competitors’ solutions, and ensures that we will be able to tap into the huge revenue opportunity of prints from mobile.” To ensure this late decision was the right one for iMagex, Robert wanted to test which brand his customers were most comfortable

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 5

with, so he did a straw poll outside the store of visiting customers, and found that 9 out of 10 indicated Kodak as their brand of choice. Robert’s decision was made for him. So far, iMagex have installed three G4XL Kodak Picture Kiosks, which enable iMagex to offer Next Day and One Hour services, plus a G4Xe for Instant Prints. The big and bold Kodak G4XL offers an intuitive touch-screen with flickable icons, replicating the interactive experience imaging consumers are used to with their own devices at home. It’s fast, easy, and provides secure wireless connections so that customers can access their favourite photos wherever they are stored, and retailers can tap into the revenue potential all these images offer with a growing range of photo products. In addition, iMagex have a D4000 Kodak Duplex Photo Printer for double sided photo gifts, such as photobooks, greetings cards and calendars that offer vivid, rich photographic detail. Consumers trust Kodak prints to preserve their images for a lifetime, and what better way to present them than in beautiful borderless photobooks and calendars, available in store? iMagex were keen to be able to offer these popular products which offer excellent revenue potential, and the D4000 suited their needs perfectly. Keen to make the most of new opportunities and the support that Kodak can offer, iMagex have also installed the Wi-Fi Upgrade Kit across the kiosks so that customers can print from their smartphones, which is widely acknowledged as the area of the market which offers the most potential growth for photofinishing retailers and labs today. Becoming a Kodak Express retailer allows iMagex to benefit from the Kodak Kiosk Connect App, which provides smartphone photographers with a quick and easy way to wirelessly transfer photos from their iPhone or Android Smartphone to a Kodak Picture Kiosk, where they can then make prints, cards, calendars, collages, photobooks and more using the photos on their phone. The app also makes it convenient for consumers to select the photos that they want to print before transferring them via a secure wi-fi connection to the kiosk, making the whole process faster and easier. Robert Peckam said: “We favoured the Kodak solution for its ability to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for smartphone users, through its Kodak Connect App. We were very impressed by the whole system, it really surpassed what we had seen from other

brands and it’s exactly what we need to enable us to tap into the huge revenue opportunity of prints from mobile.” “Kodak Express is always looking forward to developing the network by encompassing new ideas that are all designed to drive footfall,” agrees Oliver Biddles, Kodak Express Business Manager at Tetenal. “This is our main directive, which we seek to achieve not just through instore promotions but through digital marketing and national campaigns with brand partners. We use this publicity to establish the message that Kodak Express is the number one choice on the high street for all your printing needs, and it’s clear that iMagex’s customers have taken that message to heart and agree with it. “It’s great to have the iMagex team on board. We’re very pleased that they see how well Kodak’s offering suits their business opportunities, with our evolving strategy of looking at how to motivate consumers into printing their images. “iMagex are a perfect fit for our network with their enthusiastic and dedicated attitude. We have strong plans for 2013 to drive our services to the consumer and we are very excited and focused on achieving these objectives.” To find out more information on how you can join the Kodak Express network contact Tetenal UK on tel: 0116 2893644 or web: www.tetenaluk.com

www.pixel.co.uk 5

26/04/2013 16:33

News

pentax ricoh Gr Win Photo Kit!

New Cooke Optics Lens Cooke Optics has added two new lenses to its miniS4/i range. The 40mm and 65mm lenses have been developed in response to customer demand. The miniS4/i range consists of smaller, lightweight lenses that bring the professional ‘Cooke Look®’ to all content creators at an affordable cost.

Nikon Teams-up with Virgin Media The Virgin Media Shorts competition will run until 18th July, giving entrants three months to prepare a short film that could potentially win £30,000 funding. The winner of the Nikon People’s Choice Award will win £5000 of Nikon equipment, to be used for their next film.

Panasonic Trade-In Campaign Panasonic has a new trade-in campaign which allows customers to trade in any camera, compact or SLR, and save money when purchasing a G5 Compact System Camera. Consumers can save £50 when purchasing a G5, or £150 if they trade in and purchase the G5 and 45-150mm Telephoto Zoom Lens (H-FS45150E-K) together.

ATTN: Iomega Stockists Rebate! Until May 19th, Iomega is offering a 15 per cent rebate on diskless network attached storage devices, which are popular with imaging professionals. Resellers should contact their Iomega distributor to hear under which specific conditions they can benefit from this price reduction on ix and px models.

Pentax Ricoh has announced the GR. This new RICOH-branded camera offers the top image quality in a pocket-sized body that enhances the camera’s operability and portability in everyday snapshot use. Developed as a successor to the GR DIGITAL IV (released in October 2011), the new GR inherits the product concept while upgrading the basic specifications and functions. It features a newly designed lens; a newly developed APS-C-size CMOS image sensor and highperformance GR ENGINE V imaging engine.

Belfast based photographic distributors DL Kirkpatrick, are proud to announce 40 years in business this May. To celebrate, they have teamed up with some of the top brands in the photographic industry to give you the chance of winning a share of £4000 worth of gear! The prize pot consists of goods from Mitsubishi, DNP, Fuji, Canon, Elinchrom, Permajet, SanDisk, with event printers, digital cameras and over £1000 of gift vouchers all to be won! So how do you enter? Simply take a photograph with the theme ‘40’. Email your photo & its title, along with your name & contact details, to: fiona@dlkphoto.co.uk The best photos will then be put to the public vote via DL Kirkpatrick’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dlkphoto The photos with the most ‘LIKES’ will WIN! Deadline for entries is 31st July 2013.

Newer Technologies Grow across February Despite a challenging situation faced by the UK camera market, a number of new trends have emerged in early 2013 Out of all the imaging categories that GfK track only two grew in value during February. Cameras and tripods! The three-legged phenomena spread through February as the average selling price of a tripod rose by 14%. Despite the number of tripods sold actually dropped, but the market still managed to grow in value. February saw the Instagram user base reach the 100 million mark and the ability to upload and share photos has not been limited to smartphones. Cameras with the ability to connect have grown by over 200% since February last year. Another characteristic borrowed from smartphones, the touchscreen,

has begun to be introduced into higher end cameras. This combined with the recent interest in changeable lens cameras has led the touchscreen camera market to grow by 7% in the last year. During February 2013, action cameras became one fifth of the camcorder market value. I expect this to increase to over 50% by the end of 2013. Some would say that smartphones are eating into imaging device sales; however it is becoming apparent that they are merely reshaping the market. Christopher Wood, Account Executive, Photo, Christopher.wood@gfk.com +44 870 603 8286, www.gfk.com/uk

Olympus to Bring Education to the Masses More Access for McGillicudy workshops

Damian McGillicudy will be assuming the position of principle photographer and educator at Olympus UK. “I am privileged and honoured to be taking over from such icons in the industry and will to do my very best to fill the big shoes left behind, I’ll certainly give it my all,” vowed Damian. Both Olympus and Damian dropped some hints about what to expect in the next year, and it appears that kit is not the only focus of the next 12 months. Education seems big on the agenda, with the announcement of a nation

wide educational road-show. Olympus will be subsidising the cost of McGillicuddy’s workshops, making their educational content more accessible.

6 www.pixel.co.uk

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 6

26/04/2013 16:33

spECIaL rEporT pHoTo

Ten Years at the top Panasonic’s canon reaches another milestone The company’s interchangeable-lens digital cameras have consistently maintained the No. 1 share worldwide in terms of volume within the interchangeable-lens digital camera market for the 10-year period from 2003 to 2012. By applying proprietary technologies throughout the range, Canon has successfully created a powerful product lineup that effectively responds to the needs of a wide range of users, from professionals to entrylevel users, which has enabled the company to maintain the top global share. In 2003, the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS 300D Digital, a compact and lightweight user-friendly camera that set the stage for growth in the digital SLR market. Since that time, Canon, has launched a number of models targeting advanced-amateur users, including the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording.

News

lumix GF6

New Lens from Fuji! The new FUJINON XF55200mm lens produces sharp images across its entire zoom range, well resolved corner-to-corner. The fast F3.5-4.8 lens facilitates image capture in scenes requiring a fast shutter speed. Its image stabilisation function enables the use of shutter speeds 4.5 stops slower, preventing camera shake even when shooting hand-held.

panasonic’s newly-launched lumix GF6 boasts a new live MOs sensor, newly developed Venus engine and high precision, ‘light speed aF’ . the new camera is aimed at photographers used to taking creative images with their smartphones but who are looking for a much more sophisticated and professional result by being able to have more control over manual settings such as aperture, shutter speed or lens selection. wi-Fi connectivity and NFc make it possible to remotely shoot from a tablet or smartphone, transfer images and share pictures online. Furthermore the GF6 has a dedicated video record button on the top for full-Hd video in aVcHd with stereo sound.

Nature in HD Bushnell’s new ‘NatureView Cam HD Max’ is not only undetectable, but full 1080p HD and comes with additional lenses for close-focus shots of birds and small mammals. This feature was developed in direct response to wildlife watchers, and unique to Bushnell.

Single or Double Deck? You Decide!

CP-D7

CP-D70DW • Single Deck • Weighing only 12kg • 4x6" (or 2x6" multi-cut), 5x7", 6x8" and 6x9" print options

vis.mitsubishielectric.co.uk 11471 Pixel Half AD - april13 issue 2 6.indd 1

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 7

0DW

£975 +VfrAoTm

Mitsubishi Electric’s leading dye-sublimation printers, the CP-D70DW and the CP-D707DW, have long been sought after durable printers used by professional event photographers, capable of producing 4x6", 5x7", 6x8" and 6x9" full bleed to edge stunning photographs. Choose from the CP-D70DW which is small in size, but the ideal portable printing solution capable of holding substantial volumes of photo paper and printing up to 200 6x8" prints from one roll of media. Or consider the CP-D707DW, our unique ‘double deck’ design printer combining two individual printers into one chassis, producing two independent print sizes from one printer or used as a high volume, high speed solution delivering up to 800 6x4" prints at a rate of approx. 6 seconds per print. The choice is yours!

CP-D7

07DW

£1349 +VfrAom T

CP-D707DW • Double Deck - Two printers in one chassis • Double print speed, double print volume • 4x6" (or 2x6" multi-cut), 5x7", 6x8" and 6x9" print options

printer.info@meuk.mee.com

t: 01707 278684

www.pixel.co.uk 7 f: 01707 278541 16/04/2013 15:51

26/04/2013 16:33

Power to impress Produce vibrant, lifelike prints with the PIXMA PRO range. With a choice of either a next generation 8-ink system, or up to a 12 ink LUCIA pigment system, whichever model you choose will provide phenomenal photographic reproduction. The advanced monochrome printing technology means great results aren’t limited to just full colour images. Produce prints up to 14” wide on these professional quality A3+ inkjets, and give your images the astounding finish they deserve.

canon.co.uk/PIXMAPro

PIXMA PRO Range

The printers your images deserve

8 www.pixel.co.uk

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 8

26/04/2013 16:35

spECIaL rEporT prINT

Win a SnapLab - Yes, You!

dNp and photomart offer the opportunity for pixel and inprint readers to win a whole new revenue stream for their business The DNP DS SL-20, or ‘SnapLab’ is a highly versatile photo kiosk solution which is ideal for use in virtually ANY retail or hospitality environment. It especially excels where retail space is limited or comes at a premium. It is small & compact and set-up is simply a matter of loading the print media and switching it on, thus making it also ideal as a mobile solution. So far, the SnapLab has been popular with not only photo retailers but also with other outlets such as post offices; stationers; wedding, party & conference venues; chemists; museums and other destinations. The SnapLab machine produces laboratory quality digital photo prints in seconds. Customers benefit from an extremely intuitive and simple-to-use interface, and vendors

profit from an additional revenue stream without compromising on store space. Small business owners are also going to be given a chance to WIN one of these extraordinary machines in Photomart and DNP’s spring 2013 PRIZE DRAW. The competition will run until the end of April and winners will be announced early May. To enter, candidates must simply visit the SL-20 Prize Draw web page and complete the very short entry form.

ede and ravenscroft Choose Noritsu Noritsu Qss-3704 Hd printers are ‘clear winners’

Ede and Ravenscroft, provider of both academic robes and photographic services for graduation ceremonies have chosen three Noritsu QSS-3704 HD printers, from UK distributor Color Confidence. James Middleton, Group Head of Graduation Services commented; “Technology always moves on, but in our opinion at this moment in time, Noritsu makes the best minilab available.” “We print over a million photographs a year, the majority of which will be produced in two peak periods. Although the Noritsu machines had a higher cost than the

Redeﬁning retail why photo has what it takes to survive...

It’s not news to most that the UK’s photo printing market lags behind some other European destinations when it comes to the popularity of - and opportunities offered by - certain products. “To expect a shopper to visit a store to buy a product that’s available through a host of potentially more convenient portals is a ﬂawed approach”... so why do we firmly believe that photo retail actually has the answer to this situation? Inprint spoke to Kodak’s Darren Johnson about how photo retail can and must change in order to survive and in fact thrive in today’s market. If you don’t normally receive Inprint, please email: harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

competition, they were clear winners in terms of value for money in our opinion.” “We get around 500 10x8” prints out of the Noritsu per hour compared to around 340 10x8” prints out of the other machines. “Another benefit is the ability to purchase chemicals in bulk at a cheaper price.”

Check Your stockrooms

...or perhaps your attics. antique Ilford paper is still going strong... and still selling! Australian photographer Leon Bren snapped up a container of “Ilford Orion” paper on eBay for $A15 (UK £10). Although the tin was very oxidised and quite battered, it did look as though it had not been opened. Leon managed a “very nice print. I think having an entirely useable paper after 70 years of indifferent storage is a tribute to the quality of the product, so well done, guys.”

News Tetenal Team Up with Hahnemuhle Tetenal are now official UK distributors for Hahnemühle Fine Art papers. “We have been moving gradually into the inkjet arena for the last few years and are now at a stage when we have a complete offering for our customer base. Hahnemühle strengthens our position as one of the leading suppliers of inkjet media,” said Phil Barker, Tetenal Inkjet product manager.

Ilford and Tecco Form Strategic Alliance Ilford Group has acquired Tecco GmbH. Ilford has been planning to expand its customer base by strengthening key elements, and has responded to the growing market demand for greater flexibility and improved service levels. The new addition, Tecco, is a converter and supplier of coated and uncoated media for the proofing, photographic, production & laser markets.

Kodak to Sell Document Business? Kodak is selling the document imaging aspect of its business to printer maker Brother Industries for a sum of around $210 million. Brother will also inherit a “deferred service revenue liability” of $67 million. Kodak’s Document Imaging business “provides a comprehensive portfolio of scanners, capture software and services to enterprise customers.” The transaction with Brother is likely to take place based on final court approval in June.

ReWrinting Photo History The proceedings of a conference that examined three plates from The Royal Photographic Society’s Collection by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce dating from c1826-27 re-wrote photographic history and revealed a hitherto unknown photographic process. Exciting new findings were presented about the plates which rewrote the photographic history books. They revealed for the first time that the plates were the result of three different processes including a previously unknown photographic process.

www.pixel.co.uk 9

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 9

26/04/2013 16:35

Impossible Shots Made Possible

www.delkin.com sales@delkineurope.com 0800 1313559 810www.pixel.co.uk www.pixel.co.uk delkinad_HE.indd 1

Pixel 2013.indd 8 PixelMarch April 2013_new.indd 10

13/02/2013 15:38

27/03/2013 26/04/2013 17:05 16:35

spECIaL rEporT

MOBLIE DEVICES

should apple Cut Down on Hardware?

the future’s bright for micropayments and software Apple’s quarterly earnings were viewed by many as disappointing, but experts suggest the company’s future is still extremely bright if they shift focus away from hardware. Victor Basta, managing director of Magister Advisors, explains: “the very worst thing the company could do is double down on device innovation. Apple in our view is a business going through a necessary transition from hardware as the dominant revenue stream. The right thing for Apple to do is to broaden themselves out, serve their huge community

of credit card enabled customers, and focus on micropayments and software.” “The world now is awash with device innovation. Devices are of course a fundamental part of Apple’s offer and will remain so. The point is that the device market is now hugely competitive and Apple should focus on simply being competitive – or good enough in other words.”

the Memory of Choice for tablets and smartphones PNY has introduced its 64GB MicroSDXC with a feature set which ensures that portable devices have the memory necessary to store serious amounts of data. The 64GB card will hold roughly 25 hours of 1080p film, so it’s a perfect solution for those using their smartphone or tablet device for its imaging capabilities The card is a Class 10 UHS-1 classified card. This is the fastest classification on the market and means that read speeds reach 30MB/s and write speeds 20MB/s! It’s ideal for transferring movies, images, music and other

Best of Both New multitasking device...

Samsung has announced the Samsung Galaxy Mega, a device that targets the growing popularity of both smartphones and tablets by combining the portability and convenience of a smartphone with the power, multitasking capabilities and extensive viewing. Special connective features include ‘Samsung WatchON’, which transforms the device into a remote control. ‘Samsung Link’: Easily streams photos, videos, notes, or music to your television, tablet or computer. The GALAXY Mega is equipped with an enhanced 8 megapixel camera, along with a variety of camera modes including ‘Drama Shot ‘Sound & Shot’, ‘Rich tone,’ ‘Sports’ and more. The device also features a brand new imaging/networking feature called ‘Story Album’

large files. The 64GB PNY MicroSDXC™ is available from PNY’s usual network of distributers at an RRP of £34.99. www.pny.com

tablets drive accessory Growth Not just for Christmas...

The growth of tablets is continuing apace ahead of industry predictions, and is continuing past the anticipated Christmas time growth. It also appears to be driving growth in connected accessories. GfK put on year volume and value growth reaching 234% and 145% respectively in February 2013. The growth of this tablet sector has contributed in varying degrees to growth of connectivity and wireless computing accessories such as wireless keyboards, which facilitate content creation on tablet devices. Mice and webcams do not offer as much added practicality to tablet users, hence their relatively modest growth figures during the same period.

News New Camera Apps for the NEX-5R and NEX-6 Sony photographers can now add more features to their NEX5R or NEX-6 with two new PlayMemories Camera Apps. They add Light Shaft, which transforms ordinarys hots with an dramatic ray of light, l and Motion Shot which identifies the moving subject in a high-speed burst of frames.

Refocusable Images come to iPhone A new $2 iPhone app called FocusTwist, created by Argball, takes multiple stills at different focus settings to create the multi-focus photo. Arqball commented: “The ability to change the focus in a photograph after it’s taken allows you to do much more than just fix up errant shots. It creates an entirely new form of interactive media.”

Tiltpod Mobile Articulating Stand for the iPhone 5 The Tiltpod mobile features a quick connect magnetic ball pivot for instant hold at almost any angle Lightweight and tiny the tiltpod will the tripod can also be used for hands-free multimedia viewing and FaceTime sessions. The compact design features a magnetic micro positioning pivot and works with or without the included iPhone 5 case.

Next iPhone to Offers Imaging Upgrade? If established patterns are followed, Apple’s next iPhone release may come with some of the rumoured upgrades to the phone’s camera, including a 12-megapixel sensor, improved low-light capabilities, and HDR photography. The upgrade will also correct previous problems such as the iPhone 5’s well-publicised ‘purple fringing’ problems. Whilst the iPhone 4S was a large leap, in terms of imaging spec, from the 4, the 5 was a smaller step forward in comparison. If the ‘S’ trend continues, the 5S will offer substantial imaging improvements over the 5.

www.pixel.co.uk 11

17:05

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 11

26/04/2013 16:35

News A Connected ImageLover’s Dream... MMD has announced the availability of the new Philips 29-inch panoramic display with 21:9 aspect ratio, brilliant true-color imaging with AH-IPS technology, and MultiView dualsource support. The new 298X4QJAB display ensures an unprecedented home-entertainment experience with its UWHD resolution of 2560 x 1080 pixels and 300 cd/m² brightness on the 29-inch screen. Stateof-the-art AH-IPS display technology delivers crisp images and vibrant colours, and the 178/178-degree viewing angles ensure crystal clear imaging from any perspective, ideal when the entire family is gathered round to watch a film.Thanks to SmartConnect, the display can hook up with numerous devices. It is equipped with a range of interfaces, including DisplayPort, HDMI and Dual Link DVI, enabling viewers to enjoy high-res uncompressed video and audio content from other devices including cameras and tablets. The Philips 298X4QJAB monitor is in stores now, at a recommended retail price of £29.

Power to Accessories! EagleTech, is launching the Neptor NP100K External Battery Pack with Dual USB Outputs for tablets and smartphones. This portable battery is designed to eliminate the hassle of having devices shutting down at the most inconvenient times. It’s equipped with 10000mAh of storage power and can charge your tablet and smartphone simultaneously. Weighing only 190 grams, it fits right into your pocket or bag and is always ready to go.

DxO Optics Pro v8.1.5 supports the Nikon D7100 DxO Labs’ new DxO Optics Pro v8.1.5 for Mac and Windows, allows DxO Optics Pro 8 to support the Nikon D7100 expert DSLR. DxO Optics Pro v8.1.5 integrates many powerful tools for processing RAW and JPEG images, including the best tool for automatically adjusting contrast and light, along with precise colour management.

Get in on the action software for the growing actioncam market

prodrenalin is an, all-in-one software application for Gopro action/sports camera users to improve their videos by removing ﬁsheye and perspective distortion, stabilising, correcting rolling-shutter distortion, denoising, colour correction, and adjusting the brightness and contrast of the video. – all features in a single effective, affordable application with batch processing capability. the famous Mercalli stand

alone (sal) professional video stabiliser moves to Version 3 with automatic stabilisation proﬁle selection, batch processing, and support for 4K and 2.7K video clips.

why Touch is a Must consumers WILL pay more for touch screen devices. Trends already taking off in the mobile phone sector indicate just the extent to which consumers favour a good touchscreen, and the additional price they are willing to pay for it. Touchscreens are used for intuitive image and video editing by professionals, but have contributed to the popularity of image-editing at entry level by smartphone photographers. “Whilst it is nothing new to say that touchscreens are the present and future of the market, March 2013 marked a new low point for devices with no touchscreen functionality,” explained Ben Tutt, GfK. “Only a quarter of all mobile handsets sold in the past month had no touch feature, down 30% from 2012 and 50% from 2 years previous. The consumer demand for touchscreens has led to an industry boom

in value over the past few years; the average price is nearly £300 more than non-touch.” There are signs that as the cost of developing touchscreen devices decreases, there is a change on the horizon, but with consumers willing to pay a premium for touch screens, retailers and manufacturers must be cautious not to erode the selling prices of touch screen gadgets and displays.

Growth Area: devices for schools

connected devices are fully taking off in education, offering an interesting potential revenue streams for high street electronics and imaging goods retailers who sell to schools and clubs Global sales of mobile computing devices in K12 education exceeded 4.4 million units in Q4, and full year performance for 2012 increased by 29% reaching 15.6 million, according to the latest research from Futuresource Consulting. “This growth is driven by 1:1 project rollouts - where each child has their own device and the increased popularity of tablet PCs”, says David Millar, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. Interest levels have been raised further with the launch of a number of new devices including the iPad Mini, Google Nexus, Kindle Fire HD and Microsoft Surface, as well as the host of Windows 8 products hitting the market in late 2012 and early 2013. This growing

product portfolio offers schools an even wider choice and the potential to fuel adoption of all sorts of connected devices for education. Over the next five years Futuresource forecasts show that the market will grow to exceed 50 million units. Currently it is estimated that globally only 3% of all teachers and students have access to a mobile computer (excluding personal ownership), which is a clear indicator of the future potential of this market. With the fast increasing digitisation of education and this substantial growth forecast in mobile computing device uptake, this opens up revenue streams for ecosystem players and content owners, manufacturers AND local suppliers.

12 www.pixel.co.uk

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 12

26/04/2013 16:35

spECIaL rEporT

AV & COMPUTING

Better images, Faster the processor for tomorrow’s imaging Samsung has revealed that it is now working with the Exynos 5 Octa application processor. The Exynos 5 Octa features an unprecedented eight-core ARM® big.LITTLE™ architecture based on the Cortex-A15™ CPU - in plain terms, that means efficient multitasking whilst undertaking processing-heavy tasks like 3D graphic reproduction. The Exynos 5 Octa enables smaller devices to achieve maximum performance. whilst offering 70 percent energy

saving when performing various tasks. The Samsung Exynos 5 Octa enhances the powerful 3D graphics processing capabilities by more than two-times over the Exynos 4 Quad. The Exynos 5 Octa is powerful enough to drive WQXGA (2560x1600) display, the best crystal-clear resolution currently available. The Exynos 5 Octa incorporates a full HD 60fps (frame per second) video hardware codec engine for 1080p video recording and play-back, an embedded 13 mega-pixel 30fps

Improve productivity an ideal monitor for imaging professionals

Fresh from its debut at CeBIT 2013, the Philips 298P4QJEB professional display is now on sale. MMD, brand license partner for Philips Monitors, are supplying this 29-inch (73 cm) AH-IPS display. The combination of an extra-wide viewing area in a 21:9 format and the simultaneous dualfeed via MultiView represent an innovative product

concept which helps improve productivity for imaging professionals. Professional users require excellent image quality . The new 21:9 298P4QJEB monitor from MMD and Philips was designed with exactly this purpose in mind. This crystal clear display is based on AH–IPS

No compromises: wd’s new ultra-fast drives offer the best in speed, size, capacity and performance

WD has begun shipping the world’s first ultraslim 2.5-inch, hard drives and solid state hybrid drives, which are designed for integration into the slimmest devices and space-constrained computing environments. With 500 GB of storage capacity and models with high performance-enabling solid state hybrid drive technology, this slim product line helps to address the trade-offs’ system designers often make between capacity, physical size and performance. This technology will be ideal in applications ideally suited to professional and enthusiast photographers working on imaging in the field, such as tablets and notebook/netbook computers, as the design maximises the mechanical sway space in the hard drive and ensure shock performance, including ensuring accurate tracking during read and write operations. WD drives are consistently deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications.

image signal processor interface for highquality camera functionality, and 12.8GB/s memory bandwidth interface that enables Full HD Wifi display.

technology for 178/178-degree viewing angles and a particularly high resolution of 2560 x 1080 pixels. The extra-wide 21:9 format provides users with the long-awaited additional screen space for displaying several application windows side by side – and at a brightness of 300 cd/m² even in brightly lit environments. With an outer bezel thickness of no more than 2.5 mm, nothing distracts the user from the truly panoramic view provided by these minimalistic displays. Complementing the spacious screen size, the advanced MultiView abilities enable users to stream content from multiple sources simultaneously.

Operations Support Manager Kenro are the UK distributors for Nissin Flash, Benro Tripods, Marumi Optical and Reflecta Audio Visual together with Kenro Photo Frames, Albums and Accessories. We are looking to appoint an Operations Support Manager for the ongoing development of our Trade, Dealer and Online Retailer operations. Applicants should have a solid background in the photographic trade with a good technical knowledge, sound internet sales experience and should have held a previous managerial role within the Photographic Industry. The position will be based at our Swindon Head Office. Apply with a current CV in the first instance to: Mrs Joanna Jarvis, Kenro Ltd Greenbridge Road, Swindon SN3 3LH Or alternatively email: jojarvis@kenro.co.uk

Kenro Ltd, Greenbridge Road, Swindon, SN3 3LH t: 01793 615836 f: 01793 530108 e: sales@kenro.co.uk

www.kenro.co.uk Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook

www.pixel.co.uk 13 Supplying the photographic & gift trade for over 40 years Pixel April 2013_new.indd 13

26/04/2013 16:35

spECIaL rEporT FoCUs

THE BIG INTErVIEW we catch up with the man at the top of Olympus UK, david ivins, director of consumer Business The OM-D has been a huge success for Olympus since its launch last year. Are you still seeing strong demand and are there any additions to the range ahead? Demand is still very strong and as the price has recently come down to £999 for the kit, we have seen a pick up again. The next few months will also see a ramp up in demonstration activity to build on the positive reaction from serious users and pros. An update has been much talked about and I am sure that there will be more to build on the success of the O-MD. We have also just embarked on our biggest specialist press campaign for many years with the OM-D a new ad in premium positions in many of the titles. Many manufacturers, including Olympus now choose to supply some of the independent channel via distribution. Who are you working with to fulfil this and what benefit does this bring to the party? We will continue to supply direct and through distribution according to demand and need. There is also the matter of logistics. Sometimes a distributor can hold a wider range of stock for immediate delivery of smaller orders so accounts may use a mix of ordering options. We will continue to work with Direktek, Swains and Midwich where we continue to see good growth. The independent photographic specialist retailer channel has declined in numbers considerably. Although also seeing decline, the independent CE channel still has over 1200 brown goods retailers operating. Are you looking at this area an opportunity for growth? We will never rule anything out but only as long

CrEdITs & CoNTaCTs

“ Our Audio division has always worked alongside the Imaging team and has continued to grow as part of the overall Consumer Business” as the offer is attractive and fits in with our other distribution strategies and agreements. You also kick-started the action camera segment with the Tough range. Do you have any plans to further enhance your offering in this market, wearable cameras, mounts & brackets etc? There is no news on this but as the action camera segment grows we would expect to see enhancements. There has been a lot of speculation on the investment from Sony. Anything to say on the matter? Nothing beyond what has been said already. Both companies will benefit from it! We hear that some of your team are competing in a Tough Mudder event (ridiculously extreme assault course, not for the feint hearted) soon. Can you tell us more? Yes we are. It has proved a great way to get some of the people from different areas of the business together and looks like a lot of fun as well as a challenge. Tunnels full of freezing cold ice water, lots of mud, and electric shocks, all contained over a 12 mile course what better way to spend a Saturday. Is this for charity and if so, what’s the address to pledge? Cancer Research UK is the charity the Olympus Team are supporting and you can contribute by calling my secretary on 01702 452035.

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

Production Design: Laura Knight/Harriet Weston 01323 411601 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Sales Leanne McConnell 01323 433701 leanne@lifemediagroup.co.uk

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

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

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

Subscriptions Leanne McConnell 01323 411601 leanne@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Accounts: Clare Fermor Amelia Wellings 01323 411601 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Olympus audio are working from the same office as imaging now. Will you be making any concise effort to sell Olympus audio into the channels that currently retail the imaging devices? Our Audio division has always worked alongside the Imaging team and has continued to grow as part of the overall Consumer Business. We pride ourselves not only on the traditional voice recorders but on a fantastic range of both Assistive Technology and Professional products. Our Audio Business Development Managers have worked very hard in the last few years to establish our product within both the Medical and Legal fields with good success. We are always happy to discuss options with anyone who feels they have a route to market that offers an opportunity With Jessops coming back into the fold and many other big closures, can you make a prediction as to what the retail landscape will look like a year from now? My own feeling is that things have stabilised for the most part now caused by both a shrinking market and general economic issues. I expect to see a period of consolidation followed by some targeted expansion in areas currently under-served. The system camera market still has much potential and the specialist retailer will continue to drive it. I am cautiously optimistic but that maybe due to our future product line up which is very exciting. Thanks, David.

Published by LMG SE LTD (Life Media Group) Park View House 19 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3YD 01323 411 601 Printed by Gemini West 25 Hockeys Lane, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3HH 0117 965 5252

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 2013 ©

14 www.pixel.co.uk

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 14

26/04/2013 16:35

AC La ES sT RE FE M W AI NI N

The Pixel Indie 150 has been organised by Pixel and InPrint magazines to bring together independent dealers, manufacturers & suppliers for a single day of racing & networking. The incredible, event only deals are the icing on the cake!

The pixel Indie 150 • 2.5 Hour endurance race with pit stop challenge. Teams of 4 drivers (37.5 mins + test laps per driver) • 20+ unbeatable ‘event only’ deals. (Only available for this event and only for the limited number of drivers attending the event). • Breakfast on arrival and hot food buffet included. • Unlimited tea, coffee & soft drinks included. • Only available for Independent dealers. • Opportunity to network, hands-on sessions in the display area on mezzanine ﬂoor (overlooks track). • Branded Team shirts for every driver. • All event photography will be shared with every driver. • Presentation with trophies and bubbly to celebrate top three positions and winners of Pit Stop Challenge.

Manufacturers are sponsoring this event so book your place NoW as spaces are limited

(Maximum of 2 people per organisations)

Contact Simon Skinner: Event organiser. Simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk or 01323 433700 NB. This event is only open to and limited to independent retailers. We have set a guideline so please call for more information.

FrEE

For Independent Retailers Daytona Milton Keynes

H4 Dansteed www.pixel.co.uk 15 Way

Rooksley Milton Keynes, MK13 8NP

Pixel April 2013_new.indd 15

26/04/2013 16:35

NEW Range including UHS-I No.1 name in Memory*

NEW Point of sale display packs NEW Promotion - Win one of 16 cases of fine wine

16 www.pixel.co.uk

www.ddltd.co.uk

Tel: 01442 230022

Email: sales@ddltd.co.uk

*In the memory semiconductor market since 1992. Source: iSupply (Q2-2011) Pixel April 2013_new.indd 16

26/04/2013 16:35