News Flashes
Makeover for Hasselblad dual-format Xpan
Hasselblad has revamped its unique dual-format XPan camera, adding a range of new features providing further shooting options and improved
performance.
In the first major upgrade to the system since its launch at Photokina in 1998, The Xpan II delivers a comprehensive set of enhancements rather
than a radical overhaul. With the original XPan now officially sold out, the new camera serves as a direct replacement and is arriving in UK
stores now.
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Kodak and Johnsons link for DCS Pro Back push
Kodak is introducing a new initiative in support of its range of DCS Pro Back medium format digital backs.
Launched in conjunction with UK distributor Johnsons Photopia, the offer provides that anyone who buys one of the backs though the distributor's
dealer network will receive a three-year warranty. Described as an industry first, the deal also offers a free loan unit in the event of a
camera break down. In addition, anyone who buys one of the units before 31 July will also be entitled to half a day's free training, worth �500
according to Kodak.
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Sandisk introduces 4GB cards
SanDisk is introducing a series of new high-capacity memory cards. Among them, the manufacturer is adding a 4GB CompactFlash card, quadrupling
the size of its current largest capacity version. Featuring a newly-developed high density component package, the Type I card fits any
CF slot and will be joined by a 2GB version later this year. SanDisk is the second company to deliver 4GB in the format, joining Lexar in
announcing the introduction at the CeBit trade show in Germany earlier this year.
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Hawaiian eye on the sky
What is claimed to be the world's largest digital camera ever mounted on a telescope has been installed on the Canada-France Hawaii Telescope.
The French-made camera has a resolution of 340m pixels and an unusually
large field of view, able to track moving objects such as asteroids. According to Canadian television, the camera has already participated in
the discovery of new satellites around Jupiter, and over the next five years will study the Kuiper Belt and other large structures of the
universe, from its base on the summit of Mauna-Kea in Hawaii.
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New Mask Pro 3 launched
Extensis has unveiled New Mask Pro 3 for Mac. The updated software has added support for Mac OSX as well as Adobe's Photoshop 7.0 and Elements
2.0. A Windows version is promised for later in the year. Also from
Extensis comes an upgrade to Photoframe. Version 2.5 sees more than a 1000 new frames added to the package. Visit
http://www.extensis.com for
details.
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Dire warning from community sports body
Concerns over child pornography have led the leading organization representing sport and leisure
centers to issue guidelines on the use of photography. The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management is
recommending new procedures following reports that unauthorized pictures taken at leisure
centers, sporting events and swimming pools
are being posted on the internet and used 'inappropriately'.
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ASA faces deluge of complaints over 'offensive' posters
The Advertising Standards Authority says it received a record number of complaints last year. Reflecting growing public concerns over
advertisements shown in full public view, the most common complaints concerned posters, up 77% on the previous year to 3051 complaints. More
than a third of the total complaints were against just eight posters, including one advertising the film Ali G Indahouse, which featured the
comic character's arm thrust between the legs of a naked model.
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Agfa launches new competition
Agfa is launching a new b&w photography competition later this month. Carrying 12 prizes of a Leica camera and publication in a high quality
44x44cm calendar, the International Agfa Multicontrast Black and White Photographic Competition is expected to attract entries for around the
world. Taking the theme of Action, Emotion and Memories, the organisers
say they are looking for 'pictures from the midst of life, with an eye for atmospheres and emotions, for unforgettable moments'.
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Canon unveils new compacts
Canon has added to its extensive line-up of digital compact cameras. Among the additions is the new top-of-the-range PowerShot S50, featuring
a five million pixel resolution and 3x f/2.8-4.9 zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent focal range of 35-105mm. The S50 employs a nine-point
autofocus system and Canon's DIGIC processor, which uses information from the camera's zoom position and the scene brightness to optimise
exposure accuracy, white balance and autofocus speed.
The camera captures images as JPEGs or RAW files (JPEGs can be retrospectively converted to RAW format in-camera) and saved onto
CompactFlash or Microdrive memory cards.
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New wide papers from Kodak
Kodak has announced two additions to its range of wide format inkjet papers. Both covered by indoor display guarantees, the photographic
quality papers include a new introduction to its Rapid-Dry range, alongside an economy satin paper. The former features a resin
microporous coating able to handle heavy ink loads and output smudge-free prints.
Available in widths ranging from 24 inch to 60 inch, the Rapid-Dry Photographic Paper comes with an indoor display guarantee against
noticeable fading, cracking, yellowing and bleeding.
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NPG confirms new portrait competition
Following the demise of the John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, which ended a massively successful 10-year run in 2002, London's
National Portrait Gallery (NPG) has confirmed that a successor competition will launch this month.
The prize money will be substantially increased, and there will also be a specific prize for young photographers. As in previous years, there
will be a substantial exhibition at the NPG.
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DCP System hits the road
Sheffield's DCP System is embarking on a four-date roadshow next month dedicated to digital printing for fine art photography. Aimed at
photographers, galleries, publishers and laboratories, the free events are designed to provide an overview, demonstrating the latest
developments and benefits of digital systems for high quality output. The tour takes in venues in Cumbria, the Peak District, Scotland and
North Yorkshire, and takes place the week beginning 23 June.
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Surrealist collection is broken up despite protests at auction
The controversial sale of the collection of the late Surrealist poet Andre Breton was met with protests in Paris last month.
Following a sustained campaign to persuade French authorities to save the vast collection of photographs and art works, protesters gathered at
the auction to disrupt the two-week marathon of previews and sales, held over 21 sessions. Ultimately they failed, and the auction itself was
hailed as a massive success, achieving nearly �50m.
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Profoto introduces D4 studio flash system
Swedish lighting manufacturer Profoto is launching its D4 Studio Flash System this week.
Building on the success of its Pro-7 range of studio flash generator packs, the D4 is available in 1200J and 2400J packs, both featuring four
fully-asymmetric outlets and an eight F-stop power range. First announced at Photokina last year, they are recommended for both film and
digital photography, and are said to offer unflinching power stability from flash to flash, with zero F-stop shift.
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14n gets raft of improvements
New shooting features and a wide range of improvements are now available to users of the Kodak 14n (pictured left) via a free firmware upgrade.
Version 4.2.2, which can be downloaded from http://www.kodak.com/go/DCSsoftware, is the first of three upgrades
expected by the end of this month. Among the functions delivered by the upgrade is the activation of the digital SLR's Secure
Digital/MultiMediaCard slots and a write speed feature for CompactFlash cards located on the Capture menu.
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Canon unveils new printers
Canon is adding two new compact direct printers to CP range this summer. The CP-200 and CP-300 dye-sublimation models are the smallest direct
printers ever made by Canon, and are 40% lighter than their forerunners at 820g and 860g respectively (excluding paper and ink cassette).
Operated independently of a computer, the new additions can output 300x300dpi photographic quality borderless prints up to 4x6 inch, taking
around 85s at maximum size. Prints are finished with a protective layer,
providing similar longevity to conventional silver halide prints, claims Canon.
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Jenoptik competition call
Jenoptik is once again calling for entries to its annual Best of Digital Arts digital photography contest. Open to users of Eyelike and ColorCam
digital backs, this year's competition takes the theme of Elements, which says Jenoptik could be widely interpreted, from the four elements
of nature to those in chemistry. An international jury will select a shortlist of 10 images, which will be exhibited online at
http://www.eyelike.com and at next year's Photokina trade show in
Cologne. Three winners will then be chosen, who will collect �2000, �1500 and �500 respectively for first, second and third. Last year's
competition was won by R Grumbein and W Kluck of Westswide Studio in Stuttgart with the image 0.31mm, shown here. The deadline for
submissions is 01 October. Visit http://www.eyelike.com for further
details.
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Jessops picture messaging
Jessops is offering free Picture Share software to customers, allowing them to send digital images quicker and more easily. The program,
available as a download from http:// www.jessops.com (click through to the
Internet Printing link), embeds images, automatically resizing them for 'p-mail' along with a message. The recipient, who does not require any
additional software, can then click on to the image to open a full-size version on a separate server. The software is also available on CD with
any digital hardware purchase from Jessops, along with the retailer's Print@net and Picture Manager programs. Picture Share is compatible with
standard messaging programs such as Outlook Express, and computers running Windows 98 and Internet Explorer 4.02 or higher.
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Marrutt Digital
has launched 27 new training titles on CD-Rom. Software programs and subjects covered in the series include ImageReady 7,
Photoshop 7, OS X Jaguar Fundamentals and ICC Colour Management in Photoshop 7. Prices start at �74.95. Visit
http://www.marrutt.com for details.
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Unified press awards bring joy for Mitchell
Jeff Mitchell scored a double-win at this year's Picture Editors Awards, which for the first time integrated the Nikon Press Awards establishing
it as the UK's premier competition for press photographers.
The Reuters photographer won the Nikon Sports Photographer of the Year title together with the overall Fujifilm Photographer of the Year.
Photographers from north of the border were strongly represented with seven nominations overall, leading to four category wins. Abie
Trayler-Smith, a young freelancer with The Daily Telegraph, collected four nominations herself. Simon Finlay of the Eastern Daily Press came
first in the newly introduced category for local newspaper
photographers.
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Fujifilm warns of vanishing trick
Fujifilm research has found that digital camera users are in danger of losing their images if they continue to rely on poor-quality inkjet
prints and computer hard drives to store their pictures.
The report found that 63% of the UK's five million digital camera owners are at risk, and now the company's digital processing minilab division
is targeting them in a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of obtaining silver halide prints to preserve their images. Of particular
concern is the number of consumers - more than a third - who rely on their computers to store their images.
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Cole Weston, heir to Edward, dies
Cole Weston, the youngest son of the legendary Edward Weston, has died, aged 84. He passed away in Monterey in California, close to Carmel and
the Big Sur region where the family lived for many years. Weston Junior made his name as a colour landscape photographer, shooting first in
America and then all over the world. He travelled to England, where he
visited ruined abbeys, and to Hawaii to capture volcanic mists. Among his best pictures are seascapes with the Pacific waves crashing against
the Californian coast.
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Fujifilm unveils Neopan 400CN
Fujfilm is launching a new b&w chromogenic film this summer. The arrival of Neopan 400CN Professional, manufactured by Ilford for
Fujifilm, points to the company's desire to compete more in the b&w market. Although suitable for general use, Fujifilm is particularly aiming the
new addition at social photographers. Wedding photographers, for example, can shoot colour and b&w and send both down for the same
quick-turnaround C-41 negative processing.
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Polaroid shrinks its 600 number
Polaroid is updating its classic entry-level 600 instant camera with the introduction of a new model that is 33% smaller and 23% lighter than its
forerunner.
The Polaroid One has new features, such as a built-in flash, a self-timer, a tripod socket and a digital film counter. The automatic
flash has a range of up to 3m and a recycling time of around six seconds. The 567g folding camera (without a film cassette) has a fixed
focus lens and shutter speed of 1/200s. It is being launched with a �1.5m marketing campaign, including a
promotion offering 1000 customers the chance to win free film.
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Fujifilm aims to shake up schools photography with new system
Fujifilm has unveiled what it claims is a revolutionary new system for schools photography. Available as custom package based around a
sophisticated database-driven software, the Schools Photo System provides a versatile digital workflow solution. Providing efficient
management of all post-capture operations, Fujifilm claims the system allows faster production, greater
organization and dramatically lower
costs and wastage.
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Kodak ditches Phogenix and buys ASF
Kodak has dissolved its partnership with Hewlett-Packard (HP) developing a new generation of inkjet minilabs, and has instead acquired a rival
digital photofinishing venture.
Kodak and HP pulled the plug on Phogenix and their joint development of the DFX Digital Inkjet Photofinishing Minilab after three years of
co-operation, despite promising feedback from customer research. The DFX incorporated an on-screen preview facility that allowed customers to see
their pictures before committing to buying them.
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New high for Daguerreotype at auction
A daguerreotype by a little-known French photographer has fetched a world record auction price for a photograph.
The 1842 image of Athens, Temple de Jupiter Olympien by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey was bought for a staggering �565,250 by an anonymous
collector. A further eight of the 86 de Prangey Daguerreotypes auctioned at Christie's in London fetched more than �100,000. The collection
included some of the earliest surviving photographs of Greece and the
Middle East, providing an historical record of the landscapes and architecture of the Mediterranean during the 19th century.
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Rivals acquire Gretag business
Following the financial collapse of Swiss photofinishing systems manufacturer Gretag Imaging Group (BJP, 08 January), two of its former
rivals have stepped in to acquire key parts of the business. San Marco has taken over the defunct company's retail minilab
operations, while KIS/Photo-Me has bought its wholesale photographic laboratory division. Neither disclosed how much they paid Gretag's
liquidators for the businesses.
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High Street target for FDiPrint
Fujifilm is launching a new internet printing service aimed at High Street minilab operators. The FDiPrint.com operation allows companies to
offer their customers an online service for uploading digital images and placing orders for photographic prints.
Fujifilm says the system provides an easy way into the internet printing market, which otherwise requires significant investment in software.
Customers will be comfortable with the intuitive upload and ordering service, claims Fujifilm, and problem issues such as compatibility with
different computer operating systems have been tackled.
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Launch of Pentax ist D put back
Pentax says the launch of the company's ist D digital SLR has been delayed. First unveiled at the PMA trade show in Las Vegas this
February, the camera was set to arrive in the UK in mid-summer, but, says Pentax, it is now expected in late August. The company says that
the late delivery of some component parts is the cause of the delay.
Having last year abandoned plans to release a full-frame sensor digital SLR, Pentax began working on a new 35mm system that would also form the
basis for a digital SLR version. The ist goes on sale this month, while the ist D has not yet been seen in the UK.
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New Velvia due next month
Fujifilm says its new Velvia 100F colour transparency film is expected to arrive in the UK in mid-summer.
The eagerly awaited addition to the company's professional range is the first Velvia film to offer ISO100 speed, as opposed to ISO50.
The high-colour saturated Velvia 100F daylight-type film is designed for commercial photographers looking for vivid, vibrant 'high impact'
colour. It benefits from improved colour accuracy and sensitivity, and is claimed to be the first to feature Multi-colour Correction Layer
technology. This replicates human perception to adjust reproduction of greens to deliver 'truer' reds.
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