Industry News

Calumet is linking with Tandem Education – the private provider of vocational higher education qualifications – to offer photographers a unique opportunity to attain HNC/HND in photography qualifications.

Following months of talks the new highly flexible ‘Photo-College’ courses will launch at Calumet’s flagship Drummond Street, Euston store  this summer. Sian Hamer, Calumet marketing executive explained: “Education has always been a priority for us. But now we are taking things to a new level. This is a giant leap forward to help our photographer customers gain internationally accepted vocational qualifications within a brand new and highly flexible framework. And if this programme is successful in London we will look at a roll-out across the country.”

Under the pioneering scheme students on the courses will have access to state- of-the-art Calumet equipment as required, including usage of latest high-tech computers with high-end monitors.

A spokesman from Tandem Education said: “The idea is simple. Anyone who wishes to gain a serious vocational qualification in photography can sign up to one of these courses. These are not training sessions. This will not be like attending a one day seminar on Photoshop. Students will be studying to attain a Level 4/5 higher education qualification.This is about serious education with an internationally recognised HNC/HND qualification at the end of it – a qualification recognised not just by employers but also by universities.”

A key driver with the programme is flexibility. Said the spokesman: “Students can come to Calumet for say one day a week for twenty weeks and they can then continue the course with online distance learning.” The courses – which will have no more than12 students on each one – is aimed at both  undergraduate and mature students who may have no formal qualification in photography.

He added: “Our courses will be hands-on – not just working at the Calumet location but also with professional photographers who have premises around London.  They can study in segments of 60 credits – a full HNC is 120 credits. It means that nobody has to give up work to gain a real and internationally valid qualification. This course will also suit those who may already have degrees in other disciplines, like accountancy – but who are looking to switch to a new career in the creativity sector.”

A 120 credit course (full HNC) will cost a total of £3,192.00 Inc VAT. A 60 credit course (half an HNC) costs £1,596.00 inc VAT (excluding exam fee of around £190)

For more information and to apply for the courses visit www.tandemeducation.comEndsFurther information: Trevor Lansdown at Wordengineers.comEmail: info@wordengineers.comTelephone: 01206 241575

Throughout May Lomography will be celebrating the 1st anniversary of its first Lomography LomoLab here in the UK with a month-long series of promotions and events.

Last March we proudly launched our very own photography lab in the basement of the Lomography Gallery Store East London.

We set up the lab equipment and gathered together a special team of Lab Rats with expert knowledge on all things processing. We gave them some crisp white lab coats, a pack of rubber gloves and set them to work.

One year later and the Lab is now in full swing. We have processed 13,926 rolls of film across our 3 UK stores and Online.

Here’s what’s on offer in each Lomography Gallery Store in the UK:

Lomography Gallery Store Soho, Lomography Gallery Store East London and Lomography Gallery Store Manchester.

Promotions Week 1: Ready, set, shoot: 10% off all standard 35mm & 120 film processing.

Week 2: Movie Madness: Process 5 LomoKino films get 1 processed free.

Week 3: Big It Up: Half Price Enlargements – 10×10, 10×8 from digital files only.

Week 4: Panorama-Rama: 10% off all panoramic camera processing: Spinner 360, Sprocket Rocket & Horizion services.

Workshops: Each Lomography Gallery Store will be running a series of in-store workshops and events focusing on different techniques for awesome results from processing. Check the Lomography Gallery Store’s Facebook pages for more details.

Competition: Each Lomography Gallery Store will be running in-store competitions throughout May.

So head down to any of the Lomography Gallery Stores in May and take us up on some of these great events and promotions!

Kodak and dm-drogerie markt today announced an extension of their successful relationship. By end of 2012, dm will be the first European retailer to offer KODAK Photo Books and KODAK Personal Greeting cards nationwide, giving consumers the convenience and ease to create personal, high-quality photo products in minutes.

So far dm has 4,000 KODAK Picture Kiosks in its 1,200 stores nationwide. ”We are investing in the newest digital photo center from Kodak to ensure our customers enjoy an exceptional photo creation experience. Kodak has been a tremendous partner, delivering high quality solutions and products which enable us to provide our customers with an enhanced choice of great photo services,” said Christoph Werner, Managing Director, dm-drogerie markt Deutschland.

“By continuing to partner with Kodak, dm maintains its leadership position as the number one instant kiosk print retailer in Western Europe by offering innovative photo retail solutions and superior customer service.”

“We are proud to continue our successful relationship with dm-drogerie markt, which began in 2005 with our first market trial,” said Larry Trevarthen, Kodak’s Worldwide Director of Marketing for Retail Systems Solutions, and Vice President, Consumer Segment.

“Together, dm and KODAK have continued to innovate to deliver a unique in-store experience and a full suite of photo services, so consumers can easily create meaningful, high quality photo products to share life’s moments.”

With the extension of their relationship, Kodak and dm continue to offer consumers differentiated photo products that are convenient to access and simple to create. The recently introduced KODAK Create@Home Software lets retailers offer consumers the ability to create personalized photo products at home and pick them up in store.

Consumers who bring a Create@Home Software project into dm can print it themselves from a KODAK Picture Kiosk or have it completed by dm store associates. The free software is available for download from create.kodak.com/go/dm and consumers can locate their nearest stores using the Kodak dealer locator at www.kodak.de.

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce that the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM has won the TIPA 2012 Best Entry Level Lens award and the APO MACRO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM has received the TIPA 2012 Best Expert DSLR Lens Award.

TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) is comprised of 29 publications from Europe, South Africa, Canada and the USA. The knowledgeable chief editors and technical editors from these publications form the judging panel for the awards. Photo Imaging has been a prominent part of the TIPA awards since 1991.

TIPA 2012 Best Entry Level DSLR Lens: The Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM offers users of DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors one lens that will most likely cover all their needs. In practical use, the lens offers the 35mm equivalent of 27-300mm coverage, making it a highly versatile lens that is enhanced by Sigma’s original Optical Stabiliser function and HSM movement.

In the view of TIPA members, the Sigma makes possible the use of this one lens for a wide range of different subjects, offering photographers a compact and highly competent optical tool for landscape, portrait and even wildlife photography.

TIPA 2012 Best Expert DSLR Lens: The Sigma APO MACRO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is the first 180mm optically stabilised macro in the world with a reproduction ratio of 1:1 and a maximum aperture of F2.8. Three special FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass lenses ensure exceptional correction of chromatic aberrations. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and creates sharp, contrasted images even when fully wide open.

The Sigma Corporation will continue the development of outstanding products that will answer the wide variety of needs of customers in the future.

Nikon Europe this week announce that three of its products have won accolades in the TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) awards, and four products have been given the prestigious “red dot award: product design 2012″.

TIPA, Europe’s leading image press association, has given the prize for ‘Best D-SLR Expert’ to the Nikon D800, ‘Best Entry Level D-SLR’ to the Nikon D5100 and ‘Best Professional Flash System’ to the SB-910 Speedlight. Its awards are chosen by 29 photographic magazines across 13 European countries and they are given to products that the jury consider to be the best in category in terms of overall quality, performance and benefit for the defined end-user.

Meanwhile, the “red dot award: product design 2012″ was given to the Nikon 1, Nikon’s new compact system cameras, the COOLPIX AW100, the COOLPIX P310, and the PROSTAFF 5 laser rangefinder. The Nikon 1 camera system went on to be selected for the “best of the best” award in the Entertainment Technology and Cameras category, one of the more competitive categories in which many truly superior products are entered.

The “red dot award: product design” has become one of the largest and most prestigious design awards worldwide. This year, designers and companies from 58 countries entered 4,515 products.

Winners will be on display from July 2, 2012 in the exhibition “Design on stage – winners red dot award: product design 2012″ at the red dot design museum on the premises of the Zeche Zollverein World Cultural Heritage Site in Essen Germany.

TIPA Best D-SLR Expert: Nikon D800

The TIPA jury comments: “Dubbed a “multimedia” camera, the D800  offers an amazing 24x36mm (full frame) 36 MP sensor that allows photographers to capture images of impressive quality.The image file size begins to rival medium format digital camera back output and allows photographers to print their images using large format sizes. Its Full HD video mode will also appeal to advanced photographers who want to make quality videos. Well-built, but not too heavy, fun to use, and equipped with all the essential functions, the D800 offers stereo sound, a range of ISO-6400 (expandable to ISO 25,600) and 4 frames-per-second burst rate. For TIPA members, the camera is without a doubt the best melding of high-end demands and the needs of a practical enthusiast.”

TIPA Best D-SLR Entry Level: Nikon D5100

The TIPA jury comments: “With its 16.2 MP sensor, image quality at high ISO sensitivity and the excellent definition of the rear screen, the Nikon D5100 allows beginners to learn about the quality of a true reflex and more experienced users to have a very complete camera at an attractive price. Shooting ease is aided by the convenient access to photographer-controlled settings as well as its impressive Vari-Angle LCD monitor. Adding to the fun of using the camera are numerous in-camera special effects modes, including in-camera HDR. In addition, the D5100 offers Full 1080p HD movie capability.”

TIPA Best Professional Flash System: SB-910

The TIPA jury comments: “Built on Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS), the new SB-910 flash unit incorporates an enhanced intuitive operating system and graphic user interface (GUI). The SB-910 Speedlight covers the most popular focal lengths, and has a built-in FX/DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body. This new Speedlight also provides more efficient battery usage as well as an enhanced Thermal Cut-Out function that will increase recycle times as the flash heats up, rather than shutting down completely until it has cooled off. The SB-910 features new hard-type colour compensation filters for fluorescent and incandescent colour temperature balancing, which can change the white balance setting of the camera automatically.”

The Nikon 1 camera system cameras, the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1, are equipped with a new CMOS image sensor that supports super high-speed autofocus, and the new EXPEED 3 image-processing engine. In addition, adoption of the new Nikon 1 mount for these cameras has enabled an ultra-compact size and light weight for the cameras. The Nikon 1 system offers a rich line-up of dedicated accessories, including 1 NIKKOR interchangeable lenses, available in the same colours as the cameras for an integrated look, the Speedlight SB-N5, and the GPS Unit GP-N100.

It also supports traditional F-mount lenses, allowing users to choose from Nikon’s extensive line-up of interchangeable lenses for unlimited imaging expression.

For more information on the “red dot design award”, visithttp://en.red-dot.org/design.html

PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce that the PENTAX Optio WG-2 compact digital camera, first launched in March 2012, was selected as the BEST RUGGED COMPACT CAMERA in the TIPA AWARDS 2012.

The WG2 was selected for the award primarily because of its exceptional image quality, its excellent reliability and outstanding operability in difficult weather.

TIPAis an independent, non-profit organisation comprising the chief and technical editors of 29 leading photo and imaging magazines from 14 countries, most of which are based in Europe. This year’s winners were selected from the range of new photo and imaging products that were introduced to the market between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012.

In its official product analysis, TIPAnoted that: “The newest model of the proven PENTAX WG-series is available with or without the GPS feature (geotagging). Made for rugged use, the camera is protected against drop damage up to 1.5 metres (5 feet) and withstands weights up to 100 kilograms (220 LBF). It is well prepared for use underwater, for depths up to 12 metres (40 feet), and in dusty climates as well as cold conditions, down to -10° C (14° F). The lens offers a 5x optical 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) zoom. The back illuminated 16 MP CMOS sensor enables high-resolution still photography as well as Full HD movie recording (1920 x 1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second with high quality H.264 compression. The TIPA jury enjoyed the LED-lights supported digital microscope for subjects as close as 1 centimetre.”

Visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pentaxukVisit us on Twitter at @PentaxUK

Ricoh Company, Ltd. (hereafter Ricoh) have announced the introduction of a new global brand tagline, imagine. change., to express its evolving brand presence around the world.

The new messaging reflects a general shift toward services for Ricoh, which can be seen in the company’s ever expanding services portfolio including its highly regarded MDS (Managed Document Services) and other advanced solutions.

“The ability to change is a key element of a successful business today,” says Shiro Kondo, Ricoh President and CEO. “Technology is changing at an unprecedented pace, and there is increasing pressure for customers to change along with it. Those who cannot keep up will be left behind. At Ricoh, we are committed to helping our customers embrace change through innovation. That is what we mean by imagine. change.”

Ricoh philosophy is to combine people, processes and technology to build information infrastructures that are faster, smarter and less expensive than customers envisioned. Through cloud computing, remote monitoring and other innovations, the company is also aiming to make information more secure, mobile and personal. Net result: organizations can collaborate and innovate like never before.

The global roll-out of imagine. change. highlights Ricoh’s customer-centric philosophy: moving forward with new ideas and new ways of improving lives, driven by innovation.

Ricoh aims to help companies and individuals transform the way they work and harness their collective imagination. imagine. change. is more than a new brand tagline – it’s the essence of the Ricoh brand experience.

Photo retailer Park Cameras launched their new and improved website www.ParkCameras.com, offering their customers a new design, but also new features including easier navigation, filtering by specification, a blog, product reviews, and more content including a range of Buyer’s Guides.

Park Cameras’ new website retains all 9,000+ product lines, with a various array of extra images and videos to help you get a feel of the product you are considering – sometimes a challenge when looking online. Not only have they refined the design and navigation, but they have added a variety of other features including a filter function, allowing you to find a product by specification that caters for your requirements.

Another new addition is the introduction of impartial reviews powered by TestFreaks, giving you the chance to see what other customers from the UK and around the world think of the product. This is not just limited to customers, but also experts in the photographic world also share their opinions to give you the best possible advice.

With social media and blogging becoming an everyday part of people’s lives, Park Cameras have also introduced the Park Cameras blog – http://blog.parkcameras.com. This houses all the latest news including new announcements, new products arriving in stock, as well as a number of product reviews, and photography tips and tricks – all written in-house at Park Cameras by their highly knowledgeable staff.

To celebrate the launch of the redesigned website, Park Cameras are giving you the chance to win one of 3 prizes:

* A FREE 30″x20″ canvas print worth £97.99
* FREE Park Cameras ‘School of Photography’ course to the value of £99.99
* £50 Gift Voucher to be spent on anything you like on the new Park Cameras website

To win one of these fabulous prizes, simply tell Park Cameras what you think of their new website via their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/ParkCameras and they will randomly choose 3 winners from the posts made. Closing date for entries is April 30th.

Ricoh Company, Ltd. (hereafter Ricoh) have announced the introduction of a new global brand tagline, imagine. change., to express its evolving brand presence around the world. The new messaging reflects a general shift toward services for Ricoh, which can be seen in the company’s expanding services portfolio including its MDS (Managed Document Services) and other advanced solutions.

“The ability to change is a key element of a successful business today,” says Shiro Kondo, Ricoh President and CEO. “Technology is changing at an unprecedented pace, and there is increasing pressure for customers to change along with it. Those who cannot keep up will be left behind. At Ricoh, we are committed to helping our customers embrace change through innovation. That is what we mean by imagine. change.” 

Ricoh philosophy is to combine people, processes and technology to build information infrastructures that are faster, smarter and less expensive than customers envisioned. Through cloud computing, remote monitoring and other innovations, the company is also aiming to make information more secure, mobile and personal.  Net result: organizations can collaborate and innovate like never before.

The global roll-out of imagine. change. aims to highlight Ricoh’s customer-centric philosophy: moving forward with new ideas and new ways of improving lives, driven by innovation. Ricoh helps companies and individuals transform the way they work and harness their collective imagination. imagine. change. is more than a new brand tagline – it’s the essence of the Ricoh brand experience.

British Journal of Photography has increased its readership over 12 times with the launch of its bespoke iPad app. Reaching out to a global audience for the first time in its 162-year history, the app has now been downloaded over 100,000 times – a figure which dwarfs the 8000 readers of its niche print edition, which was first published in 1854.

The first paid for edition of BJP’s app hit the Apple Newsstand in December last year and reached the number 1 spot as the highest-grossing app in the UK Photo & Video category in iTunes in less than 24 hours. It has now also hit the top 10 Newsstand apps in the US.

The tailor-made app has also met with critical success, included on the List of Best European Magazine & Newspaper Apps* alongside titles such as Wired, Mail Online, Metro Tablet Edition and Bild. In December, Apple highlighted the app as “New & Noteworthy” within the App Store in iTunes.

Issue 3 (Spring 2012),  available from today, is an all-star affair, featuring interviews with some of contemporary photography’s biggest stars -  including Roger Ballen, South Africa’s most idiosyncratic shooter, who talks through his journey from documentary to staged photography plus his latest project, a pop video for South Afrikan rap-rave group Die Antwoord. Also featured are Boris Mikhailov, Paolo Roversi, Lise Sarfati, Steve Pyke and Martin Parr.

The BJP app uses the Mag+ platform and also provides an in-depth analysis of the latest visual trends, spotlights on new talent and reviews of the latest technology. Maximising the iPad’s video capabilities, it incorporates unrivalled coverage of the emerging HDSLR video market, bringing together the best from stills photography and motion technology.

Up-to-the-minute live news from BJP-Online is also accessible at  the click of a button, and users can share articles via email and social media.

Publishing director Marc Hartog states: “Our app has exceeded our wildest expectations , hitting over 100,000 downloads already and growing fast, which is more than twelve times our print readership, the iPad and newsstand present us with an opportunity to deliver our content to a global audience in an environment which we believe readers will see real value in. We had faith that people would pay a premium price for premium digital content delivered in an interactive and immersive environment, and this has paid off with several thousand subscriptions for our iPad edition in just the first few months of launch.”

Issue #3 of the BJP app can be downloaded now through iTunes for £6.99/€7.99/$9.99.  A 50 page preview is also available to download free. 
A six-month subscription is also available at the launch offer price of £9.99/€10.99/$13.99.

For more information, video previews and download details, visit www.bjpapp.com