Rangefinder Magazine


SUPPLIERS NEWS/FEB

• Fabled NYC Photography Bookstore Closes
The SoHo-based (NYC), A Photographers Place, the 20-year-old photography bookstore, is set to close forever on March 31, 2001. Harvey Zucker, 69, owner/operator of the fabled bookstore cited Internet-based competition, high rent and an influx of book superstores as reasons for the closing. Zucker, who said almost 100% of his customers, in a survey, told him to build an e-commerce site, said he couldn’t do it—he’d rather talk to his customers across a counter. The shot has maintained a large selection of obscure technical manuals, and was frequented by well known photographers like Richard Avedon and Bruce Weber.

• CreoScitex and Mamiya America Partner
CreoScitex, a division of Creo Products Inc., via its Leaf Products group, and Mamiya America Corporation, jointly announced the formation of Leaf America, which will provide digital photography solutions to the professional imaging industry. This new organization will focus on increasing Leaf product market share by providing complete digital solutions for all medium and large format cameras.Effective January 1, 2001, Leaf America will distribute all CreoScitex/Leaf digital camera products throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Leaf solutions, Leaf Volare, Leaf Cantare and Leaf Cantare XY, as well as, the newly announced Leaf C-Most digital camera back will be marketed by Leaf America. Jan Lederman, President of Mamiya America Corporation, noted: "We have decided to venture into the digital world with CreoScitex/Leaf as their products are perfectly suited to our long-term goal of providing the imaging world with the best available tools." Leaf America offices will be located at 8 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford NY 10523; (866) 4US-LEAF, fax: (914) 347-1812; e-mail: info@leafamerica.com; www.leafamerica.com.

• Kodak Staff Changes
Eastman Kodak Company announced several new appointments: Daniel Palumbo President of Consumer Imaging. Palumbo replaces Robert Keegan, who is leaving the company to pursuie other business opportunities; Matthias Freund, currently President and CEO of Qualex, Kodak’s wholesale photofinishing subsidiary, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Consumer Imaging and will report to Palumbo; Henri Petit, currently Chief Operating Officer of Consumer Imaging and Vice President, has been named Vice Chairman, China, and Vice President and will report to David Swift, Chairman and President, Greater Asia Region. Information: Eastman Kodak Company; web site: [www.kodak.com].

• FinePix/Tamron Promo
Tamron USA, Inc. and Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. announced a joint promotion that provides extra savings for purchasers of the new Fujifilm digital camera system. The rebate on any one of four Tamron SP-series lenses is doubled when the lens is purchased with a Fuji FinePix S1 Pro Digital Camera. Both the camera and lenses are well suited for social photographers and photojournalists. The faste aperture on all of the applicable lenses is ideal for low-light or fast-paced shooting environments and the effective focal length of these lenses when used on the FinePix S-1 Pro are perfectly matched for such photography. Bundled with the camera and lenses will be a rebate coupon for the Tamron Special Performance lenses. Information: Tamron; (631) 694-8700; web site: [www.tamron.com].

• U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance
The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance—College Bound supplies the public with more than 700 different private scholarship sources. The scholarship list includes the scholarship names, addresses, application deadlines, summaries about the scholarships and the amount the scholarship will pay your child. Many scholarships pay the entire tuition; others can be applied towards tuition, living expenses, and/or other fees. Most scholarships can be used at junior colleges, career and vocational schools, 4-year colleges, graduate schools, medical and law schools. Information: The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance, P.O. Box 668, O’Fallon, IL 62269.

• Nikon Promotions
Nikon Inc. has promoted John P. Brown to Vice President and General Counsel. In his new role, Browne will continue to supervise Nikon’s legal department and any outside firms responsible for handling Nikon Inc. legal affairs. He will also oversee all human resources functions at the corporation, and serve as the corporate secretary for Nikon Inc. The company has also promoted David C. Lee to the Vice President, Photo Sales Division. In his new position, Lee will oversee sales of Nikon’s photography products in the photo specialty channel via its national sales team and network of photo dealers across the country. His work will include day to day supervision of Nikon’s photo sales force activities in the U.S., and he will be responsible for continuing to develop and build the photo dealer channel. Information: Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747-3064, (516) 547-4200; web site: [www.nikonusa.com].

• PIMA Changes
The Photographic & Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has announced that Tom Dufficy, executive vice president of the association for the past 15 years, will be retiring at the end of 2000. PIMA has named Michael Nier, presently director of corporate standards at Eastman Kodak Company, to be Dufficy’s successor. Dufficy is a 33-year veteran of PIMA, and prior to his promotion to the top spot in 1986, served as director of governmental regulation and legislation. Nier joins PIMA following a successful career at Kodak which began in 1974 in the research and engineering division and included a position as group leader at Kodak Research Laboratories where he worked in image processing software development. Information: PIMA, 550 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 307, Harrison, NY 10528-1612; (914) 698-7603.

• New Standards to Simplify Digital Imaging
The Photographic Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has approved a new standard to simplify digital photography. This picture transfer protocol (PTP) enables digital cameras to talk to computers, printers, and other devices using a common language. PTP eliminates the need for camera-specific drivers for computer operating systems and other devices. In their place, it provides one simple protocol with the flexibility to support devices such as digital cameras, photo printers, set-up boxes and handheld devices. With a PTP-enabled platform and a PTP-enabled camera, users can plug in their digital camera and quickly view and use the images on their personal computer or printer without having to install software. Information: PIMA, 550 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 307, Harrison, NY 10528-1612; (914) 698-7603.

• Kodak and PhotoAlley.com Form Partnership
Eastman Kodak Company recently announced an agreement with and equity investment in PhotoAlley.com, a photo enthusiast web site. In addition to Kodak’s equity investment, the two companies will collaborate on joint initiatives to drive sales of conventional and digital photography products and services among the photographic community.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kodak will be the exclusive provider of digital print fulfillment through Print@Kodak, Kodak’s new Internet photofinishing service, for PhotoAlley.com customers. Kodak will also provide PhotoAlley with photoprocessing, scanning and uploading services through Qualex, Kodak’s photofinishing subsidiary.

PhotoAlley.com plans to offer online amateur photo galleries and photo-sharing functionality in conjunction with these new services.

• National Press Photographers Association Board
The National Press Photographers Association elected its new board of directors, including new president David Handschuh, at its recent annual convention in San Francisco. The NPPA’s 28-member board elected Handschuh, a staff photographer with the New York Daily News, as president of the 9,700-member association, a position he will serve for one year. Other officers elected were: Clyde Mueller, director of photography at The New Mexican in Santa Fe, NM, as vice president; Thomas P. Costello, II, staff photographer at The Asbury Park Press in Neptune, NJ, as secretary; Michel duCille, picture editor at the Washington Post, as board representative; and Manny Sotello, president during the previous year, remains on the Executive Committee for one year while duCille retains his title as region 3 director and serves as the liaison between the other board members and the Executive Committee.