Rangefinder Magazine
Archives

Suppliers News
July 2000

Better Light, a designer and manufacturer of professional digital cameras, has announced the launch of its new web site for professional digital photographers, located at www.betterlight.com. The Better Light line of digital scanning-back cameras includes the model 4000 and model 6000 scan backs-introduced in late 1997-and two new Super Model scan backs, the Super 6K and Super 8K. The new web site was designed primarily as a "service site" for professional photographers and has five major sections: What's New?, Products, Support, Gallery and Contact Us. Future site upgrades in the second quarter of 2000 will include a greatly expanded Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, featuring digital images depicting common problems and how to correct them, and responses to the questions asked most often by Better Light customers. Information: Better Light, 1200 Industrial Rd., Unit 17, San Carlos, CA 94070-4129, (650) 631-3680, fax: (650) 631-2915, web site: www.betterlight.com.

George Eastman House has acquired a collection of black-and-white portraits of 80 famed cinematographers taken by celebrity photographer Douglas Kirkland, who has shot thousands of stars and documented more than 100 films. The gift comes to the Eastman House from Kirkland and Eastman Kodak Company's Professional Division. Kirkland's portraits of cinematographers were shown recently at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, from August through October 1999, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of The American Society of Cinematographers. The exhibition, titled 80 at 80, featured images of 80 award-winning cinematographers. Information: George Eastman House, 900 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607-2298, (716) 271-3362, fax: (716) 271-3970, web site: www.eastman.org.

Hasselblad and Kodak Professional, have announced the launch of an international photo contest, the Kodak/Hasselblad Open-International Photo Challenge 2000, celebrating the role photography has played in our past and will continue to play in our future. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers around the world. Based on the theme Unphotographed Millennium Moments, Past and Future, contestants are asked to create or re-create moments in time from the year 1000AD to 3000AD that they believe have not been photographed before, or may be photographed in the future, and that depict moments and events-historical or future-of importance to humanity in one way or another. The contest will first be judged nationally awarding three prizes in each participating country. First prize is a Hasselblad 503CW Millennium complete; second prize is a Carl Zeiss 120mm Cfi lens; and third prize is 200 rolls of Kodak Professional film. Information: web site: www.hasselbladusa.com or www.kodak.com/go/professional.

Nikon has named Anna Marie Bakker to lead the renowned photographic and optical company's communications efforts throughout the U.S. and Latin America. Bakker has been promoted to the position of General Manager, Communications, where she will be heading up the Communications Department of Nikon. In her new position, she will have responsibility for communications for all products sold by Nikon and will supervise the company's advertising, public relations, trade show, literature, point of purchase, direct marketing and special events activities. Bakker replaces Jerry Grossman, who has been named Nikon's General Manager, Internet Development and Marketing, a newly created post. Information: www.nikonusa.com.

Digital Art Supplies, a leading supplier of professional level ink jet compatible photo and fine art papers, has announced that they will be reselling the Hahnemuhle Collection of Digital Fine Art Paper. All of the papers within the collection are available directly through Digital Arts Supplies or can be ordered through their secure web store at [www.digitalartsupplies.com]. The Hahnemuhle Collection is manufactured by the Hahnemuhle Paper Mill, Einbeck, Germany, which has been producing quality mold artist papers for over 415 years. Their history with the traditional artists and close involvement with ink-jet printer manufacturers allowed Hahnemuhle to develop a series of watercolor papers specifically engineered and coated for modern ink-jet printing. These grades of Digital Fine Art paper can be used to create limited editions, giclées, original digital art, photo production and historic photo reproduction. The collection is currently available in 9 paper textures, multiple colors and a wide variety of sheet and roll sizes. Information: (619) 223-8095, fax: (619) 223-8099, web site:www.digitalartsupplies.com.

Tetenal won the competition for ink-jet papers during the PMA Show in Las Vegas. The winning paper Tetenal Spectra Jet Duo Paper Matte/Matte convinced the judges because of its excellent properties, photo realistic reproduction on both sides, excellent whites, high ink absorption rates, long extreme brilliance as well as high durability. The duo print paper has a weight of 80 lb./130 gr. per square meter and is supplied in packages of 100 sheets 11x17" and 200 sheets 8.5x11. The distributors in the U.S. photographic market are H.P. Marketing Corp. (New Jersey) and for the computer trade, Equin Technology (California). Information: Tetenal, 040 521 45-0.

Fujifilm's FinePix S1 Pro digital camera won two awards at the Fourth Annual Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA) Digital Camera Shoot-Out. Prints from the FinePix S1 Pro were chosen as best in the $5,000 and Below Professional Photographic Category, and the camera also was a winner of DIMA's prestigious Innovative Digital Product Award. In addition, Fujifilm's MX-1700 ZOOM won the Point-and-Shoot, $300-$599 category. In the separate DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out, the Fujifilm Pictrography 3000 took top honors in the Small Format (811ž42 x11 or less) category. Information: Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., 555 Taxter Rd., Elmsford, NY 10523, (914) 789-8148, web site: www.fujifilm.com.

Photo Marketing Association International has elected Mike Wodushek, Photoland, Inc., Appleton, WI, as its new president. The election took place during the PMA 2000 Annual Convention and Trade Show, where Wodushek's advancement from president-elect was automatic under the PMA constitution and bylaws. Prior to his position as president-elect in 1999-2000, Wodushek served as Association vice president and treasure. Other officers were also elected: F. Derek Whitby, Whitby's, West Sussex, England, was moved to president-elect; George R. Champagne, Abar Colorlab, Providence, RI, was elected Association vice president; and G. Michael Likierman, GrandVision, France, will become Association treasurer; and Roy S. Pung was re-elected executive director/secretary. Information: Photo Marketing Association International, (517) 788-8100, fax: (517 788-8371, web site: www.pmai.org.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. the industry leader in optical and digital imaging technology, has launched the Imageland.net Web site, a user-friendly online imaging resource designed to serve as a gateway for the sharing, storage and output of images for the dealer, consumer and SOHO markets. The first service being offered on Imageland.net is the Canon HyperPhoto Network, a general purpose consumer imaging site. Though the HyperPhoto Network, consumers have the option of uploading their images from their own PC or utilizing an authorized HyperPhoto Network dealer to upload their images to the network. It also offers a complete online imaging solution for dealers, comprised of a digitizing/upload/download system, an Internet destination for storage, sharing and online orders, and a distributed printing model. Information: Canon U.S.A., web site: www.usa.canon.com.

Kodak Professional has unveiled a multifaceted eBusiness plan to sell products online. Through Kodak's web site www.kodak.com/go/professional, customers will soon be able to buy products, submit and track orders and make payments. The strategy unveiled includes three major components: enabling online retail sales of Kodak Professional products; simplifying and strengthening the customer interface through the Internet for photo labs and dealers of Kodak Professional products; and further bolstering the popular and award-winning content in Kodak Professional's portion of www.kodak.com. The strategy will unfold in phases throughout 2000. Information: Kodak Professional, Eastman Kodak Company, 343 State St., Rochester, NY 14650-0414, (716) 724-9035.