BPI July.Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Contents WHAT’S INSIDE Welcome News and Analysis ...............................................................4 Growing your business ....................................................... 15 Business spotlight .............................................................20 Twenty years ago, as a fresh-faced youth, I used to sell Guest opinion ...................................................................... 25 cameras for Jessops in Nottingham. I loved it. I was able The Interview ......................................................................26 to get my hands on all the equipment I read about in Movers and shakers............................................................ 31 photography magazines and then impart my knowledge on the camera buying public. It feels like I’ve come full circle to PMA Newsline .....................................................................33 be the new editor of a magazine for the photographic trade. And Finally ..........................................................................38 Of course, BPI isn’t just for the high street retailer, it’s also for the lab owner, the distributor, the sales rep, the PR executive, the Saturday sales assistant, the managing director. Anyone, in fact, involved in the photographic industry. Some of you may know that I’m no stranger to the industry. I swapped the www.bpinewsnow.com cut and thrust of retail for the bright lights of publishing in 1990 and have spent the past 20 years working on and editing a variety of titles. BPI is my BPI is no longer just a magazine. Our news of how a rare Nikon lens sold fi rst trade title, though, and I’m relishing the new challenges it brings. daily updated website is online at for over $34,000 as well as how But enough about me, let’s talk about you and how you can make BPI work www.bpinewsnow.com and gives you certain Sony cameras were going for your business. My job is to produce a monthly magazine and daily updated the chance to keep abreast of the to have 3D capabilities two weeks website (www.bpinewsnow.com) that keeps you informed about the comings latest photographic news and views before the offi cial announcement and goings of the industry. The bit I’d like you to get involved in is telling me 24 hours a day, seven was made. Register not only how well (or badly) we’re doing that, but also about your business, days a week. now and you’ll also be your stories and your people. If you visited in able to interact with As long as I’m sitting in this seat, I welcome the past few weeks other users by posting news, views and feedback from all four corners you’ll have seen all comments to news of the photo industry. So, if you’ve got something the latest equipment stories, features and to say, make sure you say it in BPI. You’ll fi nd my releases and read interviews. contact details below. EDITOR - Roger Payne GROUP ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Goodbye to photo booths? Email: [email protected] Eleanor Godwin Tel: 07730 542264 Email: [email protected] BPI is produced in association with much-maligned ID card scheme Tel: 01242 211092 PMA Newsline, which has it’s own (and the next generation of GROUP BRAND EDITOR - Grant Scott Email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER dedicated four page section in biometric passports with it) clarity Fiona Penton-Voak every issue. is still required. You can read PMA EDITORS Email: fi ona. [email protected] Peter Corbett Tel: 01242 265894 In that section you’ll fi nd all the the latest developments in the Email: [email protected] latest news relevant to both PIC PMANewsline section, which starts Tel: 01373 466536 MANAGING DIRECTOR Nigel McNaught OF ARCHANT SPECIALIST and PMA members, which this on page 33. Email: [email protected] Miller Hogg month includes the We’re also delighted to have the Tel: 01438 840367 Email: [email protected] latest on the future of thoughts on the industry from the Tel: 01242 216050 DESIGN - Rebecca Shaw passport photographs. PIC chairman, Gerry PRINTER - Stephens and George While the Coalition Dingley (pictured right). ADVERTISING - Sam Scott-Smith Email: [email protected] BPI is published monthly by government has been Read his Guest Opinion Tel: 01279 815575 Archant Specialist Ltd quick to scrap the on page 25. BPI MAGAZINE | JULY 3 supported by News&Analysis Research reveals CDs and DVDs not as robust as users may think RESEARCH and services have been launched which weighs as little as 165g, is in recent weeks that provide available in 500GB (£69.99) and Photographers and businesses alternative back-up options. 1TB (£139.99) options. Both drives relying on CDs and DVDs for long- Mozy offers a secure online are Windows, Mac OS X and Linux term back-up of data or images backup service for Windows users compatible. Details at are heading for trouble and strife, and has introduced version 2.0 www.verbatim-europe.com according to longevity tests carried of its software. Both home and For users preferring to keep their out by the French National Centre professional versions are available work or data on a PC, Freecom offers for Scientifi c Research (FNCSR). with improvements including 25 a competitively priced data recovery In some extreme cases, the data percent faster back-ups and a service. Just £24.95 gets three lasted for just a year. Details of the test were brought //CDs and DVDs are becoming a less viable to light on Click, the BBC’s fl agship method of data storage, so it’s worth technology programme and website, which pointed to the researchers’ considering the option of portable hard drives conclusions that discs often had a or alternative methods of image storage// maximum lifespan of between fi ve and 10 years. The report concluded that the simpler user interface. Mozy is years cover for any hard drive – a Despite the fact that no contact safest way to avoid losing precious a subscription service with 2GB small amount when you consider full is necessary to play or read a disc data was to have the information available free and paid-for services data recovery can cost up to £1500. with a laser, the surface of discs stored in at least two places and that starting at £4.99 per month. For If you’re one of those people who deteriorates with age, a process information should be copied onto a details, visit www.mozy.co.uk thinks that your PC won’t break that the FNCSR was able to create fresh set of discs every two to three For those wanting to back-up to down, Freecom offers some rather artifi cially by exposing discs to water years. a separate hard drive, Verbatim sobering estimates as to why hard vapour, light and heat. With fi le sizes from digital has showcased two new models all drives crash: one percent is due to Not only did the research conclude cameras on the increase CDs, and to featuring the USB 3.0 interface, natural disasters, eight percent due these startling facts, it also found a lesser extent, DVDs are becoming which is claimed to be ten times to viruses or malware, 14 percent by that quality varied across the same a less viable method of data storage, faster than USB 2.0 and offers software failure and 28 percent due brand and that manufacturers so it’s worth considering the option transfer times of 4.8 Gbit/sec. to human error with the remaining putting their logos on to a disc could of portable hard drives or alternative A desktop version is available in 49 percent attributed to other make them more vulnerable to data methods of image storage. To 1TB (£84.99) and 2TB (£139.99) causes. Find out more at corruption. this end, a variety of products capacities, while the portable option, www.freecom.com 3D will be ‘fully embraced’ by UK consumers ROUND UP Sigma prices TECHNOLOGY to play 3D games and a Blu-ray confi rmed player with 3D playback out of the Sigma has confi rmed the If industry experts Future Source box. 3D Vaio laptops are also due to suggested retail Consulting are to be believed, 3D is launch later this year. pricing on its expected to be fully embraced by From a photographic perspective, SD15 DSLR. The UK consumers over the next four the recently announced NEX-5 camera, which will years with 40 percent of new TVs and NEX-3 cameras also have 3D be available from to be 3D by 2014. capabilities, as we’d reported on early July, will Sony has put its full weight the BPI website at the beginning of retail for £899.99. The company behind 3D by introducing an entire June. also confi rmed the price for the range of products that enable users Shots taken using the Sweep 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM to enjoy the latest technology from Panorama mode on these cameras lens at £649.99. The lens is ‘lens to living room’. can be viewed in 3D on compatible For more details on the Sony available now in Canon fi t with In addition to 3D televisions, Sony Bravia 3D televisions. A fi rmware 3D range, visit www.sony-europe. Sigma, Nikon, Sony and Pentax has also announced 3D capable update for both cameras enabling com and to read all the latest mounts following shortly. home cinema systems, a fi rmware the 3D capability will be made photography news fi rst, make sure Visit www.sigma-imaging-uk.com update for the PlayStation 3 console available in July. you sign up to www.bpinewsnow.com 4 JULY | BPI MAGAZINE bpisupported by News&Analysis A rare Nikon 6mm fi sheye lens sold on eBay recently ✎for over $34,000.