Fujifilm X100 camera

Simon Towler takes a first quick look at the new Fujifilm X100 camera, considering it from the point of view of the professional photographer.

Fujifilm Oz launches bizziBox event system

Fujifilm Australia has launched a new event system for onsite printing. bizziBox bundles a Fujifilm camera and dye sub photo printer with a PC and event software, plus uninterruptable power supply (UPS) in a flight case. The system prints up to 6×8″ inches. List price is AUD$10,000 (roughly £6,500).

PMA 2011 cancelled

The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) is deferring its September 2011 International convention and trade show in the U.S., and will hold it instead in January 2012 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

CES has become one of the most significant trade shows for the photo industry, as photo products have converged with consumer electronics.

Lee filters availability problem

LEE FILTERS: End users and retailers in the UK (and worldwide) are having difficulty getting orders of Lee filters filled. Lee’s production has been unable to keep up, following an unpredicted increase in global demand for graduated neutral density filters. The increase happened over the past year and a half, and Lee has been reorganizing production to try and meet the demand. The company currently hopes to catch up by the Autumn of this year (2011) at the earliest.

DNP supply of SONY dye sub media falters

DNP’s takeover of dye sub media supply for SONY printers has faltered this month (April, 2011). The company cites issues with the handover process, and the tragic tsunami in Japan, as causes. Several stock numbers of DNP media for SONY printers are likely to become in short supply, or unavailable, in coming weeks. SONY ceased fulfilling orders themselves permanently at the end of last month. Prices for this media — which had been rising anyway, due to the rising cost of oil — may be pushed up further by the shortage. DNP aims to resolve the supply issues as speedily as possible.

Dorset wedding photographer plagiarized portfolio

The wedding photography website of a Dorset piano seller was swamped Tuesday (April 5, 2011) by UK professional photographers checking to see if it used their images. The site of Affinity Wedding Photography, of 23 Arcadia Road, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 2JF, was found to be marketing a wedding photography service to the public, using a portfolio of images plagiarized from more than half-a-dozen professional wedding photographers. The alarm was first raised by wedding blogger the RockN’Roll Bride, after another photographer alerted her to the use of her photos. All unauthorized images were subsequently removed from the site the same day, though no explanation or apology was offered.

Damien Lovegrove launches new book

Damien Lovegrove, his family and team, threw a generous champagne launch party for the photographer’s new art book, “Chloe-Jasmine Whichello”, a collection of his photographs of the eponymous model, accompanied by her words. The event was held at The Gallery, Soho, in London’s Charing Cross Road book district, on 30/03/2011.

UK Kodak distributor Photologic in administration

UK Kodak distributor, Photologic (UK) Limited, has gone into administration. Details of creditors claims and any queries should be submitted in writing to Kelly Levelle of Marriotts Recovery LLP by email at klevelle@marriottsllp.co.uk or by post to Marriotts Recovery LLP, Allan House, 10 John Princes Street, London W1G 0AH.

Photographer Society dissolved

An individual trading as a photographer society in the UK has had his private company dissolved by Companies House.

UK pizza tycoon buys Calumet

Calumet Photographic Group — which includes British photographic lighting manufacturer, BOWENS, as well as the multinational Calumet chain of photographic outlets — has been bought by fast-food franchiser Colin Halpern, of Domino’s Pizza. Mr Halpern (71) has now become Chairman of Calumet.