A small Kingdom in the Himalayas called Bhutan has inspired many around the world by placing the happiness of its people ahead of economic wealth. This is the principal idea behind Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan’s development philosophy which the King refers as ‘development with values’. His Majesty adds that GNH is the ‘national conscience guiding us towards making wise decisions for a better future’. 

Taking pride in the idea of HAPPINESS, the tourism industry of Bhutan promotes Bhutan with the tagline “Happiness is a place”. This is to simply assure that happiness can be found in simple things and these simple things can be found anywhere and in anything.

In an effort to allow everyone from across the globe to share what HAPPINESS means to him or her, the Tourism Council of Bhutan has introduced the Bhutan Photo Campaign. The Bhutan Photo campaign is a simple way of sharing what HAPPINESS means to everyone with photographs on www.HappinessIsaPlace.com.

The campaign is dedicated to the selfless Kings of Bhutan for introducing and promoting the Philosophy of GNH. The Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency Tshering Tobgay launched the Bhutan Photo Campaign on 30th July2015.

To promote the campaign, attractive prizes will be given away for the photographs with highest LIKES and SHARES from the campaign page. The campaign will end in December 2015.

 

 

Artistique is divided into 2 segments, the Exhibit and the Contest. The exhibit involves bringing together a number of photographers from the fraternity under one roof to exhibit their pictures under a common theme. While the contest gives the opportunity to the amateurs, hobbyists, enthusiasts among other the chance to show their talent to the great and have their pictures exhibited at the same platform as these greats. 

Furthermore it is a complete non-profit and non-commercial activity where some of the industry partners come together and lend their services as part of their contribution to the industry and overall objective. The objective is very simple. It’s simple, celebrate the World Photography Day and promote the culture of picture-taking by bringing together a number of photographers under one platform and exhibit their images.

It is a combination of images brought together by photographers from various genres promoting a single message for the industry. But while in its inception the message was to achieve all of these objectives, over the past two editions, it has quickly encapsulated a lot more than this. 

 

At AP we do everything in style and when we put our minds and hearts to something then we don’t resist from pulling all the stops. So in order to make the initiative a success and take it to new levels we have had some of the best photographers exhibit their work in the past few editions. Some of these include:

•Kakubhai

•Ali Rangoonwala

•Jatin Kampani

•Arko Datta

•Martin Prihoda

•Sudhir Shivaram, to name a few

Apart from this we have also given the opportunity to new and upcoming talents to exhibit their work at the same platform as these greats.

Each year a new jury presides over the selection of the winners and the pictures of the exhibit. And some of the jury members from the past include:

•Jatin Kampani

•Vikram Bawa

•Arko Datta

•Girish Mistry

•Adeel Halim

•Mukesh Parpiani

•Ali Rangoonwala, 

•Bhavya Desai, to name a few

While the need to create something new has been in our DNA, we have ensured that the creativity doesn’t stop there. Since its inception, Artistique has continuously evolved year after year to encompass a bigger value and objective in mind. From the toddling steps in 2013 to encompassing a bigger reach in 2014, the platform has grown enormously in just two editions. 

The 1st edition brought together four renowned photographers under one roof to promote the industry in a four-day exhibition held at the prestigious Piramal Art Gallery, Mumbai from 16th-19th August 2013. The exhibition witnessed everyone from budding students of photography and teachers to amateur photographers, enthusiasts and industry veterans from the photo-fraternity gathering to celebrate the art of photography with Artistique.

We brought together a pool of famous Indian photographers like Kakubhai, Jatin Kampani, Ali Rangoonwala and Arko Datta to exhibit their pictures under one roof under the theme of ‘Black and White’. But what was important was that the images showcased by these photographers were never before seen work.

 

For the 2014 edition the exhibition saw a combination of professionals as well as upcoming talents exhibit their work together. Apart from noted photographers the idea was to provide upcoming and talented photographers a platform to push their talent. In the professional sphere the internationally acclaimed Canadian photographer Martin Prihoda and India’s famous Wildlife Photographer Sudhir Shivaram exhibited their exquisite work.

Due to the popular demand after the inaugural edition, the 2nd edition was a 10-day exhibition, which witnessed a footfall of approximately 1000 people. The exhibition also included a small space that was dedicated to the amateurs and readers of the magazine. These pictures were carefully handpicked by the jury of Vikram Bawa, Arko Datta, Jatin Kampani and Bhavya Desai.

 

We at AP have always ensured that we push the envelope on a continuous basis. So for this year we are envisaging to make ‘Artistique’ a travelling ART exhibit in Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata, apart from Mumbai.

The idea this year is to invite an internationally renowned photographer and an upcoming Indian photographer for this edition. In order to encompass and promote our message we will take the same exhibit to the other cities so that all the enthusiasts, hobbyists and art lovers from across the country get a chance to see the exhibit and its message.

We would also be having interactive sessions with noted photographers in order to impart their knowledge and experience to our audience.

Artistique this year is set to be bigger and better than ever. The team at Asian photography is more excited than ever, as we will be travelling across the four corners of the country. We will have chance to not just promote the art of photography, but also interact with our readers from North, East, West and South of India, who will visit the exhibition. So, get ready, as Artistique is coming to your neighbourhood soon!

Nikon India has introduced the Nikon D810A, a D-SLR built specifically for the astrophotography. 

The manufacturer informed that the chief among the D810A’s strength is its ability to capture astronomical subjects that emit the H-alpha wavelengths of light such as nebulae and other distant galaxies in red, allowing astrophotographers to see them just as imagined. The 36.3 megapixels camera has features such as longer exposures in low-light conditions with minimal noise, and a live view preview function. 

On the announcement, Mr. Hiroshi Takashina, Managing Director, Nikon India said, “Nikon is always up for a challenge and empowering astrophotographers with a dedicated camera of unprecedented image quality was one intriguing task. We are thrilled to announce the launch of Nikon D810A, a class-leading, high-definition D-SLR that will bring astrophotographers one step closer to capturing the majestic vastness and beauty of space while offering them a new perspective in stunning detail.”

 “The Nikon D810A has been designed keeping in mind the obstacles that astrophotographers face; it is a result of an amalgamation of advanced imaging technology and suite of outstanding features. Nikon D810A is a 36.3 megapixels camera crafted with unique ability to capture subjects with H-alpha wavelengths, ensuring rich vibrant capture for images of the cosmos that are true to the eye,” said Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Vice President – Imaging Division, Nikon India.

Canon has launched two new DSLRs EOS 760D and EOS 750D, equipped with features catered to amateur photographers. Canon is also expanding the PowerShot and IXUS range in addition to introducing the most compact lens in the EF-M range, the pancake EF-M22mm f/2 STM, in silver.

Canon EOS 760D and EOS 750D

Both entry-level cameras, EOS 760D and EOS 750D feature a 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, paired with the latest Canon DIGIC 6 image processor. The ISO speed of these two cameras ranges from 100 to 12,800 (expandable to 25,600). The EOS 760D and EOS 750D operate on a new 19-point all cross type system. Both cameras are both equipped with Wi-Fi and NFC function. The new CameraConnect app allows users to control the EOS 760D and EOS 750D remotely and upload content onto social media via their smart devices.

A key difference between the two cameras is that the EOS 760D is the first entry-level EOS camera to incorporate a top LCD panel in addition to the main display. Similar to higher-end DSLR cameras, operating the menus and settings in the EOS 760D is achieved through a Quick Control Dial and Main Electronic Dial. Conversely, the EOS 750D features a navigation button control scheme.

POWERSHOT SX410 HS & IXUS 275 HS

The 20.0-megapixel POWERSHOT SX410 HS features a 40x long zoom (and 80x zoom using ZoomPlus technology) and Canon DIGIC 4+ image processor, whereas the IXUS 275 HS is a high performance 20.2-megapixel camera equipped with 12x optical zoom (and 24x zoom using ZoomPlus technology), a DIGIC 4+ image processor and Full HD movie recording capability in the lifestyle IXUS range.

EF-M22mm f/2 STM Silver

Canon has introduced a compact lens in the EF-M range, the pancake EF-M22mm f/2 STM Silver. The lens is now available in silver, and incorporates a wide aperture that achieves a bokeh effect. With its wide focal length of 22mm, it aimed at natural, landscape, and street photography.

Products will be available in stores during the second quarter of 2015 and the prices will be announced in due course.

If rumours are to be believed then the new Canon camera might not have a very important feature. Barely a few days ago the news and pictures of the to-be-announced Canon 5Ds was leaked online. While the camera was said to feature a stunning high-resolution of 50.6MP, but to the disappointment of many it lacked 4K video. 

While it lacks 4K, the camera will be able to shoot 1920×1080 video at 30fps.The camera is also said to include other features like 100% field of view viewfinder, an electronic level, shutter speed of 1/8000s, a 3.2-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD screen, mini HDMI out, and an external microphone terminal.

The website Canon Rumours reported that the 5D line would feature 3 different cameras, two 5Ds cameras and a 5D Mark IV. They are saying that the 5D Mark IV will be coming this year, and will be a “low-light event and sports type camera”. The camera is also rumoured to feature 4K video. 

At the same time, Canon’s 1D C DSLR camera now costs $8000, after a massive drop of price of $4000 from $12000.

To start with I would like to share the history of how the BYAS and company came into existence. My grandfather Late Shri Shankarlalji Vyas, who hailed from an agriculturist family in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, came to Hyderabad Deccan, in search of a livelihood. He chose the photography business, as he had a little exposure to this line of activity during his brief stint in Nasik. But he thought that Nasik was a small place and there would be better scope in Hyderabad, because it was a prosperous state under the Nizams. He started his studio in Kothi area, opposite Residency, in the year 1920. During this journey of 93 long years, a lot of changes, developments took place not in the industry but also at a political level in Hyderabad and also in the country.

As my father Shri Goverdhan Das ji Vyas recalls his father’s memories while he worked with him, I would like to share some of them in brief with you here.

Those days, photography was a rare and very secret type of business; very few people were involved in this activity, one of the first ones being Raja Deen Dayal in Secunderabad. Photographs were exposed on glass plates and prints were taken on black and white paper.  The enlargements were done only in England and my grandfather used to send them to England by post. It used to take about 27 days to reach there and then another one month to get them back. The money was sent by money order. To do this, he had to walk all the way up to the cantonment areas located beyond Secunderabad. He was smart enough to get this done, and we can now safely say that he was using the concept of “outsourcing” in those days. Now, we all know it is a common business practice all over the world.

In those days, it was a very big studio at Kothi, and he had, at one point, 40 employees working for him. Imagine in those days he has provided so much employment and fed forty families.

Another turning point in their studio was – one fine morning the HEH the Nizam of Hyderabad with his full convoy of security persons etc and family were passing through the kothi area, saw the impressive display of good portraits and photographs of his family and ancestors particularly, the photos of the parents of Princess Niloufer – and visited the studio. He enquired about the rates of those family photos. To which my grandfather humbly responded – “Sarkar, who toh amulya hai” (They are priceless). The Nizam was very much impressed and after that for all functions and celebrations of the Royal family, my grandfather was called for taking photos. While this continued, he was again very happy with the services and quality of work and conferred the title of Shahi Photographer to BYAS and Company on the 29th of September, 1929. During this time the Nizam also suggested to open another studio and sent the officials of the then City Improvement Board and showed three locations to choose from, one was at Abids, the place where GPO stands now, the second one was the Lepakshi showroom land at Gunfoundry, and the third one was at Basheerbagh. My grandfather chose Basheerbagh, because it was cheap and big, and he was very practical and forward-thinking; he thought it was the centre of the twin cities.

My grandfather had employed professionals in the studio like Mr Shukla from Bombay, and along with him he also learned professional photography. During this time my father Shri Goverdhan Das ji Vyas also joined the studio. He was just 12 years old and used to do his schooling at Vivek Vardhini and after school hours used to help his father in the studio. As my grandfather was not keeping too well, my father had to discontinue studies after class 9, and joined the family business full time. Even today, at the age of 87, he is very active in the day to day activities of our business. During the long years of his experience he has seen the complete changes, from Black and White glass plates to cut films to roll films to colour films and now to digital photography. 

Over the years many people who were working with him left and started on their own, as my father always encouraged entrepreneurship. In between the independence movement, Razakardaur, liberation of Hyderabad happened. However, my father moved on with times and kept on focussing on his business. In the year 1965 the studio was shifted to Bashirbagh. At this time he thought to share the knowledge he has gained, and started a training institute called Ganesh Institute of Photography. It was a short course of two months with one hour of class daily with both theory and practicals. The fee charged was just Rs 50 for total course, including material. At the end of the course, exams were conducted and a diploma was awarded to all successful students. Hundreds of students utilised these programme and were employed in government jobs, even abroad. Students from nearby towns like Nanded, Aurangabad etc also used to come for this course. One of the students got the job in Osmania University. The business which was supposed to be a secret and with very few people, my father thought to impart the knowledge and make it available to one and all. Likewise, he was instrumental in starting the first association for photographers at state level and also at South India level. In those days there was a ban or quota on imports of photography goods. The SIPATA could collectively negotiate with the government for releasing more photography goods to the industry and this helped all, but particularly the small businesses. He worked a lot for the associations and in fact used to travel to Madras and Delhi at his own expense in the interest of the trade. 

My father had three brothers and therefore he ventured and started a studio in Tandur, RR district about 60 years ago, and even today it is run by his younger brother Shri Gyanchandji Vyas and family. The other two brothers settled in Jaisalmer and are in photography business even now.

Goverdhan Das ji Vyas married Mrs Kesar Devi Vyas and she was big support even in the studio. His motto was to serve the industry 24/7. The press photographers used to come for films even at midnight and he used to service them with a smile and encouraging words. Goverdhan Das ji Vyas is blessed with five sons and all of them are in the same photography business in Hyderabad. All are very well educated. Mr Bhanwarlal Vyas and Mr Madhav Vyas joined the family business in 1965/66 which was a great support to my father. In fact Mr Madhav Vyas has done a diploma in photography from JNTU, now known as JNAFAU, and he was a good help in teaching the students of the photography institute.  His third son Dr Motilal Vyas has done his PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics, and he worked for NASA. He has done scientific photography, he had covered the total solar eclipse of 16 February, 1980 using all types of cameras, including field, regular SLRs and telescope attached SLR camera bodies. This was first of its kind and unheard of.

The fourth and fifth sons, me and my younger brother are also associated in the same business for last more than 30 years. My father had to close the photography institute for business reasons but I wanted to continue my father’s dream of spreading the knowledge of photography, and hence stared the BYAS ACADEMY OF PHOTOGRAPHY, wherein we conduct seminars, trainings, workshops with practical sessions for all everyone, including students, amateurs, professionals and hobby photographers.

In the year 1989 we had organised the FIRST STATE PHOTOGRAPHY TRADE AND PROFESSIONALS CONVENTION at Indira Priyadarshini hall. It was graced by Ms Kumud Ben Joshi, the then Governor of our state as Chief Guest and the guests of honour were Shri N. Bhagwandas IAS, then Chief Secretary and Mr P R S Rao, Chairman and MD of Hindustan photo films. On this occasion, we felicitated all senior photographers from press, studios and traders from our state. This was appreciated by one and all.

Friends, during this long journey of nine decades, my father was always open to the changing times and challenges faced by the industry, he adapted to all the newer developments and the technology from black & white to today’s latest technology of digital photography. Now, the fourth generation of our family is also in the business, and my father has always encouraged to go for new technology, to take risks and at the same time do clean and transparent business. The idea is to care and share. 

And now BYAS PHOTOGRAPHY ACADEMY, formally started last year, holds a vision to spread the knowledge of photography among beginners, students, and others.

Every month we conduct two batches of students in a two days course of Basic Photography, apart from regular one day workshop with Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, and Sony. Sony came forward to co-sponsor the two Days Basic Photography Course for beginners since last 8 months.

Also Asian Photography sponsored their monthly magazines for our every participant who attends the workshop and basic photography course. Thanks to AP team.

Madan Gopal Vyas 

MD, BYAS FOTO WORLD

The maker of adapter and accessories, Fotodiox is launching a new piece of gear. Named as the Vizelex ND Throttle, the piece of equipment is a Sony E-mount to Canon EF-mount adapter. The adapter comes with a variable ND filter that’s capable of ND2 all the way up to ND10 (10-stop difference) built-in.

By placing the ND filter at the back of the lens, wider lenses won’t suffer from distortion that might happen when it’s placed in the front.

The adapter itself is designed in line with the rest of Fotodiox’s adapter line-up.  The Vizelex ND Throttle adapter is currently for sale for $100 on Fotodiox’s website. 

Canon India has announced that Dr. Alok Bharadwaj, its Executive Vice President will be moving on an international assignment to Canon Singapore, which is the headquarters of its South East & South Asia business operations. The change is effective 1st January 2015.

Dr. Bharadwaj will be heading the Corporate Strategy Group as the Senior Vice President and will be responsible for strategic business planning and execution, as well as corporate communications for Canon’s South East & South Asian regional operations. He will also be overseeing business development in emerging Asian markets in this region. In his new role, he will be reporting to Mr. Kensaku Konishi, President and CEO of Canon’s South East & South Asia Operations.

Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President and CEO, Canon India said, “I wish to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the significant contribution made by Dr. Alok Bharadwaj for Canon India. His indomitable spirit has helped shape Canon’s image in India and improved our market leadership, while setting industry benchmarks at the same time. We are a global company and believe strongly in leadership development with international roles. We wish him the very best for his new assignment in Singapore.” 

Feeling elated on this movement, Dr Alok Bharadwaj commented, “It has been an incredible journey for me at Canon India which I joined in 2001. Canon has an extra ordinary magnetic culture. I have had the opportunity to build and work with an excellent team that supported me overcome numerous business challenges and in recording massive growth for Canon in India. I am truly thrilled to have been a part of this success story and am grateful to my staff, partners and customers. India experience has opened the doors for my international assignment which I am quite excited to take. I look forward to tackling newer challenges in other emerging Asian markets.  It is a promising new role and I am eager to start.”

Dr. Alok Bharadwaj is a seasoned corporate executive and an old hand at Canon India, having served for well over 13 years in leading its business operations. He has won numerous accolades and awards including “The Best CMO of the Year” from the CMO Council USA, “The Most Influential Person in Photography”, “Corporate Executive of the Year”, “Most Favourite Country Manager”, ” Outstanding Global Manager” to name a few. 

Canon India will have no direct successor to the position of EVP. The president and CEO of the company will continue to head India business operations.

Once every two years the world of imaging converges onto Koln for the biggest photographic imaging fair called Photokina. Although the speed of internet has broken all geographical boundaries and seems to be threatening the very existence of all such exhibitions across the globe, especially in developed countries, the 2014 edition showcased technology that would make an avid user of the industry proud. I had spoken about this in my editorial in the September 2014 issue and as predicted some of the products and technology were on showcase at this year’s show. So if you didn’t get a chance to visit the biggest show this year, then we can give you a lowdown of what was showcased at the show.

While there were certain speculations that Canon might release a professional DSLR at the show, as predicted by us, the company unveiled the successor to the already popular EOS 7D with its Mark II version.  The 7D Mark II features 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, with a DIGIC 6 image processor, and a major upgrade from its predecessor, a 65-point autofocus system. The camera also features an updated version of the Dual Pixel AF that first featured on the 70D. The 7D Mark II features a continuous shooting drive of 10fps, which has been upped from the 8 fps in the 7D. The camera has a 1.4 million-dot, 3-inch LCD screen, however, not articulated. While the base ISO of the camera maxes out at 16000, it’s expandable to 51200. 

When Canon had introduced its Powershot G1X in 2012 it was clear that they were going to explore the larger sensor in a compact body formula, especially after its not-so-successful entry in the mirrorless market. The G1X was a good camera and it was only natural that the company would launch an update in the same series. The Powershot G7X is the first Canon camera with the 1-inch sensor. The large-sensor compact camera features Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor, with a 20.2 megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor. 

With an equivalent focal length of 24-100mm, the camera features 31 focus points, with 6.5fps, and has an ISO range of 125-12800. It features an articulated, tilting 3-inch LCD touchscreen that can be moved 180-degrees upwards. When it comes to video, the camera can record full HD videos at 60fps. The camera also has in-built wi-fi, for image and video sharing. 

Apart from this the company also launched other products but some notable new lenses included the Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. 

Although there hasn’t been an update on when the products will be released in India and its prices, we expect it to be here by November. The G7X is set to be available in the US market by October this year, and will be priced at around $700. The EOS 7D Mark II is set to hit the stores by November and will be priced about $1800 (body only), or with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM for $2150. 

I expected a lot more from Nikon at this year’s show, although everyone visiting the show might have known that the company is not going to launch too many new products, as they had already launched the Nikon D810 and announced the D750. So we swung by to check out the Nikon D750, which was the new APS-C offering from the company. 

It is the smallest and lightest FX-format (full-frame) digital SLR camera in the company’s line-up. The D750 features built-in Wi-Fi, tilting monitor, 24.3 megapixels, 91K-pixel RGB sensor, and high-speed continuous shooting rate of approximately 6.5 frames per second for both FX- and DX-format.

According to Nikon, the D750 is set to challenge the common assumption that the higher a D-SLR’s specifications, the bulkier it becomes. The D750 includes technologies designed to offer a strong, lightweight camera without compromising on image quality. Its FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor and EXPEED 4 image-processing engine are packed into a monocoque structure, framed by carbon-fiber, reinforced thermoplastics (LFT) and magnesium alloy to provide durability. 

We have done an exclusive review of the product in this month’s issue, so make sure to check it out in the review section.

Well for anyone who is not part of the inner circle of the industry, their visit to the Sony booth might have been the biggest disappointment, if they were expecting some camera launches. But on the other hand for the ones who have already invested in Sony camera bodies, the show might have brought some excellent news. 

As mentioned in my editorial last month, our sources had already confirmed that Sony would not be launching any cameras at the show, but the manufacturer did announce a line-up of lenses that were much awaited and rather needed. Sony unveiled the FE PZ 28-135mm F4 G OSS, a lens specially designed and optimised for video. The new lens is a full-frame E-mount lens, with a power zoom, and three separate rings with ridges for zoom, manual control and aperture.

According to Sony, what’s special about the lens is that it maintains its focus when the focal length is changed, thus helpful when closing in on a subject or zooming out.

With a weather-sealed body, the lens features a tripod collar mount. It will be priced at about $2500, and will be available by the end of December.

But what’s interesting is that it also announced a new lens by Zeiss with the Vario-Tessar T FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS. Another full-frame, E-mount lens, the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS is an ultra-wide zoom. The company also gave a roadmap of the lenses to expect in the coming year and you can check the chart of what’s to come in this image.

For a company that’s known more of its consumer electronics. Samsung has come a long way in the imaging industry. Probably one of the best cameras that we have seen at the show, the Samsung NX 1 seems to have everything going for it including its price. The camera features 4k video, 28-megapixels, new continuous autofocus tracking (which works really well) and a whopping price. 

The manufacturer also announced the high-end 50-150mm F/2.8 lens at the show. The NX 1 focuses on high speed and performance, featuring an all-new 205-point autofocus system, a shooting mode that offers 15fps continuous shooting and 4K video recording. The camera cover approximately 90% of the frame, and the phase-detect AF system is also available to use during video recording. If we are to assume correctly then the lens alone costs $1,599. The camera also features a built-in flash, an OLED electronic viewfinder, and a 3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen.

What got us going was the NX1’s design. It looks clean, simple and yet powerful. What is really amazing is the LCD display on the mirrorless camera which shows you a lot of information, a first for a camera in that segment, we suppose. The camera uses a new 28-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor and the touchscreen is as responsive as any other smartphone from Samsung. The availability is still a factor, and we don’t yet know when it will come to India, but company representatives mentioned that it should be available in the global markets by the end of October 2014.

There were few manufacturers that turned our heads at the show, and Fujifilm was surely one of them. Although the company currently doesn’t seem to be doing much in India, they probably showcased some of the most innovative technology at the show this year. They launched the Fujifilm X100T and the X30 apart from several lenses. 

We got a brief time with the X100T and the most interesting thing about the camera was its Hybrid Viewfinder. It was one of a kind and that alone puts the camera on the map. With the newly launched X100T, the company offers a more traditional rangefinder which overlays a zoomed-in display of the focus area in the viewfinder. If that didn’t make sense then take a look at the picture that we have shown here, which shows you the display when you stick your eye in the X100T’s viewfinder. The idea is to give you better information about the exact area that the camera is focusing on. And if you find that too much, then there is always an option of switching over to the regular display.

We used the camera and found it to be working well. If technology like this picks up, then it is only time that versions of these will be adopted by manufacturers soon into the cameras. Other notable features include a 16-megapixel APS-C X-Trans II sensor, minor changes to the body and look, the exposure compensation dial goes up to +3 and -3, inbuilt wifi for the first time, and an upgraded screen size of 3-inch. The camera is expected to the hit the stores in November for about $1300.

Also showcased was the new version of its X-T1 flagship mirrorless camera. Though similar to the regular model, the Graphite Silver edition offers a metallic finish and a retro looks, with some additional features. The camera has an electronic shutter (maximum speed 1/32000), a ‘natural live view’ mode, and the Classic Chrome film simulation. Fujifilm informed that the Graphite Silver X-T1 will be out in November for $1499.95 (body only).

Olympus did not really feature much at the show this year, besides showcasing a new lens and upgraded versions of their previous cameras. They launched a new lens which was the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO zoom lens, which is splash and freeze proof, and Olympus informed that it features the first-ever focusing system to power two high-grade lens elements using dual linear motors. Along with this, the company also introduced a 1.4x tele-converter which boosts the zoom range up to 420mm.

Apart from that there was a major firmware update of its flagship camera, the OM-D E-M1 at Photokina 2014. This firmware upgrade includes USB tethered shooting capabilities, ideal integration in the workflow for studio photographers. It also showcased its previously announced PEN E-PL7 which offers a 16MP CMOS sensor, 3-axis image stabilization system borrowed from the OM-D E-M10, 8 fps continuous shooting and built-in Wi-Fi. The E-PL7 provides an articulated 3″ touch LCD, capable of flipping downward by 180°, apt for selfies. Along with the E-PL7, Olympus has also announced an update to its OI.Share app as well as a black version of its M.Zuiko 12mm F2.0 prime.

Ricoh unveiled a few new cameras at the show and they seemed really cool for any visitor. First up was the Pentax K-S1 which had a very futuristic design to it, much like how Audi changed the way we looked at cars with its day-time running LEDs. The K-S1 features something similar, with glowing light popping out from everywhere, including its hand grip and the back side. It features a 20-megapixel CMOS sensor along with a new Prime MII processor that allows for sensitivities of up to 102,800. It can shoot 5.4 fps in the burst mode, and has full-HD video recording.

The company also launched the WG-M1 action cam, and for ones who are not familiar with this segment then the word GoPro will light up the IQ. So in short it is Ricoh’s version of the same. It features an ultra-wide-angle 16.8-mm equivalent F2.8 lens which gives a 160 degree field of view when shooting stills, which is reduced to 137 degrees when recording video. The action cam features a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch type CMOS sensor combined with an ISO range of 100 to 800 and can shoot bursts of images at speeds of up to 10 frames per second.

It shoots Full HD 1080p 30 fps, and can increase the frame-rate as resolution drops, by 848 x 480 it can record at 120 fps to produce slow-motion footage. There’s also an integrated stereo microphone which is extremely important to record the audio that you need to make your movies great. 

If you thought that it was the camera manufacturers that hogged all the attention at the show, then you might be in for a surprise. A number of companies launched new printers for the professional and home segment and these were some of the notable ones that we found.

When it comes to the photo-imaging segment there aren’t many companies that have enjoyed the sort of success that HP has. They launched a number of new products at the show which included the HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press, demonstrated for the first time in Europe, the HP Latex 300 Printer series and the HP Designjet Z6800 Photo Production Printer in action.

The company also introduced the new E-Canvas developed with alliance one partner, Felix Schoeller, to enable HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press users to print directly onto this new canvas substrate. This increased media versatility for HP Indigo customers will change business models for canvas printing by cutting production time and increasing cost-effective print formats, up to 32x46cm size. In addition, HP’s new Light Cyan and Light Magenta inks for the HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press and new media options were also showcased.

For the first time in Europe, HP printed lay-flat photobooks live on the new HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press with Felix Schoeller E-PHOTO Paper. 

All the major communication at the Epson booth seemed to be surrounded towards the SureColor SC-P600 A3+ photo printer, which made its global debut at the show. The printer than can print up to A3+ features the company’s new UltraChrome HD and Vivid Magenta ink to produce prints. The new nine-colour UltraChrome HD inkset can reproduce wide colour gamut and with a 2.84 DMax – the industry’s highest black density, produce deep, rich blacks and ultra smooth tonal gradations said the company. It features a 2.7-inch touch panel and can print wirelessly even without getting connected to the PC.

From the professional front Epson launched the SureLab D700 photo production printer. It featured its first compact six-colour photo production printer, offering a wide range of media and format options. Combining vibrant, high-quality colour output with reliability and cost-efficiency, this standalone printer is ideally suited to photo production businesses, photo shops, event photographers, minilabs and copy-shops.

The SureLab D700 uses Epson’s highly flexible inkjet technology to print multiple sizes (from 4 inches up to A4 wide and from 3.5-39 inches long) on a wide range of media, including glossy, lustre and paper-based matte media. In addition to providing a high level of size/media flexibility, the productive SureLab D700 can deliver up to 360 6x4inch prints and 180 8x6inch prints an hour.

While the action around the Canon booth was naturally around the cameras and its new launches. Tucked away behind in its private area was the Canon Dream Labo 5000 which the company announced last year. Canon has already installed 2 machines in the Southern part of India at this point of time, and seemed upbeat about the same. It’s the company’s first photo production printer with inkjet-based technology. It features 7-colour ink technology to print a wide range of colours.

At Photokina, DNP presented an innovative printing solution in its new Nexlab NL3000 system. Scalable from multi-printer setups to a full-scale retail minilab, this system features new order management software Nexlab6 with an intuitive GUI, dashboard functionality, including Pre-judge Print (PJP), and large-format printer support. 

There were lots of launches in the same segment, but we will bring you what some of the more popular companies did in the industry.

At the show Elinchrom displayed a variety of products some of which was already announced, including new products. For instance, the company displayed its Pro Light heads which were announced earlier this year including the series of Litemotiv softboxes which were announced at the show. 

The Litemotiv series are sixteen-sided softboxes, available in the variants of 120cm and 190cm diameter can be used either as softboxes or even with deflector mounted in the center. The Elinchrom FS30 Fresnel Spot, can apparently mount on any Elinchrom head made since 1972 and offers a 20° to 45° variable beam angle. Additionally, they announced the Quadra Reflector Adapter MK-II, a Quadra Protective Cap and a ProTec Trolley bag.

It’s difficult to keep the name Manfrotto out of a sentence whenever the word tripod is mentioned. At Photokina 2014, the company unveiled new products designed for all kinds of photographers, from enthusiasts to professionals. These include coloured Befree Tripods, the X PRO Geared Head, the new 190X range, the Off road Collection and the Mediterranean Bags Collection.

The new Befree Tripod is now available in green, red, grey and blue. Quick to set up and simple to use, this innovative and lightweight tripod allows photographers on trips to have a valuable and reliable support for their pictures. Thanks to the unique folding mechanism, the legs fold perfectly around the head and quick-release plate attachment into a closed position, making it only 40 cm (15.7 in) in length.

Metz announced a compact LED panel for smartphone and tablet photographers. Fitting into the headphone jack of your smart device, the new mecalight LED 72 smart lighting panel features a swivelling base and provides up to 72 Lux of illuminance for mobile photographers. The tiny video light has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which means it can also be used off-camera for more creative lighting angles. Using a button on the back, the light function can be set to 3 levels: full output, reduced output, and flashing. The Metz mecalight LED 72smart will be available in five colours: black, white, pink, green and blue. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

The accessory major had its booth divided in several separated exhibition sections that is commonly can be seen in Department Stores. Targeted towards the urban traveller, the brand showcased a number of photo and outdoor accessories.

Tokina showcased two new lenses at Photokina 2014, the completely new 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX (APS-C) aspherical SD (IF) lens, and the AT-X 24-70mm f/2.8 PRO FX (Full-frame) aspherical SD (IF) lens, which was previously shown at CP+. These lenses feature SD technology – Super Low Dispersion – designed to reduce chromatic aberrations. The lenses also feature internal focus (IF).

Along with traditionally exhibiting wide variety of Photographic Filters, HOYA announced next generation filters with new coating technologies. They showcased the PROND1000, which has a 10-stop light reduction equal to a ND optical density of 3.0. The PROND filters use Hoya’s exclusive clear optical glass that has a metallic ACCU-ND coating front and back to create the neutral density affect.

Visitors also had a chance to get acquainted with product lines from SLIK. A number of its tripods were showcased, targeting both still photography and videography. It’s heads, legs, monopods and other accessories were also showcased at the event.

Polaroid put instant photography on the map when it launched its instant cameras long back. With digital photography posing a major challenge to the company in the 21st century, Polaroid bounced after a challenging period recently. At the show the company showcased it Socialmatic, which was announced a while ago but is still in development and expected to ship sometime later this year. The few prototypes at the show received a great response from the consumers and we were happy to play with it as well.

The Socialmatic combines a 14MP camera, an Android smart device and a Polaroid Zero Ink technology printer in a fairly bulky case that is, to a degree, reminiscent of the Polaroid Instant cameras from the past. There is also a 2MP rear camera for selfies, an LED flash, a 4.5-inch touch screen, stereo speakers and 4GB of built-in memory that can be expanded via a microSD slot. The device offers a GPS sensor and Bluetooth. It connects to the Internet via a Wi-Fi module but there is no GSM capability. 

On the touchscreen you control an Android operating system that looks just like what you are used to from your phone. Once logged in you have access to the Google Play Store and can install your favourite apps. On the front a mini-LCD called “Mood Assistant” allows you to display your mood via emoticons or find new followers on the socialmatic network using a QR-code. The Socialmatic camera will be available before the end of the year for US$299. A pack of 50 sheets for printing will set you back another US$20.

When Lytro cameras were announced using light-field technology they created the biggest buzz that the industry had ever seen. But post that the company seemed to run into some challenges. But at Photokina this year the company was present in full gusto and had customers flock their booths in an around. Although there wasn’t anything new that the company showcased or launched, just seeing the camera in action was a delight. 

In many ways Photokina is basically a show where all manufacturers put their best foot forward, and Nikon did exactly that at this year’s show. We stumbled upon this technology and it was just too good to pass up. Nikon along with Mark Roberts Motion Control has worked upon a motion control system that is widely used for number of applications.

Displayed right in the middle of the booth, this technology was just demanding attention. Mounted with a Nikon D810 on the robot, the system mapped certain points which are pre-programmed to provide a flawless motion while shooting a video. The idea is to give it a very human feel, so that it’s seamless and fluid.

All in all this year’s show was very interesting and the technology on show was worth the trip. Stay tuned to our magazine because we will soon be reviewing most of the products that have been launched at the show.