Pixel Magazine - Issue 959

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ISSUE NO. 959

www.pixel.co.uk

INSIDE

January 2015

LP_Pixel_Ears_46x53mm.indd 2 CES30/09/2014 2016: 11:47 AN OVERVIEW, THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW 2016, BEHIND THE COUNTER, TEAM: 30/09/2014 ZEISS, ROUND UP OF 2015, PIXEL.CO.UK, BOOK OF THE MONTH, INDUSTRY NEWS AND MORE...

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This Issue Includes...

• Pixel offer an overview of what to expect at The Photography Show. P12.

• Was Black Friday as successful as it was anticipated to be? Find out more on P16.

Nikon Announces the D5 After months of churning through the rumour-mill, Nikon has finally announced the allnew D5, their flagship FX-format D-SLR. Read on for a full spec list and line up of other significant imaging launches from this year’s CES in Las Vegas

• In:Print’s Book Of The Month is 100 Great Danes, celebrating feminine grace and strength P28.

PENTAX 645Z studio plug-in

Ricoh Imaging Europe recently announced the release of the Pentax Tethered Capture Plug-In for use with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, designed to enhance the tethered capture capabilities of the Pentax 645Z mediumformat SLR camera.

To assist professional users, by connecting the 645Z to a computer by a USB cable, this new application allows the photographer to release the 645Z’s shutter from the computer, and to display the captured images on a larger screen provided by the computer.

PHOTO -

IMAGING -

Between January 6-9, the giant, annual consumer electronics event CES was fully underway, unveiling the next generation of innovation that promises to revolutionise technology across all industries.

Pixel were one of the first to hear the official news of one of the most significant launches for the imaging VIDEO

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AUDIO

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TV

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PRINT

industry held strong at the forefront, with big announcements from the likes of Nikon, Panasonic, Canon and Olympus (plus a few lesser known, new names) Turn to page 8 of this issue for a full roundup of the 4 days in Vegas:

sector; the all-new D5 from Nikon, their new flagship FX-format D-SLR. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world’s largest handson event of its kind, gathering together all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies.

This year has been a stomping success, and the photographic -

MOBILE

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STATS

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PEOPLE

Continued on page 8...

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RETAIL

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BUSINESS

FOR 48 YEARS AND COUNTING

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NEWS

www.pixel.co.uk 1

11:47

PUT YOURSELF IN THE PICTURE - THE EVENT FOR EVERYONE WHOSE BUSINESS IS PHOTOGRAPHY -

BOOK YOUR TICKETS AT: PHOTOGRAPHYSHOW.COM

Discounts available for enthusiasts. Quote PXTPS16 to claim.

(Applies to adult entry tickets)

Free passes available for professional photographers and members of trade.

(Subject to verification criteria)

2 www.pixel.co.uk

NEWS

WELCOME To Pixel Magazine Happy New Year from the Pixel team! To begin the year – as only seems fit – we will be looking back over the year just gone: 2015. It was a year of huge development for the photographic sector, with major innovation and technological enhancements. We look back, and give a comprehensive overview of all the biggest and best releases, and even look forward to some of the rumours.

CES 2016, the world’s largest gathering of consumer technologies in one event, in Las Vegas, saw many a new release from the likes of Sony and Nikon, Panasonic and Canon, plus indications of trends within the technology and imaging sector as a whole for 2016. Pixel gives an overview of some of the big announcements made from 6th – 9th

January, as well as highlighting key announcements for the next upcoming event for the industry: The Photography Show 2016.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday saw a huge peak in online sales for consumers, but a very disappointing turnout for the high street. This indicates a massive shift in how consumers buy their products now, and may push manufacturers and retailers alike to adapt their strategy slightly.

Although a fairly quiet time for print, with digital reigning King in the pages of Pixel, our In:Print section this month covers the latest activity from Citizen, what FujiFilm’s print department has to offer, talk to Mitsubishi about what’s going on for them in this new year, and as usual cover the latest news.

Jenny, Editor

Olympus’ new telephoto lens: the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO Olympus has announced that this spring will see the launch of their first professional-grade, MFTcompatible 300mm telephoto lens: the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO. The new lens adds to Olympus’ PRO line-up of three, as the world’s most compact and lightweight telephoto lens. It also boasts to have the world’s most powerful 6-step image stabilisation system and the shortest focusing distance for telemacro photography in the category: just 1.4m from subject to camera.

This makes it ideal for fastmoving professionals who need powerful, top-notch lenses that match the usability of their smallformat, Micro Four Thirds cameras.

When attached to Olympus models such as the OM-D E-M1 or E-M5 Mark II, it can achieve autofocus speeds of less than 300ms with a silent shutter, and freeze and splashproof build.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO is available in black from Spring 2016 priced at £2199.99 RRP inc VAT.

Industry News Bites Find out more info on this month’s news bites at Pixel.co.uk

Leica announces firmware update 1.2 for Leica SL mirrorless camera system Leica Camera has announced a new firmware update – version 1.2 – for the Leica SL. Available to download now, registered owners can log in to the Leica owners’ area to obtain the firmware, or bring their camera to a Leica Store or Leica Customer Service for a free update service.

The new firmware update 1.2 offers several fundamental improvements in picture quality and handling of the camera. These include optimisation of picture quality at ISO values from 50 to 400, improvements to the

image in the electronic viewfinder and greater flexibility when entering WLAN passwords.

When using Leica M and R lenses, the new firmware 1.2 enables the activation of a loupe (magnifying) function with the auto exposure lock button (AE Lock) to allow fast manual focusing. The firmware update also guarantees the correct indication of the R-Adapter-M and the R-Lens used in the EXIF data of image files.

In addition, the Leica Log Gamma curve (L-Log) for video has been improved to enable its use for in-camera 8-bit recording.

Hoya introduce Fusion Filters Hoya has developed a new antistatic coating that acts like a force field around the filter to repel dust. Perfect for environments where dust is common, these filters require less frequent cleaning and maintenance than traditional filters. Additionally, the hardened, antistatic toplayer is water repellent, stain and scratch resistant and cleans easily when smudges or fingerprints are introduced to the surface.

The new 9-layer Super Multicoating formula greatly reduces reflections on the surface of the glass and yields very high light

transmission rates, meaning the filter has virtually no effect on the colour balance, contrast, or clarity of the final image.

Fusion filters are available in UV, Circular Polariser and Protector and in sizes from 37mm through to 82mm.

Prices start from £26.99 for a 37mm protector filter.

Pixel previewed these filters in 2015 ahead of release and they have to be seen to be believed.

They are available from Intro 2020 01628 674411

Lightning USB 3.0 2 in 1 Flash Drives Expands the memory of your iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and smartphones www.pixel.co.uk 3 Tel: 01485 536 200

sales@swains.co.uk

www.swains.co.uk

NEWS

Marumi New Sizes availabe from Kenro Kenro, the UK and Ireland distributor of Marumi lens filters, has announced the immediate availability of a number of new sizes for its popular Fit + Slim and DHG Camera Filters.

New sizes range from 37mm up to 105mm.

The Fit + Slim Lens Protect, UV and Circular PL ranges have the following new sizes: 37mm, 40.5mm, 43mm and 46mm.

There is one new size applied across the DHG range: a 105mm filter is now available in the Super UV, Super Circular, Lens Protect,

UV and Circular Polarising styles.

Another new addition sees a 46mm filter added to the DHG UV range.

Paul Kench, Kenro’s Managing Director, says: “By adding these sizes to their filter ranges, Marumi are broadening the appeal of their products to CSC users as well as users of large zoom lenses. We are confident these new additions will prove popular.”

Each filter uses a specially developed ultra-low reflection coating to minimize internal reflection off the cameras built-in CCD and CMOS Sensors.

Changing the Game for Actioncams: 360fly

The 360fly gives panoramic 360-degree recordings with one single actioncam and is able to withstand rough outdoor conditions and is waterproof up to 35 Meters when the microphone is locked. The actioncam is standardized following the protection rating IP67 - meaning that it is suitable for situations involving lots of dust.

360fly records your experiences from any angle and perspective: 360 degrees horizontally and 240 degrees vertically. A three-axissensor including acceleration sensor

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and orientation-identification provides image-stabilized images.

An aperture of F2.8. A 2.26 CMOS image sensor enables recordings of a resolution up to 1,504 x 1,504 pixels. All videos are being stored directly on the 32 Gigabyte internal memory (two hours of recording capacity); the battery provides approximately two hours of power.

Communication controlled via WiFi or Bluetooth enables controls, editing and export via Android and iOS app. The QuickTwist system allows the 360fly to be attached almost anywhere, and videos can easily be shared.

Availability: January 2016 and the camera carries a suggested retail price of £429.00 inc VAT For further information please contact Jane Nicholson at jane@intro2020. co.uk or 01628 674411

Jessop’s 50th Location Now Open

The new concession shop officially opened its doors to Christmas shoppers on 17th December at Sainsbury’s in Emersons Green, Bristol.

Other key expansions for Jessops in 2015 included a new flagship location in Norwich, a welcomed return to Preston, and the successful partnership with Sainsbury’s. The new store promises to offer expert staff and try-before-you-buy product

displays. Customers can also take advantage of one-hour professional printing services and a range of photography courses via the Jessops Academy.

Neil Old, CEO of Jessops, comments: “The opening of Jessops at Emersons Green concludes a very successful year for Jessops. In 2015, our vision has been executed perfectly with fourteen new store openings, allowing us to bring our fantastic service to even more customers around the country. We are incredibly excited to be expanding the business, and at the same time reassured by winning several customer voted awards which shows our ongoing commitment to making sure every shopping experience is unforgettable.”

Panasonic Dual I.S Firmware upgrade on Lumix G lenses Panasonic has announced a firmware upgrade for five of its Lumix G lenses to make them compatible with the new Dual I.S technology introduced in the DMCGX8, which combines the Body I.S and Lens I.S working at the same time to take maximum advantage of both stabilizers together.

The firmware upgrade is available for the following lenses: • H-ES045 Ver.1.0 Ver.1.1 • H-FS45150 Ver.1.1 Ver.1.2 • H-FS12032 Ver.1.0 Ver.1.1 • H-FS35100 Ver.1.0 Ver.1.1 • H-HS043 Ver.1.0 Ver.1.1

There are now eleven Dual I.S compatible lenses, providing photographers with more choice and more shooting situations that can benefit from consistently blurfree images.

Hedler Profilux LED 1000 X Manufacturer, Hedler, has recently announced the release of the Hedler Profilux LED 1000 X – a new LED light unit, using the very latest LED technology, which has a general purpose floodlight reflector and build-in ballast pack.

The Hedler Profilux 1000 X LED is a continuous light unit using one high power, single LED unit with daylight colour temperature. It has extremely quiet fan cooling and special, active LED cooling; the

LED has an average lifetime of approx. 50000 hours.

The unit can be used with all existing Hedler reflectors and softboxes: full integration into an existing system.

More features, among others include: LED soft start, digital display with light output power indicator, dimmable from 5% up to 100% light output, service indicator and status LEDs, integrated electronic ballast, fan control and an integrated operation-hour counter.

RRP (Inc. VAT): £838.80.

www.pixel.co.uk 5

ILFORD COMPETITION WINNER! Pixel are delighted to announce the winner of the ILFORD OBSCURA PINHOLE CAMERA In our November issue, we announced a reader top section of the camera also holds the competition in association with HARMAN stainless steel chemically etched 0.3mm Technology Ltd, giving away an Ilford Obscura pinhole in place.

Pinhole Camera, plus a range of 35mm black Designed for 4x5 inch film or paper, the and white ILFORD film in a variety of speeds. camera is 87mm in focal length, giving wideBy answering our simple angle images. The questions, and after pinhole exposures whittling down from the are controlled by a many entries we received, magnetic locking “This is a great bit of kit we now have a winner! shutter, which can to experiment with, and be left in the open will hopefully provide Congratulations to… or closed position.

The design also Sarah with hours of Sarah Coldron, Lab incorporates a fun, which she can Manager at Kodak tripod-mounting hopefully share with her Express, Lincoln! socket, and the enclosed sticker customers in store.”

The pinhole camera from allows a sighting line Ilford is precision cut and to be created with formed from expanded which to aim the PVC, and is made of two camera. interlocking sections.

This is a great bit The photographic medium is loaded into the of kit to experiment with, and will hopefully bottom section in darkroom conditions, and provide Sarah with hours of fun, which she then held in place by sliding in the top section, can hopefully share with her customers in which locks into place by use of magnets. The store.

WIN PRO EXCELLENCE

DayMen International, worldwide owner and manufacturer of LowePro products, among other brands has come together with Pixel to offer readers a chance to win one of their great carrying solutions products

Just answer the simple question below to be in for a chance of winning the new Lowepro shoulder bag for DSLR Kit worth £125: ProTactic SH200 AW.

carrying solutions. The first generation of the ProTactic series launched last year with the 350 AW and 450 AW. The expanded line now includes the SH 120 AW, 180 “Answer the simple What year was the AW, 200 AW and first Lowepro bag 250 AW. The SH200 question below to be in invented?

AW is a modern, for a chance of winning photojournalistEmail your answer style shoulder bag the new Lowepro to jenny@pixel.co.uk designed to fit a shoulder bag for with “DAYMEN” as professional DSLR DSLR Kit worth £125: the subject, along with a classic 70with your name, 200mm lens kit, two ProTactic SH200 AW” address and contact to three extra lenses details. or speedlights, up to a 13-inch laptop and About the product: tablet, smartphone, The ProTactic SH200 and accessories.

AW is one of the newest shoulder bags for It also includes a water-resistant top-zip DSLR Kit to be added to the Lowepro range or opening as well for fast access to gear.

6 www.pixel.co.uk

IT’S HERE

ADVERT Your Next Step in Communication and Information in the Imaging Industry Head to Pixel.co.uk to request your log in today or contact tom@lifemediagroup.co.uk

www.pixel.co.uk 7

CES 2016

CES 2016:

An Overview

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Nikon D500 Nikon is pleased to announce the release of the D500, a DX-format digital SLR camera that packs the performance of the D5, Nikon’s flagship FX-format model, into an agile body.

ikon D5 Nikon has revealed the all-new D5, the FX-format D-SLR.

Key features: • 153 focus points and 99 cross-type sensors.

• All-new 20.8-MP FX-format CMOS image sensor and 180K pixel RGB metering sensor deliver phenomenally accurate subject recognition and image detail.

• The new EXPEED 5 image processing engine ensures extremely high image quality across the standard ISO range.

• Shoots up to 12 fps with AE/AF tracking.

• Capture up to 200 NEF (RAW) or large JPEG images in one high-speed burst.

• An ISO range of 100 to 102400, extendable to ISO 3280000 equivalent at the Hi 5 setting.

• Shoots 4K movies (3840x2160 pixels) at 30p/25p/24p in dot-by-dot native pixel crop, which ensures the highest image quality.

• Shoots Full HD (1080p) video at up to 50p/60p in multiple formats.

• New Double XQD card slots and a new USB 3.0 port for high-speed transfer of large amounts of data.

• Up to four times faster wireless connection and twice as fast Ethernet connection.

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Nikon enters into action cam market: KeyMission 360 At CES 2016, Nikon announced its entry into the action camera market with the first in this lineup, the KeyMission 360 - a wearable action camera capable of recording true 360 degree video in 4K UHD. The KeyMission 360 features an image sensor and lens combination on two opposite sides of the camera, and images from each are combined in-camera to create a single realistic, high-definition 360° image.

Key features: • Waterproof to depths of 30 metres without a separate housing.

• Stands up well to dust, shocks and low temperatures.

• Reliable electronic vibration reduction, enabled via applications during playback.

Key Features: • New EXPEED 5 image-processing engine.

• Wide sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 51200, expandable to Hi 5 (ISO 1640000 equivalent).

• Tilting monitor with 3-axis hinge structure.

• SnapBridge support.

• 8-cm/3.2-inch touch-screen with enhanced 2359k-dot resolution.

• High-speed continuous shooting at approx.

10 fps for up to 200 shots in JPEG and in 14bit lossless compressed RAW. • 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/30p/25p/24p as well as 1080/60p video for up to 29 min. 59s.

CES 2016

Canon: new additions to LEGRIA HF G + LEGRIA HF R Series Canon has bolstered its consumer and enthusiast video camera range with four new models: the LEGRIA HF G40, which features a powerful 1/2.84 type HD CMOS Pro sensor and the LEGRIA HF R706, LEGRIA HF R76 and LEGRIA HF R78, all combining a Full HD CMOS sensor with a 57x Advanced Zoom.

Features of all models: • High bitrate AVCHD 1080p video capture with variable frame rates, and simultaneously record in both AVCHD and MP4 via dual SD cards.

• Slow and fast motion effects and timelapse recording.

• Touchscreen LCD with full manual handling over the customisable control dial, aperture, shutter speed, gain and exposure.

• A switchable zoom and focus ring at the front of lens, as well as iris control.

• DIGIC DV4 processor and a Full HD CMOS sensor for high quality video processing performance.

• Optical Image Stabiliser with Dynamic Mode.

• Automatic Zoom Framing Assist.

LEGRIA HF R78 includes a Wide Attachment lens, and along with the LEGRIA HF G40 and LEGRIA HF R76 features built-in Wi-Fi functionality. The LEGRIA HF R706 is FlashAir compatible, making it Wi-Fi enabled.

Pricing and availability: • The LEGRIA HF G40 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £1049.99.

• The LEGRIA HF R706 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £224.99.

• The LEGRIA HF R76 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £280.99.

• The LEGRIA HF R78 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £304.99.

Canon PowerShot SX540 HS + PowerShot SX420 IS Canon has added two new superzoom compact bridge cameras to its PowerShot range: the PowerShot XH540 HS and PowerShot SX420 IS. The PowerShot SX540 HS Features: • Low light capabilities • Built in Wi-Fi and with Dynamic NFC • Powerful 50x optical zoom and ultra-wide angle lens.

Canon IXUS 285 HS, IXUS 180 + IXUS • 20.3 megapixel CMOS sensor 175 • With ZoomPlus you can also digitally double Canon has expanded its iconic IXUS your zoom without losing resolution point and shoot camera series with the • Improved Zoom Framing Assist Lock with introduction of the IXUS 285 HS, IXUS 180 stabilisation mode, allowing users to choose and IXUS 175. and frame subjects easily whilst the camera All three models intelligently keeps it in feature: focus.

• Ultra wide-angle.

“The IXUS 285 HS • Shoots Full HD video • 8x, 10x and 12x in MP4. also features the Story optical zooms (can • Uses 5-axis Dynamic IS be extended with Highlights function, to keep footage steady ZoomPlus). as you move and shoot. automatically creating • Auto Zoom function. a highlight movie using • A dedicated Movie The PowerShot SX420 Record Button.

IS Features: clips of selected people • Advanced DIGIC 4+ • 42x zoom lens, 20 or selected date” processor. megapixel sensor • Wi-Fi and Dynamic alongside a DIGIC 4+ NFC functionalities.

• Wi-Fi with Dynamic NFC for easy sharing.

Both IXUS 285 HS • Intelligent IS to keep and IXUS 180 also feature Intelligent Image images and HD movies blur free.

Stabiliser technology, and the IXUS 285 • A host of Creative Filters, including Miniature HS hosts Creative Shot. The IXUS 285 HS Effect and Fish-eye Effect. also features the Story Highlights function, • 7.5cm (3.0”) LCD automatically creating a highlight movie using • Built in Wi-Fi and with Dynamic NFC clips of selected people or selected date, as well as an impressive 20.2 megapixel CMOS Pricing and availability: sensor. The IXUS 180 and IXUS 175 pack a • PowerShot SX540 HS will be available from 20 megapixel sensor.

January 2016 with an RRP of £299.99.

• PowerShot SX420 will be available from Pricing and availability: January 2016 with an RRP of £219.99.

• IXUS 285 HS will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £169.99.

• IXUS 180 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £129.99.

• IXUS 175 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £99.99.

www.pixel.co.uk 9

CES 2016 PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-TZ100 The new LUMIX DMC-TZ100 is a premium compact travel camera: the latest addition to the LUMIX TZ range.

Key Features: • Venus engine providing high colour accuracy.

• Incorporates a F2.8-5.9 LEICA DC lens, which features a versatile 10x zoom range of 25mm250mm (35mm camera equivalent).

• Provides 4K 3840x2160 video recording capability, recording at 25 fps in MP4; as well as high-resolution Full HD 1,920x1080 50p videos in AVCHD. • 4K Photo function allows the user to extract an 8-megapixel still from 4K video (30fps).

• Post-Focus feature, which allows you to choose the focal point of any picture, even after it’s taken.

• 0.1s Light Speed Auto Focus and Depth from Defocus (DFD) capability.

• The Live View Finder (LVF) features 1,166K-dot resolution, as well as LVF AF that detects when you’re about to take a shot.

• 3.0inch 1,040k dot touch screen • 5 AXIS HYBRID O.I.S and Level Shot functions • 10fps Bust Shoot mode (full resolution – 5fps with AF).

• Full wireless control and shooting via the Panasonic Image App. Panasonic HC-VXF990 + 980 (4K) + FULL HD camcorder lineup Panasonic has announced two new camcorders into its 4K ultra high-definition line-up: the HCVXF990 and HC-VX980. Additionally, three have also been added to its Full-HD camcorder lineup: HC-W580, HC-V380 and HC-V180.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ80 Panasonic has unveiled a new addition to its travel zoom range: the LUMIX DMC-TZ80.

An exciting new addition to the LUMIX TZ range is the Post-Focus feature, which allows you to select the focal point of your picture, even after it’s taken. The LUMIX DMC-TZ80’s autofocus capability calculates the distance between the camera and the subject, capturing the optimal focus for 49 individual areas within each frame.

Key features: • 0.2-inch 1,166k-dot Electronic View Finder.

• Weight < 300g.

• 3.0-inch 1040k-dot touch screen.

• 4K Photo function allows you to extract an 8-megapixel still from 4K video (30fps).

• 30x Zoom LEICA lens.

• 4K capability (3840x2160 at 25 fps in MP4).

• High-resolution Full HD video recording 1,920x1,080 50p in AVCHD. • 1/2.3” High Sensitivity MOS. • 5 AXIS HYBRID Optical Image Stabilisation.

• Contrast Auto Focus with DFD Technology.

• 10fps Bust Shoot mode (full resolution – 5fps with AF).

• Face / eye tracking AF. • Full wireless control and shooting via the Panasonic Image App.

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Panasonic’s new telephoto lens Panasonic has introduced a new telephoto lens for its LUMIX G range of Micro Four Thirds System cameras: the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR 100400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH. Telephoto-Zoom (H-RS100400) with Power Optical Image Stabilisation (O.I.S.).

HC-VXF990 and VX980 Feature: • LEICA DICOMAR Lens.

• BSI Sensor.

• Crystal Engine 4K (4K images that boast four times the resolution of Full-HD).

• Capable of obtaining 8-megapixel still images from 4K video.

The HC-VXF990 has a new tiltable viewfinder and ability to shoot in Slow & Quick Video, Slow Zoom and Dolly Zoom (Vertigo Effect).

The HC-VXF990, HC-VX980, HC-W580 and HC-V380 all host the new Wireless Multi Camera function evolved from Panasonic’s original Wireless Twin Camera.

The HC-W580 hosts a Twin Camera feature with a pan/tilt sub-camera on the edge of the LCD monitor.

All new models feature Panasonic’s original Level Shot function, which detects and corrects the tilting of captured images, as well as 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S.+.

“The HC-VXF990 has a new tiltable viewfinder and ability to shoot in Slow & Quick Video, Slow Zoom and Dolly Zoom”

Key features: • Longest focal length for Micro Four Thirds.

• Compatible with Dual Image Stabilisation.

• 240fps AF Drive.

• Zoom ring lock.

• Weather Sealing.

• Integrated Quick Shifting Tripod Mount.

• Integrated shift-away lens-hood.

• 4K Capability.

• 200-800mm focal length (35mm equivalent) and 0.5x Magnification capability.

• Power O.I.S.

CES 2016

Sony’s new 4K Handycam and Action Cam line up Sony has announced the new FDR-AX53 4K Handycam and the HDR-CX625 and HDRCX450 HD camcorders.

Features of the FDR-AX53: • The new ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens for astounding resolution up to a wide angle of 26.8mm and 20x optical zoom and 30x Clear Image Zoom.

• 5-axis image stabilisation enabled by Sony’s Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ enhanced with NEW Intelligent Active mode, compensating for camera shake even whilst running.

• New microphone structure which collects sound from five directions for advanced sound quality.

• Full HD 100fps high speed recording for post-production editing of incredible slowmotion movies.

• Pro-style features including manual ring, EVF, Time Code recording and User Bit for increased shooting flexibility.

• Records at a bit-rate of 4K 100Mbps, using the high-performing XAVC S™ recording format.

Features of the HDR-CX625 and HDRCX450: • Extend to a wide angle of 26.8mm.

• Image stabilisation technologies: 5-axis Balanced Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX625, and Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX450.

“Utilising the Burst Speed Charging technology, the X Station is able to charge the SOLAR X camera up to 80% in 30 minutes and to 100% in 60 minutes” • Features Fast Intelligent AF. • Allows Live Streamingv via USTREAM. • Highlight Movie Maker.

Sony’s new 4K Handycam will be available in Europe from March 2016; the Full HD camcorders will be available from midFebruary, 2016.

HDR-AS50 Action Cam Features: • 11.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with a ZEISS Tessar lens.

• Advanced SteadyShot which is three times more powerful than its predecessor.

• Up to 3x smooth zoom and 2 angle setting modes for perfect field angle adjustment.

• Enhanced camera body for improved usability and supplied Underwater Housing for up to 60m depth range.

• Movie functions with XAVC S 50Mbps high bitrate and 120p/100p high–frame rate recording for slow-motion footage and 4KTime-lapse capabilities using Action Cam Movie Creator.

• Time-lapse Capture feature, which allows interval shooting of 8MP still images.

• In-built movie creator, Highlight Movie Maker with immediate sharing capability.

ACTIVEON’s SOLAR X action camera A revolutionary solar powered action camera was unveiled at CES 2016: the SOLAR X. ACTIVEON’s SOLAR X action camera features: • 4K performance: 2160p with a 16 megapixel CMOS video sensor.

• Unique solar-charging solution.

• Two-inch touchscreen.

• Built-in 1100mAh rechargeable battery.

• Built-in Wi-Fi and digital image stabilisation.

How it works: The X Station panels absorb and store energy from the sun to charge. Utilising the Burst Speed Charging technology, the X Station is able to charge the SOLAR X camera up to 80% in 30 minutes and to 100% in 60 minutes.

The SOLAR X is expected to reach retail stores in the UK in March 2016.

Sony’s new HDR-AS50 Action Cam will be available in Europe in February 2016.

www.pixel.co.uk 11

THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW 2016

The Photography Show 2016

The Photography Show is nearly here again, and we at Pixel are here to offer an overview of what to expect at this year’s show, including incentives for the trade to get involved

T

he Photography Show, organised by Future Plc, promises the largest UK gathering of photographers from both professional and enthusiast sides of the fence.

The show not only gives brands a great way of engaging with their customers, but gives photography enthusiasts a way to see what those brands are offering ‘right now’. The show also offers dealers an insight into the newest developments in the industry.

As a Media Partner of this key UK event, Pixel have been keen to learn of a number of announcements in the lead up to this year’s show, and there will of course, be more to come. One of the most broad indications is that this year sees a strong aim to entice a wider demographic (i.e. the entry level consumer), to the event, held at the NEC Birmingham from March 19th – 22nd 2016.

The bulk of the show consists of 500 demo and conference sessions presented by industry experts from all over the world. Confirmed for this year, is a line-up of audience-engaging features, such as The Live Stage and Behind the Lens. The Live Stage will host a range

12 www.pixel.co.uk

of experts, demonstrating the techniques behind taking unique images in a variety of environments, including renowned food photographer, William Reavell. Other speakers include Street Photographer, Matt Hart, on photography as therapy, Fashion and Beauty photographer, Steve Howdle, on syncing flash at high speed and Vicki Churchill, on turning the everyday into the spectacular. Melanie East will also take to the stage to share her tips on the skills behind photographing babies. These are the aspects of the show that the 29,728 visitors (60:40, enthusiast:professional) in 2015 came for and enjoyed. On average last year, visitors spent 5 to 6 hours wandering around the exhibition halls, attending events and testing products. With enthusiasts spending up to £3,000 per head onsite, where better to see what your consumer market spends their money on than here?

Behind the Lens will see a range of professionals lead sessions covering everything from wildlife to travel, landscape and more, appealing to all levels of photographer. Included in this lineup are: Ram Shergill, known for

“The bulk of the show consists of 500 demo and conference sessions presented by industry experts from all over the world.

Confirmed for this year, is a line-up of audience-engaging features, such as The Live Stage and Behind the Lens”

photographing public figures such as Amy Winehouse and Dame Judi Dench, Paul Colley, revealing the art of successful underwater photography, and Ian Cook, who will look at sports photography in the modern era.

Photojournalist, Tom Stoddart and Emma Drabble will also take the stage.

Other new features within the 2016 show include: Turning Pro Masterclass, the Product

THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW 2016

Demo Theatre and a Wedding and Portrait Theatre among others. The Product Demo Theatre will provide sessions led by technical specialists, who will give visitors the opportunity to get an introduction to specific camera models that are about to be released, or that consumers have recently purchased. Although aimed at consumers, this is a part of the show that will be particularly interesting to dealer visitors, who will be able to meet and get an insight for consumer interest, seeing which cameras visitors are most interested in learning about, or which they have recently bought or likely to buy in the future.

The Photography Show as a whole in fact is a fantastic testing ground for what’s going to be and currently is big in the imaging sector.

Dealers may know full well what products have recently come onto the market, and be able to see which stock leaves the shelves and which don’t as it happens, but being at such a huge event with so many consumers will give a predictive trend insight that can’t be beaten.

The Show provides a way of seeing all the newest products, what trends or technologies are to come, from small and large brands, meet representatives and the faces behind those brands.

Returning is the Mobile Photography feature stage, hosting a programme aimed at helping visitors get the best from their mobile – to understand accessories that are available and learn what is achievable when using their smartphone as a camera. This plays on the fact that photography really is everywhere; and everyone is a photographer in their own right because of smartphones. Smartphone technology has wiped the floor clean with ease-of-access and ease-of-capture in photography, with a snapshot taken and saved, and even edited in seconds. Social sharing has perpetuated the trend, with more and more people now taking photos simply in order to share them. Many brands, and dealers alike have had to consider this when creating and stocking photographic equipment, so this is a great opportunity to see how the public are adapting to the technology, and whether their smartphone really has taken precedent over their SLRs or mirrorless devices.

The demographic of the show itself has changed gradually, but radically over the years.

This is a focus for the show this year, wanting to entice all walks of life to the show: from everyday happy-snapper to professional. This, in turn reflects what dealers have started to see over the years – in store customers changing from solely professional or near-professional to including enthusiasts and even beginners.

Event Manager, Cassandra Grant, said: “Not only are we investing to ensure that our loyal visitors attend year after year, we also plan to evolve the show’s reach to pro and enthusiast markets through the building up of student programmes, alliances with associations and institutions, and through working closely with the blogger community to encourage attendance from the 18-35 age demographic.

We will also continue the discussions we began

in 2015 focusing on the under-representation of women in photography”.

The exhibitor line-up includes the likes of: Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm, Sony, Leica, Manfrotto, Blackmagic, Epson, Ricoh Imaging and Serif. Many more are making up the 200 exhibitors in total, with 86% of 2015 exhibitors having re-booked their stand onsite for the 2016 show. One of which includes TurnsPro, who attended the show last year and will be returning after receiving excellent feedback on their Time Lapse Camera Mount. This is a perfect example of how dealers can see smaller manufacturers rise up out of the sea of major brands at the show – in this case, TurnsPro gained huge interest from GoPro enthusiasts, resulting in over 500 orders within the first four months of the launch via Kickstarter. The show gives an excellent opportunity for dealers to see what brands are likely to succeed, and therefore which products to stock for the future. With smaller or up and coming brands, dealers might even be in with a chance of getting in early and ordering limited ‘trial’ stock for sale in store.

As part of the new show vision to broaden the current visitor demographic, Jeremy Gilbert, Group Marketing Manager of Nikon UK remarked: “The Photography Show is now

a major focal point for Nikon in the year. The show is perfect for showcasing kit, but also inspiring and motivating more people to get involved in photography.”

Mark Thackara, National Marketing Manager for UK Consumer Products at Olympus added: “We are really looking forward to The Photography Show 2016. Olympus will be doing something completely different as always, with fabulous kit to talk about and the prospect of introducing the brand to a wider cross-section of people is incredibly appealing.”

Cassandra commented: “We are thrilled to be welcoming back these brands to The Photography Show, some of which will be joining us for a third consecutive year. Hosting them all at the NEC makes for an exciting and informative visitor experience.”

Trade entry is free, including professional photographers and those who work for agencies, studios and retailers. Register online for your pass at www.photographyshow.com

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BEHIND THE COUNTER

Behind The Counter

Pixel’s Behind The Counter section shines the spotlight on counter-staff to delve into the daily life of photo retail The team at DigiPix Ilford, winners of the Independent Mini Lab Retailer of the Year award at the Pixel Trade Awards in December, answer some of our most pertinent – and silly – questions on the photographic sector as a whole, and their views in-store.

If you own/run/work in a camera shop and you’d like to get involved, please email jenny@pixel.co.uk What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened in store for you?

What got you into photography in the first place?

Do you see the Smartphone market as a threat to traditional camera sales?

A couple of years ago, we had a call asking if they could record some footage in the shop to be used on ‘Don’t tell the bride’.

We found out when the show was going to be aired and told EVERYONE to watch the show. Only to discover they had edited out our section...very embarrassing!

My Dad – he’s always been a casual photographer and so I grew up with a camera in my hands.

No, I think people wanting image quality will always want a camera. The smartphone market is getting more people to capture images, which is a great thing for the industry.

If you could have any camera equipment you wanted for free, what would it be?

Leica M please.

Black and white or colour photography?

Colour.

What’s your opinion of ‘selfies’?

Love them! Fun to take and look great.. especially since the photographer is in the picture!

What’s your favourite thing to take pictures of?

People.

What’s the strangest thing a customer has asked you?

Can I have 6 tins of lager please?!

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What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in store for you?

We regularly print work for Universal Music, which is very fun. The most exciting was printing t-shirts through the night ready for Nicole Scherzinger to hand out at the opening of Westfield Stratford the next morning. Stressful to say the least, but thankfully we met the deadline.

Have you particularly seen an increase in younger people interested in film photography?

Not particularly, but we have found younger people are becoming more creative and demanding personalised items. They print less but their orders have a higher value.

As winner of the Independent Minilab Retailer of the Year at our Trade Awards this year, how do you encourage your customers to print their photographs?

We engage with them! We show them what is possible even if that means a free sample, we have regular special offers and we try to give them a better service than the competition.

How have the brands supported you over the Christmas period?

We’re part of the Fuji Digital Imaging Service - they’re very supportive and always looking at innovative ways to get people through the door. The new smartphone app and online ordering portal are brilliant and certainly help bring in business.

What are your thoughts on Black Friday/ Cyber Monday?

Anything which helps get people out shopping is a good idea. It’s up to the retailer how to make it work for them. It’s a powerful campaign, which we should embrace.

Do you think the ‘digital revolution’ is to blame for many independent retailers going out of business over the last year or so?

The digital revolution has certainly changed the market and I can see how some retailers have gone out of business. However, I feel the key is to keep identifying what customers want and address those needs.

ZEISS

Team: Zeiss

Pixel magazine’s Simon Skinner recently met with the team at Zeiss UK. Below we introduce their members, some newer to our industry than others

“We have seen a number of significant product launches coming through from the German manufacturer including the new Loxia range, additions to the Touit range and all manner of breathtaking Cine lenses”

Z

eiss has been contributing to technological progress for more than 160 years – with solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, biomedical research and medical technology, as well as eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetariums.

The group comprises six business groups and 13 strategic business units, which develop, produce and distribute optical systems.

We have seen a number of significant product launches coming through from the German manufacturer including the new Loxia range, additions to the Touit range and all manner of breathtaking Cine lenses. In the past year, we have also seen additions to the Otus lens family and the newest range, the Milvus family.

The team at Zeiss UK is made up of a talented bunch, making for a crack team of product experts, sales, marketing, social media, PR and business management.

Pixel magazine were recently invited to meet the team at Zeiss UK, as listed below, and will be catching up with new head of consumer optics, Gavin Mills in the near future, so watch this space.

L-R Jon Newton – Events and Marketing Executive Karen Howorth – National Marketing Manager Chris Brown - Digital Marketing and Communications Executive Gavin Mills - Divisional Head Consumer Optics Nita Hedley - Sales Support Co-Ordinator, Consumer Optics Emma Baynes – Marketing & Communications Executive Luke Tait – Sales & Development, Consumer Optics

www.pixel.co.uk 15

BLACK FRIDAY

Looking Back:

Black Friday 2015

We have gradually seen the way we shop change, and Black Friday presents a perfect example of this: from high street to online. Was Black Friday as successful as it was anticipated to be, and how will it affect the usual seasonal sales volumes?

B

rought over to the UK from US tradition, we Brits were only privileged enough to be part of the sensation for the first time 5 years ago, when Amazon thought it would give it a try. Other retailers, however, only properly took on Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2014. Now, we are seasoned consumers, dealers and suppliers, offering and taking a huge amount of deals, discounts and offers, not just on the Friday but throughout the week prior and week after, due to Cyber Monday also. So, it seemed like we had a twoweek period of manic discounts, for retailers everywhere to contend with not only each other but with their huge number of customers.

Last year, consumers went mad for the deals during the week of November 24th to 28th, with fights breaking out, stores getting trashed and online sites crashing due to overuse. Black Friday this year, on Friday 27th November 2015, was of course, therefore, muchanticipated and it did, overall, produce the expected spike in sales: trading was up 25% compared with the beginning of the month. But it wasn’t quite as expected.

With Christmas just a few weeks away at the time of the event itself, it wasn’t surprising

16 www.pixel.co.uk

to see gifting items high up on many people’s shopping lists. According to Gfk, one of the recent must-have products, in wearable technology, saw growth of 158%. Action cameras saw an increase of 182%, playing on its already strong standing within the imaging and tech sector growing massively in terms of consumer demand over the past couple of years. The biggest price cut, and perhaps unsurprising given the action camera statistics, was to traditional HD camcorders, with an average selling price decline of 44% Year on Year (YoY).

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2015 offered a far more civilised shopping experience than in 2014, as consumers formed orderly queues to take advantage of the Black Friday deals.

Many consumers pre-empted the rush, saving their purchases till the opportune moment – something we didn’t see last year – and thus made a more thought-through purchase.

Sales for the week prior to Black Friday were down 7% in value, and down 6% in volume.

November, overall, was a quiet month in terms of retail sales: sales at stores open for more than a year fell 0.4% from the same month in 2014.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of The British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: “With growth of 0.7%, November was quite a slow month, overall, for retail. The picture was somewhat mixed when we look across the different categories, with half experiencing growth and the other half seeing a decline.”

David McCorquodale, Head of Retail, KPMG, said: “November’s relatively flat sales figures are a reality check for the retail sector, with consumers holding off for a Black Friday bargain pitted against retailers determined to hold onto their hard-earned margins. The result was that, despite the hype around Black Friday, there was minimal loosening of the family purse strings compared to last year and retailers, facing significant cost increases next year, will be striving to wean UK shoppers off the discounting drug.

“Detailed examination of November trading shows a slowdown in most categories as consumers held off purchases in the hopes of a deluge of Black Friday discounts. Whilst many retailers participated, categories that saw the biggest uplift on the day were the electricals ones where, I suspect, the discounting pain was borne by supplier and retailer alike.”

Woman with Shopping Bags - Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

BLACK FRIDAY

Although a quiet week prior to Black Friday, the big week itself, this year, saw the biggest sales week of 2015 to date, performing 62% better than the previous highest-value week.

The real story this year, though, was that many consumers chose not to battle the high street at all, but stayed at home and ordered their planned and spontaneous purchases online. November saw the eighth monthly decline in a row for high street shopping, and a much steeper fall than the 0.2% drop seen in October – this only continued over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales period, after which it was reported that consumers failed to find discounts that matched those found online.

This may not have been a surprise to most retailers, who had steadily seen an increase in online shopping versus high street shopping over the year, and the ‘better’ deals online may have been, in part, a strategic move so as not to overcrowd shops themselves. If so, this may have backfired. This year, online sales outperformed the total market sales, with growth of 21% in both value and volume (YoY). With 33% of value and 27% volume going through online, Internet sales made up a whopping 75% of the overall value increase for this Black Friday. As such, high street shopping fell by 3.4% compared with November of last year (according to the BRC).

David McCorquodale, Head of Retail, KPMG, said: “As some retailers sought to play down the stampede of Black Friday and put fighting in the aisles behind them, the consumer, too, shied away from the High Street to click into Christmas from the phone or tablet. This year’s was certainly an online Black Friday, which drove penetration levels to an all-time high of 22.4%.”

Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, provider of retail performance insights also commented on this decline in high street and shopping centre activity: “The volume of activity in retail stores in the week following the Black Friday weekend, has dipped further on the back of strong activity within the eCommerce space.

“While the last payday before Christmas has traditionally driven a spike in sales for bricks-andmortar retailers, there is strong evidence that the spending patterns of consumers are changing.

For the first time this year, the Black Friday long weekend was an online shopping experience for consumers, and it appears that click and collect opportunities have not generated the uplifts in footfall that some retailers may have hoped for.”

Helen Dickinson also explained: “Online was an attractive place for shoppers this November, with the highest penetration rate on record at 22%, edging closer to people spending £1 in

“This year’s was certainly an online Black Friday, which drove penetration levels to an all-time high of 22.4 percent”

every £4 online across non-food categories.

Retailers worked hard to offer attractive, targeted Black Friday promotions, which were often extended across several days, as well as enhancing the customer experience by improving website performance, offering user-friendly apps and improving order delivery services. Customers had access to an array of offers, with many retailers personalising their website offerings, such as granting loyal customers early access to sales.”

Amazon sold more than 7.4m items on Black Friday alone, up from 5.5m last year, shifting 86 items per second and giving the online retailer its biggest sales day ever in the UK. Last year, Argos saw 660,000 visits to its website within one hour of launching its Black Friday deals. The website suffered slow page loading times during the sales event this year, but stayed offering its deals, including nearly £100 off Canon PowerShot Bridge Cameras. A whopping 13 digital cameras were bought per minute on Ebay.

With most brand promotions ending in late January and even the beginning of February, it will be interesting to then look back and see how Black Friday 2015 has impacted the traditional Christmas period and January sales shopping season in the beginning of 2016. Has it provided a boost to the consumer durables markets, or will it be a repeat of last year and simply a case of pulling sales forward throughout the new year?

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ROUND UP OF 2015

Round Up of 2015

The start of a new year always brings with it some predictions and announcements, not to mention plenty of rumours. It also gives us a chance to look back on the year we’ve just had: to reflect, learn from and to develop

A

t the beginning of 2015, Pixel reported on a YouGov survey which gave a very surprising insight into the digital camera sector. The questionnaire, presented to over 2000 people, delivered some interesting results: 47% of people asked thought smartphones would be the most relevant technology moving forward followed closely by 37% saying tablets and 32% mentioning 3D printers. Now, in hindsight, we look at this with knowledgeable eyes, and the statistics don’t deviate from what we would expect. However, much to our dismay, the survey also imposed the idea that digital cameras are seen as the most ‘redundant’ and ‘unnecessary’ form of technology in the consumer world.

Well, we didn’t take it too personally, but unfortunately the findings had some merit, as data did suggest a decline in the manufacturing of cameras in 2015 – although that’s perhaps no bad thing, with the quality reigning over quantity! 72 new cameras were introduced last year, which is a number that pales in comparison to previous years: the number of models was over 20% lower in 2015 than the 98 models introduced in 2014, and last year’s number looks pathetic next to 2012’s 146

18 www.pixel.co.uk

models. Having said that though, there were certainly many new developments within the sector, which have set retailers and consumers alike up for a great 2016.

There were many predictions for 2015, including some which were highly accurate, including smartphone technology developments, cloud-based storage facilities, action camera improvements, 3D printing and, most importantly developments within the photographic sector. Here is a run-down of a few of the biggest developments over the past year, including examples of some of the biggest product announcements: 1. Mirrorless Compact System Cameras (CSC) Sony, Olympus, Leica, Panasonic, FujiFilm and more recently Nikon: they’ve all fully grasped the idea of CSC and mirrorless technology this year. Mirrorless cameras have the advantage of smaller size, lighter weight than DSLRs and often cheaper, but at the same time host a good quality, large sensor - which may be why consumers are heading out to purchase them far more now than the traditional SLR camera.

DSLR camera announcements as a whole have

been few and far between for the past year – perhaps due to this rise in CSC format products.

Mirrorless cameras only constituted 5% of total camera shipments in 2013. In 2015, mirrorless-cameras accounted for 26% of interchangeable-lens camera sales outside the Americas, showing a huge increase in the interchangeable lens camera market share in only two years. This is something that our Behind the Counter section has often highlighted, and retailers are noticing this trend. Here’s a list of a few of the biggest CSC releases in 2015: Canon EOS M10 In October 2015, Canon unveiled a new CSC that distilled DSLR capabilities into a compact body. This camera announced it would host an advanced image processor, the DIGIC 6, and 18 Megapixel sensor and Hybrid CMOS AF II.

ROUND UP OF 2015

some of the top product releases of 2015 within the 4K action camera sector:

Lumix DMCGH4R - an advanced version of the LUMIX DMC-GH4 - as well as a comprehensive software update for existing users.

Sony Alpha 7S II Available from November, the Sony Alpha 7S II was introduced to offer higher sensitivity range of ISO, better image quality and processing and image stability with the innovative 5-axis image stabilisation system.

FujiFilm XT-10 The XT-10 was the latest premium interchangeable lens model to join the worldrenowned X-series digital camera line-up in May 2015. This model boasted a new AF system as well as an electronic Real Time Viewfinder, which boasted the world’s shortest time lag at the time of 0.005 seconds.

Panasonic Lumix GX8 Available from August 2015, this model boasted 4K capabilities, the latest creative technologies and Panasonic’s first Dual I.S (Image Stabiliser), the latest LUMIX G, with a classic compact design.

Nikon 1 J5 The Nikon 1 J5 was the latest model in the J series of Nikon 1 in April 2015. This boasted the world’s fastest continuous shooting with AF at up to approximately 20 fps, as well as the world’s shortest shooting time lag.

Panasonic GH4R IFA 2015 brought with it various announcements, including the Panasonic

Olympus E-M10 Mark II Olympus released its fifth model in the OM-D camera series, the OM-D E-M10 Mark II system camera in September 2015, incorporating 5-axis in-body Image Stabilisation, high-definition images, highspeed OLED Electronic Viewfinder, a tiltable 3-inch touchscreen and 4K time lapse movie capability.

This was designed as a statement, and certainly made one in the industry.

2. 4K Action Cams The world of 4K has been growing continually over the years, and 2015 seemed like the peak of its lifeline thus far – and we’re now moving onto 8K! In 2015, many brands took on the beast that is (or was at the time) 4K, including Sony, Panasonic and – perhaps most surprisingly – TomTom, contending with the, arguably ‘top-dog’ of action cams, GoPro. Arun Gill, Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting early last year commented on the growth of the action camera market: “The action camera market has undergone a great deal of development over recent months.

In particular, with 360 degree capture now available, we will see virtual reality applications emerge over the coming months, especially for sports broadcasting.”

Action cameras are continuing to get smaller and more powerful, building on their abilities for sharing, and also getting cheaper. Here are

GoPro Hero4 Session The GoPro Hero4 Session, although more recently under scrutiny from Polaroid due to its similarity to the Cube, has been a big announcement for the brand in 2015.

The Session model was announced to be waterproof up to 10m with no separate housing required, easy to use, with one-button control and capturing 8MP single, burst, and time Lapse photos.

TomTom Bandit This was a surprise announcement for the action cam market. TomTom had previously only really been experts in the GPS navigation field, but last year they branched out, announcing the TomTom Bandit Action Camera, taking 4K cinematic video, time lapse, slow motion, single and burst photo. The main USP on this model was the Smartphone connectivity – working with a companion app and built-in media server that allowed footage to be directly downloaded before being able to edit it by a simple shake.

“The world of 4K has been growing continually over the years, and 2015 seemed like the peak of its lifeline thus far”

Sony FDR-X1000VR Despite starting with a slightly odd press release, selling their new action cam as, apparently a means of brides filming their special day, Sony’s new X1000VR became something of a talking point – gladly, for Sony, not about the wedding videography idea.

Panasonic HX-A1 The HX-A1 was announced as a wearable camera designed for hands-free, Full HD shooting in harsh environments. It was announced to be waterproof down to 1.5m without a housing case, shockproof from a height of 1.5m, freezeproof down to -10°C and dustproof, whilst able to see in the dark too!

3. Smartphone Technology Ask a customer five years ago what they take most of their photographs with and they may have said a DSLR or CSC – they certainly

www.pixel.co.uk 19

ROUND UP OF 2015 Pixel’s 2016 Predictions In terms of what the future holds for the photographic industry, this year looks to be a good one in terms of developing sensor sizes, social sharing and communication, and CSC capability, including in-camera editing features and the new idea of post focus technology. Retailers should look out for what brands are doing and offer them in good time to their customers so to keep up with the newest trends. Nikon have hinted at a future technological development that sounds almost too sci-fi: a sensor that detects mood and ambience, and adapts accordingly with colours, tones and lighting.

We won’t hold our breath for that, perhaps, but it’s certainly an exciting time for the imaging sector.

Here are some of the biggest rumours (in our minds anyway) for the next 12 months:

realised that the number of megapixels that a wouldn’t have said their mobile phones. Most mobile phone camera has got doesn’t mean of today’s smartphones offer 8+ megapixel very much. resolution and are capable of capturing photos So over 2015, manufacturers massively that are considered more than ‘good enough’ developed image sensors, and this will only for most of the population: not pros, but more continue throughout 2016 and beyond to make and more enthusiasts. There are now apps smartphones comparable to SLR quality. As to post-edit your images from your phone to Tom pointed out, last year saw the launch of the same degree as you would find on your the world’s first 1.0 μmexpensive Adobe package, pixel-based 16-megapixel so why not use it?

CMOS image sensor, which Looking back on the “2015 saw the launch is 20% smaller than its year, InfoTrends said that, predecessor yet maintains as mobile videography gets of the world’s first the same resolution: more popular, advanced 1.0 μm-pixel-based “Sensors like these go video capabilities (like easy 16-megapixel CMOS a long way to putting editing videos and 4K smartphones on a par with image sensor, which capture) will take mobile the digital SLR market. But video to the next level, and is 20% smaller than its we see that global sales we will see this continue predecessor” of SLR have been steadily into the new year, even declining over the last few more than we saw in 2015. years despite many serious In our November photographers’ loyalty issue, Tom Arenz, Head to the SLR. Smartphone of Marketing Communications at Samsung cameras may not be the only explanation Semiconductor Europe shared the newest behind the recent SLR sales drop, but are developments in smartphone technology, certainly a contributing factor.” discussing new sensor sizes, photo capability They say that the best camera is the one and consumer-facing designs. you’ve got on you – well, Smartphones play As he suggested, and we have seen, over exactly into that mindset. And they’re suiting it the past couple of years – and particularly too. in 2015 this hit the consumer – people have

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1. Samsung’s elusive standing within the imaging sector (and Nikon buying into Samsung sensor technology) There were many rumours floating around last year about Samsung ending their imaging product range to focus on their fast developing technology sector.

The most recent announcement was from Samsung themselves, who made an official statement to EOSHD, the filmmaking blog of Andrew Reid, saying that they had observed a gradual decline in demand for digital cameras and decided to phase out sales and marketing in the sector in Germany. They indicated this was only something that would affect Germany, but we remain unconvinced.

This, along with indications that Nikon are buying into their sensor technology means a fair few changes may come about within the company and the market in 2016 worldwide.

2. Wilkinson Cameras Digital Splash event growth The Wilkinson Cameras Digital Splash event in October 2015 was a huge success. growing into a major exhibition in the North of England.

In our November issue, Alex Wilkinson, Business Development Manager shared the success with Pixel and hinted at the next year’s event: “The atmosphere on the day was amazing, everyone was looking at and trying the latest equipment and you could see the excitement in peoples’ faces. People had travelled from Scotland, South Wales, even as far away as Poole. I think it goes to show that there is still a real passion for photography and we’re already looking to going bigger and better for #DigitalSplash16!”

So, we expect to see Digital Splash make it up North, spreading itself widely over the UK. 3. Expanded lines from Panasonic and Fujifilm Both Panasonic and Fujifilm have made numerous announcements over 2015, and we think they’re on a roll. We’ve heard through the grapevine of a fair few new additions to Fuji’s X range, and developments within Panasonic Lumix TZ models.

PIXEL.CO.UK

Pixel.co.uk Dealer Update

What you need to know about the industry platform as we push into the new year

H

ere we are in the early stages of 2016, the year that will see the Pixel.co.uk platform merge into the imaging trade landscape ‘proper’. We’ve been navigating through those critical early stages of going live, coordinating activities with retailers and manufacturers alike, and we’re happy to report that we now have a number of key retailers onboard and have created our first training modules from assets provided by various manufacturers.

We take security and data protection very seriously and, with regard to this, we want to make clear our commitment to the online safety of Pixel readers and users of the platform, both current and in the future. We have been working with a reputable, London-based barrister, specialising in online terms and data protection, to write up the Terms and Conditions for the platform.

Some of the dealers already primed for the modules on the site include the likes of recent Pixel Award winners, London Camera Exchange, Calumet and Wilkinson Cameras, amongst many others, both large and small.

They have all been impressed with what Pixel. co.uk has to offer their businesses—and all for free!

In the process of demonstrating our powerful platform to them, we have also been happy to receive some constructive criticism on a few small points, which we’ve immediately amended, including the addition of automated account deletion. This means that when a user hasn’t signed in for a long period, busy store managers don’t need to worry about asking for accounts to be disabled when members of staff leave the company.

“They have all been impressed with what Pixel.co.uk has to offer their businesses—and all for free!”

What’s in store When platform members log in for the first time, aside from receiving real-time industry news updates and communications on the Pixel newsfeed, they will also be able to try their hand at a number of early courses to get a feel for the kind of e-learning modules we will be providing. These include two demo Canon courses that are set up. They are for the EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R cameras, and the new and impressive image PROGRAF PRO-1000 printer.

If you’re a retailer and are keen to see what the Pixel platform has to offer, please do get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo of the site and get you signed up! Our contact details can be found below.

REMEMBER – IT’S – FREE – FOR – DEALERS. We look forward to seeing you all on the platform soon, so get in touch if you haven’t had your demo yet!

01323 819 007 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk or elliott@lifemediagroup.co.uk

www.pixel.co.uk 21

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CITIZEN:

CONNOISSEURS OF QUALITY FOLLOWING RECENT, INDEPENDENT TESTS, THE CITIZEN BRAND OF PRINTERS HAS OFFERED UP SOME COMPELLING RESULTS. IN:PRINT DIGS DEEPER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BRAND AND ITS CURRENT, MARKET LEADING TECHNOLOGY

Many readers of Pixel and In:Print will be familiar with the printer manufacturer, Citizen. What some may not be so aware of is that they are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of advanced photo printers, making in excess of 40,000 printers each year.

Continued on page 24...

STRIP FOR ADVERTISERS mitsubishielectric-printing.com

www.pixel.co.uk 23

PHOTO-ME COVER FEATURE: CEWE

CITIZEN: CONNOISSEURS OF QUALITY Continued...

C

itizen printers are designed and precision manufactured in Nagano, Japan. Using the latest dye sublimation technology Citizen is confident that it has some of the best quality printers on the market.

Citizen recently offered their latest products up for independent testing against other like-for-like products from some of the other prominent brands in the current market. Tests were conducted by reputable UK based colour consultancy firm, Crossbow Colour Consulting.

Independent Colour Consultant Chris Osborne told Pixel: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I undertook a colour evaluation assessment with the aim of providing numerical data and analysis to investigate if the Citizen OP900II photo printer could match or exceed the performance of other photo printers of a similar specification, with specific focus on the visual density (Dmax), and tonal neutrality.

Pixel Editor Notice: you may need to concentrate for the next section!

The results obtained by Chris from visual analysis, densitometric and colorimetric measurement from the imaging tests conducted, found that: 1. For the Citizen OP900II printer, maximum visual density (Dmax) was found to consistently exceed 2.0. This is judged as meeting or exceeding the needs of a high quality premium photo printer with the high density increasing the dynamic range/contrast of prints.

2. Excellent colour consistency printer to printer tested across several media batches. Delta E was less than 2, almost undetectable to the human eye.

3. Very good neutrality of RGB black.

4. Best neutrality throughout the tonal range overall for the test printers was achieved on the OP900II after driver colour management optimization for B&W RGB images.

Testing Conclusion: In general the Citizen Systems OP900II photo printer competes favourably with other premium photo printers and exceeds in several areas. The OP900II produces high density prints with consistent colour at high speed. Ultimate image quality was achieved at 600dpi.

24 www.pixel.co.uk

in print “In a side-by-side comparison, test printing some of my photographs, the blacks certainly shone through, and the colours (overall), seemed extremely accurate, so it passed my critical requirements” - Mike Weeks

To address the balance between the testing and (borderline, mind-melting) statistics, we caught up with another printing and colour expert, Mike Weeks.

Mike has also been working with Citizen printers, running comparisons with printers of a similar specification, both personally and professionally. Thankfully, in much plainer English, he told us: “I have been using dye sublimation printers for over 10 years and have owned 6 or 7 printers from various manufacturers, but have got to test and have used many more in that time. Recently, I‘ve put Citizen’s printers through the hard life that an event photographer gives them - so what do I think? Well, much of my work features people and black backgrounds. It’s a format that’s both fashionable and can also help in tight situations, so how does the OP900II deal with it? In a side-by-side comparison, test printing some of my photographs, the blacks certainly shone through, and the colours (overall), seemed extremely accurate, so it passed my critical requirements”.

Mike continued: “One of the issues I have always had with dye sub printers, is that their Black & White output is not in the same class as their colour output. Now I think that at long last I have a dye sub printer that can print a neutral grey and I get to choose the tonality, if any: throwing a few christening portraits in the mix and getting nice white gowns has to be good. When I bought my first inkjet, I used to get terrible problems with colour changes under different lighting conditions and dye sub prints can suffer similar issues. The OP900II prints certainly seem to have improved this, so my conclusion is that this has the best colour of any dye sub I have ever used, so now let’s see how it holds up to being bounced around at anything from Equestrian to Prom nights.

We spoke with Gary Andrews, EMEA Business Manager, Citizen Photo Printers about their plans for 2016 and he explained: “I’m excited to be working with such a fantastic brand. Citizen are a powerhouse in photo printer production but the brand has never gained the recognition it deserves. My product line up is hard to beat and I am expecting the brand awareness to dramatically increase in 2016.”

Manufacturing heritage What may come as somewhat of a surprise, is the capability of Citizen, in a manufacturing sense. The fact is that the heritage and history of manufacturing at Citizen stems from their beginnings as a watchmaker.

In 1894, Swiss watchmaker, Rudolphe Schmid settled in Yokohama, Japan and later became the founder of the Citizen Watch Co. established in 1930.

Actually, Schmid had already adopted the famous “Citizen” brand name in 1918, coined by the then Mayor of Tokyo, Mr Shimpei Goto.

Mr Goto had dubbed the company’s first ownmanufactured pocket watch, “Citizen” in the hope that it would eventually become available to ordinary ‘citizens’ and sold throughout the world.

Since those early days, Citizen has flourished and pioneered hundreds of groundbreaking technologies; not only in the field of precision time keeping, but also business and consumer peripherals, including various printer technologies. In 1970, Citizen launched the MP series mini-printer. Ten years later in 1980, Citizen introduced the world’s first microcomputer-controlled line impact printer (dot matrix), and throughout the eighties the company was also responsible for several advances in dot impact printing.

Today, Citizen Systems offers an array of world-class thermal printers, serving a global market with an array of label and receipt printers. These can all be found on the Citizen Systems website: citizen-systems.com Many professional photographers and dealers alike are well acquainted with the 6” OP900II printer and the 8-inch CX-W dye sub printer, which share much of their technology including their timely driver support - with both Mac and PC platforms.

This chart maps the colour gamut of the OP900ii against sRGB

Pixel & In:Print will be continuing to learn more about the Citizen brand and the products therein in the coming months of 2016.

Watch this space for an interview with Gary Andrews, EMEA Business Manager, Citizen Photo Printers and further testimonials from users, along with details of options to trial the equipment for yourself.

For any further information on Citizen’s dye sublimation printer products, contact their exclusive UK Distributor Partner, Photomart on 020 8527 6006 shop.photomart.co.uk www.citizen-systems.com

www.pixel.co.uk 25

PHOTO-ME COVER FEATURE: CEWE

IMAGINATIVE RESULTS

AT THE LATTER END OF 2015, FUJIFILM INTRODUCED MR APPY TO THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR SKY BOXES, PROMOTING FUJIFILM IMAGINE. NOW, AFTER CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT AND EXPOSURE, THE FEEDBACK IS HERE. SO, HOW DID IT DO? WE ASKED MARKETING MANAGER OF FUJIFILM’S PHOTO IMAGING GROUP, PETER WIGINGTON, TO PUT US IN THE PICTURE

Digipix: Ilford

Our aim was simple: to promote the Fujifilm comprehensive campaign level reporting of any Imagine App on a vast scale, in the best way advertisers impressions: when 75% or more of possible in order to push the benefits of what the ad is shown at normal viewing speed. our Fujifilm Imagine software can offer: mobile The results were in! By using AdSmart as printing from anywhere. our communication channel we were able to After much deliberation, and sound advice achieve over 4 million impressions, meaning an from our media buyer, MJ Media, we chose to increase of 151% in downloads of the Fujifilm invest in Sky AdSmart - the revolutionary new Imagine app, as well as an increase of 154% in approach to TV advertising, which levels the orders placed. The best performing channels playing field, so businesses of all shapes and were Sky’s Living, Sky 1, Fox, Atlantic and sizes can benefit from the advertising impact Sports channels with the of TV. most popular programs With Sky AdSmart, including NCIS, Walking different ads can be Dead, Flash and the “We were able to achieve shown to a range of Premier League. households watching We were up 195% in over 4 million impressions, the same programme, revenue value through the meaning an increase of using an algorithm that app itself, with 60% of dictates that those 151% in downloads of the downloads made via the ads play out when Fujifilm Imagine app, as well Apple store and the rest via the chosen audience Google Play store. as an increase of 154% in is most likely to be Coinciding with a push watching. This is the to get our whole estate orders placed” ultimate in brand and of Fujifilm Kiosks onto business audience the new Fujifilm Imagine targeting. Additionally, software, we found that the platform provides 30% of all app downloads were made in the thousands of combinations to choose from last 90 days. With both our own branded when selecting the audience that sees your independent FDIS stores and ASDA on board ad (including factors such as age, location, this meant that just shy of 400 stores with life style or even if they have a cat), so we, Fujifilm Imagine kiosks nationwide would be the advertisers, could cherry pick our most benefiting the public with easy, efficient mobile appropriate audience. This, and our Mr Appy printing capability. approach gave us the best possible chance Our stores are telling us that having the to see a real increase in the downloads of the mobile app option is helping to change the Fujifilm Imagine app. way their customers shop with many more This was indeed an innovative approach, but print orders now being placed while the store is what would it be without feedback? Sky offers closed.

26 www.pixel.co.uk

The Pixel Trade Awards 2015 saw Digipix Ilford, a FDIS member retailer, win the Independent Minilab Retailer of the Year award – a feat not only for the team, but for the FDIS service name. Talvinder Bhogal commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won this award. To be nominated and go on to win the accolade amongst national competition is a huge achievement for us.

Its a great feeling to have our name amongst household names!”

Talvinder Bhogal also gave praise to the opportunities that Fujifilm and their new Imagine software provides for them and their customers: “Being FDIS members gives us opportunities which would be difficult to achieve without. With people capturing more and more images with their phones, the app gives us the ability to access these without the need for cumbersome cables or other wireless transfer methods. It’s certainly a growing area and I believe by the end of this year, it will be the most popular way of ordering prints. A slick app along with the fabulous team at Software Support means we can really promote it. So far customers are very impressed with it. Those that order once always reorder!”

Interestingly, FDIS stores are reporting that the main users are female customers, and those across ages from 18 to 80. There is no doubt that this has been a successful campaign. The challenge now is to keep the momentum going with more instore activity along with a concerted and targeted social media campaign to promote the benefits of downloading of the mobile app.

www.pixel.co.uk 27

in print

BOOK OF THE MONTH:

100 GREAT DANES

THE FEMALE FORM HAS BEEN A CENTRAL THEME IN ART FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN SOME FORM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. IN:PRINT’S BOOK OF THE MONTH IS 100 GREAT DANES, CELEBRATING FEMININE GRACE AND STRENGTH

W

ith solid bodies of work in their respective fields and worldwide acclaim as top practitioners, photographer Bjarke Johansen and Creative Director, Simon Rasmussen are vital creative presences, both in their native land of Denmark and in international circles.

Danish born, Bjarke Johansen has been shooting for the world’s leading fashion titles since 2004, including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and DANSK. His work as a fashion and portrait photographer focuses on capturing the spirit of his subjects, in effortlessly composed and beautifully soft, minimally retouched images that convey emotion and energy.

Simon Rasmussen has worked as a stylist and Creative Director since 2003, contributing

to magazines such as Interview, Vogue, ELLE, DANSK, Qvest and French. His work has become synonymous with a fresh, unexpected aesthetic and an urban streetwear-influenced mood. Simon Rasmussen remains fascinated by the nude woman in art and photography, which 100 Great Danes reflects.

Working together to produce this collection, compiled over a period of seven years, they have produced this volume of photographs that is a visual tribute to the women of Denmark - to their womanly beauty and integrity as individuals. The subjects come from all walks of life: models, singers, actresses, artists, and students. Serene and timeless, every portrait allows the individual personality to shine through. The reader is immediately struck not only by the pride these

“The subjects come from all walks of life: models, singers, actresses, artists, and students.

Serene and timeless, every portrait allows the individual personality to shine through”

28 www.pixel.co.uk

women take, both in their bodies and in their spirits, but also by their indomitable strength and sense of purpose.

In:Print’s pick of the month for January, this book will prove a powerful and original addition to any photographic library, presenting the female form at its best: in print.

Also available as Collector’s Edition - Limited Edition of 50 copies, slipcase, and portfolio with one of two signed and numbered photo prints.

100 Great Danes by Bjarke Johansen and Simon Rasmussen Published by teNeues £80.00

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www.pixel.co.uk Office Number: +44 (0)1707 278684 29

NEWS BITES BITES NEWS

NEWS BITES

FIND OUT MORE INFO ON THIS MONTH’S NEWS BITES AT PIXEL.CO.UK

Photoweb in partnership with LALALAB Photoweb, a subsidiary of Lavigne (ExacomptaClairefontaine Group) and a specialist in online photo development, has announced its acquisition of 100% of the capital of LALALAB - the number one photo print and photo gift application in Europe (by number of downloads and ratings).

Second in the French market of online personalisation,

Photoweb has been a part of Exacompta-Clairefontaine Group since 2014. Founded

by Jeremy Charoy, Julien Faltot and Julien Philbert, three French entrepreneurs from Nancy, LALALAB’s constant search for enhanced quality and improved service makes the partnership between the two companies a natural fit.

“Photoweb is excited about this

partnership, which will allow the group to pursue and accelerate its diversification strategy. We strongly believe that the management team can take us to a prominent position in the European mobile photo services market. The complementarity between the two companies will create significant added value for customers,” commented Etienne Descure, Cofounder of Photoweb.

Made official on 1st January 2016, the acquisition offers bright prospects for the year ahead.

Canon SELPHY CP1200: Portable printing Canon has announced the new SELPHY CP1200, creating lasting memories, whether printing at home or when travelling. The SELPHY CP1200 offers simple connectivity with in-built Wi-Fi and AirPrint enabling you to print from smartphones, tablets and compatible cameras, giving you lab quality prints in under a minute. With Dye-sub technology, users can select from four print

finishes without having to change paper types. The portable printer produces square, credit card and mini prints or stickers.

Using the optional high capacity

rechargeable battery pack, it can print up to 54 photos when out and about.

Key features include: • Simple, quick printing from your mobile device

• Make lasting memories with durable lab quality print • Easy creativity and effortless control • Compact, stylish and portable photo printer • Selectable finishes with standard photo paper The SELPHY CP1200 will be available from January 2016 with an RRP of £129.99.

BOOK OF THE MONTH WINNER Last month, In:Print announced a competition, to win our book of the month – Iceland: An Uneasy Calm by Tim Rudman.

Now, we are pleased to announce that David Jolly is the winner! David is an amateur

CREDITS & CONTACTS

in print

RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL

photographer living in North Devon, has been taking photographs for many years and started in the days when wet chemistry was the only practical

way to make prints. He commented: “Iceland’s stunning geology and scenery has always been a fascination, but to see it for myself is now most unlikely. However, the

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 819007 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Group Sales Manager: Mason Ponti 01323 819014 mason@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production Designer: Amy Watson 01323 819018 amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Group Director: Simon Skinner 01323 819017 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Title Manager: Elliott Mansfield 01323 819012 elliott@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Pixel Platform Manager: Thomas Allen 01323 819007 tom@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Operations Director: Clare Fermor 01323 819016 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Sales: Lou Dobson 01323 819007 lou@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Accounts: Amelia Wellings 01323 819016 amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editor: Jenny Ardagh 01323 819011 jenny@pixel.co.uk

Production Manager: Harriet Weston 01323 819010 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Subscriptions: Linda Grace 01323 819015 linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk

30 www.pixel.co.uk

Published by: LMG SE LTD (Life Media Group) 1 Swan Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2BY Printed by: Gemini Press Unit A1 Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6NZ

opportunity to study images by the master of print, Tim Rudman, will surely be a superb alternative, which is eagerly anticipated.”

Congratulations, David, and enjoy your prize!

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 2016©

www.pixel.co.uk 31

ProTactic Series Mission-critical access for CSC kits and Pro DSLR

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Quick access through top zipper feature on ProTactic 180 AW, 200 AW & BP 250 AW

A robust exterior is built with a SlipLock™ compatible strap system for limitless set-ups.

Our award-winning ProTactic series, including ‘Gear of the Year’ 2015 for ProTactic 350 AW, expands to bring urban-inspired shoulder bags and a scaled-down backpack to all street shooters, bloggers, photojournalists and adventure travellers. Four new models delivering accessibility, versatility and smart organisation for all kinds of kits – CSC to Pro DSLR.

Find out more at lowepro.com/protactic Follow us on @loweproUK or call 0845 250 0792.

32 www.pixel.co.uk

ProTactic 350 AW

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