VAT Free Photo Albums and Storybooks - VAT refund on Wedding Albums

Following a decision from a VAT tribunal it has been ruled that photo books and wedding albums should not have VAT applied. Loxley Colour our wedding album supplier have contacted us to state that as of 14 Feb 2012 all their albums will be VAT-free and there may be a reclaim for VAT paid in previous years.

VAT on Wedding Albums

If you are a photographer offering albums then you may have some cash to come back from VAT refunds.

Canon 5DIII - 5D Mark 3 Spotted Testing on Shoot?

It looks like the Canon 5D Mark 3 might finally have been spotted out being put through its paces on a shoot. Blog "Aperture Academy" has images of an unidentified Canon camera being used with two new lenses.

There are two camera bodies in their images, one looks like it could be the 1DX as it has an integrated battery grip and second display. The other has a separate battery grip which may be the Canon 5DIII or could be a Canon 7D replacement although the 5D3 looks more likely as the camera body pictured doesn't have a built in flash.

http://blog.apertureacademy.com/2012/01/canon-200-400mm-and-600mm-prototype.html

Hama Defender Lens Case / Camera Lens Bag

With a few top end lenses the manufacturer supplies a lens pouch case with them, for many other lenses they are supplied in the box and packing but with nothing to protect once you have taken them out of the box. The Hama Defender Lens case is an ideal way to protect your valuable lenses that didn't come with a manufacturer supplied case.

The Defender lens case has a sturdy zip to keep the lens in place and is extremely well padded around the body of the case. The Canon lens bags are very flimsy in comparison and offer virtually no protection in the event of dropping the bag. I haven't tested it (!!) but from its construction I would imagine that a lens in the Hama lens case will survive a reasonable drop intact due to the padding and build.

Although the packaging of the case shows a Canon white pro lens (it appears to be the 70-200 f2.8) this wouldn't fit in the case as it is too long and wide for it. The case does fit the Canon 50mm f1.4 with lens hood, the Canon 85mm f1.8 and the Canon 24-105 f4 without hoods.

Canon 70-200 f2.8IS lens case side by side with Hama Defender

Camera lens case -
DSLR camera bag - 

Eastman Kodak Files Bankruptcy Protection

Sad news today that Eastman Kodak has filed for Bankruptcy Protection in the USA. My first camera was a Kodak Brownie Reflex as seen here

Kodak was also one of the first companies selling a full frame DSLR at 14 megapixels when the competition at the time were around the 6Mp mark with APS-C size sensors.

Sadly it didn't manage to capitalise on that leading position and shortly afterwards stopped selling any DSLRs.

Hama Maxi Multi Card Case Review

The Hama Maxi Multi Card Case is a storage wallet for your compact flash and SD memory cards as well as batteries and memory sticks. The case has plenty of space for memory cards and will fit 8 CF (Compact Flash) cards as well as up to 12 SD cards inside.

The case has plenty of space for memory cards and will fit 8 CF (Compact Flash) cards as well as up to 12 SD cards inside.

The Hama Multi card case also allows you to store up to 5 AA or AAA batteries inside as well as the CF cards giving flexible storage options when carrying equipment in your camera bag.

There is also a net pocket that can store other small items of equipment such as a filter in its case or smaller flat batteries.

The whole case zips up to protect the contents and prevent them falling out loose in your bag.

Memory card case

 Camera cases 

Photo Editing in 1900s - Before Photoshop - Darkroom Photo Manipulation

Photo Editing in 1900s - Before Photoshop - Darkroom Photo Manipulation

 

I was contacted recently by someone selling a postcard of Berengrave Lane Rainham on Ebay that was virtually identical to one that is on the Rainham History site. Nothing strange there you might think - except on closer inspection the majority of photo is completely identical - all the people are in the same poses and same positions but with the addition of 2 young lads in the foreground.

There are a couple of possibilities. Firstly that 2 shots were taken and the lads wandered into one shot. The other that the lads were added or removed in the darkroom at a later date which looks to be the more likely possibility as everything is identical otherwise between the shots!

Have a look and see what you think!

Samsonite Photo DF50 Colt Camera Bag Review

The Samsonite Photo DF50 Colt is a compact camera bag suitable for entry level cameras such as the Canon 1000D, 550D or 600D. Due to its copmact size it is not suitable for larger cameras such as the Canon 5D or 1D series.


Canon 600D Case
Camera Cases

The Canon 600D fits snugly inside the Samsonite Photo DF50 Colt giving a good level of protection against knocks and scratches. The bag has some very useful pockets to the front and the side that allow you to store a spare battery and memory cards when you take the camera out.

Overall the Samsonite DF50 Colt is a very handy compact DSLR bag that is ideal for carrying your Canon 550D or Canon 600D to protect it from knocks and scrapes but without taking up masses of room or being very bulky to carry unlike some other bags.

Canon 600D Case 

Camera Cases