Welcome to the Jul 2011 issue of DPTips Central newsletter!

This month’s issue is packed with lots of interesting stories, industry news and tips that caught our attention in the past two months. So let’s get started…

Photography Industry News

Pentax acquired by Ricoh

On Jul 1st, 2011 Ricoh announced that it was to acquire Pentax (currently owned by lens-maker Hoya) in a transaction valued at more than £77m. With this deal, Ricoh expects to boost its position in the interchangeable lens market.

In addition, it expects to "create value-added businesses for taken photographs (creation and development of value-added services that encourage seeing, storing and refinishing photographs and utilize photographs as communication tools)."

Finally, it is also looking to "expand to other fields (study of entry into the image archiving business using medium-format digital cameras and enhancement of security-related products)."

Olympus announces the release of three new PEN cameras

At the beginning of July, Olympus announced the release of its new flagship mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera - the E-P3, which has been renamed "PEN" . The new model is said to have the fastest auto-focus of "any camera with interchangeable lenses," thanks to its Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology AF, which is "driven by the new and powerful Olympus TruePic VI processor." The autofocus system offers 35 different focus point "spread over nearly the whole sensor," and has a built-in "illuminator" to compensate for potential loss of accuracy in low-light conditions.

Olympus' E-P3 offers a 12.3-megapixel high-speed Live MOS sensor, which allows a sensitivity range of up to ISO 12,800. It can also record full-HD videos at a resolution of 1080i and a frame rate of 60fps. It features an in-body image stabilisation system for "blur-free movies and stills with any lens."

The new model also enjoys a new three-inch, touch-sensitive OLED display, which is said to deliver "superior contrast, deeper blacks and a broader spectrum of colours," while using less power. For professional users, the screen offers direct access to Live Guide in Priority, Shutter, Manual and Aperture modes both when shooting stills and movies. These features are also available via two new dials that have been positioned on the back of the PEN camera.

The PEN E-P3 camera will be available in August from £799 with a 14-42mm lens.

In the autumn, Olympus will also release the E-PL3, which has been renamed PEN Lite. Similarly to the E-P3, the new compact model offers "the world's fastest autofocus system for interchangeable lens cameras," the new TruePic VI image engine, and a 12.3-megapixel sensor. However, the E-PL3 features a tiltable three-inch LCD screen, instead of an OLED display. It's also missing the E-P3 control dials and touch-screen interface.

Also coming later this year is the E-PM1, a new model in the PEN range of compact, Micro Four Thirds cameras. The E-PM1, which is also known as the PEN Mini, has been designed for "anyone who wants a fuss-free camera that fits in their pocket," says Olympus.

Apple releases new Final Cut Pro version at a fraction of its usual price

The software now features the Magnetic Timeline, which is a trackless approach to editing footage "that lets you add and arrange clips wherever you want them, while other clips instantly slide out of the way," says Apple. The new feature also allows editors to link clips with other elements such as titles and sound effects, as well as combine story elements into a "Compound Clip that can be edited as a single clip."

Final Cut Pro X also uses a new Content Auto-Analysis feature that can scan a user's media on import and tag it with information on the number of people found in each clip. The tool can also detect whether the clips are close-up, medium or wide shots.

A new feature, dubbed Auditions, lets users "swap between a collection of clips to instantly compare alternate takes”. Final Cut Pro X also features audio editing and colour correction tools, which used to come as standalone software in previous versions of the video editing software.

The new software also includes new tools of use to photographers shooting video on digital SLR cameras, including a one-click option to synchronise high-quality audio recorded on a separate device with the reference audio taken from a camera's built-in microphone. It can also detect the need for, and apply, image stabilization to imported video files. The program includes native support for the H.264 and AVCHD video files created by DSLRs.

Final Cut Express, the cheaper edition of Final Cut available up to version 7, has now been discontinued. Final Cut Pro X is available at £180, a fraction of its previous retail price of £800.

Hasselblad offers owners of H4D a bonus

The offer runs until 31 July and allows new owners of a Hasselblad H4D camera or CFV digital back receive to receive a check worth 10% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the product they purchased to spend on "any photography equipment of their choice at the Hasselblad dealer, where they purchased the camera," says Hasselblad.

The offer is limited to purchases of the following cameras: H4D-40, H4D-50, H4D-60, H4D-200MS, H4D-50MS, CFV-39, or CFV-50.

Hasselblad adds that the check can be spent on equipment from any manufacturer. For more details, visit www.hasselblad.com/bonuscheck.

Google adds Image Search Capabilities

Following on the idea of the very popular image search engine Tin Eye, Google has expanded its image search capabilities by adding a ‘Search by Image’ option (go to www.google.com/image and click on the blue camera icon in the Search Box).

The site allows you to upload your images and see where else on the web they might appear. Very handy if you are worried of image copyright infringement by a website. Additionally, Google image search allows you to try and identify the location or subject in a shot which can help with old pictures you might uncover.

Photography Competitions and Exhibitions

London Street Photography Festival in July

The London Street Photography Festival is an exciting new event in London’s cultural calendar which will champion the best contemporary street photographers, honor past masters and provide a space for discussion, debate and appreciation of the current relevance of this time-honored genre.

The festival takes place throughout July with a diverse programme of exhibitions, events, talks, walks and workshops, including a five-day course with award-winning photographer George Georgiou, a talk on Vivian Maier at the National Portrait Gallery, a documentary about New York’s most iconic street photographers at the Tate Modern, an exploration of the V&A’s collection of street photography, held at the museum, and a talk on psychogeography at Housmans Bookshop.

For more details, visit www.londonstreetphotographyfestival.org.

Vanessa Winship wins Henri Cartier-Bresson Award

Image © Vanessa Winship / Vu'

British photographer Vanessa Winship has won the prestigious Henri Cartier-Bresson Award, which is given, every two years, to a photographer for the production of new work. This year, the €30,000 grant will be used for Winship's upcoming project shot in the United States.

For more information about the prize, visit www.henricartierbresson.org.

Danish photographer Jan Grarup wins Leica Oskar Barnack Award

Image © Jan Grarup

Image © Jan Grarup

Image © Jan Grarup

Image © Jan Grarup

Image © Jan Grarup

Danish photographer Jan Grarup has won the 32th Leica Oskar Barnack Award for his work Haiti Aftermath, which focuses on the consequences of the 12 January 2010 earthquake that claimed between 92,000 and 220,000 depending on various estimates. The award comes with a cash prize of €5000, a Leica M9 camera and lenses, and a high-profile presentation at the Rencontres d'Arles festival

Photojournalim prize offers €50,000 grant

Image © Massimo Berruti / Agence VU' for Carmignac Gestion Foundation

The Carmignac Gestion Photojournalism Award is back for its third edition, offering photographers a chance to win a €50,000 grant to develop a project made in Zimbabwe or relating to the South African country. Entries will be judged by a panel chaired by Magnum Photos member Susan Meiselas.

The Carmignac Gestion Photojournalism Award was created two years ago to help fund a photojournalism report "on a proposed topic directly related to current affairs, over several months." It has been designed to allow photographers to "continue visiting zones that are neglected by the mainstream media outside of periods of conflict."

Deadline for entry is 30 September. For further details visit www.fondation-carmignac-gestion.com.

Sony World Photography Awards 2012 now open for entries

Image © Chan Kwok Hung, 2011 winner in the Action category in Sony World Photography Awards Open competition.

Amateur and professional photographers alike can now enter the 2012 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards, which now includes new categories .

In the professional competition, photographers can enter 15 categories divided into three themes - commercial, fine art, and photojournalism and documentary. This year a Nature and Wildlife category has been added in a bid to attract more entries.

Photographers have until 04 January 2012 to enter the awards. The winners will be announced in a ceremony in London in April 2012, when the overall winner will receive the Iris D'Or Sony World Photography Awards, which comes with a $25,000 cash prize. The ceremony will coincide with the World Photography Festival, taking place at Somerset House in London.

For more information and to enter, visit www.worldphoto.org.

Terry O'Neill Award also calling for entries

Image © Sebastian Liste / Winner of 2010 Terry O'Neill Award

Photographers have until 22 October to enter the 2011 edition of the Terry O'Neill/Tag Award, which comes with a cash prize of £3000 for the overall winner, and £1000 and £500 for the following runner-ups.

The contest is opened to photographers over the age of 18. Entrants must submit between three and six images as an exhibition series. "Images must fall into the criteria of reportage, fashion, documentary, landscape, wildlife, portraiture or fine art photography," say the organisers.

For more information and to enter, visit www.oneillaward.com .

And lastly... What’s the most expensive camera ?

Image courtesy of WestLicht Museum

The answer goes to ... a rare 0-series Leica camera, first sold in 1923, which become the most expensive camera to be sold at an auction on May 28th 2011, reaching the unprecedented price of $1.9m

The camera had a starting price of €200,000, with an estimated value of at least €350,000 according to auction house WestLicht. After a tough 20-minute auction, the camera was sold to an Asian bidder, becoming the "most expensive camera ever sold worldwide," claims WestLicht.

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Irina & Gianfranco
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