Big Blog Day - Gorgeous New Lenses Just Unpacked

I am starting to be surprised by the improvements in the packaging of new photographic equipment.

 Oh, sure, as a sales person I still complain about the way SOME manufacturers package new cameras in a way that you cannot get the component parts back into the box so that the customer can take it home - and SOME manufacturers of inkjet paper have such confusing packaging as to harm their own sales...but there is a new run of goods coming that have benefitted from real imagination in the shipping.

Case in point are the new Touit lenses from Zeiss. Of course the lenses themselves are beautiful, as one would expect. These are the specials intended for use on Fuji X-mount and Sony E-mount. We've gotten examples of each type in today - the 12mm f:2.8  and the 32mm f:1.8. The boxes they come in are so nice I have just opened them and photographed the wrapped lenses - I shall leave it to the buyer to go further and expose the actual lenses.

I particularly love the way the Zeiss people have stated on the top of the box that you opening it is the moment they live for. Clever, clever marketing.

Something To Your Advantage

Those of you who will be travelling shortly, and wish to record images of exotic scenery and native customs would do well to repair to the shop of Camera Electronic in Stirling Street in this city, where you will learn something to your advantage.

You would be well advised to bring your purse with at least $ 500 in it and be prepared to spend it. You will not regret the decision.

Ask to speak to Gavin or Dick in particular or any of the other staff should they be free.

A Good Night Well Spent - With Kingsley And Crew - DSLR Video

Did goe to Shoot Photography in Stirling Street laste night and was greatly amused.

The venue was warm on a cold night, and filled with enthusiasts, equipment, and expertise - and I benefitted greatly from the lecture.

Kingsley Klau from Photo Coffee in Rockingham hosted a beginner's course on the video capabilities of the DSLR. This was to assist members of the WAPF to access the video section of the cameras that they already own - and to prepare them for an upcoming competition. The Nikon company will be sponsoring a video comp in conjunction with the WAPF and there seem to be a number of really valuable prizes on offer.

Never mind the prizes - what Kingsley had to offer last night was really valuable - the logical presentation of the subject with practical help to each member of the audience in setting up their own camera. There was a variety of ancillary equipment to be seen as well, courtesy of one of the experienced members, and good advice from a professional in the video business. But the inspiration that Kingsley gave was what people really need - he recognises that some of the new capabilities of the equipment ned to be matched by confidence on the part of the users.

We got a mention, naturally, and hopefully someone will come in and buy everything in the shop from the specials list...My particular thanks go to the lady who provided the coffee-time cake and Florentine slice. A good Florentine slice bespeaks elegance and fine character, and if that isn't a broad hint, I don't know what is. Canadian butter tarts are also considered grounds for canonisation.

Apart from this, we got to meet Nikon again - always a pleasure - and come away with the determination to record something - anything - and get out there and experiment. Ah, Inspiration, thy name is Klau...

We Are Delighted To Announce - The New Nikon Lens

If you have enthusiasm for any of the following:

Air Shows
Surfing
Football
Tennis
Hoss racing
Wildlife
Birds
Safaris
Motor Racing
Surveillance Work

...you may be very interested in a carton of lenses that have just arrived in our shop. They are the new Nikon 80-400 VR lenses - the AF-S G lenses - that I reported in a previous blog. Here. Now. For sale.

I had the privilege of using one of the demo models of this a month or so back and was vastly impressed by the handling and speed of the lens - it is everything that we expect from the modern electronic Nikon lens. It should find its way to hundreds of camera bags and as fast as possible - this is the Nikon lens that answers the question Canon raised with their 100-400 lens in the past. It will remain to be seen whether this poses a new question.

I daresay a number of prospective buyers will now start the long process of reading every internet rumour and review for this lens - I expect them to arrive with Officeworks looseleaf binders full of printout from their investigations...( Complete with impossible prices from faraway places with strange-sounding names. Calling, calling, to meeeee...)

Sorry about that. Little burp of cynicism. Better now.

Never mind the reviews. Bring your body down here - together with your camera body - and clap our demo lens on it and take some pictures outside in Stirling Street. We have arranged for the BHP company to erect a test target on St. Georges Terrace for your convenience. You will be impressed by the new Nikon lens.

Uncle Dick

Modest Proposals - Foto Reports From The Guild

Greetings foto fans and welcome to a new season of Modest Proposals - your view of the photographic world through the eyes of The Guild.

First up is the news reported in the DP Review that a major Chicago newspaper has sacked its photographic staff, closed the darkroom and other processing facilities, and enrolled its reporters in a course on how to take pictures with an iPhone. This is an on-going story that will unfold with time, or as long as the newspaper can stay open. Sounds like this might be a measurable period of time...

The Guild applauds this move to downgrade the profession, and sees it as a land mark decision in the fight for poorer quality images. No longer will readers have to put up with seeing the faces and actions of newsmakers clearly and have to endure well-lit or carefully-composed shots. This sort of thing has been going on far too long - and it is time it stopped. From now on the public will be encouraged to use its imagination about news photographs - filling in the gaps between the pixels just as they please.

Note that we cannot get an official statement as to whether the displaced photographic staff will be given 457 visas and moved to Perth to replace our current lot of newspaper photographers. It might be a good idea if the relevant local people form a mob with pitchforks and torches and storm up the street. Around dusk with some side-lighting would be nice. Try 1/60 second and f:2.8. Focus on the front rank.


On to the next bulletin - the Bureau of Statistics has released the report on weddings and has highlighted the number of these ceremonies that are being done for second, third, and fourth marriages.

This has led to an enterprising studio here in Perth instituting a service for these customers in the form of a book of tear-out coupons to be issued at the first ceremony but allowing for discounts for second and subsequent ones.

Dear old Elizabeth Taylor is long gone, and she would have got a roll of tickets on a dispenser - but there will be lots of others. The studio, Radish Foto, has been so named because it repeats on most people.


For our final news we would like to offer the readers of The Stiletto the chance to go into the 2014 Photographic Competition.

As usual there will be a historic images section devoted to photographic representation of great moments of treachery in the past. This is always popular, and has become more so with the introduction of digital filters that simulate old plate and film camera work.

There will also be the usual BGA Year In Review section that awards a prize for he best photograph of a Guild-registered stab in the 2013-2014 period. These are generally more modern images.

This year we are also going to include an Apprentice Section so that Guild apprentices for the current year may also compete. Time to start snapping, kids.

Here is a picture to keep you happy in the meantime.

Still Time To Get A Seat - Click West

Normally I would not advise someone to grab their seat in public...but tomorrow night is an exception. Mind you, you'll need to start searching for it today.

The WAPF is holding their second big exhibition of competitive photographs at Carousel's La Premiere cinema tomorrow night - the 6th of June.

This is the big one for WA camera clubs, with some of the finest photos by WA members shown on one of the biggest screens you will ever see. This beats setting up a bed sheet and a Hanimex Rondette in the CWA hall by a long shot...

The WAPF has a website dedicated to this competition - just Google on over to it and look up at the top of the page. There is a section that lets you book a seat for the night. There is reserved seating, seniors seating and lots of other things. Pop over there now and grab the telephone.

Note on the site that there are a number of big photographic names here in Perth associated with this competition - not least of which is us down here at Camera Electronic. We'll be sending one of the chiefs to the pow wow and I'll be reporting on the winners - with images I hope - afterwards.

Hurray For the Free Bee!

Here are a couple of announcements to gladden the heart and fatten the wallet of Camera Electronic customers. The Free Bees have flown back to the shop courtesy of the EIZO and Epson people.

EIZO make monitors - some of the very best in the business - and from time to time change and improve their model line-up. But they are not all serious colour-accurate technological experts - they like to go play sometimes and they want t you to do so too. Sooooo,

The EIZO people will be offering a FREE GoPro Hero white camera outfit valued at $ 269 with all ColorEdge with CN orders. This will apply to models CG246, CG276, CG223W, CX240-CAL, CX270-CAL, and CS230-CAL.

This offer is on right now and will go to the end of financial year - the 31st of July 2013.

Now the Epson people make printers and scanners. I know - I own one of each - and I feel myself particularly qualified to announce the next Free Bee Actually it is a Cash Back Free Bee and that is all the sweeter.

The Epson Photo Stylus R 3000 printer is a wonderful A3+ inkjet printer. It will do rolls, disks, sheets, and slabs. It has useful-sized ink cartridges that are not world-shatteringly expensive and the quality of the printing straight out of it is superb. Getting a correct print out of it is the least fight of any printer I have used and to some extent makes a lot of the complexity that is peddled about printing irrelevant. that is a the wrong thing to say when we are supposed to be experts....but the pleasure of just dropping the paper in and getting the print out is wonderful.

Anyway, Epson want to sell more, and to do so have offered $ 200 cash back if you get one of these printers between now and the 15th of July 2013 - you send them proof of purchase before the 30th of July 2013 and they send you real government money that you won't get arrested for spending. If you elect to purchase  a set of additional inks for the printer at the time of initial purchase - these are the 157-series - you get back and additional $ 200 - making $ 400 all up.

Now if you have bigger ambitions and want a heavier printer that will go up to A2 while still doing rolls, think of the Epson R 4900. This will get you a cashback of $ 500 in between now and July 31 2013.

SO - buzz in and gather up the honey....errr... I mean money.

Uncle Dick