HARMAN technology Limited Press Release

Cheshire, England, June 1st, 2006 - HARMAN technology Limited today announced an exclusive distribution agreement with WYNIT, Inc. of Syracuse, NY, for distribution of ILFORD black-and-white photo products. Since HARMAN technology purchased the ILFORD black-and-white business out of receivership in the United Kingdom in February 2005, maintaining first class distribution has been a priority. WYNIT, currently a leading national distributor of computer peripheral and digital imaging products in the photo retail channel, will broaden its expertise in the photo lab sector with ILFORD Photo branded products for North America.

Reuters are reporting that Canon have today announced that they have stopped development of new compact and SLR film cameras. The company will continue to promote and sell existing film models, although it also said it will “make a final judgment on the business in the future while monitoring market demand.” Canon’s announcement follows a similar one by Nikon earlier this year.

UPDATE: Well, it seems that Reuters were a little quick off the mark, in that Canon are now considering halting film camera production, rather than actually doing it. Which isn’t half as interesting as the original news!

Website: Reuters - Canon to halt development of film cameras

Silver art print website Linatree have obviously taken a break from their usual daily routine and released a downloadable pinhole camera in PDF format, complete with fully 3D animated guide to help you build it! Makes a refreshing change from all the compact digicam announcements…

Website: Linatree - Downloadable Pinhole Camera

Fujifilm Press Release

May 17, 2006 - Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shigetaka Komori, hereinafter Fujifilm) announced today that from June 2006 onward, it will implement worldwide price increases for its photosensitive material products. The rapid digitalization of photography has created harsh market conditions for the photo imaging business. To sustain its photo imaging business, Fujifilm is undertaking intensive structural reforms, but despite efforts to reduce fixed costs and improve productivity, it no longer can absorb the soaring costs of silver, oil and other raw materials.

JP Distribution, the UK distributor for Mamiya, have today issued the following statement in response to the recent internet news about their sale.

“We have been informed by Mamiya-OP Co., Ltd. that they are to transfer their Optical Equipment Business to Cosmo Digital Imaging Co., Ltd.

The Board of Directors have approved a contract to sell the entirety of the optical instruments business section to Cosmos Scientific Systems Inc. The plan will be put before shareholders at a general meeting scheduled for June 29th, 2006 - and if approval is gained, the transaction will be concluded on September 1st 2006.

This is a positive move for the Mamiya brand. The integration of Mamiya’s design and manufacturing techniques with Cosmo’s digital technology will enable the new organisation to fully exploit future growth opportunities.

Mamiya have confirmed that their forward plans include both professional medium format film and digital cameras.”

News has emerged over the weekend that Mamiya, best known for it’s film medium format cameras, is in financial crisis. According to Engadget, the venerable Japanese company is planning to sell its camera division to IT company Cosmos Scientific in September.

“According to reports out of Japan (which we’ve confirmed with our Japanese bureau), Mamiya, best known for its high-end pro equipment, will be selling off its film and digital camera business to focus on other sectors. The company apparently has had “stagnant sales” of its digital models, including its 22-megapixel, $12,000, Mamiya ZD, which was released in Japan in December and in Europe just last month.”

Website: Engadget - Mamiya bailing on camera biz

Website: DPNow - Mamiya medium format camera business in crisis

Kodak are set to raise the prices of some of its film products by as much as 17%, reports BusinessWeek. There are no details yet about which specific products are affected, but the cost of consumer and professional films will rise between 3% and 17% from May 1st this year. The rising costs of raw materials and transportation are apparently to blame. Good news for Kodak shareholders, bad news for film users.

Website: BusinessWeek - Eastman Kodak announces film price hikes

Fujifilm Press Release

Fujifilm Files Complaint Against Achiever, Dc Tech, Ferrania And Others - Company Continues Efforts to Protect One-Time-Use Camera Patents

VALHALLA, NY, MARCH 20, 2006—Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. announced that its parent company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan (“Fujifilm”) has started a lawsuit against Achiever Industries Ltd. (“Achiever”), Achiever Group (Holdings) Ltd., DC Tech Industry Corp., Ferrania U.S.A., Inc., Fitra Investmenti, SpA and certain individuals in control of Achiever and DC Tech regarding the illegal importation and sale of One-Time-Use Cameras and components used to assemble such cameras in violation of patents held by Fujifilm.

CPSC Press Release

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire/—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of product: Various Olympus-Brand 35mm Film Cameras
Units: About 1.2 million (in the U.S.)
Hazard: A defect with the flash circuit in these cameras can cause it to smoke and overheat when the camera is turned on. This poses a possible burn hazard to consumers.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Fujifilm Professional has announced that the final shipment of Fujichrome Velvia 50 has now been received. This means that once the stock held in the company’s warehouse has been sold there will be no more of the film available. Fujifilm has been forced into ceasing production of Velvia 50 due to vital raw materials used in the production of the emulsion becoming unavailable.

Ilford Photo Press Release

Introducing a new, major event on the photography student calendar, ILFORD Photo confirms its support for extending the beauty and artistry of black-and-white photography. Reviving ILFORD Photo’s long-standing support of students of photography, the company has launched what will be an annual Student of the Year competition. More than simply judging Student work (a print judgement), this event offers students the opportunity to not only set up the basis of their equipment with a leading camera system, but also to benefit from working alongside leading professional photographers.

Fujfilm USA Press Release

New Film Provides Pure, Accurate Color and Excellent Highlight Details

PMA 2006 Booth # 3508 http://www.fujifilm.com/pma

Valhalla, NY, February 14, 2006 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. announces the introduction of new Fujichrome T64 Professional at the PMA 2006 Annual Convention and Trade Show. The new ISO 64 tungsten-type color transparency film delivers ultra-fine grain and optimum tonal scale and gradation under tungsten lighting. Fujichrome T64 Professional incorporates new-generation color couplers and new color correction technology which ensure pure, accurate color reproduction, making this film ideally suited for a wide range of product shots, interiors, furniture, architecture, certain medical imaging needs and other professional applications requiring tungsten lighting. The new film also possesses excellent color image stability.

Fujifilm Press Release

New Film Features Improved Color Saturation and Image Stability, Finer Grain

PMA 2006 Booth # 3508 http://www.fujifilm.com/pma

Valhalla, NY, February 14, 2006 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. announces the introduction of Fujichrome Provia 400X Professional film at the PMA 2006 Annual Convention and Trade Show. The new high-speed color reversal film delivers new levels of color saturation, ultra-fine grain, rich tone reproduction and improved color image stability. Fujichrome Provia 400X features Epitaxial Sigma Crystal Technology for ultra-fine grain (RMS: 11) along with new generation couplers and new color correction technology for excellent performance and image stability. The new film will replace Fujichrome Provia 400F, a favorite among professionals for commercial and fashion photography.

Fujifilm USA Press Release

PMA 2006: Fujifilm Showcases Multiple Imaging Solutions for Retailers, Professionals, Businesses and Consumers

PMA 2006 Booth # 3508 http://www.fujifilm.com/pma

Valhalla, NY - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., is featuring a broad spectrum of imaging technologies and products at the PMA 2006 Annual Convention and Trade Show under the banner, “Fujifilm. Expand the World of Imaging.” The tagline was created to underscore Fujifilm’s role in providing a wide range of innovative solutions - digital, analog or a fusion of technologies - that will expand the value that imaging products and services can bring to businesses and consumers alike.

Kodak Press Release

Kodak Introduces Improvements Across its Film Product Portfolio - Consumers and Professionals Worldwide Benefit From Kodak’s Commitment to Traditional Photography

ROCHESTER, NY, February 17—Demonstrating its continuing commitment to the traditional photography market, Eastman Kodak Company introduced improvements across its award-winning consumer and professional film product portfolio today at the Photo Marketing Association Show in Orlando, Florida, elevating the consumer photography experience for users of traditional products. “Actions speak louder than words. The traditional product portfolio improvements announced today represent solid proof that Kodak is committed to people around the world who capture images with film and one-time-use cameras,” said Mary Jane Hellyar, President, Film and Photofinishing Group and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “From unbeatable clarity and sharpness across our one-time-use camera line for consumers to improved PORTRA 800 color-negative film for professionals, these new benefits enable KODAK film users to achieve outstanding images.”

A bolt from the blue - Nikon have announced that they are ending production of almost all of their film camera range, as digital cameras take over. The F6 (pictured), FM10 (outside Europe) and a small number of fixed-focus manual lenses will be the only surviving film products after September 2006. All large format cameras lenses and enlarging lenses will also be discontinued. This move is obviously one of the biggest indicators yet of the increasing digital dominance.

Nikon UK Press Release

Nikon prepares to strengthen digital line-up for 2006

Wednesday January 11, 2006 - Following the success of our digital line-up over the last seven years, which has resulted in more than 95% of Nikon’s UK business being within the digital area, Nikon Corporation has made the decision to focus management resources on digital cameras in place of film cameras. This decision will allow Nikon to continue to develop products that match the demands of an increasingly competitive market place.

Despite this growing competition Nikon Corporation has continued to outperform the market, and has recently reported positive financial results which saw group net profit climb by 20% in the fiscal first half which ended in September. Group sales also increased by 9.8% to 342.85 billion yen in the same period. Sales of high end digital SLR cameras and the success of products like the D70s and D50 have helped contribute to these positive figures.

ILFORD Photo / CALUMET Press Release

The ILFORD Photo / CALUMET black-and-white photography event being staged in Pasadena, California, next March under the title SILVER is drawing bookings from across the United States as well as from overseas, and is anticipated to become a major event on the photographic calendar.

The inaugural staging of the SILVER black-and-white photography conference, together with its accompanying print competition, commemorative book, workshops and social events, planned to take place over March 3 - 5 next year at the Pasadena Arts Centre, has generated a great deal of enthusiasm and anticipation.

Being heavily sponsored by ILFORD Photo and CALUMET as a non-profit making event with any surplus revenue being donated to the Pasadena Art Centre to fund scholarships to photography students who need support and to assist photo educators, SILVER sees the coming together of some of the world’s leading exponents of black-and-white photography.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Fujifilm Professional has unveiled Shoot & Scan, a new promotion that gives photographers discounts on processing and scanning at professional laboratories across the UK.

Shoot & Scan is designed to help photographers who want the unsurpassed image quality that film provides, combined with the versatility of digital files. A discount of 25% is available when any Fujifilm Professional 35mm or 120 roll film is processed and scanned on the standard service offered by each individual participating laboratory. The offer includes standard processing of C41, E6 or Black & White 35mm or 120 roll film with jpeg files scanned onto CD at approximately 6.4MB.

Ilford Press Release

The discovery of an undeveloped roll of the forerunner of the ILFORD HP film range - exposed more than half-a century ago - underlines the long lasting quality of ILFORD black-and-white film.

The debate concerning the longevity of film and photographs viz-a-viz that of digital storage and output took a decided leap forward for the film corner when an old roll of ‘ILFORD Selo Extrafinegrain Panchromatic’ film was discovered which was able to produce prints of a very reasonable quality.

Keen amateur photographer Mike Ellis purchased a photographic job lot through e-Bay from a seller in New Zealand. When the consignment arrived, Ellis found it included a Leitz reloadable cassette which contained the roll of ILFORD Selo film which ceased production some 50 years ago. Ellis decided to see if there were any images on the Selo film, so he put it into a bath of ILFORD ID-11 for seven minutes with fingers tightly crossed.

“Although the film was very tightly rolled and was showing what appeared to be emulsion cracks, I was able to process 10 usable images,” says Ellis. “Judging by the cars shown in the images, which feature a campsite, I estimate these were shot in the 1950s, or possibly earlier.”

Forbes.com is reporting that AgfaPhoto is set to go out of business with the loss of 2,400 jobs following the failure to find a buyer. Britain’s Photo-Me International PLC were in talks to take over the ailing company, but creditors rejected the offer. AgfaPhoto posted sales of US$900 million last year.

Website: Forbes.com - AgfaPhoto Likely to Be Out of Business

Website: AgfaPhoto