Barclays search for best league photographer

Football - Wimbledon v Manchester United - Premier League - Selhurst Park - 96/97 - 17/8/96. Manchester United's David Beckham scores his teams third goal of game from his own half. Image credit: Action Images / Tony O'Brien

 

In this the 20th season of the Premier League, Barclays is searching for the best photographer along with the best individual image since the inception of the league during the 1992/93 season. The awards are open to all current and former professional photographers who have covered the Premier League. Entries can be made in two categories, with the winners receiving a Barclays Award and photographic equipment. The closing date for entries is Friday 2 March 2012 with the winners announced in April 2012. For more information, including details of how to obtain an entry form, please see the press release below

 

Press release;

BARCLAYS LAUNCHES PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS TO CELEBRATE 20 SEASONS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE

- Search begins for all-time top League photographer -

Barclays, title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League, today launches a special Barclays Photography Awards to find the best photographer and individual 'shot' since the inception of the league in the 1992/93 season.

The Barclays Photographer of the 20 Seasons Awards are open to all current and former professional photographers who have covered the Premier League since it began, and recognises the important role that photography has played within the game. The Awards aim to capture the iconic moments of passion, excitement and drama that have defined the competition over the past 20 seasons.

 
There are two categories:

·       The Barclays Photographer Award of the 20 Seasons will go to the photographer who submits the best portfolio of five pictures that show high technical accomplishment as well as capturing the essence of the league at some point during, or over the course of the 20 seasons. The winner will receive a Barclays Award and £10,000 worth of photographic equipment.

·       The Barclays Shot of the 20 Seasons will be given to the photographer who submits the best single iconic image. The winner will also receive a Barclays Award together with £5,000 of photographic equipment.
 

To get an application form, photographers should contact James Knott at jknott (at) lexisagency.com.

The closing date for entries is Friday 2 March 2012 with winners announced in April 2012.

New Gitzo Systematic tripods available

UK dealer and affiliate Wex Photographic has a few of the new Gitzo Systematic models in stock with others showing as pre-orders. Please use this link to buy. Please also refer to this link to confirm the new models (the link opens in a new window)- as the models names are confusingly similar with the older types. The popular GT3541XLS, for instance, is now called the GT3542XLS. If the last number ends in '1', it's the older design, if it's '2' then you can be pretty sure it's the improved design (but please use this link to Gitzo to confirm).

We've had the new super compact (five section), carbon-fibre 4-series Traveller Systematic GT4552TS in for a few days and can say the new body design is a massive improvement on the previous (and well-liked) design. The Traveller Systematic is a new compact model which is ideal for travel photography as when closed measures just 48.5cm / 19 inches and weighs 2.15kg / 4.74lbs.

US readers can buy from Adorama Camera (but again please note new and old models are listed - be sure to check against this link for the new model designations).

Search B&H Photo Video
Search Amazon US (they have limited stock of popular models)

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Gitzo Systematic from Gitzo Focus on Forever on Vimeo.

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Olympus 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 in stock at Amazon US

Amazon US has just eight of the new Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ in stock (sold by H and B Digital, fulfilled by Amazon). All other retailers are taking pre-orders at this time.

Pre-order the 12-50mm at Adorama Camera (US) at $499.99, UK readers can pre-order from Wex Photographic at £369.99 inc VAT.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

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Adorama start Pre-orders on SD-1 Merrill

US retailer Adorama has started taking pre-orders at $2,299.00 on the 46MP SD-1 Merrill. Please follow the link here to buy.

UK readers can pre-order at Wex at £1,839.00 inc VAT.

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Is Canon about to unleash the EOS 5D X? UPDATED

UPDATED 2 March, 2012: Canon has launched the EOS 5D MkIII.

 

Rumours of the replacement for the EOS 5D Mk II have been circulating the internet for ages, indeed with a three year product cycle, the camera is well overdue. Nikon has launched the low-light D4 and hi-res D800, but my impression is that Canon will change-the-game with a new hi-res, low-light camera.

I've heard from various sources that we'll see a full-frame DSLR with a 22MP CMOS sensor, 61-point AF system (like that of the EOS-1D X) and 3.2-inch 1,040K dot LCD, dual SD/CF card and 5fps continuous shooting. There's no word on the video spec, but it seems unlikely not to have 1080p at 30/25/24 fps unless Canon are using that to differentiate between the EOS 1D X. I say that, as I think the new camera will have similar low light performance up to ISO 51,200 (maybe even expandable to ISO 204,800, like the 1DX). We'll know soon enough.

Lately, we've seen internet sites owned by the print publishers talk of rumours surrounding the release of new cameras when they've been in possession of, if not the cameras full spec with accompanying demo and advertising material by the maker's PR people, at the very least an invite to the press launch. It's at odds with the maker's stipulation that the invitation may not be published anywhere, so I'm guessing they're playing word games ...

It will be interesting to see if they start talking about a new Canon DSLR released at the end of this month, or maybe early next. My guess is we'll see these stories appear soon, now that the rumour sites have started the chatter. This is largely generated by retailers, and can't be quietened by the makers, because ...well they're their customers and besides it's good (viral) marketing...

The price of the Canon EOS 5D Mk II has been dropping recently, I suspect in anticipation of the new camera. Please follow the links to buy at Jesspos (UK) £1,669.95 inc VAT (was £1,799.95) and Adorama (US) at $2,399.00 after an instant $100 rebate.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Additional Images

Is this the Canon EOS 5D Mk III? Time will tell.

Sales

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Sigma UK reduces price on stabilised 105mm f/2.8 macro

 

Sigma UK has reduced the retail price on the 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens to £649.99 (inc VAT) from the previous suggested price of £799.99

Please follow the link to buy at our affiliate Wex (formerly Warehouse Express, Norwich) at £599.00 inc VAT. Jessops are still showing the old price (£699.95 inc VAT), at the time of posting.

 

Press release:

Great savings on Sigma’s 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens.

Sigma UK is pleased to announce a reduction in the suggested retail price of the 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens to £649.99 including VAT. The previous suggested retail price was £799.99.

This lens has been very well received by the photo/imaging industry since its launch in August 2011 and now offers exceptional value for money. The medium telephoto macro offers Sigma’s optical stabilisation along with high speed autofocus, internal focusing, SLD glass and a 1:1 macro reproduction ratio.

For more information on these and other Sigma products, please visit www.sigma-imaging-uk.com or contact your local photographic retailer.

New products available for pre-orders via Jessops

With CES in Las Vegas last month and and then CP+ in Yokohama, Japan earlier this month plenty of new and exciting cameras have been announced aimed at enthusiasts and professionals. I thought I would recap what's available for pre-order through Jessops for UK readers - thank you for buying through this site's links

Canon EOS-1DX - £5,299.95
Canon G1 X £699.95
Nikon D4 - £4,799.95
Nikon D800 - £2399.95
Nikon D800E (with out AA filter) - £2689.95
Olympus OM-D E-M5 - £999.95
Fuji X-Pro1 - £1429.95

Win a Canon EOS 7D plus 75-300mm L with Wex

Wex Photographic, formerly Warehouse Express, are celebrating their re-branding by giving away a Canon EOS 7D and EF 75-300mm L worth over £2,000. Please follow the link here to enter the competition (you'll be entered automatically after signing up to their newsletter). You'll have to be quick, the competition closes 28 Feb, 2012.

PocketWizard announces new Plus III remote

UPDATE 23 Feb, 2012: The PocketWizard PLUS III Transceiver will be available from 1st April 2012 and will retail at £129.99 Inc VAT. A twin set will also be available, comprising two PLUS III units and will retail at £249.99 Inc VAT.

UPDATE: The Plus III is available to pre-order at B&H Photo at $139.00. Thank-you for buying through this site's links.

Press Release:

So. Burlington, VT – February 20, 2012 – LPA Design, manufacturers of PocketWizard Photo Products, the world leader in reliable wireless control of cameras, flash lighting and light meters, announces the new PocketWizard Plus III – a feature-packed, easy-to-use solution for remote flash and camera triggering.  This new simple but powerful radio provides professional and serious amateur photographers with the most reliable triggering system which they will never outgrow and never want to be without. 

“Our goals in designing the new Plus III were simple:  It needed to do more, cost less and offer the same reliability and simplicity as the legendary Plus II.  We believe the Plus III achieves all of this and more in its sleek new design,” said Dave Schmidt, LPA Designs VP of Marketing.  “Photographers need tools that will help them create images they couldn’t before and with less hassle and lower cost.  The Plus III is exactly that tool.”

The new Plus III Transceiver features 32 channels and Selective Quad-Zone Triggering that enables photographers to remotely trigger flash and/or cameras in groups or individually all wirelessly from hundreds of feet away.  Performance enhancing features include Long Range Mode and Repeater Mode to help photographers tackle the most challenging shooting environments and open the door for never-attempted image ideas.  All features, channels and zones can be easily set using the soft-touch keypad and are clearly displayed on the backlit LCD display. *

The versatile new PocketWizard Plus III is compatible with all other PocketWizard radios and virtually every popular flash and professional digital SLR camera system. It also communicates with all PocketWizard-enabled photo gear including select Profoto, Dynalite, Norman and Photogenic flash systems and Sekonic light meters.

The new Plus III will be demonstrated at the PocketWizard WPPI 2012 Booth #621 in Las Vegas, NV, February 20-23, 2012 as well as in the JP Distribution booth at Focus on Imaging Show in Birmingham, UK, March 4-7, 2012.

For more information please visit www.pocketwizard.com

UK retailer Wex starts pre-orders on Sigma SD1 Merrill

Online retailer Wex Photographic in UK has started taking pre-orders on the controversial Sigma SD1 Merrill DSLR at £1839.00 including VAT (at 20-percent), or £1,565.11 ex VAT / $2,477.00. Please follow the link here to pre-order. Thank you for buying through this site's links.

US retailer Adorama has started taking pre-orders at $2,299.00 on the 46MP SD-1 Merrill. Please follow the link here to buy.

The 46MP SD1 Merrill was the cause of some controversy when it was announced earlier this month as the company, citing reductions in the production costs of the Foveon sensor, stated the new model would be heavily reduced in price while the original SD1model was still on sale at £5,499.00.

Sigma's new CEO, Kazuto Yamaki, was forced to make a statement defending the company's decision to revise the price of the new camera, which is essentially unchanged over the original model. The Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor in the SD1 uses technology originally developed by the late Dick Merrill (1949-2008) and the company has named the new generation sensor in his memory.

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Nikon D800, D800E technical guide released

Nikon started producing technical guides, in-depth sales brochures, alongside the regular brochure as far back as 1980 for the F3 and then for every successive pro film SLR since up to the F5. The format has since changed for digital cameras, with the guides concentrating on how to maximise performance of certain features. Nikon USA has released a guide in pdf of the forthcoming D800 and D800E models with guidance on how to achieve optimal resolution from the 36MP sensor, while taking care to avoid, or correct for colour artifacts, including moire.

Please follow the link here to download.

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Canon ambassador Ziv Koren talks about EOS-1D X at CPN

Canon continues their discussion of the EOS-1D X on the CPN site with Ziv Koren, a photojournalist for Polaris Images. There are several sample photos taken on a pre-production camera including a couple of 100-percent crops of the 'original photos', presumably out-of-camera JPEGs (none higher than ISO1600 unfortunately, and close-ups only shown taken with Canon's better optics - 24mm f/1.4L II and 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II). It's still impossible to judge the quality from these images but Koren's impressions are encouraging.

To read the article, please follow the link here.

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Canon EOS C300 models available to pre-order via WEX at £12k

Wex Photographic, formerly Warehouse Express, based in Norwich have both models of the Canon EOS C300 listed on their site for special order at a whisker under £12,000 inc VAT, a saving of £800 on the last listed price. The site says March for delivery.

Canon finally deliver the ergonomics that we've been looking for (it can take various add-ons) but have priced it out of the reach for most of us freelancers (it needs to be £5,000 or £6,000 at the most). However, I expect we'll see photographers at agencies such as Reuters, AP et al using these alongside their EOS-1D's.

Please follow the links below to order.

Canon EOS C300 PL at £11,999.000 inc VAT

Canon EOS C300 (EF) at £11,999.00 inc VAT

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New Canon lenses available to pre-order at WEX

Wex Photographic UK (formerly Warehouse Express) has the recently announced trio of lenses from Canon available to pre-order. Wex are sweetening the deal by offering a free Kenko Pro1 Digital UV filter with each purchase. Please follow the links below to buy.

Canon EF 28mm f2.8 IS USM at £729.00

Canon EF 24mm f2.8 IS USM at £749.00

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM at £2,299.00

Thank you for buying from this site's links.

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Olympus instant rebates available at Adorama

Adorama has a raft of Olympus kit with instant rebates available. For example, the M.Zuiko 9-18mm (18-36mm-e) f/4-5.6 (shown above) has an instant rebate of $50, bringing the price at checkout down from $699 to $649. There are combinations on offer as well. Please follow this link to peruse and buy.

Thank you for buying though this site's links.

Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8 G starts to ship

Although slated for a mid-March release the AF-S 85mm f/1.8 G has already started to appear on dealer's shelves (we received ours for testing only yesterday). We hope to post some example shots later in the day.

To buy from Jessops UK at £469.95, please follow the link here. US readers can buy from Adorama at $499.95, please follow the link here.

Thank you for buying from this site's links.

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Android & iOS - FUJIFILM Photo Receiver - New App

If your digital camera is equipped for connection to a wireless network, this new photo receiver app by FUJIFILM will make uploading images to your iOS or Android smartphones and tablets very simple. Once the shots have been uploaded you then have the facility to share them via Facebook or Twitter.

This is a free app and looks like it will prove to be very useful,

iOS - click here to download.

Android - click here to download

Supported Cameras

At present you're limited to the FujiFilm Finepix Z1000EXR and the Z1010EXR cameras.

How To Use This App

 

1    Start FUJIFILM Photo Receiver.
        
2 On the camera, select playback mode and display a picture you want to upload.
        
3 Simultaneously tap  Connect on the smartphone and  on the camera.
        
4 When the camera locates the smartphone, its name will appear in the camera display (you can enter a new name for the smartphone in the “Name” field at any time).
        
5 Confirm that the name of the destination smartphone is correct and tap START SENDING on the camera.
        
6 To upload additional pictures, display them on the camera and tap . Up to 30 pictures can be uploaded in a single session.
        
7 To end the session, tap End on the smartphone or BACK on the camera.

 

Viewing The Images

 

8 To view the pictures, tap Photos (iOS) or Gallery (Android).

9 The app can be also be launched by pressing the SNS (iOS) or share button (Android).

Fujifilm X-Pro1 available to pre-order at Jessops

One of the most eagerly awaited cameras of the year, the Fujifilm X-Pro1, is now available to pre-orders through Jessops. Please follow the links below to buy. Thank you for buying though this site's links.

Fuji X-Pro1 body at £1,429.95

The lenses are not showing on the site presently, though they're likely to be added shortly. Please check back later.

Pentax K-01 available to pre-order

The Pentax K-01 with the 40mm f/2.8 XS (shown above) is now available to pre-order at Adorama for $899.95, please follow the link here. UK retailer, Jessops, has the K-01 in various guises (starting at £629.99 body only), please follow the link here. Thank you for buying from this site's links.

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UK retailers taking pre-orders on Canon EOS-1D X

UK retailers Jessops and Warehouse Express are taking pre-orders on the EOS-1D X. Please follow the links below:

Jessops (£5,299.95)
Warehouse Express (£5,299.00)

Jessops are also showing all four of the new super-teles are available with a 'exclusive online discount' (albeit on special order):

Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 IS II USM at £11,099.95
Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 IS II USM at £8,449.95
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS II USM at £8,868.95
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II USM at £5,549.95

US readers can order the Canon super-teles from Adorama (on a first come, first served basis) by following these links.

Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 IS II USM at $12,999.00
Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 IS II USM at $10,499.00
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS II USM at $11,499.00
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II USM at $7,299.00

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

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