[Dave]

Meanwhile, here’s a brief, mostly alphabetical, run down on what you’ll find at the NEC at the end of February. Remember that while some exhibitors have already revealed their plans for the show, others are playing their Focus cards close to their chest and won’t be spilling the beans until closer to the February 25th opening day. Watch that website!

Cameras, lenses, accessories, studio equipment

Colorama Photodisplay will be showing their range of backgrounds for the professional studio. This year there is an extended range of colours in the 25m lengths for better economy as well as ChromaGreen in the new 3.55 x 30m size. For portrait studios Colorama’s wipe-clean photographic white vinyl has been designed for high key work, whilst their black velour gives a rich non-reflective backdrop for dramatic low key shots. Colorama’s experienced staff will be on hand to advise on studio background handling systems and their built to measure Cove-Lock infinity coves.

To celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2007, Lowepro, which is being featured on the Daymen International stand, has joined forces with Polar Bears International, an organisation dedicated to understanding and communicating all points of view on issues affecting polar bears throughout the world. Global warming is causing arctic temperatures to rise, sea ice to break up and the majestic polar bear to lose the very ground it walks on.

Lowepro’s top man, Uwe Mummenhoff, will be giving a number of talks on the stand, describing the initiatives the company is organising and sharing his experiences following a recent trip to Churchill in Canada.

The DayMen stand will also be hosting a series of presentations by guest speakers including Colin Prior, Joe Cornish, David Ward and Tom Mackie.

There will also a selection of new Lowepro bags, including a brand new range of backpacks, designed specifically for digital SLR systems and there will be hot news on the best selling SlingShot range too as well as a chance for visitors to get their hands on the recently launched Apex pouches and shoulder bags.

New developments from Manfrotto on show will include a brand new version of the iconic 190 tripod range. The recently launched Modo range will also be on show, as will the popular 804RC2 & 808RC2 heads.

DayMen’s own staff team will be on hand to advise on the full portfolio of products, including the comprehensive range of top quality filters available from B+W.

Flaghead Photographic will be showing the latest offerings from Quantum, Green Clean, Expodisc, Walkstool and digiCOVER.

At the end of last year (2006) Quantum released a new Turbo battery, the Turbo Slim Compact, the smallest, most lightweight battery yet in the Turbo range, while the new QFlash 5d-R is now available with full integration into the Nikon and Canon wireless control system together with a number of new accessories.

Green Clean has recently expanded its range of sensor cleaning kits and introduced a clever system of air dusting tools for photographic and computer equipment, while digiCOVER is a brand new entry into the UK market, offering a range of custom made clear covers to protect LCD screens of digital cameras and other hand-held devices.

The unique Expodisc digital white balance solution is now available at a lower price, with Walkstool introducing their new Comfort range of lightweight, portable stools with telescopic legs, described by Flaghead as the ideal accessory for sports and wildlife photographers and bird-watchers.

One of the best known names in photography, Hasselblad, will be putting both analogue and digital cameras under the spotlight, along with scanners and Profoto battery and mains lighting, “quality equipment delivering the best possible results to professional photographers” as the company puts it. Keep an eye on the Focus website for news of possible pre-show launches from the Swedish company.

JP Distribution will be demonstrating the latest professional and enthusiast products from Mamiya, Sekonic, Lastolite, Ilford Switzerland, Peli, Billingham, Schneider, Giottos, Visatec and Gepe.

Just will demonstrating their range of camera and sensor cleaning products from Photographic Solutions Inc. and Kinetronics Corporation, along with a range of innovative protective products to ensure photographic equipment operates safely and reliably.

New products featured this year include LCD screen protectors and Just’s own CameraBivvy dust protector. Also on the stand will be technicians from Advanced Camera Services who will operate a camera clinic during show hours. Just will also be featuring Photopages masks from Publimaster and a new range of Storage products for digital media.

Kata UK, which modestly described itself as “the most exciting new distribution business to be formed in the industry in over a decade”, will be showcasing a wide selection of photographic accessories at Focus 2007. It will have on show the full range of high-tech carrying solutions, from backpacks and waist packs to modern takes on the traditional shoulder bag, together with the new Ergo-Tech series. To celebrate Gitzo’s 90th Anniversary, the full Gitzo range will be on show as will the prestigious National Geographic range of beautifully engineered camera support systems and environmentally friendly carrying solutions can be seen and tried. Finally, there will be Camera Armor, a new and innovative way to protect DSLRs.

From being a leading and long-standing trade supplier of photo frames, albums and accessories, all of which will be on display at Focus, Kenro has grown to become one of the most dynamic companies in the photo and digital market, with a vastly expanded product base.

Perhaps the most exciting of the new additions to the portfolio, the company says, is the range of Japanese-made, digitally-optimised Tokina DSLR lenses. Kenro was recently appointed UK distributor for these optics and the whole series will be on view at Focus, including the long-awaited 10-17 Fish Eye Zoom and the 12-24mm ultra wide-angle zoom.

Alongside Tokina, Kenro will also be showing the well-established premium-quality Marumi digital filters. Visitors will also see the new line-up of studio lighting equipment for both enthusiast and professional users, from a complete ‘studio in a box’ concept to high powered solo flash heads.

Last, but not least, Kenro will also be exhibiting a new range of stylish, quality camera cases.

On the Lee Filters stand this year will be information on a new filter system specifically designed for rangefinder cameras. This new system will greatly benefit users of rangefinder cameras (X-pan, Mamiya 7 and Leica) and will be given its first showing at Focus 2007.

Also new for Focus will be the launch of a new book from Lee Filters. Entitled, The Landscape Photographer’s Guide to using Filters, this 130 page book is a joint venture project from Lee Filters and eight leading landscape photographers. Full of stunning imagery and tips from the experts showing how, why and when to use filters, this book is described by its publishers as a must for all landscape photographers.

Featured on the stand of sister company Camera Bellows will be a range of screen shades for digital cameras, digital camcorders and laptop computers, as well as their bespoke bellows service for virtually any item of photographic equipment.

Nikon is one of the companies keeping their cards close to their chest but they have told us that their new look stand will be displaying the company’s entire product range from consumer through to professional. Visitors will have the opportunity to handle the new D80 and D40 digital SLR cameras as well as having a first look at a number of products which will be getting their exhibition debut at the show. There will, as always, also be an extensive programme of seminars with inspirational guest speakers.

High-end digital photography specialists Peartree will be exhibiting independently for the first time this year, with full backing from Leaf Europe, quite a feat for a company founded less than two years ago.

The highly anticipated Leaf Aptus S-Series will be on show and available for testing along with new Leaf Capture software, which will be demonstrated on both Mac and PC platforms. The brand-new Leaf AFi, an integrated medium format solution will also be on display.

Peartree Rental is a specialist digital sales and rental service, providing photographers with the latest cutting-edge solutions, education, expert consultancy and dedicated after-sales care.

Sigma’s already extensive catalogue was boosted at the end of 2006 by two new lenses and a new digital camera, all of which will be showcased at Focus.

However, as we went to press it was uncertain if the company’s SD14 DSLR, unveiled at Photokina, would be there because of last minute production delays.

The new lenses are an 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO lens and an18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS. The macro lens has a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, a minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9”) and a maximum magnification of 1:3, making it ideal for close-up photography, while the other is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras and is capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths from wide angle to telephoto.

Alongside them and other examples from right across the Sigma range is expected to be the company’s new DP1 high-end compact digital camera. It features a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct image sensor (2652 × 1768 × 3 layers) as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR and 16.6mm F4 Sigma lens, with a wide angle field of view equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera.

Speed Graphic says self effacingly that its stand will be much the same as usual, with a large stock of Manfrotto tripods at special show prices. However, there will be the first UK showing of a new concept Stroboframe flash bracket, designed to give the user of a large professional DSLR more convenience and speed of use, and several new products which Novoflex launched at Photokina.

These include the sophisticated VR-System Pro which offers total control for conventional or multi-row spherical panoramas, but in a much more compact and lightweight form than competing products. There are also two new lightweight ball heads, which, because they use rust-proof materials and no grease, can be immersed in water without any ill effects. Speed Graphic’s other exclusive German ball head line, FLM, will have updated models with improved panoramic bases, and a new accessory base which allows quick and easy levelling of any head without the user needing to adjust the tripod.

Long time Focus supporter Studio Décor will be displaying and demonstrating its broad range of studio equipment, and discussing studio fitting needs with potential clients. Featured this year will be the range of posing kits, with the Ideal' studio kit, and the Maximum baby and infant posing kit to the fore.

There will be a number of backgrounds on display, including the well established White Vinyl, making its 10th appearance at Focus. A new range of reasonably priced muslin/curtain backgrounds is also due to be launched at the event. With working demonstrations of background handling and lighting support hardware there will be something of interest for all current and prospective studio managers. The Denny range of professional quality backgrounds and imaginative props will also be well represented, and as usual there will be some super deals available.