Copyright (c) 2005 Photoreporter.com. All rights reserved. http://www.photoreporter.com The Imaging Industry's Online Community en-us 11/18/2008 5 http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ts&articleID=2555 Fujifilm Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, announced several changes in executive level management, effective November 1, 2008. Ryutaro Hosoda was named president, Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation and president and CEO of Fujifilm USA, Inc. Hosoda succeeds Hiro Sakai, who has been nam...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ts&articleID=2554 Sigma Corporation acquired 100 percent of the stock of Foveon, Inc., the company that developed the original three-layer image sensor for digital cameras. Under the terms of the acquisition, Foveon will continue its high-res sensor development operations in San Jose, California. Foveon held the spo...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=pom&articleID=2553 MAC Group named Louie Lu the Field Marketing manager for Induro tripods and support gear. Lu, an electronic engineer with over 20 years of photography and photo retail sales experience, will conduct product training for representatives, salespeople and customers. Lu will also act as liaison with p...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ltte&articleID=2552 I just read Jon Sienkiewicz’s article on abbreviations and acronyms [July 14, 2008]. Interesting. And I have to agree with him. The only thing I don’t understand is how with all his rant, he uses JON for JOHN. Oh well, back to selling digital cameras at a loss. Pat Patterson, owner Pat’s Camera...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=fc&articleID=2551 InfoTrends made some dramatic changes in how they approach a conference. The PhotoPublishing Summit, held October 14, 2008 in Burlingame, California, reached for a sweet spot in total business—but InfoTrends did it in a different way. The program was filled with many good speakers, and a trade exh...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=fc&articleID=2550 Well, no, it’s not that bad, but even photo retailers who’ve targeted specific segments of the consumer market are casting wide nets. As one dealer told me, “Right now we’re targeting anyone who comes into the building.” What I set out to find was not only who retailers are targeting but which con...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2549 ODM Installs Casemaking System in Scandinavia FotoKnudsen AS of Norway recently installed On Demand Machinery’s Casemaking, Sticker (casing-in) and Smasher (building-in) systems for producing photo books on demand. The largest photo company in Norway with annual revenue of about $50 million and 230...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2548 According to the e-tailing group’s 3rd Annual Mindset of the Multi-Channel Shopper Holiday Survey, sponsored by e-commerce specialist ATG, “for the first time, the Web has surpassed the store as the preferred way for multi-channel shoppers to purchase holiday gifts.” Based on an online survey of ov...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2547 The consumer DSLR segment is experiencing significant growth, contributing substantially to the overall digital camera market in Western Europe, according to a recent InfoTrends study. While here in the States, the research firm says “the type of photographer a consumer identifies with has significa...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2546 Compared to enormous imaging expositions like PMA and Photokina, the recent 2008 PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo, held October 23–25 at NYC’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, was more compact, less intense and not generally considered a prime venue for new product intros. However, ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2545 ClearBags, which recently changed its name from Impact Images, was founded back in 1992 with the primary purpose of creating innovative see-through bags and packaging that showcase photographic prints and artwork, enhance the perceived value of the products they protect, and facilitate retail transa...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=fc&articleID=2544 The trend toward smaller and more affordable digital SLRs is making it harder to sell top-of-the-line compact digital cameras these days. But DSLRs aren’t for everyone, and there are more than enough serious photographers desiring smaller cameras to keep the high-end compact category alive. Plus, ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2543 A recent InfoTrends study pointed out that “more consumers are opting to print their cameraphone photos at retail,” with print volume from cameraphones nearly doubling between 2007 and 2008. The catch is, double a relatively small number and you end up with a relatively small number. Said David ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2542 Wireless Zone reports that cameraphones are increasingly becoming the picture-taking device of choice. According to a recently published study, the company says about 1 in 5 consumers already use a cameraphone as their primary camera. Mark Asnes, vice president and COO of Wireless Zone (wirelesszon...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2541 Recognizing the trend by creative archivists to increasingly turn to their digital images and computers to preserve memories, Serif introduced Digital Scrapbook Artist, a photo-realistic digital scrapbooking program. The program features: high-resolution embellishments, with every piece of materia...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2540 Canon unveiled the imagePROGRAF iPF6200, a 24-inch large-format printer targeted at photographic and graphic arts professionals. Utilizing 12 colors of Lucia color pigment ink, said to offer “an extremely large color gamut and optimized for printing digital photographic imagery,” the iPF6200 employ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2539 The MemoryKick MediaCenter, distributed by Argraph Corp., lets consumers view, share and store their digital photos as well as play other media files, such as MP3 music files and video clips, all without a computer. Users can transfer images from a camera, camcorder or USB drive, as well as from C...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2538 Weston Gallery calls its patented 5 Second Slide & Store “the industry’s first foolproof frame” that addresses various problems in traditional framing and photo storage by combining several features into one product. “For the last three years we’ve performed extensive consumer and market research ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2537 Nikon’s newest tutorial DVD guides viewers on advanced creative lighting techniques under the instruction of award-winning National Geographic Traveler photographer Bob Krist and world-renowned photojournalist and lighting expert Joe McNally. A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting demonstrates the ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=p&articleID=2536 Revealed at PhotoPlus Expo, Sony’s latest SnapLab digital photo printer, the UPC-R20L, is a compact all-in-one unit upgraded to offer event photographers flexibility and features for professional digital photofinishing. The enhanced system was developed to help pros develop new business and revenue...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ts&articleID=2535 Just a week after reporting it is taking restructuring actions immediately to address its deteriorating liquidity, Circuit City Stores filed a petition for reorganization relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The company said stores would remain open for business and it is ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ts&articleID=2534 DemystifyingDigital.com, the Internet site known for helping consumers “make sense of today’s technology,” officially relaunched with a host of user-friendly new features. The newly designed site, found at demystifyingdigital.com, which is targeted at people who are confused by the myriad of digita...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2533 PNY Technologies is donating $100,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of the 2008 Thanks and Giving campaign to help find cures for pediatric cancer and other deadly diseases. The company is also holding a family photo contest to raise additional money for the hospital. At St. Jude...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=ts&articleID=2532 Market research firm The NPD Group released the results of its annual survey of consumers’ holiday spending intentions, reporting that 26 percent of consumers said they plan to spend less. Last year, only 18 percent of those surveyed said they planned to spend less. “This 8 percent decline illustr...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=e&articleID=2531 As we were going to press, we learned that Circuit City had just filed for bankruptcy protection. Is this a product of the economy’s current doom and gloom, or a warning shot to the retail community? To blame the economic crisis for Circuit’s decision to file would be convenient, but certainly far ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2530 Our long national nightmare is over. No, not the election campaign—lousy cell phone cameras. Finally, after years of suffering through 1.3 megapixel, 2MP and even 3MP cameras in cell phones with plastic lenses, slow shutter speeds and no flash, we’ve finally reached the magic 5MP level. Most casual...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2529 The broad spectrum appeal of digital SLRs isn’t news, but it looks like a lot of specialty dealers are expecting that appeal to help them out this holiday season. The DSLR’s versatile features, ease of use and high-quality images appeal to a range of customers. And in these tough economic times, the...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2528 Pundits who prognosticated a lull or plateau in the digital SLR market as we move forward into 2009 got it wrong. If anything, the pace of technological development, the emergence of fascinating features and the frenetic competitiveness in this key camera sector have been ratcheted up a few notches ...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=n&articleID=2527 I guess that we have all owned a Polaroid Land camera at one time or another. Instant (chemical-based) photography was and is a bit of a miracle to the layman. The entry and then dominance of digital photography is putting an end to that old system, but it is being rushed to oblivion by the sudden a...read this article and more at photoreporter.com. http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=113&num=19&vol=16&articleType=fc&articleID=2526 A long time ago, someone gave me the best advice I ever heard, and he wasn’t even talking to me; he was talking to himself. I’m sure his words were not original, but they’ve stuck with me all these years nonetheless, and I’ve passed them along when appropriate. Simple, succinct—and something to keep...read this article and more at photoreporter.com.