Focus onimaging

Little bit underwhelmed this year, maybe the timing was a bit wrong with the Canon/Nikon availability of new cameras. Had it been in 6-8 months then there would be some show deals on the new cameras.

Think the market is starting to reach a plateau for a while, look where it's gone in the past 10 years, the changes have been massive, but it's not sustainable.
 
Went today, picked up a Lowepro Adventura 170 for £20 and some lens cloths... Was an okay morning, left by 1 though, too busy for me!

Still not quite sure I see the reason for so many people carnying SLR's, flash guns, telescope sized lens' etc, as if it's a photo shoot however! :D
 
Bargain-wise there were some savings - 60D body for £699, D700 for £1594 - but not really being that knowledgable about prices I didn't really notice the bargain of the century
 
I enjoyed the show in a wallet shrinking way. (Mrs Y consented to the purchase of a set of Lee soft grads and holder). First time I had been so I found everything fascinating. Biggest problem was driving down there. It usually takes us 2 hours 15min to the NEC, but today took nearly three and a half hours owing to multiple accidents on the M1.

Yep, those types with enormous back packs were a pain. I also found it odd that some were wandering about the show with cameras round their necks whilst not appearing to take shots. Is it a case of "Look what I've got"?
 
I went yesterday and have to agree with the comments about rude people. I took my 13 year old son who has a broken finger which is clearly strapped. He was trying things on the Canon stand and had his finger knocked a number of times by ignorant adults grabbing items before he had finished. He wanted to look at some of the Fuji bridge cameras either on their stand or at one of the sellers, Jacobs or Camera World, but you would think it was first day of Harrods sale with all the pushing in the queues. I don't know how grown adults can be so rude to a 13 year old. Even on the Fuji stand grown men snatching cameras from my son's hand. The staff on the stands where surprised as well. We gave up in the end and left after a few hours. We will just have to look locally for the camera and will probably end up paying a bit more. Not impressed.
 
The general demographic seems to be 50yo+ blokes, often with beard and/or combover but going by the general age of the punters, manners seem to have been left at the door. I doubt these people would be so rude in everyday life but i witnessed some acts of rudeness that if it were me, would have been rebutted with some strong words and an invitation to go outside. People tutting and swearing under their breath because a wheelchair user was in front, people barging past folks pushing prams, people elbowing in on the queue for the coffee shop!!

I did have a funny run-in with an old chap who gave me the stare of death; I was messing with some peli-style cases and he wouldn't give me enough room to open it because he was trying to get the attention of a lovely lass on the Linhoff stand. I managed to open the case, gave it the once-over then locked it. I couldn't lock one side though and then noticed I'd locked the sleeve of his jacket into it. I apologised and he just went 'huh!' and gave me a crappy look. I just walked off an let him unlock himself from the box..... :)
 
RE:the models (well the only one i took a picture of),
this is the shot i got. all i've done is crop it. (someone had pushed right in front as i was taking it so i had the top of his camera/head in the shot).



was very, very impressed with the lighting set up and this has made me start looking into doing a studio shoot.
 
specialman said:
The general demographic seems to be 50yo+ blokes, often with beard and/or combover but going by the general age of the punters, manners seem to have been left at the door. I doubt these people would be so rude in everyday life but i witnessed some acts of rudeness that if it were me, would have been rebutted with some strong words and an invitation to go outside. People tutting and swearing under their breath because a wheelchair user was in front, people barging past folks pushing prams, people elbowing in on the queue for the coffee shop!!

I did have a funny run-in with an old chap who gave me the stare of death; I was messing with some peli-style cases and he wouldn't give me enough room to open it because he was trying to get the attention of a lovely lass on the Linhoff stand. I managed to open the case, gave it the once-over then locked it. I couldn't lock one side though and then noticed I'd locked the sleeve of his jacket into it. I apologised and he just went 'huh!' and gave me a crappy look. I just walked off an let him unlock himself from the box..... :)
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I agree with the first paragraph!

A 50something bloke pushed infront of me in the Jacobs queue, I said "Excuse me, I think I was before you" not in a rude manor, and the reply was "huh"...
 
That's the one advantage of being female. Pointy toed shoes and pointy heels. Can inflict some pain onto the rude people ;)
 
Simian - that girl was sooooo photogenic was she not, especially with that hollywood lighting set-up that was being demonstrated? Lovegrove wasn't giving too much away but it was nice to see someone loving using different modifiers in a simple yet creative manner.

I have to say that the female models we top notch. The girl that Adam Duckworth had modelling was stunning, as was the girl on The Societies stand. There was a small stand along the wall where Zenfolio and the college exhibition were - she was absolutely beautiful and I had an instant crush. My mate had to remind me that we had stuff to see.... I was well and truly gawping (but not in a 50-year-old, baldy, combover way) :LOL:
 
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specialman said:
The girl that Adam Duckworth had modelling was stunning
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Do you mean the one in the blue dress? (I saw the talk at 3:30 about reflectors).
She was stunningly beautiful.

Still on the theme of rudeness, what specialman said has just reminded me of another instance.
I was at a publishers stand (with the books and magazines) looking through the backissues of B&W / Outdoor photography and there was a woman in an electric wheelchair next to me looking at something.
Next thing I know she just hits the button and barges infront of me, pushing me out of the way (for fear of my toes!) and stops to look through the magazines I was reading. I just stood and waited until she moved. Still bloody rude though.
 
Marcel said:
Do you mean the one in the blue dress? (I saw the talk at 3:30 about reflectors).
She was stunningly beautiful.
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She had a white dress that was all strap-like... very sexy, although I think she was in blue at some point - a lovely Brunette. Adam Duckworth = lucky boy :LOL:

EDIT: This was the scene...

IMAG0338.jpg


I recognise the guy circled in red - isn't he one of the testers on a photo mag? Bob something?

Anyway, I look like a perv with shots like this. I was just taking a snap of the crowd, honest :LOL:
 
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I went down today for the first time to see what all the fuss was about. The photos I had seen of the previous shows all had guys with their cameras, so decided to take mine along just in case there was something of interest. I only took a very small bag but I won't be taking it again. There was nothing worth taking photos of! I can't understand why anyone would take their camera. I loved looking round all the stands and got some good advice for future purchases. The best parts for me were the seminars on the stands. Very interesting.
I did have a guy pushing in front of everyone to get some model shots but they were using strobes with Pocket Wizards, so he's not going to get the shot anyway. Bonkers.

Looking forward to next year, although the camera will certainly be staying at home!

Gareth
 
specialman said:
Didn't know Lara Jade was demoing.... not overly keen in her work but she's had a meteoric rise to fame that must hold some great info :)
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I've been following her career for a while, noticed her work 4 years ago so it's not so meteoric to me but I can see your point, her career has taken off more since she moved to NYC last January.

Simian said:
RE:the models (well the only one i took a picture of),
this is the shot i got. all i've done is crop it. (someone had pushed right in front as i was taking it so i had the top of his camera/head in the shot).



was very, very impressed with the lighting set up and this has made me start looking into doing a studio shoot.
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Personally I think that set up has too much harsh lighting from the top, see shadow under the chin. It could do with some softer light or a beauty dish.
 
Marcel said:
Do you mean the one in the blue dress? (I saw the talk at 3:30 about reflectors).
She was stunningly beautiful.

Still on the theme of rudeness, what specialman said has just reminded me of another instance.
I was at a publishers stand (with the books and magazines) looking through the backissues of B&W / Outdoor photography and there was a woman in an electric wheelchair next to me looking at something.
Next thing I know she just hits the button and barges infront of me, pushing me out of the way (for fear of my toes!) and stops to look through the magazines I was reading. I just stood and waited until she moved. Still bloody rude though.
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One of my best friends was paralysed in a car crash and he can't believe how rude other people in wheelchairs are. We had an incident where someone in an electric chair charged passed a queue by the Jacobs stand running over a few feet. A few choice word from the injured were totally ignored. I do think some better organisation would help. Somewhere to leave large purchases and a ban on bringing large camera bags into the event would help.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I've been following her career for a while, noticed her work 4 years ago so it's not so meteoric to me but I can see your point, her career has taken off more since she moved to NYC last January.
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I can remember seeing something her in a mag a few years back. She was a student back then and just shot with modest kit, something like a 500D and a 50mm lens. I can remember how beautiful she was, because she did a lot of self portraiture and she looked as good in front off the camera as she was comfortable behind it. Very distressed processing and contrasty I remember. The name stuck in my head and then fast forward a few years, i saw a video of her and Joey Lawrence doing a shoot-off.:)
 
specialman said:
I can remember seeing something her in a mag a few years back. She was a student back then and just shot with modest kit, something like a 500D and a 50mm lens. I can remember how beautiful she was, because she did a lot of self portraiture and she looked as good in front off the camera as she was comfortable behind it. Very distressed processing and contrasty I remember. The name stuck in my head and then fast forward a few years, i saw a video of her and Joey Lawrence doing a shoot-off.:)
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She got a 350D I think on her 16th birthday, did self portraits and of her friends and seemingly a natural at photoshop, which is what set her apart, combined with her shots, she found a style with her processing and caught the eye of a few small magazines. What got her into the press was a porn company used one of her self portrait when she was 16(?) in a DVD cover, she sued and won in the region of $70,000, the case only concluded in late 2010.

I love her own personal projects, it has a dark humour undertone to it and it is very different to her editorials. I love it so much I have 2 of her original prints at home. One of which was straight out of her personal portfolio. She said to me at the time she was in the middle of refreshing her print portfolio, which happend to have the print of a photo I love and she sold it to me.
 
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specialman said:
She had a white dress that was all strap-like... very sexy, although I think she was in blue at some point - a lovely Brunette. Adam Duckworth = lucky boy :LOL:

EDIT: This was the scene...

IMAG0338.jpg


I recognise the guy circled in red - isn't he one of the testers on a photo mag? Bob something?

Anyway, I look like a perv with shots like this. I was just taking a snap of the crowd, honest :LOL:
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That lovely lady is Katie Green of the wonderbra ads and I might add a really nice person.
 
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I went along to Focus mainly for a few seminars and a good wander round. I was intending on trying to find a Lee Big Stopper but no one has any stock.

I watched the Lara Jade seminar and the Andy Rouse seminar. Both were fantastic, some inspiring images and both so enthusiastic about what they do!!

Didn't really see any bargains but noticed Jacobs had refurb 7d body at around £875 and new 5d2 body for £1300 which i didn't thing was bad.

Was fairly busy although not as busy as I remember last years Monday to be! Also hardly any freebies this year I noticed.
 
I was thinking of going on Wednesday but I'm not sure I'll bother after reading all this! It's quite a long drive for me to get there (2 and a half hours ish).

Quite tempted by a new 5D II for £1300 though, don't think I can justify the MK III for a while yet.
 
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Was considering going on Wednesday :thinking:, but this and another thread have put me off. Don't think I have the temperament to deal with some rude 50 +, the odd rude wheel chair user, long lenses, large backpacks and impatience, blimey sounds like somewhere to avoid. Could it be that its too busy and possibly badly organised :shrug: I don't know as I've never been, just a thought :thinking:.
 
djinn said:
That lovely lady is Katie Green of the wonderbra ads and I might add a really nice person.
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Think she also appears as a regular in Advanced Photographer mag.

That image also shows me what I expect the major demographic of the attendees to consist of :)
 
Went along yesterday, walked in just after 10, and thought, this is not too bad, hardly anyone here, hour later it was pretty bust though.

I'd love to see a lighting company with the balls to put a male model on their stand for demos, probably be commercial suicide, but it might sort the pervs out from the men!
 
Highlight of the show for me was the Wacom Intuos 5, completely sold on that now. The 5DIII was very impressive although I still want to see some images and how it handles underexposed skin. I fell for the the Fuji XPro1 but I want to go back today with a more rational head on.

None of the talks I saw were great, with the exception of Adobe on the Wacom stand. Hoping for better today on Swampy...
 
On the setup Adam was using for the flash demo what was he using to attach the grids with it was Velcro I believe but what was the name of the system?
 
I went yesterday, arrived at about 10.30 and came into the hall next to the Canon stand - couldn't believe how busy it was! Struggled past there and realised that the rest of the hall was fairly quiet (it did get busier in the afternoon). I had a list of stands I wanted to visit / people I wanted to talk to and that was pretty much what I did.

Visited Lencata and had a chat to them, they were very helpful and gave lots of advice. I was pretty much sold on getting a flash kit from them. Decided to go out of the hall for a breath of fresh air and went onto the Bowens stand, hadn't even considered their gear - too expensive in my mind!! Ended up buying a Gemini 500C kit (2 heads, brolly, soft box, trigger, cards, travelpak etc) with 20% off. Gets delivered tomorrow. Reason I went for this was the time and advice which they gave me). Their customer service was great.

Left the show mid afternoon as it was just too busy, people climbing over each other to touch the latest and greatest bit of kit, ogling at the models!! I'll be going again next year.
 
The bowens guys were indeed a pleasure, I was sooooo tempted to whip out my cc and buy a fresnel attachment :eek:
 
I went for the first time on sunday, arrived at 1018 via International Station, no queus to get in. Big thanks to the Canon guys who let me put my card in the bodies with the big lenses, 800mm was amazing and I will most prob not be able to hold lenses like that again. Sigma were the same, putting a canon body on no problem.

As for the models only saw Bianca and the chap doing the lighting demos with the lady as a bride and the most permatanned male model I have ever seen.

I really really enjoyed my day, did not leave till 4 ish. i dont get why everyone is complaining about people taking pictures. Yes I took some of Bianca to get some ideas of poses but what did folk expect.

Bad manners I agree are totally unnaceptable. It was what I imagined it to be and I was pleased. Overpriced food, again what else does one expect, a packed lunch saved me a fortune.

So shifts allowing at work next year will go again. I am primarily a railway photographer and some of the comments I read on here remind me of Railway depot open days when folk complain about peopel getting in there way !!
 
Most impressive demo I thought was topaz adjust. Looked like an incredible plugin set
 
Simian said:
Most impressive demo I thought was topaz adjust. Looked like an incredible plugin set
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It's fantastic plugin, easy to overcook images if your not careful
 
Did anyone notice if there was anything much from Epson/Permajet/Lyson/Fotospeed offering any discounts on CIS kits or r2880/3000 printers?
 
I can't believe the knobs with cameras & backpacks at focus, I could understand you taking your camera if there was a repair service etc but to take full kit and therefore limit the crowded space even further just stinks of selfishness and spoils it for the majority trying to learn something at a 'chat/talk'.

Damien Lovegrove was a good speaker (as usual) but the amount of times he had to tell blokes to turn their flashes of was embarrassing. HE WAS USING CONTINUOUS LIGHTS

Some tat stalls and looked like plenty of room for more stands.

Saw a few fellow members and had a good night out at a curry house so all was not lost.
 
Did what i needed to do today with regard to pricing up for work - looks like in total we'll save a few hundred quid so that'll pay for a pair of flashes or one of the lenses. Worth the £8 parking really....

I bought nothing. I was tempted by an Epson A3+ printer on the Cameraworld stand for £199 but thought against it until I'd done more research. There were some good savings on canon gear - £1999 for a 5D2 and 24-105mm was a £300 saving on camerapricebusyter's lowest and I think I saw 1Dmk4 for £3099, which is about £200 off I believe - but the Nikon kit seemed stable in price. SB-700s for £225 wasn't too bad and new D700 for £1550 seemed okay.

Went to The Flash Centre to find a boom arm and a guy 'helped' by saying I was best off looking on the website and that it'll probably cost me £100. All this while he was checking his text messages - rude......

Crazily, I joined the RPS for no reason at all. I'd been toying with doing it last years but couldn't find a reason but I like the idea of submitting a portfolio for some letters after my name and it might help me focus as a photographer. Think I get an ARPS as standard because I have a degree but will check this out before trying to go higher. Anyway, the RPS president (Roy something) was a lovely bloke who spent some time talking to me, which was nice.

Didn't even buy a soft box, which is what I wanted. Looked at the Lastolite ones but they're expensive for what is going to get wrecked quite quickly. I'll stick with fleabay jobbies for a third of the price.

Giottos had some brilliant tripods and I'm sold on they're ball heads with the three locking wheels; the way you can adjust the biting point is excellent and they're only about £75, which i thought was good. They also do a video head that felt silky and great for panning - think that was about £70 also.

BTW, I saw Anna Ryder Richardson, which was a bit odd.

Bumped into a homer work colleague, so caught up on things, and bumped into one of the togs from our rival publishing house, Bauer (formerly EMAP) and we just put the world to rights about kit and things in general. Was good to catch up.
 
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I'd be interested to hear more about the ball head you mentioned. I want to move away from the Pan & Tile Manfrotto one and i know ball heads you really get what you pay for and I don't trust cheap ones where I have £4,000 sitting on top of it.
 
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