British Photographic Industry News June 2023

Photographic British Industry news

TIPA WORLD AWARDS

Swarm of the shutterbugs!

Why the buzz around a bunch of exciting new Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon & Sony cameras is great news for the photo trade – See inside!

THIS

P14

INNOVATION REWARDED

Why the cameras, photo accessories, paper, media & software being highlighted by the TIPA World Awards 2023 should aid your ability to sell all of them

FOR THE BIRDS

P20 Take advantage of anticipation surrounding Nikon’s newest Z 8 mirrorless camera, specificationwise a close cousin of its flagship Z 9, yet more affordable

Transcontinenta UK reveals why it’s taking Bushnell, Leofoto, Peak Design and Tamron kit to July’s Bird Fair – and how such gear can give your own sales wings

How to avoid a dry spell in retail this summer? We’ve details on how careful planning can enable high street & online stores to make hay while the sun shines

Putting the photo trade in the picture for over 35

Photographic

Industry news

Published monthly by

FLOGGING FOR VLOGGING

EDITOR

Gavin Stoker

Tel: 020 8274 0578

Tel: 07990 974 367

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Michael O’Connell, Crocus Creative

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ISSN: BPI News (Print) ISSN 2634-1344

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Gavin Stoker, Editor gavin@bpinews.co.uk @GavinStoker

You know a growing trend has really hit its stride when three major manufacturers not only announce cameras aimed at vloggers within the same month, but also within days of each other – as has happened this issue. Yes, to anyone over 50 a vlogger still sounds like a previously undiscovered alien race from a Star Trek episode, but now they’ve stealthily invaded our world and our industry; like those lizards in human form from 80s mini-series ‘V’.

While Fuji and Sony’s new devices attempt to cloak their intent in bodies resembling traditional cameras, Canon has gone the most obviously sci-fi, in flogging something resembling a space-age communicator – or an iPod. If you’re building a device for a different core purpose than the other cameras in your range, then why not indeed have it look different? We’ve details of all these cameras, plus newbies from Nikon and Leica, that take a slightly more tried-and-tested route of shoehorning a large sensor into a compact camera body, over the page.

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While we were spinning plates to keep up with the unexpected flurry of exciting camera launches the past month, the winners in this year’s TIPA World Awards were also announced. Once again editors from photography magazines and websites across not only Europe, but now also America and Japan, came together to draw up a list of worthy tech recipients. As a member of TIPA these past two

years, BPI News was in on the voting – in-person this year for the first time post-Covid – with the results published across the centre pages of this issue.

Coming up in the industry I was always lead to believe that the TIPA’s were the most widely respected of the trade awards, and that having such recognition gave real boasting potential to manufacturers, as well as an obvious extra sales tool to retailers. Even for those marketers who only get excited about their own social media posts, ‘TIPA Award winning’ is a promotional line that cuts through the digital noise. Finally, mindful of the hook that video now has in our industry, I also dropped into the Media Production Show in London last month, and wasn’t surprised to find a few friendly faces from the photo trade either exhibiting or prowling its hall at Olympia. With an increasing amount of crossover, it made sense. I still didn’t meet any actual vloggers; though they may have been disguised as human? Enjoy the issue and see you back here next month for our regular July/ August ‘summer special’. Releases and ad requests to the usual address!

CANON PULLS RELEASE CORD ON NEW MIRRORLESS & LENS

The photo stalwart has been throwing all its resources at bolstering its EOS R mirrorless camera line up of late, currently comprising 13 bodies and 34 lenses. That number is further swelled with the new addition of the Canon EOS R100. The R100 sits just below the recently issued R50 and is described by its manufacturer as family friendly.

Not only is it a new small, lightweight and compact entry-level option, it’s also Canon’s most affordable ‘R’ camera so far. The intended audience for this ‘photo first’ camera is smartphone users seeking higher quality than their handsets can deliver, but who at the same time don’t want hundreds of features. Ease of use is key here, and than includes the provision of a ‘GUI’ (Guided User Interface).

Headline features to focus on include a 24.1 MP APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, DIGIC 8 processor, a core light sensitivity range that tops out at ISO12800 but is further expandable, 3.5fps capture speed with face and AF tracking or 6fps with i-shot AF. On top of this we’re offered a silent mode, 4K resolution 25P video capture, Full HD up to 60fps or 720P up to 120fps.

For budding videographers the camera also provides built-in Movie Digital IS, Vertical Movies and Movie Digest function, whereby the R100 creates two to four second video clips every time a shot is taken and then compiles these into a motion sequence. Compatibility is offered with the Canon Connect App to allow for remote shooting,

while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity is also on board. Further essentials are that the EOS R100 weighs

In terms of price the main purchase option twins the EOS R100 body with a RF-S 1845mm lens for £669.99, with availability mid to end of June. We understand that Currys will also be offering its own twin lens kit that adds a 55-210mm.

Alongside the new camera

Canon has further announced a pancake lens for . Described as ‘a small lens for a wide world of creativity’, the optic weighs just 120g and measures a compact 24.7mm in length, making it Canon’s smallest and lightest RF lens yet. Provided here are a combined focus and control ring, a focus/control switch and 55mm filter thread. Suggested retail price is £344.99 and it’s also available this month.

Finally for now, Canon is offering us an , which is a new off shoe cable successor to the prior OC-E3. Slightly longer than its predecessor, the 80cm long cord supports flash and audio. The cable also incorporates a power line, enabling it to power Canon’s DM-E1D and ST-E10 accessories when attached. Compatible cameras include the R3, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10 and R50. Pricing for this accessory is £229.99.

FUJI DOES THINGS TO X-S

Tell your customers the Fujifilm X-S20 camera, XF 8mm f/3.5 lens and new XApp are all coming their way. The compact and lightweight X-S20 boasts AI-based subject detection AF, said to deliver a performance equivalent to that of Fuji’s X-T5, plus up to 6.2K-resolution video at 30fps, or 4K at 60fps. Battery life via the supplied NP-W235 cell also impresses: mirrorless cameras traditionally haven’t quite matched their DSLR forebears when it comes to power performance, but the X-S20 puts that gripe to bed if its claim of 800 frames per charge – more than double the previous model – works out in practice. At the core of the X-S20 is a back illuminated 26.1 megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor coupled with a high speed X-Processor 5 image processing engine. Also worth noting are a large grip that’s claimed to improve image stability, as is five-axis in-body image stabilisation, said to offer a 7-stop advantage. The APS-C sensor camera weighs 491g including battery and memory card and features a 3.5mm microphone/earphone jack. For those thinking to use this camera for vlogging, an optional tripod grip, the TG-BT1, is available. There’s also a new dedicated Vlog mode accessible via a twist of its mode dial, which alters camera settings to those most suitable for selfportraiture. With the use of a USB-C

cable the X-S20 can be hooked up to a computer for use as a webcam.

This being a Fuji camera the X-S20 features 19 Film Simulation modes including Nostalgic Neg, which are available even during live streaming or an online meeting. Traditionalists wanting to shoot with the camera held up to their eye will enjoy the 2.36 million dot resolution EVF with 0.62x magnification, plus 1.84 million dot backplate vari-angle LCD monitor.

Available from late June, the Fujifilm X-S20 is available for a body-only £1249, or with a couple of lens options. For body and XC 15-45mm f/3.55.6 it’s £1349, or with XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 it’s £1599.

Claiming to offer a field of view wider than the human eye can see, the second new Fuji product for late June is the Fujinon

XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens. Offering the equivalent of an ultra wide angle 12mm in 35mm film terms, its construction consists of 12 lens elements in nine groups including three aspherical elements and two ED elements. As well as promising to deliver edge-to-edge clarity, the lens should enable landscape photographers to capture a massive amount of information, with other possible applications including architecture and travel photography. Some 52.8mm long, the lens weighs 215g, offers a filter thread size of 62mm and comes with a suggested price tag of £799. Finally, also new this month is the Fujifilm XApp for Android and Apple phones, a piece of software that’s free to download now and compatible with Fuji’s GFX and X series of digital cameras. As we’d expect, the new app allows users to remotely operate their Fuji camera from a connected smartphone or tablet and check images while in Live View mode. Compared to the manufacturer’s previous Camera Remote app, the XApp is said to provide more stable and swifter wireless communication, and a smoother transferal of images to smartphones and tablets. Using a new Backup/Restore function on the app, users can save camera settings including Shooting and Setup Menu options in the app and apply the setting back to the camera. Further new functions include Timeline and Activity, which gather and display shooting information thus allowing users to reflect back on their photographic activities when viewing their photos.

www.fujifilm.co.uk

CANON GIVES VLOGGING A ‘SHOT’

The PowerShot series is back in the form of a new vlogging camera, the Canon PowerShot V10. In looking quite unlike anything the brand has released before we reckon it resembles an Apple iPod, albeit with lens in place of scroll wheel. With sales having started June 15th, the manufacturer promises it’s the first in a new generation of cameras aimed at bloggers. Positioning wise, it sits in the existing Canon ‘family’ beneath the G7X series and the EOS R50.

Unsurprisingly the compact allin-one device is designed to fit in a pocket, while being capable of up to 4K-resolution video capture, with a built-in foldout stand enabling selfrecording. In fact it can generally be operated with one hand. Canon suggests it will appeal to existing camera phone users looking to up their game, due to it featuring both a larger sensor plus better audio than a smartphone.

This being a ‘video first’ device, the

PowerShot V10 additionally offers wireless streaming capabilities straight to the likes of YouTube or Facebook. Photography hasn’t been completely forgotten however, with the option of shooting 15MP or 20MP stills dependent on which aspect ratio is selected. For video it’s a choice of either 9:16 or 16:9 ratio recording, depending whether the device is shooting in portrait or landscape fashion.

Weighing a manageable 211g, additional headline features include a 1-inch back illuminated CMOS sensor, the aforementioned built-in foldable stand, a minimal amount of buttons, twoinch touchscreen, plus 19mm equivalent wide angle, maximum f/2.8 aperture lens.

Full HD footage can be captured at up to 60P and to a maximum ISO6400 setting; alternatively it’s 4K recording up to 30P at a maximum ISO3200. With a one-hour continuous recording limit, different colour filters can be applied

to videos to help them stand out. Movie Digital IS plus Auto Level features are claimed to respectively enable both judder free footage and level horizons. We also get two large stereo microphones built in and a 3.5mm stereo mini jack input, along with an auto wind filter to further enhance audio.

Sales wise, there are a couple of Canon PowerShot V10 bundle options: customers can go for either a Standard Vlogging Kit comprising the camera plus lens cap, windshield and case at a manufacturer’s suggested £449, or an Advanced Vlogging Kit which includes all of the above plus a ‘Small Rig’ branded cage for the attachment of external accessories, at £479 all-in. Amazon is also getting its own bundle, which adds a media card, while the online Canon store will further carry its own ‘Essentials’ kit. www.canon.co.uk

Tamron goes wide for Fuji X users

Tell your Fujifilm X-mount APS-C mirrorless camera owning customers the third party lens manufacturer has a new zoom arriving this month, via Transcontinenta UK. Its fourth such compatible lens, the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is described by its distributor as a fast, ultra wide angle zoom which feels perfectly balanced when mounted on a compact APS-C sensor mirrorless camera body. Providing

a 35mm equivalent focal range of 16.5mm to 30mm, at the maximum wide-angle setting the minimum focus distance is 0.15m, while the silent RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor AF drive makes it ideal for both stills and video shooting.

In terms of portability, the lens is 86.5mm long and weighs 335g.

Construction comprises 12 elements in 10 groups and features two GM (Glass

Molded Aspherical) lens elements to ensure edge-toedge detail, one XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) element plus two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to prevent optical aberrations. On top of this a lens coating is said to reduce ghosting and flare. Tamron’s new zoom retails for £799.99 SRP. www.transcontinenta.co.uk

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NIKON’S COMPACT HYBRID PROMISES A BIG PERFORMANCE

Announced last month, Nikon’s new full frame Z 8 hybrid camera shoehorns big features, including a 45 megapixel resolution and 8K video, into a compact body 15% smaller than its D850 and 30% smaller than the flagship Z 9

Aflagship camera-like performance from a compact camera body is the enticing sales pitch for the new Nikon Z 8. Its intended audience includes wedding, events, wildlife and landscape photographers, along with portrait and astronomical photographers. Launched at the end of May, the full frame sensor-incorporating model further swells Nikon’s ever-expanding ‘Z’ series of mirrorless cameras and features many key attributes of its range topping Z 9. While it includes that flagship camera’s 45MP stacked full frame CMOS sensor, the Z 8 also arrives at a more affordable price, while being 30% smaller than the Z 9. In short, it’s ideal for photographers looking for a large sensor in a slightly more manageable body than the Z 9. Something of a successor to the Nikon D850 DSLR, which again it manages to be 15% smaller than, the Z 8 borrows too from the Z 7II. New AF tracking modes include the ability for the camera

After ‘8’: The new Nikon Z 8 is smaller than both its manufacturer’s D850 and Z 9 cameras, while featuring the exact same full frame sensor as the Z 9, sample image shown below left

to now recognise aircraft, and a first for the range is the provision of twin USB-C ports. We’re promised a faster sensor scan rate with the Z 8 too.

An offering of 8K-resolution capture at 60fps, or 4K-resolution video at up to 120fps for slow motion replay also makes the new Z 8 something of a ‘hybrid’ camera. A compact powerhouse for videographers, it can record 4K-resolution 60P video for over two hours continuously without overheating, or 8K 30P video for up to 90 minutes. For video, a four-axis tilting monitor also comes in potentially very handy.

We’re further offered 12-bit ProRes Raw recording, H.265 422 High Efficiency Video Recording and Nikon N-Log, plus compatibility with third party accessories including XLR adapters and gimbals.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRUNCH

When it comes to crunching through all that data, the Nikon Z8 features an Expeed 7 processor. Further showing its professional mettle, we’re gifted dual media card slots for both CFexpress/ XQD and SD.

In terms of portability, the Nikon Z 8 body weighs 910g, compared with the Z 9’s 1340g. As we’d expect for a camera aimed at enthusiasts and pros, the Z 8’s body is weatherproof and, it’s claimed, has the same tolerance to cold as Nikon’s D6 DSLR and Z 9 mirrorless cameras. With images composed via the same 3.69 million dot electronic viewfinder as the Nikon Z 9, interestingly the Z 8 doesn’t boast a mechanical shutter, thus reducing possible wear and tear while also enabling silent shooting. For those looking to shoot in low light there are further on-camera aids such as illuminated buttons and the ability to adjust the viewfinder’s brightness. Added to this is the ability to shoot Raw files at up to 20fps, to a maximum 1000 shots before the buffer is full.

For those retailers seeking an opportunity for an additional sale, a new, optional vertical MB-N12 grip is available for the Z 8 that takes two EN-EL15 batteries. The Z 8 itself currently retails for a recommended £3,999, body only –speak to your local Nikon rep for more.

www.nikon.co.uk

Nikon Z 8 key features: 30% smaller than the flagship Z 9 while featuring that camera’s 45MP stacked full frame CMOS sensor

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SONY, THE NEXT GENERATION

The electronics giant is boldly going where it has gone before – with a sequel to its ZV-1 ‘vlogging’ camera from 2020. Sony claims it’s big on sustainability so the new Sony ZV-1 II recycles most of the features from

it not providing a mains charger or, oddly, a USB-C cable with the device. If you can find one of your own, the cable allows its removable battery, again giving the same 45 minutes’ worth of recording time as its predecessor, to be charged in camera. While much here is familiar,

the popular original, including its one-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor providing 20 megapixel stills or 4K-resolution video at up to 30fps. The manufacturer’s drive to be eco friendly also extends to

including near identical dimensions and weight, one point of difference is that the focal range has been tweaked. The built-in f/1.8 maximum aperture zoom lens now starts out at a wider 18mm equivalent, as opposed to its forebear’s 24mm, and runs up to 50mm at the telephoto end, instead of 70mm. The basic touch screen of the ZV-1 has been overhauled to allow greater intuitiveness and access to a wider

range of settings, making the adoption of this second generation model easier for existing smartphone users, while the built-in microphone offers more creative flexibility. It’s able to bias audio recording to what’s happening at the front of the camera, at the rear, or in all directions. A ‘dead cat’ style windshield slips into the vacant hotshoe to avoid a breezy day affecting the sound, and there’s the option to invest in an accessory shotgun microphone in the ECM-B10. There’s no headphone jack, however. It’s also compatible with the Sony Creator app, which allows for future software updates. With availability promised from mid June, the ZV-1 II is also more expensive than the original at £870 SRP. As there is no in-body stabilisation system, merely an electronic version in Sony’s ‘Active’ Stabilization mode, an optional Bluetooth enabled wireless battery grip, ideal when recording pieces to camera while walking, or simply taking selfies, is available for an extra £170. Money saving promotions are being planned for around the camera’s release for customers wanting to invest in such accessories.

www.sony.co.uk

PermaJet shares The Knowledge A check-in case worth checking out

The inkjet paper specialist has made available a free eBook designed to help photographers maximise their printing skills. ‘The Knowledge Vol 2: The Step by Step Guide to Printing’ covers topics including colour management, setting up your workspace, selecting the right monitor and the right printer, as well as, of course, selecting the ideal paper for a project. Claiming to provide clear and concise instructions, the guide is aimed at beginners and seasoned pros alike. It follows on

from the company’s previous eBook, ‘The Art of Paper Selection.’

Head to the following URL to download your own free copy of the new digital guide: www.permajet.com/the-knowledge-vol-2/

If your customers need to make sure their precious photo and video gear absolutely reaches its destination still in one piece, then Peli’s protective cases are pretty much the industry standard. Newly announced is the Peli Air 1595 check-in case, offering 59 litres of usable space and claimed to fill a gap between the manufacturer’s Peli Air 1535 carry-on case and 1615 check in case. Like its smaller and bigger siblings respectively, the new 1595 version features a retractable extension trolley handle and wheels incorporating quiet-rolling stainless steel bearings. A folddown handle, press and pull latches and an automatic pressure equalisation valve also feature. The Peli Air 1595 case comes in black, and with or without foam. www.peli.com

WHY IT’S WORTH FORMING A ‘Q’ FOR THIS LEICA

Everyone from point and shoot photographers to professionals has a new high spec, high resolution wide angle lens camera from the premium brand to help make their full frame photography even more unique…

Described as “well crafted and inspiring” by Leica UK MD

Farah Ahmad Perez, the third generation of the manufacturer’s popular ‘Q’ family, originally launched in 2015, has arrived. The Leica Q3 retails for £5,300 and marries a full frame sensor to a fixed focal length lens, set within a classic looking magnesium die-cast body.

Designed to be suitable for use by anyone from point-and-shoot photographers up to professionals, according to Leica Akademie tutor Robin Sinha, an articulated rear touch screen features alongside an updated viewfinder. We further get new ports, a new processor and a light sensitivity range up to ISO100,000. At its heart is a 60 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor first introduced on the Leica M11 last year, which on the new Q3 is coupled with a fixed 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. Such a high resolution means that even in the camera’s 90mm crop mode, photographers can still generate a 6MP image. The lens features its own optical image stabiliser to help ensure blur-free results.

NEW FEATURES BY REQUEST

Undoubtedly the biggest talking point here is the Q3’s new tilting screen, a 1.84 million-dot touch display introduced at the request of its customers, according to Robin. Of course we also get an upgraded eye-level OLED viewfinder offering a 5.76 million dot resolution, plus the inevitable tweak to auto focus, with phase detection and contrast AF now working in unison to deliver “a more versatile focusing system” that Leica claims is now 5x faster.

Form a ‘Q’ here: A classic looking magnesium die-cast body for the Q3 houses a huge 60MP BSI CMOS sensor first introduced on the Leica M11

Videographers haven’t been forgotten, with the ability to record up to 8K on the Q3. Filmmakers will also relish the fact that here’s more support for professional codecs, including H.265 and Apple ProRes, while a new HDMI port and USB-C port should help streamline workflow. A case in point: the latter can be used for shooting tethered, as well as for simply charging the camera’s battery.

Designed to deliver perfect looking JPEGs straight out of the camera, features including Leica Perspective Control

(LPC) promises to correct any instances of converging verticals, while Leica Dynamic Range (LDR) helps image makers retain a good amount of detail in the shadows without blowing-out highlights. In terms of handling, the camera weighs a reassuringly chunky feeling 743g with battery inserted, the latter being capable of 350 shots from a full charge, which is according to industry tester CIPA.

Announced alongside the camera is an update to the Leica Fotos app, now in Ver4. The revamped app is claimed to be 10x faster than the previous iteration, while offering new ‘Leica Looks’ that can be transferred to the likes of the Q3. The latest app also adds video functionality support.

As well as the above, and useful for anyone looking to make add-on sales, Leica has introduced a range of accessories for the Leica Q3. These include a very eyecatching cognac coloured leather half case, among other colours, that conveniently still allows for access to the camera’s battery and memory card when attached. Also looking to be potentially useful is a wireless HG-DC1 Leica Charging Pad.

In conclusion, the Leica Q3 is ideal for photographers who want to achieve high quality results and bags of detail, while its compactness allows them to go relatively unnoticed. While it’s very much the enthusiast’s dream, it will also work well as a secondary camera for professional photographers wanting to take advantage of the Q3’s many core attributes detailed above.

https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/ photography/cameras/q/q3-black

Key features of the Leica Q3: 60MP full frame sensor and bright/fast 28mm f/1.7 lens set within a die cast magnesium body

BEST OF THE BEST: TIPA WORLD AWARDS 2023 WINNERS REVEALED

Once again esteemed editors from trade publications across the globe – including BPI News – have gathered to pick their favourite photo gear of the past annum. Here we present the final consensus to share with your own customers and hopefully make a sale off the back of it…

Can your product being an awardwinner help influence a sale? Most definitely! It’s an added boost independent of the manufacturer’s own hype that further legitimises a device, and so might just tip an undecided customer into making a purchase – or choosing one product over another.

The TIPA World Awards have long been held in high regard by the photo trade. They’re the one I’ve heard discussed the most over the 20 years I’ve been in the industry, so was pleased when BPI News was first invited to be part of the voting process last year. Instead of meeting virtually over Zoom, this year we had the chance to meet in person with our fellow titles, to discover we’re all facing similar challenges and opportunities as the industry around us flexes and pivots. It was illuminating to discover local concerns are also very much global ones. With nominations whittled down to a shortlist in advance, Barcelona was the chosen central destination for us to gather and select the final winners, showcased here.

“Every year, our process for choosing the TIPA World Award winners involves research, testing, and decisions about how each winner will bring new capabilities and excitement to the photo and imaging sector,” explains TIPA Chairman Thomas Gerwers. “This year, cutting edge technology, new trends in professional and consumer needs, including products for the vlogging community, and the continued evolution of imaging capabilities were all on display and we offer our congratulations to the winners for a job well done.”

The leading manufacturers were once again well represented in the winning

line up, with Canon bagging a quartet of recognitions. Its EOS R50 was acknowledged by TIPA as Best APS-C Entry Level Camera, its EOS R8 as Best Full Frame Advanced Camera, its XA70/XA75 as Best Professional Video Camera, and its R system compatible RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM lens as Best Telephoto Prime Lens. The judges described the affordable R50 as “a gateway camera designed to introduce young and old alike to photo and video tools,” while the R8 (left) was part of a “new breed” that had become “increasingly multimedia orientated”.

Fujifilm has also done well this year.

Tell your customers its X-T5 (right) has been named Best APS-C Expert

Camera, while the X-H2S is TIPA’s Best APS-C Professional Camera. A popular choice, the XT-5 is described by the judges as “ideal for photographers who want classic design, controls and remarkable feature sets for both still and video imagery,” while the X-H2S is claimed to be “rightfully dubbed a ‘multimedia’ camera.”

An incredible line up: Some 40 categories in this year’s TIPA World Awards meant there was plenty of opportunity for debate among the international judging panel made up of magazine and website editors and publishers from across the globe

Want more winners? For further details from 2023’s TIPA World Awards, including the judges’ verdict on the best in computer monitors,

Nikon naturally hasn’t been forgotten either, with its content creator targeted Z 30 (right) hitting its intended mark in picking up a TIPA Award for Best APS-C Vlogger Camera. The Nikon is described by the TIPA tastemakers as: “a step up from compact cameras and smartphones [that] can also accept full frame Z lenses – with accompanying crop – for those with other Nikon gear.”

In terms of accessories, two of Nikon’s lenses were similarly garlanded, with the Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S taking Best Super Telephoto Prime Lens and its Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S being named Best Portrait Lens.

of which it was said: “TIPA members were impressed by the camera’s interfaces, numerous recording modes and active cooling system. They also pointed to the unit’s impressive stills capabilities.”

Like Canon, Sony has bagged four TIPA Awards. Its Alpha 7R V was bestowed with the title Best Full Frame Professional Camera, in a sign of the times its ZV-E1 (above) was named Best Professional Content Creator Camera, its FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens was claimed to be Best Standard Prime Lens, and the same manufacturer’s FE 20-70mm f/4 G was crowned Best Standard Zoom Lens. Of the A7R V the judges said: “it’s a highly impressive, responsive and flexible camera that raises the bar on features and functions for working pro photographers.” The ZV-E1 meanwhile is described as “designed for demanding content creators who want to record… without the need for a crew or post processing.”

Fellow electronics behemoth Panasonic also made a showing, taking the accolade of Best Full Frame Expert Camera for its Lumix S5 II (below),

A fellow TIPA Awards regular, optical has bagged no fewer than three TIPA’s this year. Its 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art series lens (right) has been selected as Best Wide Angle Prime Lens. Its 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary series optic has been acclaimed as Best Wide Angle Zoom Lens, while the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports lens is Best Superzoom Lens. Of the selection of Sigma’s 24mm in particular, the judges reasoned: “poll serious photographers about their favourite street, architecture and landscape prime lens and the 24mm is sure to be a top choice.”

Another big player regularly represented in the awards is fellow third party lens specialist Tamron, which has bagged two TIPA mentions this year. The Tamron 50400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (left) is Best Telephoto Zoom Lens while its 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is – another sign of the times – Best Content Creator Lens. Of the latter, the TIPA panel said: “It’s a great choice for vloggers and content creators, particularly when used with the Tamron Lens Utility software.”

Over here the trade can discover Tamron’s offerings via distributor Transcontinenta UK.

Past BPI News Ukraine-based interviewees Skylum took the title of Best Enthusiast Imaging Software for its Luminar Neo package (right), of which TIPA’s tastemakers commented:

“Offering numerous presets and AI-driven tools for face, body, sky replacement and

more, Luminar Neo offers an easy to use toolbox filled with effects”. Meanwhile DxO PhotoLab 6 was named Best Professional Imaging Software, with an eye on the skies the DJI Mini 3 Pro (above) the Best Drone, The Lexar Professional CFExpress Type B Diamond Series the Best Storage Media, and the CEWE Photobook using 100% recycled digital printing paper the Best Photo Service.

Best Photo Paper actually went to the Hahnemühle

Photo Rag 188 LayFlat, with the same paper specialist’s FineArt Photo Cards named as the Best Photo Cards (above). Others BPI News regulars in frame included Zhiyun as its Weebill 3 Gimbal (left) was named Best Video Accessory and the Godox KNOWLED Bi-color LED Light MG1200Bi (below) was awarded the Best Professional LED Light – the latter two brands again available to the trade via Transcontinenta UK. Finally in terms of photo gear, the accolade of Best Professional Portable Flash went to the Elinchrom FIVE.

Interestingly, the Best Photo Event went to Hamburg’s still relatively new Photopia, at which the TIPA World Awards presentation ceremony will be held this September coming. Will this ever replace the much-missed Photokina as the continent’s premier photo show? Only time will tell.

For more from TIPA and full details of all of this year’s winning products, head to www.tipa.com

wall art, workflow and smartphones with regard to photographic performance, visit www.tipa.com/tipa-world-awards-2023

Transcontinenta UK’s brands come home to roost at July’s Global Bird Fair

Poised to exhibit its Bushnell, Tamron, Peak Design and Leofoto brands in Rutland from July 14th to 16th, the leading distributor outlines how such products can feather the nests of photo specialists

Nature and wildlife is one of the most popular subjects for photography, so it makes perfect sense to put together a portfolio of brands in readiness of meeting such demand. As one of the UK’s leading photographic distributors Transcontinenta UK knows this more than most – and will be exhibiting its broad range of solutions at Rutland’s famous Global Bird Fair this July.

If you can’t get to the event, don’t fret. The distributor has cherry picked a range of great products for BPI News readers that will appeal to the birders and ‘twitchers’ among your own retail customers, as follows…

DON’T BEAT ABOUT THE BUSHNELL

One of Transcontinenta’s most prominent brands, Bushnell is best known for its binoculars for a wide range of skillsets and applications, although it also offers trail cameras, devices eminently suitable for photographing and recording skittish wildlife remotely.

Recommended by the distributor for use by bird watchers in the great outdoors is the Bushnell Prime 8x32 Black Roof Prism binocular (above), which has the advantage of being waterproof and fog proof, with the added comfort of twist-up eyecups. With 8x magnification, 32mm objective lens size and 9ft close focus, this is a portable yet bright viewing tool, its wide field of view making it ideal

Ready for Rutland: You’ll be able to touch and try all the products on this spread and talk to Transcontinenta UK’s knowledgable team in the Hobby Marquee, Stand H2

for scanning open terrain. Further specification includes Bushnell’s newest and claimed best ‘EXO’ protective lens coating to repel water, oil, dust and debris and prevent scratches. It also offers O-ring sealed IPX7 level waterproof construction which enables it to stay immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes and stay dry inside, while fully multi-coated optics deliver bright, high contrast viewing. Built-in lens caps avoid them ever getting lost when the binos are in use.

The step up from this for observers wanting an even more powerful alternative is the Bushnell Prime 2060x65 Black Porro Prism spotting scope (left), with a 45° eyepiece, full manual control of the zoom and focusing, waterproofing and fogproofing, plus it comes with a tripod and carry case. Here the 20-60x is the powerful zoom range, with a 20ft close focus, while a generous 65mm is the size of the objective lens, letting in that much more light for a clearer, sharper image. Again we get fully multi coated lenses and IPX7 grade waterproof construction, plus Argon purged fog proofing – with Argon filled optics having the ultimate advantage of

remaining stable regardless of ambient temperature. The device also comes with an ‘iron clad’ 20 year warranty. Alternatively if your customers want to photograph wildlife with it, and not actually have to stay out all hours in the wet and the cold themselves to do it, then the Bushnell 32MP

Core DS-4K Treebark Camo

No Glow trail camera (right) comes highly recommended too. This boasts dual sensors for optimum performance whether day or night, along with an battery life said to last 12 months and a compact form factor designed to stay hidden and away from prying eyes. Compatible with optional SD cards up to 512GB in capacity, the camera delivers best-in-class 4K video and up to 32MP stills, features a 1.5-inch colour LCD view screen, a no glow LED offering a 120ft night time range, plus a swift 0.15-sec trigger speed and one second recovery rate. The trail cam comes with a two year limited warranty.

TAMRON’S TELEPHOTOS ARE A SNAP CHOICE

When it comes to wildlife photography, this is where Transcontinenta UK’s exclusive distribution of the Tamron brand comes up trumps – with specific regard to its ultra telephoto lenses. Worth singling out here for promoting to customers are the secondgeneration Tamron 150-600mm

VC DI USD

G2 (right) in both Canon and Nikon mounts which

image quality with 25 elements in 16 groups. Focus tracking performance is said to be very high, facilitating capture of fast moving subjects such as birds and motor vehicles, with its linear motor suppressing drive noise and vibrations during focusing – making the product ideal for both photos and videos. Finally, construction is moisture resistant.

PEAK PERFORMANCE BACKPACK

promises better overall performance, faster AF speed and Vibration

Compensation enhancements, the Tamron 150-500mm VC USD FE for Sony full frame cameras and the Tamron 150500mm VC VXD (below, with sample image shown above) for the Fujifilm X mount.

With this sort of reach, a close up is never far away for wildlife watchers.

For the Canon and Nikon fit lenses, minimum subject distance is 2.2 metres while maximum aperture is f/5-6.3. As indicated, each lens features Vibration

Compensation (VC) image stabilisation, with effectiveness equivalent to 4.5 stops based on CIPA testing; handy to minimise blur when photographing handheld with long telephoto lenses.

In fact the lens has three types of VC modes: Mode 1 is the standard default claimed to strike the best balance between the stability of the viewfinder image and the effects of stabilisation; VC Mode 2 is deployed when panning while VC Mode 3 prioritises the stablisation of captured images and forgoes the stabilisation of the viewfinder image.

On top of this the Canon and Nikon fit 150-600mm features a Flex Zoom Lock mechanism via photographer customers can quickly lock or unlock the zoom at any position by sliding the zoom ring.

Also sharing similarities in both its Sony and Fuji fits is the 150-500mm zoom. With a maximum aperture of f/5-6.7 and minimum focus distance of 60cm, the lens weighs 1725g, has a length of 206mm and a width of 93mm. Once again Vibration Compensation is provided to avoid image blur and design places an emphasis on

Of course birders will need a way of transporting their photographic and video kit and protecting it from the elements and accidental knocks. Enter another Transcontinenta UK brand in Peak Design and its extensive range of bags, including its Travel Backpack in 30L size (below) available in a choice of Black, Sage and Midnight. Currently part of a Bags For Travel promotion until August 15th that includes a free HP Sprocket Portable Instant Printer (see advert), the Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L, the little brother to the same manufacturer’s larger 45L pack, is described as versatile, durable and beautiful, in being capable of keeping belongings brilliantly organised, wonderfully accessible and completely safe, thanks to top, side, front and rear access via intuitively placed, weatherproofed zips. It also complies with current international aviation carryon format requirements in standard or compressed form, and is 100% weatherproof thanks to its recycled 400D nylon durable canvas shell. The pack also features a padded 15-inch laptop sleeve and soft-lined top pocket ideal for those little extras, while

it’s been designed to accept optional additional Peak Design Packing Cubes for a degree of interior customisation, which makes it an ideal camera backpack.

A STABLE OFFER FROM LEOFOTO

The other piece of kit a keen wildlife watcher will need, either to support their camera or spotting scope, is a decent tripod. Leofoto has a product range to suit a variety of price points and budgets.

Very much recommended from its line up is the eye-catching Leofoto Manba tripod LV-284C (left) with BV-5 head, primarily a video tripod but one that’s also suitable for birders looking to support their scopes or binos for a steadier view of feathered friends. Weighing 2Kg and enabling a maximum payload of 4Kg, this one offers a maximum height of 1580mm, a minimum height of 175mm and a folded length of 560mm. Four section legs allow for quick and easy set up, rubber feet or spikes are interchangeable with a quick twist, while a ten-layer carbon construction provides strength. A carry bag is also included with the Manba series for added convenience.

A second entry-level option, as previously featured in BPI News, is the Leofoto Ranger. Also due to be displayed at the Bird Fair in Rutland, this 10-layer carbon fibre tripod is tough yet lightweight, comes with a 10-year warranty for additional peace of mind, plus a price tag indicating superb value for money. Likewise on show will be an assortment of camera and binocular accessories including the very popular BC-02 binocular clamp and BC-03 binocular mount. For more on the above distributed brands and how you can add them to your own stock, contact Transcontinenta UK on 0203 966 5947 or email info@transcontinenta.co.uk

above and chat with its knowledgeable team. For more, please visit www.transcontinenta.co.uk or globalbirdfair.org

EXCITEMENT MOUNTS FOR SIGMA’S QUARTET

Direct your Sony, Fuji, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma camera owning customers to the fact that four new Sigma lenses are now available in the 17mm f/4 DG DN, 50mm f/2 DG DN, 14mm f/1.4 DG DN and 23mm f/1.4 DC DN; the first three being full frame lenses for the L-Mount and Sony E-mount, while the last one is a crop sensor lens for the L-Mount, Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X Mount.

Suggested retail pricing is £449.99 for the 23mm, £549.99 for the 17mm and £619.99 for the 50mm, while the newest addition in the 14mm is available at the end of June for £1399.99. This announcement follows on from the

Becoming more like Alfie

Best known for its tripods, British manufacturer 3 Legged Thing is literally switching things up by announcing two new L-brackets for Sony and OM System cameras that allow users to switch their tripod mounted cameras from landscape to portrait shooting format, and vice versa. All the while maintaining a level horizon. The firm is pretty excited about its new product – so excited that it’s named the Sony Alpha A7 IV and A7R V compatible bracket ‘Alfie’ and the OM System one ‘Ollie’; the latter being a dedicated L-bracket for the final Olympus branded camera, the OM-1. Claiming to be made from aerospace grade magnesium alloy, the Alfie L-bracket has been designed to fit the contours of Sony’s cameras, while giving users full access to battery doors and side ports. Rear LCD screens can also be opened when upright or tilted, while there are two threads on the bracket for the attachment of accessories. An extending base also allows Sony users to plug in cables and

includes a detachable cable management tool for extra support.

For OM System users the Ollie L-bracket again offers full access to the OM-1’s side ports and battery door, while the L-bracket’s vertical aspect has a cut out that allows the camera’s screen to be flipped out and tilted for use.

Both brackets are available in a trio of colours: Copper, Metallic Slate Grey or ‘Darkness’, which is matt black. Alfie retails at £109.99 while Ollie is £99.99. www.3leggedthing.com

company introducing its first compatible lenses for Nikon’s Z mount, as covered in our previous edition of BPI News. Noteworthy in particular is the newest Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN, described by its maker as the world’s first 14mm f/1.4 aperture lens for mirrorless cameras.

The company tells us the lens was designed from the ground up for wide-angle shooting applications such as astrophotography, landscapes, weddings and interiors. The ‘Art’ lens’ feature set includes an aperture ring with both lock and de-click functions, customisable AFL button, a Manual Focus Lock Switch, a rear filter holder plus a built-in Lens Heater Retainer to hold a heat strip firmly in place. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

LATEST FIRMWARE BOOSTS NIKON Z 9 STILLS & VIDEO

Tell your customers the photo stalwart’s flagship full frame mirrorless has been given another under-the-bonnet operational tweak, including new features for both photos and video. Via firmware version 4.00, a new Auto Capture function, for example, promises to gift the ability to shoot both formats remotely and from a variety of angles without the need to attend to the camera directly. This feature is also being made available for use with its Pre-Release Capture function.

Video users are further getting an expansion of the minimum ISO sensitivity setting to Low 2 in N-Log format, allowing for clearer shadow tones. There’s an increase too in the options available for Hi-Res Zoom speed, affording more precise control. Still shooters are promised a superior performance when using 3D tracking, with more precise capture of small and fast moving subjects, while an exposure delay mode has been added to the Custom Settings menu to help reduce blur caused by camera shake if using a tripod. Other refinements include a selection of shutter release sounds that can be adjusted in volume, plus an increase in the amount of options that can be assigned to custom controls. www.nikon.co.uk

NEW EPSON GARMENT PRINTER MEANS ‘LIFE’S A BEACH’ FOR RETAILERS

With warmer weather upon us, it makes commercial sense to install Epson’s ‘direct to garment’ SureColor F2200, newly launched replacement for the F2100, to offer your customers personalised T-shirts, beach bags and more. Official reseller the DPS Group awaits your call

With summer approaching it’s long sleeves out, short sleeves in. But where’s the fun in a mass-produced T-shirt when, via the brand new direct-to-garment Epson SureColor F2200 printer, your customers can be wearing a personalised top, printed by yours truly? As we’ve often noted in BPI News, there’s profit to be had from personalisation and the provision of unique, one-off photo gifts. It’s a market that’s been in growth for a while now. So, with the summer holiday season coming up fast, it makes sound commercial sense to look at adding a means of profitably producing such products in-house.

Described as ‘scorching-ly swift and brilliantly versatile’ by Maneesh Patel, MD of official Epson reseller the DPS Group, the direct-to-garment SC-F2200 printer launched by Epson at the end of May replaces the existing SC-F2100. A significant upgrade, this option for retailers seeking to expand their offerings provides an all year-round revenue stream. There’s the ability to print T-shirts and tote bags in the summer and Santa sacks in winter, as well as

A FLAT TOP WITH ALL-ROUND APPEAL

With a compact, flat top design allowing for installation into smaller spaces, Epson claims that with the

Summer daze: The new Epson SureColor F2200 arrives in time for retailers to boost profits by selling their customers personalised T-shirts, beach bags and more

F2200 there’s no need for specialist operators. A transparent lid and internal light allows for print status to be easily checked, while a 4.3-inch touchscreen is described as intuitive. Furthermore, thanks to automatic carriage height adjustment, the F2200 remains stable with minimal adjustment required by the user. The platen can be easily removed and attached by hand, making adjustments for printing thicker garments both quick and straightforward.

Your ice cream won’t melt while waiting for it to finish, either. Boasting a high level of flexibility and accuracy plus fast turnaround times, the SureColor F2200 utilises Epson’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head to provide a claimed productivity increase of up to 25% when compared with its predecessor. Bundled GarmentCreator2 software features faster data processing as well as 600dpi resolution to deliver printed output that promises to look exceptional.

A further major change with the latest iteration is that the SC-F2200 uses new UltraChrome DG2 Ink Pouches, which hold 800ml of ink compared to the 600ml cartridges of its forebear. This obviously means less frequent changes and a reduction in waste. Epson’s DG2 ink is also said to reduce bleed between yellow and black, which the print specialist claims is important for light T-shirts, while colour consistency is maintained.

“The F2200 offers new and medium volume businesses a highly cost effective and flexible option that delivers outstanding quality,” concludes DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel. “In an uncertain world, it can easily be scaled to adapt to future needs.”

Interested parties are strongly advised to get in touch NOW about Epson’s newly launched SC-F2200 via sales@dpsb.co.uk or by calling 020 8466 7230

www.thedpsgroup.co.uk

www.dpsb.co.uk

attracting customers into the shop whom you may not have served before.

BRONCOLOR UNVEILS ‘NEXT GENERATION’ LIGHTING

Coming this September to the trade via Transcontinenta UK, the lighting specialist is offering pro and enthusiast photographers a new Broncolor Satos power pack and Pulso L lamp combination. It’s based on what we’re told is almost five years of development by Swiss engineers, with its primary goals being performance, flexibility, ease of use and a long lifespan. Chief among its features is a new dual power concept; the Satos comes with power slots, enabling the unit to be equipped with a power supply, batteries, or a combination, thereby allowing it to be used both in the studio and on location, or in regions with a fragile power grid. The Satos also allows settings to be adjusted down to the smallest detail via what it terms an industrial grade 5.7-inch touch screen,

buttons or even an app interface. The Pulso L modeling and continuous lamp meanwhile is described as the perfect partner to the above, in featuring a calibrated array of bi-coloured LEDs with a variable green/magnenta mix and colour temperature adjustable between 2800K to 6800K, plus bi-directional communication between the lamp and powerpack. Likewise available via the same distributor are two new gimbals described as ultra portable in the Zhiyun CRANE-M 3S (left) and the WEEBILL 3S (right). Aimed at filmmakers and content creators, the CRANE-M 3S is described at the

successor to the previous Red Dot Product Award winning CRANE-M3. Weighing in at 705g it has a higher load capacity than its predecessor and can be used with the latest full frame cameras as well as mobile phones. With a monochrome finish the CRANE-M 3S has dimensions of 284.2x74.5x163.5mm and features a tiny yet powerful bi-colour fill light no larger than a fingernail that can emit up to 1,000 lux brightness and boasts a colour temperature range of 2,700K-5,500K. A 1.22-inch touchscreen features an all-new interactive user interface. SRPs start from £299.99. The WEEBILL 3S meanwhile weighs 1,054.8g and measures 305x210x72.5mm. Here, users can switch between portrait and landscape modes via a quick-release module, eliminating the need to re-balance the gimbal. Improvements include a revamped slim structure grip for added comfort, an extended battery life of up to 11.5 hours, a 1,000 lux fill light, the ability to offer shutter control over mainstream camera models via Bluetooth, a 0.96inch display for adjustments on the go, plus a control wheel for adjusting parameters. SRPs start from £319.99. www.transcontinenta.co.uk

A PRIME OPTION FOR NIKON APS-C MIRRORLESS OWNERS

Have Nikon APS-C mirrorless camera-owning customers looking to upgrade from a standard kit zoom lens? Point them in the direction of the photo giant’s new Nikkor Z DX 24mm f/1.7, its first Nikkor Z DX format compatible prime lens.

Designed for everyday photography, given its quoted aperture the lens is theoretically ideal for low light work with the likes of its manufacturer’s own Z 30 camera. With a focal length described as ‘wide, but not too wide’, its creative uses include landscape, street photography and portraiture, as well as video. The lens provides an

Notts loosened on Wex’s new store

It’s not all doom and gloom in photo retail, evidently, as Wex Photo Video has announced Carrington Street

in Nottingham’s city centre as the destination for its 14th store; its second new opening of the year so far. As we went to press the opening celebration on June 23rd was due to feature Pulitzer Prize winning photographer and filmmaker Daniel Etter. Thereafter it’ll be open seven days per week.

The new shop claims to embody Wex’s wish to extend its experience to a wider customer base. A ‘high tech play table’ will feature offerings from leading brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Manfrotto and DJI. Customers will also be able to see such equipment in action, with live events and demonstrations hosted in a new seminar zone. Additional services include equipment repair, sensor cleaning and camera set up, while a tradein service for those seeking to upgrade or sell their used equipment promises to be ‘fair and transparent’.

As the new store is within walking distance of the city’s two universities, special student discounts are being offered, reducing the cost of certain brands by 10%. The in-store seminar zone will also be able to be hired for free. In-store and free online events for students are further being planned.

Wex’s CEO Louis Wahl comments: “By continuing to invest in the high street, our ambition is that our physical presence will inspire and empower photographers and videographers of all levels.” www.wexphotovideo.com

angle of view equivalent to 36mm if mounted on a full frame (Nikon FX format) camera, while auto focus is

powered via a quiet stepping motor. Minimum focus distance is 0.18m, while the lens’ fast aperture also allows for shallow depth of field shots. Further features include a dust and drip resistant construction – not guaranteed in absolutely all conditions, however – while it weighs just 135g.

Nikon Europe Product Manager Zurab Kiknadze suggests: “The Nikkor Z DX 24mm f/1.7 hits the sweet spot between image quality and versatility: it’s the perfect prime for everyday photography and a great upgrade from a standard kit zoom lens.” www.nikon.co.uk

NEW PHOTO & VIDEO ACCESSORIES FROM NOVO

Photo accessories brand Novo, fittingly, has new products to share. First up is an Italian designed Novo Calder 40L backpack (right), manufactured using a high tech waterproof nylon construction that has a lightweight aluminium frame sewn in to ensure the backpack doesn’t lose its shape. A padded and vented back panel and harness claims to provide comfort, while an adjustable waist belt and sternum straps ensure a snug fit and balance. The ‘pack can be accessed either via its top or rear, with space for a 15-inch laptop and an included Interchangeable Camera Unit, the latter incorporating its own grab handle and shoulder strap. We’re told the space will suit a pro mirrorless camera or DSLR with 70-200mm lens, plus four or five additional lenses. With a suggested retail price of £299, weight is 2.6Kg complete, or 1.6Kg without the

camera unit.

Also immediately available are two carbon fibre tripods in the Novo Helix T50 and T200, with five and foursection legs and loading bearing capacity of 10Kg and 20Kg respectively, two complimentary pro ball heads in the BHP-32 and BHP-40 (above), plus a compact MPH10 video monopod. Both tripods also feature a detachable monopod, weight hook and 1/4-inch accessory port and are available as legs-only or with the ball heads as described, with prices ranging from £229.90 to £369.90. The MPH-10 meanwhile is manufactured from claimed aviation grade aluminum and boasts a smooth, two-way pan and tilt head offering 360° panning at a cost of £149.90.

Lastly there’s Novo’s Anex (below), described as a photo and video support ‘ecosystem’ of clamps, a column, a flexible arm, ground spike and camera connectivity products. With seven new products to choose from that fall into these categories, pricing ranges from £14.90 for a micro clamp to £199.90 for the Anex MGSP-1 Macro Ground Support Bundle.

www.novo-photo.com

BRING THE HEAT AT RETAIL THIS SUMMER

There’s not only warmer weather distracting potential customers to outdoor pursuits away from traditional retail for the photo trade to contend with in summer, but also changing consumer habits and evolving technologies. With this in mind we explore what the canny retailer can do to make their ideas pay while the sun shines

We might almost universally welcome warmer weather as a nation, but what typically happens at high street retail is while sales of shorts, flip flops and barbecue meats go up, sales of everything else dip down. The result is that retailers who don’t deal in such seasonal products need to work that much harder to bring in custom – and that applies whether they’re high street retailers, online shops or businesses that sensible straddle both to maximise sales opportunities.

With the market more challenging for those in the photo sector than in previous years anyway, due to a perfect storm, of global uncertainty, the cost of living crisis and a contraction of the market for dedicated digital cameras, we’re taking a look here at what can be done to keep a roof

over our heads and avoid a summer dry spell, until the weather cooling again signals that the enhanced sales opportunities of Black Friday and Christmas aren’t far off.

CREATE A WARM WELCOME

Fortunately there are some tried and tested summer themed ideas to help photo specialists boost their sales. People go into stores because they’re seeking to acquire a particular item, sure. But, equally, how welcoming your shop appears has a lot to do with how inviting it is to potential customers.

A slowdown this summer can be avoided, in part, by an attractive and engaging window display. Don’t be afraid to act like a magpie and creatively purloin some ideas from other retailers who are making a

good show of themselves and the products they offer, using lighting, mirrors and glass to their best effect. Avoiding dead flies in your window display, a seasonal hazard given it is summer, is a must to avoid giving customers a mental image of a set-in-their-ways shop that we can all recognise from personal experience.

So it’s worthwhile taking the time to stand outside your store and evaluate it critically from a customer’s perspective. Yes, it’s about making sure signage is up to date, on brand and that any current offers and product details are well signposted, as well as getting the basics correct and avoiding a messy, cluttered and possibly confusing display.

If you can’t come up with a self-critical assessment of your own shop window, ask a third party to help in offering an opinion,

Got your own ideas about how the photo industry can counter the challenges arising from the cost of living crisis,

because there will almost certainly always be room for improvement.

You may be additionally able to make use of the space immediately outside your shop, if the local council permits, by erecting an A-board that shouts about the exclusivity of your time-limited summer special offers. As regular BPI News readers will be aware, many photo brands traditionally have seasonal trade-in schemes, cash-back offers and accessory deals running, so if that’s the case then make use of them, while dovetailing them with your own promotion/s for maximum impact and return on investment.

AN EXPERIENCE WORTH PAYING FOR

One way in which bricks and mortar stores can battle the online retailers and win is by offering more of a touchy feely shopper ‘experience’ – explaining and demonstrating a product’s features for customers to truly understand its appeal, rather than just listing the spec as an online store will.

Retailers can here take advantage of the physical space they have, making their customers feel extra special by, to give one example, offering master classes linked in some way to the products they are promoting.

So, for example, if there are currently deals to be had on the latest mirrorless cameras and lenses, try organising a ‘photo walk’ or ‘photo safari’ that demonstrates the cameras’ and lenses’ capabilities and portability. Harsh sunlight often throws subjects into shadow so there could be an opportunity to demonstrate, and ultimately sell, the latest flash systems, reflectors and softboxes too.

While manufacturers will often send out photographer ambassadors and product experts to speak to your customers in store, perhaps be even more proactive and seek to make a link with the local camera club or photographic society, who may also be very happy to provide their own photographic experts. Maybe you could offer them an in-store exhibition space in return? They get new members and you get new customers exploring your shop – a win-win scenario for you both.

A note of warning though: you don’t want to inadvertently become a shop window for Amazon and its ilk. So, make sure you have plenty of stock of whatever it is that is on promotion and have it at a price that beats or is so close to the online retailers, which means that, once you’ve got them suitably

enthused and in the mood to buy, the shopper has no desire to look elsewhere.

SPEED UP CUSTOMER SPEND

While time-limited offers from manufacturers can help focus customers’ minds, so too can your own deals –and, as long as they indeed are timelimited, these can help instil a sense of urgency to get them spending when your store might otherwise be quiet. They may also help shift stock that’s been sitting around for a while.

Consider using the customer contact details you’ll have obtained during previous transactions (while noting data protection law) to target existing purchasers and offer them a series of one-day, or even weekend, sales for specific items. You clearly will need a reasonable volume and varied selection of items to show customers that you’re not trying to reel them in with just one measly morsel. Weekend sales are good as they give customers a chance to act without being overly hasty; after all, if they buy in haste there is the possibility they’ll repent at leisure…

the voucher transferable to friends and family of the original customer, it might bring other (new) shoppers.

HURRAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Play up to what makes summer special – for many that’s an annual holiday, industrial action permitting.

Those who offer ID photo services may well see a spike in demand for the updating of passport photos. When we eventually get to our destination, most of us will want a pictorial record of our actual holiday, too.

With airlines cutting down on ‘free’ baggage allowances, however – who wants to put camera gear in the hold so that it can be either thrown around or lost –here’s the perfect opportunity to buy in a range of cabin friendly camera bags that can be offered for sale. Consider also additional products that a holidaymaker may want – polarising and neutral density filters for their lenses, additional memory cards, universal travel adapters and chargers, plus spare batteries, on which there is typically a much better margin to be made than on cameras themselves.

and return their purchase. However timing is, as they say, everything. Extend such sales to a week and you risk customers being so leisurely with their purchase that they end up missing the offer / your sales window entirely.

Another ‘hook’ is to not just offer discounted items that inevitably eat into your profit margin, but also ‘exclusives’. This could be a free token gift to customers chosen randomly. This, of course, will only work if you can demonstrate to those who don’t turn out to be as lucky that there are genuine winners. Another tried-andtested scheme for high street stores is loyalty cards, or a loyalty scheme that identifies the customer as a ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ or ‘gold’ member, to reward (and encourage) regular spend.

A further tip is one that the major retailers do well with. Once a customer has made a purchase, provided along with the till receipt is a voucher (or series of vouchers) offering a future discount. The trick, as anyone who’s received them will have noticed, is to make vouchers apply to purchases made at a close-tohand but later date – in other words, providing a ‘hook’ that encourages customers to return. Plus, if you make

Summer inevitably means sporting events and music festivals too – again, ideal scenarios for the capture of images, and video. There’s nothing like the tribalism of sporting events to get people out and in the mood to record what they’re about to witness. And, if results go our way, the much-discussed ‘feel-good factor’ will also help loosen purse strings. So how about offering extra promotional discounts each time a Brit or a home nation wins?

Sport aside the summer is also festival season, whether that be motor, farm or music related. Whether you’ve such an event happening near you or not, this is another opportunity to tweak your window display or promotions and capture attendees’ attention.

Away from the hard sell, do also use the summer weeks to promote not just product and sales, but, as suggested earlier, also the art of photography itself: give practical tips to help customers get the best out of their equipment. Outline how ‘bokeh’ can make a person stand out from a background and enhance portraits; explain how focal lengths are calculated; give detail on how different filters – say ND, UV and polarising –can help create the perfect shot; and instruct customers on how to properly frame their subject. Remember that we all can get weary of non-stop promotion, so the trick is to stand out by making the most of your inherent expertise.

or care to share what’s working for you (without giving away trade secrets)? Then do get in touch direct via info@bpinews.co.uk

Remember that we all can get weary of non-stop promotion, so the trick is to stand out by making the most of your inherent expertise”

NEW INSTAX SUGGESTS IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE

Fujifilm UK chose the hipster-ish setting of London’s Spiritland venue to launch its latest boxy instant camera in the classic styled Instax Square SQ40 (pictured with Fuji UK Marketing Executive Caitlin Clark), which outputs larger prints more closely reminiscent of old Polaroids than the credit card sized prints from models lower down the range.

“Consumers love our Instax Mini 40 instant camera, so expanding the line to include a square format option just made sense,” reckons Fujifilm Europe’s Senior Vice President for Imaging Solutions Shin Udono. “Not only can Instax fans now have another instant camera with a classic look, but they can also now enjoy the SQ40’s large, square image area.”

As we’d expect, there’s a dedicated ‘selfie’ setting accessed via a twist of the SQ40’s camera lens, while a selfie mirror also features on the body for easier self-portraits.

Additionally, the manufacturer has

released a new ‘Sunset’ instant film compatible with the new camera that features a variety of film borders with soft colour gradients said to suggest

ANOTHER PIECE OF SILVER FROM LEICA

Just as we went to press the luxury photo brand whipped the cover off a new silver variant of its SL2 camera. The aptly named Leica SL2 Silver maintains the same specification as the existing model, but has been given a makeover apparently inspired by the silver iterations of its M and R ranges.

That means a silver anodised top and base plate, matched with black leather to create a ‘classic’ Leica look. While the body-only price is £6,200, a couple of kits offering a claimed price advantage are being made available. These add a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH lens for £7,920, or twin the camera with the Noctilux-M50 f/1.2 ASPH and the M-Adapter L for £12,100. The obvious advantage for those customers with deeper pockets is that M series lenses can be used with a SL camera. www.leica-camera.com

‘a serene, peaceful sunset’. Fuji has also given the retro looking Mini Evo a fresh lick of paint so it now comes in brown, as opposed to the black of the original 2021 camera release.

At the time of writing the Instax Square SQ40 was due to go on sale from June 29th at £134.99 SRP. Also available from that date, the new film retails at £10.99 for a 10-sheet pack, and the brown Mini Evo is priced at £174.99.

www.instax.co.uk/sq40/

‘Blad to the bone: lightweight yet heavyduty Hasselblad kit

At one time to achieve 45 and 60 megapixel resolutions a medium format camera, such as those from professional’s favourite Hasselblad, was the only way available. Now portable flagship mirrorless cameras from consumer manufacturers are achieving comparable levels of spec, Hasselblad has responded with the 100 megapixel Hasselblad X2D 100C Lightweight Portrait Kit . At a price tag that suggests this is still very much a professional’s plaything, the kit is comprised of its flagship mirrorless medium format camera in the X2D 100C, plus two lenses in the XCD 1,9/80, a ‘bokeh’ effect producing wide aperture autofocus lens offering the equivalent of 63mm, and the XCD 4/45P, an ultra lightweight and compact lens specifically designed for capturing portraits where more of their environment is included, and boasting the equivalent of 36mm.

www.hasselblad.com

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