Category: News – Page 77 – The Dead Pixels Society

Leica brings back Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH

January 30, 2021February 4, 2021 GaryPageau

Leica Camera has reissued the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH., which was originally produced from 1966 to 1975. Produced from 1966 to 1975, the original Noctilux 50 f/1.2 was the world’s first lens to feature aspherical elements, the company said. Its light sensitivity further contributed to the Noctilux’s legendary status, as did its unique image aesthetic. Once stopped down to f/2.8... Read More

News

Mediaclip named among Quebec’s leading businesses

January 30, 2021February 3, 2021 GaryPageau Mediaclip1 Comment

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec presented its “Women’s Business Awards” on the occasion of the launch of its Première en affaires magazine on Jan. 26, 2021. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Women of Scotiabank initiative and Inno-Center, the John Molson School of Management at Concordia University, with the support of BDC, Femmessor, E&Y... Read More

Earnings reports News

Smartphoto shows double-digit revenue in 2020

January 29, 2021February 5, 2021 GaryPageau smartphoto, Smartphoto Group N.V.

Wetteren, Belgium-based Smartphoto group again achieved another strong year in 2020. Revenue showed double-digit growth of 19.2% from 51.5 million euro in 2019 to 61.4 million euro in 2020. The company said improved marketing efficiency leads to an EBITDA growth of 34.9% from 8.8 million euro in 2019 to 11.9 million euro in 2020. Net cash increased by 5.0 million... Read More

Market research News

IDC says fourth-quarter smartphone shipments show growth

January 28, 2021February 5, 2021 GaryPageau Apple, Hauwei, IDC, Samsung, Smartphones

The worldwide smartphone market continued to improve in the holiday quarter of 2020 (4Q20) returning to familiar ground with 4.3% year-over-year growth, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 385.9 million devices during the quarter. While the full year 2020 declined 5.9% compared to 2019, the progress... Read More

News

MailPix announces top five photo gifts for 2020

January 26, 2021February 4, 2021 GaryPageau Canvas, MailPix

MailPix, the photo-printing, canvas and gifting site, announced the most-popular photo gifts for the 2020 holiday season. Despite the effects of the global pandemic, the company saw growth in several product categories. Canvas – Home decor products were popular this holiday season, with 16×20 and 20×30 size canvas prints leading the way. With so many working from home, customers were... Read More

News

Updated: Lifetouch, Shutterfly staff reductions near 800

January 25, 2021February 15, 2021 GaryPageau Lifetouch, Shutterfly

Updated: This article was updated to add the statement from Shutterfly below: An all-hands phone conference Thursday, Jan. 21, with Shutterfly CEO Hilary Schneider brought the news of a nearly 800 person staff reduction. According to reports from people on the call, the company’s Lifetouch National School Studios business bore the brunt of the reduction, with 700 positions eliminated in... Read More

News

Nations Photo Lab relocates to York County, Pennsylvania

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau Artsy Couture, Nations Photo Lab

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced Nations Photo Lab has moved its Cockeysville, Maryland-based Artsy Couture headquarters to Springettsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania. The $5.6 million relocation will create 125 new, full-time jobs in the Susquehanna Valley, according to a press release. “In this digital era, memories can be captured using many different devices, but they can only be eternally preserved... Read More

News

ZY Optics debuts 50mm f/0.95 lens in Leica M mount

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau Leica M, ZY Optics

ZY Optics debuted the $799 Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 lens in Leica M mount. The lens is specially redesigned to work well with Leica M camera systems and supports rangefinder coupling for focus assistance, the company said. The lens is also compatible with third-party AF adapters for Nikon Z or Sony FE cameras, the company said. The lens is available... Read More

News

Eugene Smith Fund announces 2021 grant call for entries

January 22, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau W. Eugene Smith Fund Grant

Due to the pandemic, the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund will again break from its 40-year tradition of honoring a single photographer with its grant ($40,000) and instead present five photographers each with $10,000. The decision to present five grants was first approved by the fund’s board of trustees in early 2020 to support an extended number of deserving grant... Read More

News

Inter-State Studio launches franchise program

January 21, 2021January 23, 2021 GaryPageau Inter-State Studio

Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co., North America’s largest family-owned school photography, planner and yearbook publishing company, is announcing the offering franchise opportunities via Inter-State Studio Franchise, LLC. To learn more, visit inter-statefranchise.com, call 660.826.1766, or email [email protected] “My grandfather started Inter-State in 1933, and for over 55 years, we have been partnering with independent photographers, sharing our processes, products and... Read More

News Podcasts

Dead Pixels Society podcast: Western European photo trends with Jeremy Wills, Futuresource

January 20, 2021February 8, 2021 GaryPageau Futuresource Consulting

Gary Pageau of the Dead Pixels Society talks with Jeremy Wills, senior market analyst, Pro AV and Imaging, for Futuresource Consulting. Wills covers the Western Europe photo market. In this podcast, Wills talks about the photo personalization market in Europe, the role of photo printing, the booming greeting card market, the behavior of Millennials and Generation Z, and more. Wills... Read More

News

FJ Westcott reports top management changes

January 20, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau FJ Westcott1 Comment

Toledo, Ohio-based lighting gear provider F.J. Westcott announced the appointment of Brandon Heiss as president effective Jan. 1, 2021. He started in the company in 2012 as Content and Social Media Specialist. Other staff announcements include Jennifer Holtsberry as vice president of customer relations, Brad Matthews as vice president of product development, and Josh Grzecki as the vice president of procurement... Read More

Events News

PRINTING UNITED Alliance, Idealliance intend to merge

January 20, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau Idealliance, PRINTING United Alliance

Printing industry organizations PRINTING United Alliance and Idealliance announced the intent to merge. The board of directors at each company have unanimously voted in favor of the merger. Last year, SGIA and PIA officially merged to become PRINTING United Alliance. This new venture with Idealliance will further support the association’s investment into the long-term success and fortitude of the industry.... Read More

News

PRO to distribute Vitec brands and Olympus products in the United States

January 20, 2021January 26, 2021 GaryPageau PRO, PRO Distributors, ProMaster

Photographic Research Organization (PRO), the leading buying group for the North American camera specialty channel, announced two major distribution deals this week. The Fairfield, CT, based buying group has been appointed the independent U.S. photo specialty distributor of Vitec imaging products, including brands like Manfrotto, Avenger, Joby, Lowepro, Gitzo, Lastolite, and more, as well as a distributor of Olympus camera, lenses,... Read More

News

Fujifilm U.K. consolidates photo operations into Imaging Solutions business division

January 20, 2021January 25, 2021 GaryPageau Fujifilm UK

Fujifilm U.K. announced a consolidation of its Photo Imaging, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices business divisions into a new Imaging Solutions business unit, Fujifilm Imaging Solutions – UK. This change combines the teams behind Instax, X Series, GFX, FUJINON, and other photo operations. The company said, over the last year, the U.K. market for mirrorless cameras declined for the first... Read More