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ISSUE NO. 934P
November 2014
www.pixel.co.uk
INSIDE
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2 30/09/2014 11:47 hollywood comes to high street radio & photographic,LP_Pixel_Ears_46x53mm.indd leica and jessops team30/09/2014 up, new canon eos c100 mark ii, upcoming photography convention and much more...
This Issue Includes... • Which A-list celebrity turned up at a camera shop in Croyden? p.14 • Will the Samsung NX1 bolster the CSC market? p. 20
Pixel Trade Awards Shortlist Announced The votes have been counted, the results are in and we can finally announce the shortlist for the Pixel Trade Awards…
• A look at the growing action cam market p.09
Wex Photographic is the Best Online Shop According to Which? Wex Photographic is the Best Online Shop according to Which?, based on a survey of over 10,000 of its members. The Which? survey awarded Wex an overall customer score of 91%. One of those surveyed said: “Wex is helpful and efficient, with good prices and a huge range.” All these factors are central to the Promise Wex makes to its customers, guaranteeing the best range, unbeatable service and value for money. Louis Wahl, Chief Customer Officer of Wex says: “I am very proud that we have been recognised as the best online shop. All of our colleagues see that delighting our customers is the most important part of their job. Making the extra effort to help people achieve more is what makes Wex stand out” Photo -
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With just a few weeks to go until the 10th Pixel Trade Awards, we can finally reveal who’s efforts have been rewarded by the most votes from the industry and public over the last few months. Ahead of the awards ceremony, which will take place on Friday 21 November at the Grange City Hotel in London, we are delighted to announce the final shortlist (in no particular order). Pixel would like to wish good luck to everybody shortlisted this year – and we look forward to seeing you for a champagne toast on the night!
Consumer Magazine of The Year: British Journal of Photography NPhoto Amateur Photographer
It’s time for that desktop drumroll…
Website of the Year: Ephotozine
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Photography Blog DP Review Processing Manufacturer of the Year LiveLink Technologies Kodak Alaris Fujifilm
Innovation in Imaging: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Nikon D810
Overall Hardware Manufacturer of the Year Nikon Fujifilm Pentax Canon
Hardware Accessory Manufacturer of The Year: Cactus Hama Manfrotto
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News
Welcome To Pixel Magazine We were delighted (and somewhat relieved) to see so many votes come in for the Pixel Trade Awards this year. We’ve been hosting the awards for 10 years now and it’s encouraging to see that interest hasn’t waned - people still like a good old knees-up with their industry colleagues. The past month has been a hive of activity on our front, pulling all the last details together, attending tastings (it’s a tough job) and drawing up the shortlist of finalists. It’s also been a busy time for manufacturers, with new cameras from Canon, Ricoh, GoPro, HTC and newcomers Panono with their innovative 360º ball camera.
On the feature front this month we look at the rise of the action cam, find out more about the upcoming Photography Convention, look at the award-winning Samsung NX1 in more detail and get a bit starstruck with High Street Radio & Photographic who recently played host to a top-notch celebrity. I hope you enjoy this jampacked issue. And don’t forget, if you think you can beat Hight Street Radio & Photographic with a story of your own, then don’t hesitate to get in contact! Zoe, Editor zoe@pixel.co.uk
Pixel Trade Awards Shortlist Announced Continued from page 1... Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year Olympus Fuji Canon
Distributor of the Year Manfrotto Swains Tetenal Digital Distribution
Independent Retailer of the Year Digital Depot Wex Imagex
Sales Person of the Year Gareth Bourke – Meridian digital imaging Christ Harland SRS Microsystems Owen Howell – Campkins Sara Penwarden Wilkinson
Multiple Retailer of the Year Jessops London Camera Exchange Wilkinsons Mass Retailer of the Year John Lewis Argos Dixons Online Retailer of the Year Camera World London Camera Exchange Wex
Jessops Becomes Official Leica Dealer
Customers can now buy Leica cameras from Jessops Just weeks after announcing its first annual profits since being bought by Peter Jones, Jessops has become an official Leica dealer. Leica products will be available from Jessops Centre of Excellence in Reading, as well as the Jessops Birmingham, Glasgow and London Oxford Street. Jessops Centre’s of Excellence feature ‘shop in shops’: designated areas in-store for the main supplier brands so customers can shop brand specifically. These Jessops stores will stock a range of Leica products, including the new Leica D-Lux and the professional-level Leica M. To help shoppers choose products, Jessops has a team of
“Advice Experts”, many of them photographic enthusiasts themselves. Jason Heward, General Manager of Leica Camera UK, said: “We are delighted to be working with Jessops. We share the same philosophy for creating destinations where photography enthusiasts can go for advice and inspiration. A Jessops Centre of Excellence is somewhere for you to learn about photography, view photography and create your own images. It is exciting for us to have our iconic products in these locations. Their knowledgeable and passionate staff will help to bring Leica photography to a broader audience”
‘Toughest Memory Card on the Market’ Black SD Card from Delkin Delkin has launched a new SD card for extreme photographers. The Black SD Card can withstand forces of up to 45lbs and is allegedly the strongest card on the market. Photographers out on rugged terrain in difficult weather conditions no longer need to
worry about damaging their precious data. The casing is dealer to protect against water damage even when fully submerged for up to 72
hours. Min temp is -40ºC, max is 85ºC. The Delkin Black SD Card comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities.
Rep of the Year David Botfield Dan Brown Chris Castle Print Lab of the Year Camera Centre Frost Phoenix
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News ‘Slimmest Smartphone To Date’ - New Samsung A5 and A3 Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 smartphones designed with social networking in mind. According to Samsung, the phones are: “Designed to allow social networking fans to quickly and easily capture meaningful moments, connect to social media and share their daily lives.” The Galaxy A5 and A3 are Samsung’s slimmest smartphones to date, featuring refined full metal unibody designs (6.7mm and 6.9mm thin, respectively). Both devices will come in a variety of colours, including Pearl White, Midnight Black, Platinum Silver, Soft Pink, Light Blue and Champagne Gold, allowing users to select a colour that ‘complements their own personal style’, according to the brand. Both devices also boast a variety of ‘selfie’ options thanks to the 5MP front-facing camera and features such as Wide Selfie, Palm Selfie, Animated GIF, Beauty Face Features and Rear-Cam Selfie. Users can then quickly share these photos and videos with the rest of the world with the device’s network speed of LTD Category 4. RRP & Availability: TBC
New Improved Canon EOS C100 Mark II Video Camera Canon has launched a remastered version of its EOS C100 pro camcorder, with improved features also features a new image processing system which, according to Canon, enhances performance further by ‘reducing moiré and aliasing’, resulting in sharper, clearer images. The EOS C100 Mark II includes Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology as standard, which enables anyone to find focus and switch easily between multiple subjects in a single shot. Canon’s Face Detection AF technology is also supported. The EOS C100 Mark II features
The EOS C100 Mark II features a brand new processing system, a flip-out OLED screen, improved tillable Electronic Viewfinder and WiFi capabilities. A Canon Super 35mm 8.3MP CMOS sensor combines with a DIGIC DV 4 processor to deliver rich colour and wide dynamic range, while a new extended ISO range of 320 to 102,400 boosts performance, even in extreme low light conditions. The camera
two recording formats to suit the needs of different productions, so operators can simultaneously capture Full HD footage in both MP4 and AVCHD. Alternatively users can chose to record HD and SD footage to separate SD memory cards for maximum workflow flexibility and easy sharing. The EOS C100 Mark II also has integrated Wi-Fi connectivity – a first for the Cinema EOS series. RRP: £3,569 excluding VAT. Available: January.
New LED Light Cube Bowens will distribute Australian LED Light Cube in UK
The LED Light Cube, which was first launched on a crowd funding website, has been described as a ‘world first’ in lighting technology. It is a high-end, portable and interlocking flash and constant light source for photographers. Nathan Oxley, Managing Director, said: “From a technology view, a lot of companies are producing versions of the same product just to compete in the marketplace. We don’t want to create a product that is a version of something else. What we’re doing is unique, improving and building on what’s out there. The LED Light Cube brings real value to photographers,
offering them more opportunity in the way they work.” The manufacturers say the unit eliminates recycling times for both photographers and videographers. Other features of the new LED Light Cube include • Use as a video light up to 45 minutes from a single battery charge. • 5000 lumens of light output/ running time 45 minutes. • Adjustable flash speed
1/8000th of a sec to 1 sec. • Easily portable sold as single cubes or in sets of two or four. • Stackable. • Stable daylight colour temperature. • Master control. Set the lighting condition of a single unit in array mode and all others will match the settings. • Modelling light feature. • Noiseless operation - no internal fan required. RRP: £430 exc VAT Available: November.
Nikon Launches ‘Gripping’ New Deal The brand has launched a battery grip promotion in the UK Starting now and lasting until 4 February 2015, Nikon is offering customers a free battery grip with any purchase of selected DSLRs. Covering Christmas and the New Year period, it is hoped the deal will encourage customers to make a purchase.
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The MB-D15 battery grip will come free with the Nikon D7100 (body only or lens kit), while the MB-D14 battery grip will come free with the Nikon D610 (body only or lens kit). A maximum of one claim can be made per person on each model included in the promotion Simon Iddon, Group Product
Manager for Consumer D-SLR Lenses and Accessories at Nikon UK said: “Our new battery grip offer is a great reason for photography enthusiasts to seriously think about upgrading their kit. Packed with high performance features, the award-winning Nikon
D7100 and D610 models are perfect for photographers looking to take their skills to the next level and with the added benefit of the free battery grip, they will never have to worry about running out of power at that crucial moment out in the field.” www.nikon.co.uk/ promotions
News
New Panoramic ‘Ball’ Camera
‘Disposable Camera for the Digital Age’
Panono captures 360º images from the air Berlin-based company Panono GmbH has designed a funky ballshaped device housing 36 fixedfocus cameras that capture a 360º view when thrown into the air. The cameras are automatically triggered when the ball reaches its highest point in the air, ‘giving you the perfect panoramic shot without ghosting effect’, according to the makers. The cameras can also be activated manually by pressing a button on the device itself, or on
a smartphone for remote use. The cameras produce a spherical 108MP image. The startup broke the record for the most successful crowdfunding campaign in Germany when their Indiegogo campaign raised $1.25m in early 2014. Tthe first cameras will begin
shipping in spring 2015. “It’s exciting to be just months away from realising a dream to create a whole new world of photography, in which the photographer is at the heart of each image in a shot that captures everything in every direction”, says Jonas Pfeil, Inventor, Co Founder and President of Panono.
Pixel Development Room Enters dealer content is now available for Beta Phase Free retailers and counter staff If you’ve been keeping your ear to the ground, you will have heard about the Pixel Development Room. A brand new, professional development website launched by the team behind Pixel Magazine. It has been meticulously designed to enable dealer principles, management and counter-staff access to industry information and training resources from manufacturers. Videos, presentations, fact-files, competitions and assessments will be driven via the platform and will be available at no cost to the end user. We’re extremely pleased to announce that Canon is first in line to upload training content to the platform during the BETA
stage - make sure that you and your team are on-boarded to make the most of the resources available. As well as providing training resources, the Pixel Development Room also gives users the opportunity to interact on a familiar social network style interface, share scores, and progress through various levels of learning pathways to achieve ‘expert’ status in their business and region. Two years in the making, the Pixel Development Room is set to establish
itself as a valuable resource for retailers who want to keep abreast of industry information, USPs on products they are selling and as an aid to boost sales. Helping customers make the right choices and keeping them coming back in store for more as they develop their skills. For manufacturers this is a convenient and effective way to publish materials on a highly targeted, user-friendly, interactive platform. To see how effective Pixel Development Room is for training, contact Pixel to take part today. Contact Amy Watson: amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819007
ZenCam, a camera app pitched as ‘a disposable camera for the digital age’ has been launched on Kickstarter.com. The idea is that you load a virtual film and every photo taken with the app (up to 20) is immediately sent away (before you even get to view it), only to return a few days later in the form of a print. According to the team behind the idea, this encourages ‘mindfulness’ in photography: “In a world where people take endless photos of irrelevant things, ZenCam’s goal is to get people to slow down and take mindful photos of the things that really matter,” they say. The app is designed to rekindle the excitement of receiving a pack of photos with no idea how they will turn out. Each user gets 40 free photos a month, printed on 350 GSM paper at 9.75cm x 9.75cm in size. The only charges are for additional prints in various formats (inc. frame, polaroids and posters), and postage, packaging and tracking. The team hope to raise £5,000 on kick-starter before the end of November, in a bid to launch the app by December. Currently the app is only compatible with Apple phones but an Android version will be released once the goal has been reached.
Pentax Goes Far and Wide With New Lens New HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mmF3.5-5.6ED DC WR
Ricoh Imaging has launched a new high-performance lens with high coverage, from ultra-wide-angle, to telephoto zoom. The new lens is designed for use with Pentax K-mount DSLRs and provides a high zoom ratio of approximately 5.3x to cover focal lengths from 16mm ultra-wide-angle to 85mm telephoto (for focal lengths equivalent to 24.5mm to 130mm in the 35mm format). Ricoh says the lens has been developed in response to requests from advanced photographers who wanted a high coverage lens with premium features such as HD
coating for delivering sharp images in difficult lighting conditions, as well as an extralow dispersion optical element to compensate for chromatic aberrations. All of these technologies are contained within a weather-proof body to suit flexible photographers who spend time out in the field. Main Features: • 16 optical elements in 12 groups.
• Equipped with the PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manualfocus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. • Weather-resistant construction with eight special seals to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the lens interior.
• SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease. • Rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth bokeh effect, while minimising the streaking effect of point light sources. • Smooth, quiet autofocus operation, driven by the built-in DC motor. RRP: £599.99. Availability: End November 2014.
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News An Energy Boost for Mobiles Schneider Electric has unveiled the APC Mobile Power Pack, designed to provide mobile charging for smartphone, tablets and other devices with a USB cable. Dale Wrangles, UK Vice President, Schneider Electric said, “We all need more battery life at some time or other, either at home, on our travels or at work. APC Mobile Power Pack has been designed to ensure that we can utilise the apps we need when we need them – whether that means being able to download email and documents, tweet, access gaming accounts or upload pictures and videos at festivals. APC Mobile Power Pack means you don’t have to keep a wary eye on the battery indicator because your device has a large high resolution screen.” They incorporate Lithium Polymer battery technology which can be charged twice as many times as Lithium Ion equivalents, to ensure a lasting and reliable working life. Externally, APC Mobile Power Pack provides two output USB connections allowing two devices to be charged simultaneously, and a 4-LED battery capacity indicator. RRP: £24.99 Availability: Now www.apclifeison.com
Leica on the High Street Damien Demolder comments on the recent Jessops-Leica partnership Jessops seems to be working hard to reestablish itself as a camera store brand and cling to its high street position. At the same time it appears to be delicately shifting away from the mass-market pile-um-high approach that got the chain into trouble when it stopped being a proper specialist photographic retailer, and tried to be Dixons, some 15 years ago. The news that selected stores will now stock Leica cameras and lenses is very interesting and, one hopes, is a very positive step for both parties. Leica does certainly need to reach a wider audience
after so long treating its products as controlled substances that one almost had to pass a test to be allowed to buy, and Jessops needs the prestige that comes with stocking what is now some of the best camera equipment that (lots of) money can buy. How this pair of brands, that recently enjoyed quite chalk and cheese ideals, will work together we will have to see. Leica products need to be sold by people who appreciate why anyone would part with the substantial amount of
Stand Out!
money that is required to own an M system, and, in the past at least, Jessops has not been a by-word for an establishment brimming with staff well versed in such an approach. With the excellent head of training that Jessops now has I am sure that this situation can be, and may have already been, reversed. The next step though will be to convince the enthusiast that the decades of knowledge and experience formally held by Jedi Knights in a select few stores can now be dispensed large scale on the high street by mere mortals.
Damien Demolder damien@damiendemolder.com
New Acrylic Photo Blocks from WhiteWall Berlin-based photo lab WhiteWall has launched new acrylic photo blocks with 25mm edges for those who want to make a bold statement with their photography. Launched to capture the Christmas market, the new blocks are created by mounting premium Kodak paper (Kodak Pro Endura) under 25mm of acrylic glass for a greater sense of depth. The glossy surface is designed to bring out
colours and contrasts of the photograph, while the polished edges create an attractive mirror effect. The photo is protected from light by a white opaque back, and WhiteWall claims this will hold the colours for 75 years. Due to the thickness of the acrylic, the block can stand up
by itself without any extra supports ideal for bookshelves, mantlepieces or dressers. www.whitewall.co.uk
Wilkinson Cameras Employee Scoops Retail Award Chris Everett from Wilkinson Cameras Liverpool has won Retail Salesperson of the Year at the Electrical Retail Trade News Awards Chris flew the flag for the photographic industry by beating tough competition from retailers across the UK. Following a number of mystery shopper outings, top salespeople over the year in different towns and cities were shortlisted – Chris knew he had made the final three people nominated, but only found out he was the overall national winner at the awards ceremony in London. Chris’s passion for both customer service and photography shines through and in his spare
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time he’s a keen photographer and filmmaker, working with many musicians and bands in the region. He said: “I live and breathe cameras - and it shows. If you don’t have a passion and an interest in your product, people see that, I know I would. I messed around with cameras a lot as a child, but started to take it seriously in my late teens/early 20s. I studied
photography in college and that’s where I developed a real passion for it. I messaged my local heavy metal promoter and she gave me my first shot at a music gig – that’s how it all began!” Chris, who has worked for Wilkinson Cameras for just over 12 months, was featured in ERT magazine’s “Take a town” in March 2014 when the mystery shoppers
came to Liverpool. Chris scored top marks as an individual salesperson and Wilkinson Cameras store in Liverpool, won outright. David Parkinson, MD at Wilkinson Cameras added: “I’m absolutely over the moon for Chris, what a major achievement and accolade for any salesperson, the knowledge, passion and enthusiasm Chris shows on a daily basis is amazing, an award well deserved. Congratulations from all at Wilkinson Cameras.”
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News JOBY launches GripTight XL for smartphones Capitalising on the selfie trend, JOBY has launched new ‘supersized’ versions of its GripTight mini Gorillapod Stand and GripTight Mount, ideal for new smartphones such as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus. The new GripTight will securely hold larger smartphones and ‘Phablets’ from 69-99mm in width, including iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Xperia Z3. The GripTight XL Mount is available separately and is fully compatible with all Gorillapods and other tripods via a universal stainless steel ¼-20 thread. The Joby GripTight Mount™ XL will support a maximum load of 325g and weighs a super flyweight 20g itself. UK SRP £15. The Joby GripTight Gorillapod Stand™ XL will support a maximum load of 325g and weighs just 66g itself. UK SRP £28.
Record Breaking PreOrders for Canon The Canon EOS 7D Mark II has received the highest number of preorders for a DSLR in Canon’s UK history. The recently launched DSLR will hit UK stores on Monday 3 November 2014, inviting customers to ‘Come and See’ what the fuss is all about. In line with the release, Canon has launched a series of cashback deals on selected lenses compatible with the EOS 7D Mark II. Canon said: “Announced at this year’s photokina, the EOS 7D Mark II is the ultimate DSLR to capture action other cameras miss. Made for life’s fastest moments, the camera can capture an incredible 10 frames per second (fps) without a drop in resolution. The high performance 19 cross-type AF system, allows you to keep up in the moment, all in outstanding quality.”
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GfK Comments on Digital Cinema Will the new Canon C100 Mark II bolster ‘falling’ digital cinema sales? Adam Cox reports... The sub £10K digital cinema or large sensor market in the UK has remained largely static in terms of volume since the initial products were launched into this segment in 2011. Between 1,200 and 1,500 units of this type have been shipped in the UK over the past three years, but volumes looked to be slowing in the first three quarters of 2014, something that the launch of the EOS C100
Mark II from Canon and PXW-FS7 from Sony should help remedy. Although this market segment showed initial signs of becoming hugely important to the UK market, it has remained a fairly niche, although sizeable segment, accounting for 18% of the UK pro camcorder market in the first three quarters of 2014 – a higher proportion than for EMEA overall where this segment accounts for 10% of the market.
One of the reasons for this is the level of products deemed acceptable within the UK broadcast and professional video industry is different to many other places in EMEA. For example, this segment is cannibalised by lower cost prosumer large sensor camcorders throughout much of the rest of EMEA, but in the UK this is not the case. Sub £10K digital cinema cameras are seen as a natural progression from DSLRs and then as the stage before mid-range digital cinema cameras such as the Canon EOS-C300 and Sony PMW-F5.
360º Videos from the New Ricoh Theta m15 The second version of Ricoh’s 360º camera, the Theta m15, has faster WiFi, shoots video and comes in a selection of bright colours Following on from the launch of the original Ricoh Theta in 2013, the new Theta m15 offers improved WiFi speeds and all-new video shooting for clips of up to three minutes. The device has two back-toback ultra wide-angle lenses, each capturing 180º images which are then stitched together to create a 360º spherical view of the world, without stitch lines. Ricoh said: “The world’s first image input device has opened
a new world of imaging possibilities. Users can now shoot game changing spherical images and video at any time, capturing more than they ever imagined.” WiFi transfer is almost twice as fast as it was on the original model, while the device maintains the same lightweight, portable design. From the 14th November 2014,
an API and SDK (beta version) will be released on theta360.com site to allow users to develop their own apps and add new capabilities to their RICOH THETA. Price: £269.99. Availability: 14th November 2014.
Tech Data Appointed as Exclusive UK Distributor for Nexus 9 HTC has enlisted Tech Data to distribute its new Nexus 9, the first tablet to run Android 5.0 Lollipop OS The Nexus 9 features 8MP rear and 1.6MP front cameras and dual-front HTC BoomSound speakers. Tech Data Head of Development, Tablet and CE Adam Gay said: “We see a major opportunity to develop the potential of the new Nexus 9 in both the consumer and B2B markets. “We have a strong strategic plan in the consumer market, which we are executing on successfully, and
we have a very well-established position in the business market. With the enhanced apps performance and features of this exciting new tablet, we believe we can grow Nexus 9 sales in both sectors.” HTC European Sales Director Herve Fontaine said: “With its established reputation and reach in the B2B sector, a growing presence in the consumer market and a
focused and dedicated approach to tablet business development, Tech Data is the ideal distribution partner for the Nexus 9. “They can provide everything required – from overnight fulfilment for retailers to the value-added services and support for business partners – to help HTC achieve its ambitions in both of these markets.”
INSIGHT
Camcorders are Back in Vogue Thanks to Action Cam Failing camcorder market has been given a mighty boost by action cam popularity, says GfK
F
or the last three years, growth in the camcorder market has been on the decline. Now, analysts at GfK say the demand for action cams like GoPro is fuelling a revival for DIY video. The last growth burst for the camcorder market was seen in 2010, when sales of traditional camcorders and pocket camcorders grew by 12% from 2009. After this growth, the market entered a decline and registered the highest volume decrease in 2012, a significant -44% in just one year. GoPro had already existed for eight years by this point, having been invented in 2004 by a Californian surfer who wanted a waterproof camera he could strap to his wrist out on the water. After years of networking with investors, flying the GoPro flag at trade shows and coercing extreme sports champions to trial
©GoPro John Maher Pushing Through
the cams, founder Nick Woodman finally managed to push his invention into the mainstream market. Before long, every outdoor enthusiast wanted their three minutes of fame on YouTube. The beauty of GoPro was its ability to market itself. Woodman recently told Forbes: “We’re building one of the world’s most engaging and exciting consumer brands, and it’s largely on the content that our customers are creating with their GoPros.” GfK told Pixel: “Since 2012, the market has started to improve with the help of action cameras growing and taking increasing
importance every month in the camcorder market. “In 2010 action cameras accounted for less than 2% of camcorders sold, whereas more than 4 out of every 10 camcorders sold in 2014
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INSIGHT
©2011 Dom Moore
“GoPro isn’t the only brand making tracks in this increasingly busy market. Sony has quickly caught up by introducing the Sony Action Cams featuring premium functions such as Zeiss lenses, WiFi, GPS and NFC” was an action camera. Furthermore, action cameras enjoyed 133% unit growth in the first 9 months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. “As a consequence of the changes in the market, camcorders were back in growth in Q3 2014 compared to same period a year before and enjoyed +25% units growth.” GoPro isn’t the only brand making tracks in this increasingly busy market. Sony has quickly caught up by introducing the Sony Action Cams featuring premium functions such as Zeiss lenses, WiFi, GPS and NFC for easy sharing. More recently we’ve seen the new and some might say unique innovation from HTC, with the periscope-style handheld RE camera for smartphones. UK retailers are noticing an increase in demand for action cams on the shop-floor, with Louis Wahl, Chief Customer Officer of Wex Photographic commenting: “We at Wex have noticed that Action Cameras, and GoPro in particular, is providing a welcome boost to the camera/video sector. Interest and sales are well ahead of last year, with the new GoPro HERO4 being the stand-out model, but the Sony HDR-AS100VR gets a lot of attention as well.
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“Market leader GoPro has also launched an entry-level model, the HERO (RRP £99) which we expect to be a big success over Christmas. There are a lot of new entrants into the market, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for anything innovative that might interest our customers.” GfK said: “Looking ahead, we can expect the camcorder market to keep growing in the next months. This trend should continue until it enters a replacement cycle period.”
The NEW CP – D80DW Dye Sublimation Photo Printer
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Now with an extended 2 year warranty.
• 2 print sizes from 1 media, 6x8 and 4x6
• Energy saving • High resolution
• Rewind function
• Compact design
• Dust free mechanism
• Extended 2 year warranty
vis.mitsubishielectric.co.uk Email: Photo.Support@meuk.mee.com Office Number: 01707 278684 www.pixel.co.uk 11
EVENTS
Gearing Up For The ‘Only Photography Convention in Europe’
The organisers of the Digital Imaging Show are preparing for the January convention after a successful Birmingham roadshow
“Exhibitors generally were positive. Many commenting that they had found the event worthwhile and had met and generated business from a new audience”
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O
ver 2,000 photographers, dealers and manufacturers flocked to the Birmingham Hilton Metropole hotel for the Digital Imaging Roadshow last month. Visitors from all over the UK had the opportunity to meet many of the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers, including Panasonic, Fujifilm, Olympus, Datacolor, Elenchrome, Micro Drone, onOne, Profoto and some of the leading picture frame and album manufacturers. Alongside the trade show, the event offered photographers the opportunity to see some of the leading lecturers within the photographic industry in a series of 32 intensive masterclasses. The classes covered a range of topics which included lighting, posing, post-production, sport, business, weddings, fashion, boudoir, and portrait. Phil Jones, CEO of The Societies, the show’s organiser, said: Trade show attendees were delighted at the opportunity to get their hands on some of the latest gear with some companies such as Panasonic bringing to the show their latest offerings such as the Lumix-CM1. “Attendees to the Masterclass programme
came away enthused with the volume and variety of information offered by the lecturers,” he added. Over the past 13 years The Societies have established a strong reputation for providing professional and aspiring photographers with the largest convention in Europe. The familyrun organisation manages eight internationally recognised photographic organisations focusing on prime services to full-time and aspiring photographers. A series of photography roadshows are held in various locations across the UK and Ireland throughout the year, building on the success of the annual convention. Phil added: “While attendee numbers did not match the established Societies’ London Convention which usually attracts 14,000 visitors, exhibitors generally were positive. Many commenting that they had found the event worthwhile and had met and generated business from a new audience. “Collectively the trade exhibitors are looking forward to the January Convention to further build their relationship with end users of their products.” Last year the four day-long convention drew
EVENTS
“The event concluded with a swanky Awards Dinner, where 470 industry professionals gathered to celebrate the successes of both traders and photographers in 2013.�
crowds eager to see the creative stands from the likes of Canon and Olympus, the latter of which set up a dedicated lounge area. Over 100 speakers travelled from all over the world to share their expertise and knowledge in inspiring talks. The event concluded with a swanky Awards Dinner, where 470 industry professionals gathered to celebrate the successes of both traders and photographers in 2013. Over 7,500 votes were cast across 12 categories, and many attendees went home clutching glittering trophies and prizes sponsored by
the industry. The evening was hosted by TV and radio presenter Maggie Philbin alongside Juliet Jones, MD of The Societies.
The next convention starts on Wednesday 14 January 2015 and runs until Sunday 18 January 2015. It will be held at the London Hilton Metropole. To find out more, visit http://www. swpp.co.uk/convention/
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FOCUS
Hollywood Comes to High Street Radio & Photographic
This year the Croyden camera shop celebrates 55 years in business - and what better way to mark this milestone than to star in a Kevin Costner blockbuster?
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amily-run High Street Radio & Photographic, which this year celebrates its 55th anniversary, is to feature in a Hollywood blockbuster called ‘Criminal’ starring Kevin Costner. “It was very surreal,” said Paul Roach, recalling the moment he and his father Reg, the store’s founder and proprietor, were approached by Location Manager Mark Grimwade of Millennium Films. “He had been to several businesses in Croydon looking for a suitable shop to turn into a Pawn shop, but none of them looked the part. I took pictures of our shop, which
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is very traditional-looking, and sent them to the director, who loved what he saw. A few days later a huge coach containing 32 members of the team, including director Ariel Vromen, pulled up outside. The deal was sealed!” When Paul and Reg arrived at their shop on Monday 29 September, they were greeted by Andy, a personal security man who said he’d be with them for the next two days. The set designers and dressers soon followed and spent the next seven hours laying out the shop. The following day several huge vans pulled up transporting
more than sixty crew members, including Ariel Vromen and Kevin Costner. The scene took six hours to shoot and towards the end of the filming a huge crowd had gathered on the other side of the High Street. Kevin acknowledged them with a wave before jumping into his waiting car and speeding off. “It sounds like a dream sequence but it was real - we have the pictures to prove it!” said Paul. Its recent claim to fame might be one of the most surreal events in the shop’s history, but over the past 55 years High Street Radio
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“In the early eighties Reg incorporated photography into the business and became a Leica Specialist Dealer. High Street Radio and Photographic was born.”
& Photographic has struggled through recessions, rent increases, technological evolution and most recently - the onslaught of Internet trading. All of this under the same proprietor Reg Roach, his wife Pat and their son Paul – no small feat for an independent High Street shop. They started their business by securing dealerships for brands such as Roberts, Sony, Philips, Grundig, before becoming one of the country’s first Bang and Olufsen dealers in the sixties. The early seventies heralded a royal wedding, which stimulated a consumer rush to buy colour TVs on which to watch it. The modern electrical age was born, but unfortunately sets were less reliable than today’s equipment and frequently required attention. Reg and Pat saw another business opportunity and opened an additional shop at 294, calling it High Street TV Services Ltd. This was a dedicated service centre, employing John Goldsmith as chief technician together with four engineers. The late seventies recession and much higher rents took its toll and High Street Radio at 290 was closed and amalgamated within 294 under the same banner – High Street Radio. In the early eighties Reg incorporated photography into the business and became a Leica Specialist Dealer. High Street Radio and Photographic was born. Over the years Reg’s detailed and expert knowledge has become legendary, earning him well deserved respect in this field. The B&O side expanded rapidly and in the mid eighties an opportunity arose to
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open a dedicated “Bang & Olufsen Centre” when the shop next door (292) became vacant. Paul, Pat and new employee Ian Eddolls, along with service engineer John Goldsmith, moved into these premises – with Reg popping in and out to oversee things. Times were good. Then another recession hit in the early nineties, heralding policy changes at Bang and Olufsen, which meant Reg and Paul had to relinquish the B&O concession and concentrate their energies on trading photographic equipment. Business got even tougher as the photographic industry began to sell digital cameras to every outlet from the largest superstore to the Internet, where all customers wanted was the cheapest deal. The industry had changed, Reg and Paul
once again and revise the products they sold. Policies and demands of being a Leica dealer were also too much for them and so Reg lost his beloved Leica dealership. Reg and Paul now concentrated on selling preowned Leica and other classic second hand film equipment along with new Roberts Radios. Today Reg, at the age of 83 years young and with five decades in the trade behind him, can still be found in his now familiar place behind the counter of this family business. Paul works at his side, although he can more often be found on the computer attending to the Internet side of the business as they continue to bring a personal touch to buying a classic camera or modern DAB radio.
“Business was getting tougher with the photographic industry selling digital cameras to every outlet from the largest superstore to the Internet”
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were finding it much more difficult to compete on prices of new equipment and so they decided to concentrate their efforts on the second hand and the collectors market where people appreciated the specialist knowledge that Reg and Paul had acquired over the years. During the next few years, the expansion of internet trading meant they had to adapt
www.croydonphotocentre.co.uk
“I’m going where it’s beautiful…and hurts.” Clark Little
I AM DIFFERENT
This image was shot by Clark Little in the shorebreak on the Hawaiian North Shore.
Free your vision with the fast, versatile and agile Nikon D750. In a world where anything is possible, this full-frame powerhouse gives you freedom to dare. Turn your ideas into outstanding images and discover how you can make a difference with the new D750. Visit europe-nikon.com/iamdifferent
www.pixel.co.uk 17
For 2 year warranty on any camera and lens kit simply register your new Nikon within 30 days of purchase. Offer applies to UK & Republic of Ireland stock only. Call 0800 597 8472 or visit www.nikon.co.uk/register
AWARDS
They’re Here! The Pixel Trade Awards 2014 Celebrating the best of manufacturing, retail, distribution and press in the photographic industry Over the past decade we’ve handed dozens of glittering Pixel Trade Award trophies to deserving businesses and individuals in the imaging industry. Photography is one of the fastest moving and exciting areas to work in - and we’re not just saying that to cheer ourselves up. Despite having to rejig traditional business models and open our doors to new markets, the overall consensus is that the industry is moving in a positive direction. Incredible things are happening behind the scenes as ever more powerful and accessible technologies come to market. We’ve all had to work hard to keep up with huge changes and rise up to new challenges. The Pixel Trade Awards evening offers all of us a chance to sit back and celebrate that hard work. It is designed to bolster the sense of community we have all worked so hard to be a part of; a chance to mingle with likeminded peers, exchange ideas and business cards – to have a few drinks, have a laugh, enjoy the entertainment and – who knows, even go home with an award…
How could a Pixel Trade Award help you?
Since its conception over 25 years ago, Pixel has become a well-known title in the photographic trade, ‘serving as a bridge between photo optics and consumer electrics’, as founders Stan Phipps and Dennis Taylor described it in the very first issue. It aims to be an impartial voice in the industry, providing a UK-wide platform for reporting, speculating, postulating and even venting. The trade awards were launched 10 years ago as an extension of the magazine’s excellent reputation, something that winners can harness to bolster their own business reputation. Dave Rasch of Phoenix Photographic, 2012 winner of MiniLab of the Year, said: “We worked hard for our award and really, other than the glow of recognition, its worth is in using the title in promotional materials.
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Pixel Trade Awards 2013
Profile is very important, people do take notice of your standing amongst rival businesses, and when you can say that the trade has recognised you as the best in your field, that’s a useful and definitive selling point: that makes you the people to go to. We do advertise the fact we won and commercially people take us a bit more seriously.” Despite there being a host of other industry award ceremonies, Pixel continues to be an important date in the industry’s calendar. N-Photo won the title of Consumer Magazine of the Year last year. Editor in Chief Chris George said: “N-Photo has won a number of awards from the magazine industry, but what makes the Pixel Trade Awards stand out is that it is our readers and the photographic industry that gets to vote, and it is their opinion that really counts. “We were absolutely delighted for N-Photo to win – and particularly as we have now won the Magazine of the Year title at the Pixel Awards for two years in a row. Not bad for a magazine that had only been going for two years!” For new businesses, the awards can give
Where?
Grange City Hotel, London Bridge
When?
Friday 21 November you that boost into the public domain, to get you noticed and get the ball rolling. Imagex was formed at the beginning of 2013 after the closure of Jessops’ Bicester store. Two store managers bought back the shop and opened as an independent retailer. Commenting on gaining recognition as Independent Retailer of The Year, partner Robert Packham said: “This was a really great achievement for us. The plan for Imagex is to bring some significant changes and developments to the channel, and to win this award after just nine months of trading proved we must be doing something right! Our award has a special place on display in our main front window, naturally.”
AWARDS Pixel Trade Awards 2013
“The team is working hard to put on a showstopping evening Already we’ve secured our date: 21st November, our venue: The Grange City Hotel London” Now, the Pixel Trade Awards are back, the votes are in and the team is working hard to put on a show-stopping evening. Already we’ve secured our date: 21st November, our venue: The Grange City Hotel London, our charity partner: Action Medical Research, and our host: comedian and actor Bobby Davro. All we need now is for you to turn up in your fancy evening wear and enjoy the night. As well as a stand-up routine from Bobby himself, Action Medical Research will be hosting a charity auction with some spectacular prizes up for grabs. Since 1952, Action Medical Research for children has invested over £100 million into vital medical research to help sick and disabled babies and children. Sarah Stevenson from the charity said: “Action Medical Research is once again delighted to be the Charity Partner for the Pixel Trade Awards 2014, celebrating the elite in technological innovation and service across the imaging industry. Also Charity Partner in 2013, the leading UK children’s charity is looking forward to supporting the Awards as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.” Is it worth going to the Pixel Trade Awards? Only past attendees can answer that. Robert from Imagex said: “After we won our trophy, Alan Jessop then received his special award, but he made a point of coming over to us to meet us and congratulate us on our achievement – that was much appreciated, Alan. “Up until that evening, many people in the channel had only heard or read about ‘those ex-Jessops guys who had gone independent’. That evening we forged many new contacts and connections which will carry us through the coming years.”
Pixel Trade Awards 2013
Pixel Trade Awards 2013
To find out more about the awards categories, head over to www.pixeltradeawards.co.uk Book your table by contacting Samantha Ash at samanthaash@outlook.co.uk
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product
Samsung NX1 Expected to be ‘Growth Engine Behind CSC Category’ Paul Scott, Head of Marketing at Samsung Digital Imaging, explains why he believes the new NX1 is an industry game changer
Samsung NX1 Key Features • 28.2MP APS-C BSI sensor • DRIMeV processor • Samsung NX mount • 4k, Ultra HD and Full HD video up to 60/50p • ISO 100-25,600 (exp. to ISO 51,200) • 3in, tiltable AMOLED display • Electronic viewfinder, 2.36million dots • 205 phase-detect AF points (inc. 153 cross-type points), 209 contrast-detect AF points • 15fps burst mode • Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth • 138.5 x 102.3 x 65.8mm • 550g (excluding battery)
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e came face-to-face with the Samsung NX1 compact system camera at photokina and, like the experts who voted it Best Camera of Photokina 2014, we were impressed. It reached third place in our top 10 launches from the trade show for having the world’s first back-illuminated sensor with 28MP - but now we want to find out what Samsung’s expectations are for the camera’s future. According to GfK, compact system cameras (CSC) represent one of the strongest sectors in the industry, with sales growing by 14% between January and August 2014 compared with the same period in 2013. This growth, negating general decline in camera sales, has been attributed to a number of factors including price cuts on entry level CSC and the launch of higher end models, which enjoyed a 94% value growth in the same period. Unfortunately, the GfK analysts expect this to be a short-term high, stating: “Higher end products will have a harder time from the end of the year when they will be compared with new product launches.” With a price tag of £1,299 there is no
doubt about where the NX1 sits. This is a high-end camera through and through, incorporating a plethora of new and exciting technologies that Samsung hope will appeal to a whole new calibre of customer. Some key features include the DRIMe V high-speed image processor, alleged to be Samsung’s ‘fastest and most powerful’ yet. In addition the camera offers 15fps, Superwide AF, 28MP BSI APS-C sensor, and for the cinematographers 4K shooting with the latest codec H.265 offering direct recording to SD card. Head of Marketing Paul Scott believes this ‘ground-breaking technology’ is what will propel the NX1 into new markets. He said: “We really see advanced photographers moving towards CSC, a trend which at Samsung we wish to lead. “Targeting semi-professional and professional photographers, the NX1 is for those already at the top of their game who expect the technology they use to keep up with their high level of expertise. Challenging existing expectations around the technology behind professional imagery, the NX1 marks a turning point in premium photography.”
product
“This is a high-end camera through and through, incorporating a plethora of new and exciting technologies”
At photokina Samsung’s Executive Vice President Myoung Sup Han said he hopes the NX1 will challenge preconceptions about CSC and convince experts this technology does have the power to create high quality, professional-level images. He said: “With the launch of the NX1, Samsung is re-defining what is possible with a compact system camera, allowing photographers everywhere to achieve previously unimaginable levels of quality in each and every image they capture.” Paul agrees, stating: “The NX1 is a truly powerful compact system camera and rivals even the most advanced models currently on the market. Its game-changing technology makes the NX1 an elite choice for professional standard photographers. Already CSC is the growing category and we see mirror-less interchangeable lens cameras as the real growth engine for the industry.” The benefit of using a compact system camera has always been to provide the power and versatility of a DSLR in a small, lighter, more portable body. This summer, Samsung
US made a statement about this by launching ‘Ditch the DSLR Day’ at Times Square in New York. This was their way of showing that CSC is the future. They invited people to swap their ‘outdated’ DSLRs for a brand new Samsung NX30 mirrorless camera. Ron Gazzola, Senior Vice President for Marketing at the US company, said: “Too often, consumers are led to believe that high quality photos can only come from DSLRs, which are heavier, often more complicated, and seemingly more intimidating than mirrorless
cameras. Ditch Day is the perfect opportunity for customers to see what’s possible with the cutting edge mirrorless technology and #DITCHtheDSLR in favour of a next generation device, like the NX30.” The NX1 - which has a bigger sensor than its predecessor, ‘breaks new ground for interchangeable lens cameras’, according to Paul. It has ISO 100-51200 compared to the NX30’s 100-25600, 15.0fps compared to 9fps, and 4096 x 2160 video resolution compared to just 12920 x 1080. It is also weather-resistant
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“The NX1 is a truly powerful compact system camera and rivals even the most advanced models currently on the market. Its gamechanging technology makes the NX1 an elite choice for professional standard photographers”
ABOVE: Top Left: Paul Scott, Bottom Left: The Last ‘Ditcher’ Right: Billboard in Times Square
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which Paul says ‘is the perfect choice for the pro photographer.’ “It fulfils professional expectations by providing advanced technology which won’t let them down, for example, the NX1’s fast and accurate autofocusing “NX system III” tracks the trajectory of moving subjects and allows users to capture images wherever the subject is in the frame, meaning moments that last just a split second can be recorded without delay or fuss,” he explained. For some specialist retailers, the NX1 could be the first branch into CSC. This opens
up opportunities to stock accessories such as the 50-150mm Premium S Telephoto Zoom Lens. Paul added: “Those seeking further photographic options can take advantage of the custom designed Vertical Grip accessory, allowing for the use of a larger battery and easier vertical and horizontal shooting. Combine this with the world’s first Bluetooth equipped CSC, further boosting Samsung’s Smart Camera offering and ensuring users are always connected for easy pairing and quick transfer times with smartphones and tablets.”
industry
‘The Photographic Industry Has Been My Life’ As Mike Lane retires from the photographic industry and Digital Distribution continues take over with Craig Norton to continue the Elizabeth Carrington’s name and reputation
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fter over 50 years in the photographic industry Mike Lane has announced that as from the end of October 2014 he will retire. Mike began his career in 1963 as a Saturday boy in Desmond Tripp’s photographic shop in Bath. After gaining a degree in photography and eventually managing numerous photographic brands, including Fuji Consumer Products and Vivitar UK, he established his own company Elizabeth Carrington Limited importing photo frames and albums from China and Indonesia and supplying both the wholesale and retail trade in the UK. Elizabeth Carrington now manufactures 100% of the photo frames it sells in the in the UK. Mike said: “The photographic industry has been my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in it. I have met and worked with some great people and have witnessed the incredible move from silver halide to digital and all the changes that this has brought about.” From October 13th Digital Distribution GFB Ltd will become the sole distributor of Elizabeth Carrington products in the UK. The current range of Photo Frames will continue to be manufactured to the same quality at Digital Distributions production facility in Hemel Hempstead. Ron Deprez, Sales Director at Digital Distribution, said: “We are delighted to continue the Elizabeth Carrington name and standards, it is a brand that has built a great reputation over the past 20 years and is a great fit within our portfolio”, “We all wish Mike a happy retirement and
“I have met and worked with some great people and have witnessed the incredible move from silver halide to digital” Craig Norton
thank him for all the help he has given in the transition”. On behalf of Elizabeth Carrington Ltd, Mike Lane would like to thank all of the customers who have been so loyal over the many years of trading and to assure them that this exciting new change in distribution will bring them a much enlarged product portfolio from a company that has already established itself as a major supplier to the Industry. Craig Norton, Elizabeth Carrington’s National Sales Manager will join Digital Distribution and head up the Elizabeth Carrington product range for the company. His contact details are:
Telephone 07771 602262 Email craig@elizabethcarrington.co.uk
Mike Lane
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ADVERT
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News
Head ‘Op North’ for Digital Splash
The North of England’s biggest specialist photo show takes place on Sunday 9 November Digital Splash, run by Wilkinsons Cameras, will run between 10am and 5pm at the University of Central Lancaster (Preston) on Sunday 9 November 2014. Join the likes of Canon, Epson, Pentax, Panasonic, Sony, Leica
and Olympus at the trade show where you can network, find exclusive offers and keep up to date with the latest cameras and accessories. Also on offer throughout the day will be a series of seminars aimed at photographers, with esteemed landscape and travel
photographer Colin Prior headlining alongside Andrea Denniss, Catherine Connor, Matt Hart, Damian McGillicuddy. Subjects discussed will include the importance of light, how to turn a hobby into a career, and perfecting portraiture. To find out more about Digital Splash, please visit: www.wilkinson.co.uk/ digitalsplash/
NEW: 105mm Landscape Polariser from Lee Filters New warm-up effect filter for landscape photographers British filter manufacturer Lee Filters has announced the launch of a new polarising filter aimed at landscape photographers. The filter features a built-up warmup effect to emphasise browns, greens and golds, and highlight sunshine for a summery look. A spokesman for Lee Filters said this is the
equivalent of adding an 81A warmup filter. Combining the warm-up feature with the 105mm polariser (useful for wide angle views) means landscape photographers need only bring one filter on location and shoot through one piece of glass instead of two. This can help reduce flare caused by reflections and dust on the surface.
The slim mount ensures the filter can be screwed on and still allow space for two additional filters without increasing vignetting. The shape is circular rather than square so the polarising effect can be varied without the photographer having to rotate the filter holder. RRP: £175 inc VAT Available: Now, from www.leefilters.com
Apple To Announce RecordBreaking £110bn Revenues
Apple’s yearly sales have grown thanks to worldwide demand for the latest iPhone models
Wall Street experts expect Apple’s full year results to reveal a recordbreaking £110 billion in revenue between September 2013 and September 2014. Chief executive Tom Cook said the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus had set a top record for sales as people rushed to buy the new handsets. As many as 10m devices more sold in the first week of release,
prompting Mr Cook to say: “These iPhones have become the fastestselling iPhones in history. And the first 30 days we have set a new high-water mark for the most orders taken. And I don’t mean by a little. By a lot, a whole lot.” While the outlook looks good for
Apple’s smartphones, the brand’s tablets are not faring so well. Sales of the iPad fell by £1m in the September quarter compared to the same period last year, marking the third consecutive quarter of decline. Apple hopes the newly released iPad Air 2, the first tablet to use fingerprint scanning technology, will help revive sales. RBC Capital Markets have forecast 24m sales in the December quarter, which would work out as slightly higher than last year.
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini is a Hit With Hipsters Fujifilm has announced intentions to pump further investment into its popular instant camera. It seems the vogue for all things yesteryear is helping Fujifilm sell its Instax mini, a tiny camera that prints instant photos much like the classic Polaroid. Rebelling against the smartphone age, the Instax mini has found its niche with customers who prefer the satisfaction of an instant physical print over a shareable digital file. The Japanese manufacturer announced recently that it will invest 1 billion yen (£5.75 million) to boost the production lines to increase the capacity by 20-30% between now and spring 2015. Sales of the Instax mini grew by 80% to reach 1.8 million units worldwide in the April-September fiscal half. That has encouraged Fujifilm to upwardly revise its sales target to 3.5 million units for the full year ending March 2015, which is 500,000 units, or 17% higher than the original target.
Canon launches lens with ‘world’s longest focal length’ Canon’s new CN20x50 is a 4K cine-servo ultratelephoto lens for high performance use in nature and sport broadcasting. This is the first of its kind to feature a built-in 1.5x extender, 20x magnification and a removable servo drive. It has a native 50-1000mm focal range that expands to 75-1500mm. Canon said: “The CN20x50 is conveniently portable and lightweight and offers an unrivalled focal length and zooming capabilities for its class. Find out more about Canon’s latest lens in our monthly print edition. RRP: £47,800 + VAT
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News Invite your customers to ‘find something special’
Fujifilm Cashback Deals Fujifilm dealers can use Christmas cashback offers to entice customers in-store
Customers can now receive up to £80 cashback on a selected range of Canon products including DSLRs, lenses, compact cameras, camcorders and printers – making Christmas shopping that little bit easier. Selected products are available with free Adobe image editing software and free WiFi SD cards. The offer runs from 29st October 2014 to 21st January 2015 for eligible products.
Feeling Blue: New LomoChrome Turquoise Film
Lomography has launched a new blue tint film: LomoChrome Turquoise XR 100-400, available in 35mm and medium format. These films can be processed as regular colour film (C41) and are limited to 5,000 pieces. www.lomography.com
The new deals include cashback on the X-T1, X-E2, and the XQ1. There are also offers on Fujifilm’s range of bridge cameras, including the FinePix S1, FinePix S9400W and the FinePix S9200. In addition, customers can buy an X-Pro1 and get two free lenses thrown in. They can also buy
Fujifilm’s X-CSC and get the FUJINON XF18mmF2 R and XF27mmF2.8 R for free. There are also cashback offers on selected lenses, including £100 cashback on Single Lens Purchases,
£300 cashback on Twin Lens Purchases, and £500 cashback on Triple Lens Purchases. For more information on the Fujifilm cashback offers, please visit https://fuji-offers.com
‘Thriving’ Jessops leads way for High Street Jessops is back in profit under its new owner Peter Jones
Since taking the collapsed chain over in 2013, the tech entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor has helped return Jessops to profit after just one year of trading. Jessops has reported an operating profit of £280,000, on sales of over £56m. It will now build on its success by opening six new stores across the UK, taking the total number of stores to 34. The news follows a deal signed with Sainsburys to launch instant print kiosks, customer services for buying specialist cameras and an under 18s photography club in selected stores across the country – including Newport, Waterlooville and Maidenhead. The new Jessops stores will be opened in Reading, Milton Keynes, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Hull and Kingston. The first, in Tunbridge Wells, will open in October 2014
with the remaining open in November. Jessops Chairman Peter Jones said: “This is a great result and I’m excited that we’ve been able to restore an iconic British high
street brand. With the right formula and strategy, the high street is full of potential for growth and job creation: our new stores will create over 100 new jobs before Christmas. “Our strategy for success is a
multi-channel strategy, within which the high street plays a key role. It is all about giving shoppers choice on how to buy: either shop in-store (where they can get hands on experience), order by phone, shop online 24/7 or benefit from the collect at store service – all with the reassurance that prices will be the same across all channels thanks to the Jessops ‘One Price’ and benchmarked against the leading UK retailers with their ‘Price Match Promise’.” The new stores feature all the signature services Jessops currently rolls out, including try-before-you buy product displays, the Jessops Academy with a range of photography training courses, on-site lab for photo products made in-store within the hour and ranges of the latest cameras and photographic accessories from well-known imaging brands.
Going Digital with new Epson Flatbed Film and models from Epson ‘build on the success’ of the Perfection V700 Photo Scanners New range Epson has launched two new film and photo flatbed scanners for digitising positive and negative film formats. The Perfection V850 Pro and Perfection V800 Photo can scan a wide range of formats, including 35mm strip, 35mm slide, medium format and 5x4 inch – making them a versatile addition to the market. The Perfection V850 Pro is aimed at professional photographers and advanced amateurs while the V800 Photo is
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targeted more towards enthusiasts looking for easy-to-use functionality. The dual lens system delivers high optical resolution scanning of film (at 6400 dpi) and photos (at 4800 dpi), with automatic selection of the appropriate lens for optimal scan quality and speed. With a high optical density (4.0 Dmax), the scanners reproduce a wide range of tones with extremely high accuracy, especially in dark
areas of originals. Epson says the newdesign film holders are more robust and offer users greater control in adjusting the height of the film holder to fine tune the focus point and achieve sharper focus. The new film holders also include an anti-Newton ring plate to hold the originals flat for improved scan quality. The V850 comes with a second set for increased productivity.
Both models feature Digital ICE technologies to remove defects such as dust, hairs, scratches, fingerprints and creases from films, slides and photos, saving the time and effort of manual retouching. Digital ICE for film uses an advanced combination of infrared light and complex algorithms to detect and remove surface defects. Additional features of the Perfection V850 Pro include: an anti-reflection coating on the lens and a free fluid mount scanning accessory.
News
Light Up for 50,000 Hours With LEDs
New Hedler Profilux LED 1000 ideal for studio and location work Hedler’s exclusive distributor Flaghead Photographic has announced the launch of a new continuous light unit that uses a single high-power LED unit. The new unit has a daylight colour temperature of approximately 5600K. It also boasts a quiet fan cooling system and active LED cooling. The Profilux LED1000 is fitted with a fresnel lens and can be adjusted from spotlight to floodlight by turning the focusing knob. The unit can be used with all the existing Hedler reflectors
and softboxes, offering full integration into an existing system. It is fitted with a fresnel lens and can be adjusted from spotlight to floodlight, simply by turning the focusing knob. The unit can be used with all the existing Hedler reflectors and softboxes: full integration into an existing system. More features include LED soft
For a Rainy Day Manfrotto has launched a new range of rain-proof camera covers for DSLRs, professional flash and lens attachments as well as compact system cameras. The Pro Light Elements covers are covered in a water-resistant coating for
start, digital display with light output power indicator, dimmable from 5% up to 100% light output, integrated electronic ballast and fan control. The product is ideal for video, film, broadcast and stills imaging and is compatible with a range of accessories. RRP: 799.00 exc VAT.
New Manfrotto Pro Light Elements Cover
those inevitably rainy outdoor shoots this winter. There are four models: the E-690 PL for small DSLRs or CSCs, the E-702 PL for a DSLR with a 70-200mm lens attached, the E-804 PL extension lens sleeve
kit which can be attached to the E-702 PL when shooting with an extra-long zoom, and the E-705 PL for a DSLR with a professional flesh and lens up to 70-200mm. • E-690 PL – RRP £49.95 • E-702 PL – RRP £69.95 • E-704 PL – RRP £74.95 • E-705 PL – RRP £79.95
Pentax Targets Young Market with Special Edition Sweets Collection
The Pentax K-S1 now comes in a trio of bright new colours Despite only having launched the K-S1 in September, Pentax seems to be capitalising on the Christmas market by introducing three new colours to the collection. Strawberry Cake (pink), Blue Cream (blue) and Lime Pie (green) have been added to the 12 current colour options, perhaps appealing to a younger generation of customers. Despite its collection of sugarysweet names, the lightweight K-S1 is still a relatively advanced DSLR, housing a newly developed CMOS sensor with approximately 20.12 effective megapixels, a 3.0-inch, high-resolution LCD monitor, an
optical viewfinder offering 100% field of view, an built-in shake reduction mechanism, and a top sensitivity of ISO 51200. Pentax said: “These specialedition models make digital SLR photography even more fun, while fitting perfectly with your personal style.” The body also features LED lights to indicate the status of the camera i.e. green while still-image, red during recording. Key features: • Full HD movie recording with stereo audio
• Super-high sensitivity at ISO 51200 • Top shutter speed of 1/6000 sec. • High-speed continuous shooting function with a top speed of 5.4 images per second • Image processing tools to create 10 distinctive effects, including three new options: “Fresh” with a crystal-clean finishing touch; “Fade Colour” for an elegant finish with subdued colours; and “Infrared” for a black-and-white finish like that of an infrared photo • 21 digital filters including a new “Colour Replacement” filter. • Smartphone-support functions available by installing the optional FLUCARD FOR PENTAX 16GB memory card. Price: K-S1+ SMC DA L 18-55mm f3.55.6 - RRP £599.99. Availability: Mid November 2014.
Impossible Launches New Special Edition Film
Impossible is continuing Polaroid’s legacy by refurbishing SX-70 cameras and producing the accompanying film. Its most recent launch is a ‘faster, improved’ black and white film with matt, multi-coloured frames. The films come in: • 2 shades of green • Orange • Blue • Purple • Red • Pink • Yellow RRP: £17.
Fujifilm to close film processing lab
Fujifilm has confirmed its intention to close the E6 slide film processing facility in November this year, ending its six-year partnership with Leeds-based professional laboratory CC imaging. This ceasing of E6 processing operations was planned last year to enable customers who have remaining rolls of Fujichrome Sensia process-paid film enough time to get them processed. Fujifilm’s pre-paid processing vouchers are only valid up to the closing date of 1st November 2014. CC Imaging will continue with its full range of existing lab facilities after the closure, including the E6 slide film processing line. Customers will still be able to have their transparency films processed as normal, just not under the ‘Fujifilm Processing Laboratory’ brand after 1st November 2014. For any queries, please contact the Fujifilm Processing Lab by email: info@ fujifilmprocessinglaboratory. co.uk, or call 0113 244 8221.
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News John Lewis Enjoys Boost in Online Sales
GoPro Announces HERO4 lineup GoPro has launched ‘its most powerful’ lineup yet
John Lewis reports strong trade for the second week in October, enjoying a 7.9% year-on-year rise in overall sales. Electrical and home technology sales rose by 6.8%, as a number of divisions benefited from newly introduced product ranges. Online sales grew by 19.6% compared to the same period last year, as emphasis switches to e-retail. Ed Connolly, Buying Director for fashion at John Lewis, said: “A good week’s trade on the whole, despite demand for seasonally focused assortments not yet firing on all cylinders due to the prolonged clemency of the weather. “With our momentum online, up 19.6%, and good signs from shops, up 3.6%, we should be in a strong position to capitalise on demand once the weather turns as expected.”
New Drone Airport Bag Think Tank Photo has launched an Airport Accelerator backpack for quadcopters. The case, which contains 10 compartments, can fit the DJI Phantom 2 and all equivalently sized DJI quadcopters with the DJI or GoPro cameras still attached, meaning photographers only have to remove the drone’s rotors to pack it up. The case allows space for the drone, transmitter, rotors, range extender and other optional accessories, while still being a practical international and domestic plane carry-on size. This is an ideal accessory for retailers already stocking drones. Find out more at www.thinktankphoto.com
GoPro’s new line of high-performance action cameras have new features including 4K30, 2.7K50 and 1080p120 video capture in the black model, and built-in touch display for convenience in the silver model. The company says the new HERO4 Black delivers ‘2x the performance’ of its HERO3 predecessor and is now able to capture ‘cinema-quality’ 4K video at 30 fps, reducing rolling shutter while still allowing for slow motion effects. The black model also houses a redesigned audio system which can capture high fidelity sound with
‘2x the dynamic range’ of previous models. Other enhancements include improved image quality, low light performance, highlight moment tagging and a redesigned user interface. The silver variety loses some of the black model’s video recording power but retains the same image technology and gains a touchscreen for enhanced usability. RRP: Silver - £289.99, Black £369.99.
Accessories: • Dual battery Charger + Battery charges two HERO4 camera batteries simultaneously. RRP: £39.99. • LCD Touch BacPac is ideal for the Black HERO4, which has no inbuilt screen. RRP: £59.99. • Smart Remote enables longrange remote control of up to 180m for the HERO4. RRP: £59.99. • Standard Housing is waterproof to 40m while still enabling maximum image sharpness through the flat glass lens. RRP: £39.99. • Floaty Backdoor keeps the HERO4 afloat during water-based activities such as snorkelling and surfing. RRP: £15.99.
Shares drop as GoPro is Blamed for Schumacher’s Head Injury Will the bad press prove troublesome for the action cam pioneers? GoPro shares have dropped by more than 10% since Yahoo Sports published an article claiming that the company’s wearable action cam could be to blame for F1 racer Michael Schumacher’s severe head injury. The report claims that investigators are looking into the possibility that Schumacher’s helmet was crushed by the GoPro camera he was wearing when the skiing accident occurred.
The former champion has been in a medically induced coma for almost a year now. According to the Yahoo journalist, Schumacher’s helmet was completely smashed while the GoPro camera remained intact. Despite recent setbacks, analysts expect GoPro’s earnings to increase 31% a year for the next few years, and
recent reports show that GoPro is one of the most searched-for stocks. But as other companies, such as HTC with its new RE handheld camera, continue to release high quality rival products - will GoPro’s reign at the top come to a swift end?
HTC launches ‘ultimate selfie phone’ New HTC Desire Eye announced
HTC has announced the new Desire Eye, with a front-facing camera offering the same 13MP resolution as the rear camera. This latest addition to the Desire range is designed with selfie-takers in mind.
Main features include: • Two 13MP BSI sensor cameras • Rear camera has f/2.0, 28mm lens.
• Snapdragon 801 processor • 16GB internat storage RRP: TBC.
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News
Ricoh’s Tough WG Range Gets Connected New WG-30 launched, with WG-30W equipped with WiFi
Ricoh has expanded its popular waterproof compact camera range with the new WG-30 and WG-30W. The two new models improve upon the existing WG-4, WG-4 GPS and WG20, offering higher quality images, better waterproofing and, in the case of the WG-30W: WiFi allowing for instant communication between smartphones, tablets and laptops. Like its predecessors, the new tough cameras are crush-proof,
shock-proof against falls of up to 1.5 metres and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as -10ºC. However, while the WG-20 launched in February 2014 was only waterproof to 10m, the new models dive deeper at 12m. The sensor has also been improved, swapping the CCD in the earlier models for a backilluminated 16MP CMOS and newlydesigned imaging engine capable of HD video and low-noise images in low light conditions.
Thanks to the WG-30W’s WiFi function, users can release the camera’s shutter and set various shooting functions from a distance, browse and download recorded images and movies, then share them with friends by uploading them to social networks and other websites – all via their smartphone. RICOH WG-30 RRP: £229.99. Availability: early November. RICOH WG-30W RRP: £259.99. Availability: early January.
HTC Announces WiFi Connected Camera HTC has unveiled a handheld WiFi camera designed for iOS and Android smartphones
The new HTC RE has an unusual cylindrical design with an in-built sensor grip that automatically activates the camera - so no need for a power on button. It features a highresolution 16MP CMOS sensor, Full HD (1080p) video recording and has a 146º wideangle lens with slow-motion and time lapse recording functions. With the accompanying RE app, users can operate a live viewfinder on the screen of
their smartphone remotely. The app also automatically stores all images to the phone or to the cloud. Users can even stream live video to YouTube. HTC’s CEO Peter Chou said: “Today, HTC is once again changing the way that people think about technology, Back in 1997, we allowed people to leave their laptops at home in favour
of powerful, pocket-sized smartphone computing. Today we are taking a similar leap forward. Combining incredible hardware with unrivalled software, HTC is reinventing the way we think about imaging. We are taking you out from behind the viewfinder and putting you back where you belong, at the heart of the action.” RRP: TBC
New Drobo Mini 8TB Is ‘Industry First’ The tough new Drobo houses ‘massive’ amount of storage Connected Data, creators of the award-winning Drobo range of smart storage solutions, has launched the new Drobo Mini 8TB. The new device features four hot-swappable 2.5” drive bays preloaded with sour Samsung Spinpoint M9T 2TB drives. The Drobo Mini’s BeyondRAID technology ensures data isn’t lost in the event of one or two drive failures. Even if a drive does fail, the Mini will automatically repair itself and return to protective state without denying access to data. New drives can be added or swapped without losing access.
Weighing in at just 3lbs, the Mini is ideal for on-theroad photographers and videographers who need to store, access and transfer large multimedia files from media cards while on location. David Franjovich, Director of Samsung’s HDD division said:
“The Drobo Mini is the ideal storage array for our new 2TB Samsung Spinpoint M9T hard drives. We’re able to provide Drobo users with the highest-capacity and thinnest storage solution available in today’s market.” www.drobo.com
DynaOptics develops new zoom technology for smartphone
Technology company DynaOptics has developed a technology that enables smartphone cameras to zoom further than ever before – without a clip-on lens or app. The patented technology enables optical zoom capability through micron-scale, lateral lens movements. Traditional mechanically compensated zoom lenses require millimetre-scale movements which take up more space. DynaOptics says: “By re-thinking conventional zoom systems, we have designed a system able to achieve the performance and manufacturability of today’s lens systems. Without the bulky footprint.” The company claims that because it utilises manufacturing and assembling techniques from mature industries (such as metal stamping and plastic injection moulding), it can produce a ‘lowcost, high-volume, high-quality product with lower risk and capital requirements’. To find out more, visit www.dynaoptics.com
New Mobile Apps for Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe has launched its most popular editing tools for mobile. Smartphone photographers can now edit their images and videos to a professional level on the devices they shot them with. The apps come with a new synch features which allows creative workflow across all devices. Desktop enhancements include: • Sync enables access to photos video edit projects, brushes and shapes created on mobile device. • Touch functions have been improved for use on touchenabled laptops and other similar devices. Find out more about the updates at www.adobe.com/uk/ creativecloud
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News
Panasonic Teams Up With National Trust New joint strategy will benefit both parties A new long-term partnership has been signed between Panasonic and the National Trust, Europe’s largest conservation charity. The deal will enable Panasonic to use historic National Trust sites and properties for a variety of promotional events, and the National Trust will benefit from access to Panasonic’s latest technology. Visitors will be able to loan the latest LUMIX cameras, enabling them to capture memories of their day out, while National Trust rangers will get hands-on with Panasonic’s Toughbook PCs in the great outdoors.
Panasonic will be holding events at selected National Trust sites throughout the year. Andrew Denham, MD at Panasonic UK, said: “This partnership marks the start of a longterm relationship with the National Trust, which we feel generates tremendous value for both parties. Panasonic is dedicated to creating a better life for consumers, and these aims match well with those of the National Trust.”
Credits & Contacts
Photographic lighting brand Rotolight claims its ‘lowest ever Christmas offer pricing’ campaign will tempt customers and and help drive sales They said: “At these consumer-tempting prices demand will be high. So order your stock now. “Don’t forget to change your web and in store pricing. Don’t forget to let your team know.”
Christmas pricing inc.VAT will be as follows: • Creative Colour Kit was £149.99, now £99.99 saving £50.00. • Interview Kit was £249.99, now £174.99 saving £75.00.
• Sound and Light Kit was £179.99 now £129.99 saving £50.00 All with up to 30% Dealer Margin! www.rotolight.com
New Range of Umbrellas Profoto launches six new umbrellas
The new umbrellas are lightweight and portable, yet with a deeper shape giving photographers better control of the light spread. The range includes: • Umbrella Deep Translucent S • Umbrella Deep Translucent M
• Umbrella Deep Silver S • Umbrella Deep Silver M • Umbrella Deep White S • Umbrella Deep White M
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said: “We’re very pleased to work with Panasonic on this exciting partnership. Our staff and volunteers will now be able to capture, film and share images and stories of the special places we care for using Panasonic’s state-of-the-art cameras. Many of our Rangers, who work in some of the remotest parts of the country, will be equipped with the latest notebooks to help them keep on top of their conservation work, looking after our beautiful landscapes. And we’ll work with Panasonic to see how we could cut energy usage at some of properties.”
Rotolight Announces ‘Lowest Ever’ Christmas Pricing
Updates to Nikon Image Processing Software Capture NX-D has been updated to version 1.0.3 and View NX has been updated to 2.10.2. Both Nikon software updates introduce a number of bug fixes for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. Issues with Capture NX-D included failure to save file when images were adjusted using Edit palette functions, and then the programme was shut down and launched again. This issue has now been resolved with version 1.0.3. Modifications on View NX 2.10.2 include support for the S6900 and changes to the way image files are moved. The new updates can be downloaded from https:// support.nikonusa.com/app/ answers/detail/a_id/61
He added: “We have huge admiration for the National Trust and the fantastic work that they do, so are very excited to announce this partnership. The National Trust has a long history in creating and curating places of incredible beauty, and we look forward to helping visitors capture precious memories of their visits to these outstanding places.” Rod Hebden, Head of Corporate Partnerships at National Trust,
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The S versions have a diameter of 85cm, while the S versions have diameters of 105cm. Find out more at http://profoto.com/uk/ umbrellas
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