Tuesday 28 December 2010

Chris Weston's next Mastering DSLR Photography Seminar

The 5th Mastering DSLR
Photography Seminar

with Chris Weston

Saturday, 5th March, 2011
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Oxford, UK

Over the past three years, more than 400 people have attended Chris Weston’s uniquely informative, inspiring and entertaining Mastering Digital SLR Photography seminars, experiencing what has been described as “the best ever one-day session devoted to photography”.

Covering an extensive range of expert skills, advice and technique tips, Chris shares his many years’ experience on how to shoot like a pro, get the most from your DSLR camera, and take photographs you will be proud of time and again.

Catering for all knowledge levels and unsurpassed in its ability to make you a better photographer, this seminar will prove to be, to quote a previous Nikon Owner delegate: “the most beneficial day you’ll spend not taking pictures.”


Highlights
  • Optimise your camera’s menu settings
  • Learn better use of white balance and ISO
  • Exposed: the truth about JPEG vs. RAW
  • Discover the secret to accurate exposures
  • Dispelled: the digital exposure myth
  • Get the most from your camera’s light meter
  • Understand digital histograms
  • Master stops, f/numbers & shutter speeds
  • Improve AF and focus performance
  • Learn best-practice for camera handling
  • The art of omission: the secret to successful composition
  • Revealed: the techniques and settings behind successful photographs

About Chris Weston

Chris Weston is one of the UK’s most knowledgeable digital photographers and a recognised expert tutor, known for his ability to reach all levels of photographer from novice to advanced user. He has been a Nikon user since the age of 10 and is a distinguished contributor to Nikon Owner magazine. He writes regularly for the photographic press, including Practical Photography and Outdoor Photography, and has authored 30 books.


Attendee feedback

“That must have been one of the best one day sessions on anything that I have attended recently, and certainly the best one devoted to photography. I learned a huge amount and the day could not have been better tailored for me. I also found the structure, format and execution of your workshop to be thoroughly exciting and entertaining; not one sleepy moment in eight hours!” - Michael

“I just wanted to say thank you for a brilliant and information-packed workshop on Saturday. Your passion for the subject and explanation of over-exposure were excellent. Phil and I were full of excitement on our return journey home and couldn’t wait to get our cameras out on Sunday and go through learning from the workshop.” - Julie & Phil

“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your seminar on Saturday. I really wasn’t sure beforehand how good it would be, especially with such a large number of people and in a lecture theatre. I needn’t have been concerned - it was excellent. I now feel that I actually understand how my camera works, which means that I have a far better chance of getting it right when I take a picture. I don’t think more than five minutes went by without me learning some useful new thing.” - Anna

“Many thanks for yet another satisfying Seminar. My grandson is just 14 but already interested in photography, and he was quite amazed at how much information we got through in the time we were there. Keep up the good work, it gets better each time I go.” - Brian


Special Offer for Nikon Owner subscribers:

Book now for just £50!

Take advantage of your Nikon Owner subscription and receive a £25 discount on the normal seminar fee (RRP £75.00).

Click here to book online

Alternatively, please call Chris on 01305 831752
(International callers please dial +44 1305 831752).


Free book

The first 35 bookings will also receive a free copy of Chris Weston’s classic book Wildlife through a Nikon Lens* or Heather Angel’s accompanying title Macro through a Nikon Lens*. (*Subject to availability)


If you are not already a subscriber to Nikon Owner, and would like to enrol on this course at the special price, you can apply for the standard, silver, or gold subscription to Nikon Owner below, by sending me, Gillian Greenwood, an email with your full name, daytime mobile and landline. Alternatively, please call between 12.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 8971 (or 020 7828 4925 if that line is busy) to speak to me or any of my colleagues.


Gold subscription - launch price £349 (normal price £450)
  • 5-year subscription to Nikon Owner
  • 5-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • Gold Priority waiting list for all new Nikon releases (top of the waiting list)
  • A half-hour tutorial on the phone or face to face, by appointment
  • Special offers to Gold subscribers throughout the period of subscription
  • A signed copy of Grays of Westminster - In the Company of Legends, or if you have one already, a Nikon Magic Lantern Guide of your choice
  • A Grays of Westminster umbrella
  • Nikon Owner magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly magazine that is 100% Nikon. Each issue delivers benchmark technical reviews of the very latest Nikon equipment, thought-provoking interviews and articles with world-class images.
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website which includes forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events page and use of a photo gallery
  • Gold subscription card
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Substantial discounts on training sessions organised by Grays of Westminster, including Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Simon Stafford’s Definitive Flash, Portraiture and Macro Training Sessions, Michael Eleftheriades’ panoramic and colour-calibration seminars and Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
Silver Subscription - launch price: £129 (normal price: £179)
  • 2-year Subscription to Nikon Owner
  • 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • A half-hour tutorial on the phone or face to face, by appointment
  • Nikon Owner quarterly magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly
  • magazine as above
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Discounts on training sessions
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
Standard Annual Subscription - special price: £59
  • 1-year Subscription to the Nikon Owner
  • 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • Nikon Owner quarterly magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly
  • magazine as above
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Discounts on events and training sessions
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
To apply for any of the subscriptions above at the special launch prices, or for more information, please send an email with your full name, daytime mobile and landline, or call between 12.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 (for International calls telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925) to speak to me or any of my colleagues.

With very best wishes

Gillian

Gillian Greenwood

Saturday 25 December 2010

A Christmas Message from Grays of Westminster

TO CHRISTMAS AND MIDWINTER

In the countryside the air is hoary, bitingly cold, a sheet of frozen metal. The snows envelop the land with an austere opaqueness, cloaking an earth already hardened by ice. In the woods the trees are bare, the branches brittle and spear-like, the trunks chiselled like masonry into stiff, stone forms. A solitary leaf falls to the ground, a momentary fragment of burnished colour against the white covering of snow, a forgotten token from autumn. There is a rustle in the undergrowth as the last creature moves with haste into its prepared winter burrow, and then all is still. Every part of the countryside is covered with a thick coating, and the smaller inhabitants of the woods and fields, oblivious of the change above them, continue their long sleep.

The forests of the Northern Hemisphere are for the moment silent and motionless.

White-tailed Deer by Jim Brandenburg

In the park the chilled fingers of an icy wind blast through thick scarves and sheepskin boots alike. A fretwork of snow covers the ground and the bushes like muslin, dusting the pathways with a myriad of tiny glittering stones. Puddles and ponds are thick with ice and children in red wellingtons and knitted hats crunch through the snow with laughter and pleasure, letting out a mist of breath as they exhale. Balls of white powder fly hazardously through the air and a dog running alongside barks with delight, showering a passerby as it shakes its fur eagerly. One of the children cries out and points upwards. A single flake of snow is falling slowly to earth, floating, feather-like, in slow motion. More follow, blurred downward brush-strokes of white and silver, then a synchronised dance of flakes racing to the ground. Faces turn upwards in anticipation as the snow falls faster and thicker, clinging to strands of hair, bleaching pathways, curling around lamp-posts, lingering upon roofs.

In the city, families walk closely together, coats buttoned tightly, footsteps choreographed. They cut through the streets, festive lights illuminating the shops with an ambient glow, opulent windows full of forms swathed in velvet, brocade, and bejewelled silks, glossy parcels ribboned and wrapped, colourfully displayed beside them. Christmas trees with flickering bulbs stand like sentinels at the doorways. A choir of small carol-singers in their neat school uniforms are lined up at the entrance, their voices youthful, their collection tins shaken enthusiastically. Everywhere there is anticipation, expectancy, excitement.

Christmas is only hours away and 2011 is just around the corner. Like Janus, the Roman god of doorways and beginnings, we are betwixt and between as the first decade of the new millennium plays its passing chords.

2010 began with Grays of Westminster making history with the first-ever photographic event inside the House of Lords, led by Britain’s most decorated press photographer, Mike Maloney OBE. This was followed in the summer by the world-famous natural history workshop with Heather Angel and Nikon UK, and the year ended with the unforgettable Christmas evening at the Institute of Directors with Jim Brandenburg, one of the greatest nature photographers of all time, introduced by Neil Lucas, the distinguished producer of David Attenborough’s legendary BBC wildlife series. In 2010 we also organized many more photographic seminars than ever before with best-selling author and technical editor of Nikon Owner, Simon Stafford, as well as panoramic expert Mike Eleftheriades.

There has been much to celebrate in 2010, and in closing we would like to raise a glass to each of you who has helped to make all of this possible.

From the directors and staff of Grays of Westminster, may we wish you all a truly magical Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

With very best wishes,

Gillian

Gillian Greenwood
Director
0207 828 4925

Image © Jim Brandenburg
Text © Gillian Greenwood 2010

Thursday 16 December 2010

Nikon UK: Nikon COOLPIX P7000 firmware update 1.1

Nikon Coolpix P7000Nikon UK is pleased to announce a new firmware update for the Nikon COOLPIX P7000 which is now available to download via the Nikon web site. Please click on the links below for more information about the improvements and instructions on how to download version 1.1.

COOLPIX P7000 Firmware update 1.1 - Windows
http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/48110/c/648/r_id/150284

COOLPIX P7000 Firmware update 1.1 - Mac
http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/48111/c/648/r_id/150284

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries.

Jim Brandenburg: He Came, He Saw, He Conquered…

..at the Grays of Westminster and Nikon Owner Grand Christmas Event at the Institute of Directors (IoD)

World-famous nature photographer Jim Brandenburg receives his new Nikon D3S outfit from Grays of Westminster founder Gray Levett

Following his sold-out evening talk on Friday, 10th December at the Grays of Westminster and Nikon Owner magazine Christmas dinner at the Institute of Directors (IoD) on Pall Mall, Jim Brandenburg, one of the world's greatest nature photographers, visited Grays of Westminster on Saturday, 11th December to collect his new Nikon D3S, 20mm f/2.8D AF and AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR ED lenses. He is pictured here to the right of Gray Levett, founder of Grays of Westminster, which he described as “the greatest camera store in the world”.

Jim Brandenburg
travelled the globe as a photographer with National Geographic Magazine for several decades. His extensive body of work has been published throughout the world and his photographs have won a multitude of national and international awards. He was the recipient of the 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year' award by the Natural History Museum, London and BBC Wildlife Magazine, and was twice named 'Magazine Photographer of the Year' by the National Press Photographer's Association (NPPA) for his National Geographic work. He was also presented with the 'World Achievement Award' from the United Nations in recognition of his use of nature photography to raise public awareness for the environment. In addition to publishing several books on wolves, a few years ago he set himself the unique photographic assignment of shooting only one picture per day for an entire autumn season. His book and DVD Chased by the Light followed, as well as the sequel Looking for the Summer.

Jim Brandenburg's presentation at the Grays of Westminster and Nikon Owner magazine Christmas Dinner explored the full circle of his career with highlights starting with his early days and subsequent years with National Geographic Magazine where he worked on assignments all over the world for the magazine, book division and television. He showed the audience a selection of his outstanding work which included breathtaking images of wild arctic and grey wolves.

Jim Brandenburg was part of the production team for the 'Plants' section of the BBC LIFE documentary series with David Attenborough. Jim Brandenburg and BBC Wildlife Producer Neil Lucas spent months filming Minnesota's north woods at Ravenwood, Jim Brandenburg's home near Ely and the prairies of Southwest Minnesota.

His philanthropic work entails saving the remnant native prairies in the land where his ancestors settled after immigrating from Europe and Scandinavia.

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Grays of Westminster News on the Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me...

A Nikkor Super-Telephoto Lens

Without a doubt, no wildlife or sports photographer can be without a telephoto lens. Whether it be the highly acclaimed AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR II or the far-reaching AF-S 500mm f/4G VR coupled with a 1.7X teleconverter to give you an astounding 850mm, these lenses are certainly on most photographer's wish lists. The sample images speak for themselves.

We have recently had a substantial price decrease on many telephoto lenses and are pleased to be able to offer them to you at the following prices, including VAT:

AF-S 200-400mm f/4G VR II IF-ED = £4,999.00

AF-S 200mm f/2G VR II IF-ED = £4,499.00

AF-S 300mm f/2.8G VR II IF-ED = £3,999.00

AF-S 400mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED = £6,549.00

AF-S 500mm f/4G VR IF-ED = £5,795.00


And if you are looking at getting a telephoto lens for Christmas but can't quite stretch to the above, might we suggest that the beautifully sharp AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II coupled with a 1.7X teleconverter makes for a fantastically versatile present for yourself or someone else. The 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II is currently £1625.00 including VAT and we can now offer the last of the TC 20E II 2X teleconverter (now discontinued and unobtainable new from Nikon) at the special price of £225.00 while stocks last.

Taken with AF-S 200-400mm f/4G VR II

Taken with AF-S 500mm f/4G VR I

Taken with AF-S 200-400mm f/4G VR II

Taken with AF-S 400mm f/2.8G VR
All images courtesy of Nikon USA

If you have any questions or wish to place an order for any of these lenses please contact us on +44 (0)207 828 4925, or email: tabitha.hardy@graysofwestminster.co.uk.

Vote for Grays of Westminster in the What Digital Camera Good Service Awards 2010

Next to excellence is the appreciation of it - William Makepeace Thackeray
If you have dealt with Grays of Westminster and have found our service satisfactory, we would greatly appreciate your voting for us at the 'What Digital Camera Good Service Awards 2010'. You can use this link to go straight to their voting form:

https://whatdigitalcamera.ipcmediasecure.com/secure/equipment/goodserviceawards/voting/8059/what-digital-camera-good-service-awards.html

Closing date: 14 January 2011

Many thanks for your support!

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Grays of Westminster News on the Forth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth Day of Christmas my True Love Gave to Me...

A Nikon D3100 with £40 cashback

Nikon D3100

The latest introductory SLR from Nikon, the D3100, is ideal for anyone who wants the best of all the latest Nikon features in a small and compact DSLR body. Complete with a 14.2 megapixel sensor and full-HD movie mode, it really is a perfect family gift which will allow anyone, photographer or not, to take fantastic family photos and movies.

To make this an even sweeter choice, the D3100 now comes with £40.00 cashback direct from Nikon if purchased before the 31st January 2011, and cashback is available on both body only and body + lens kits. Please note that the cashback offer is only available to UK and Republic of Ireland residents.

Prices excluding £40.00 cashback including VAT:

D3000 body only = £449.00
D3000 + 18-55mm VR = £499.00
D3000 + 18-55mm VR + 55-200mm VR = £719.00 (includes FREE Sandisk Ultra 4GB SDHC memory card)

All items are in stock and available for collection or delivery. If you wish to place an order please telephone +44 (0) 207 828 4925 or email tabitha.hardy@graysofwestminster.co.uk

As a word of advice to our customers, if you usually hold off any Christmas shopping until the last minute, it is worth thinking a little earlier ahead this year. There is currently a high demand for stock in several markets including electronics and cameras, with Nikon issuing a warning of low stock levels in the run-up to Christmas. We hope to meet all demands, but the earlier orders are placed the more likely you are to receive your goods in time for the 25th December.




Sample images taken with Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Photographs courtesy of Nikon USA


Passionate about photography but need a little guidance?


The School of Photographic Imaging - in association with Nikon - is one of the largest and most vibrant photographic education communities around. Our courses are informative and fun, guiding you through everything you need to know to take and process images of the highest quality.

Please contact Charlene Baker on 0203 148 4326 or email spiadmin@ipcmedia.com and quote reference SPIGOW to claim your 15% discount and camera bag.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Nikon Owner Magazine Gives Away Free Ticket to Heather Angel Workshop on Twitter

A single tweet in December by one lucky Twitter user will secure them a free place – worth £245 – on the prestigious and highly sought after Heather Angel Wildlife and Natural History Workshop in July 2011.

Heather Angel

London
Nikon Owner, the magazine of the Nikon world, launched today a competition on Twitter for which the prize is a free place on the celebrated Heather Angel Wildlife and Natural History Workshop, held annually in East Grinstead, Sussex. Now in its 15th year, this prestigious workshop, presented by internationally renowned Professor Heather Angel, includes a full day of lectures, demonstrations and the chance to handle and use a large range of new Nikon camera equipment and Think Tank camera bags. These workshops regularly attract visitors from all over the U.K., Europe and throughout the world.

A ticket to the workshop, which includes a sumptuous lunch and dinner, and usually costs £245 (£185 to Nikon Owner subscribers), will be given away free of charge to the lucky winner of this exciting Nikon Owner Twitter competition.

How to enter
All Twitter users need to do to enter the competition is to include the Twitter hashtag "#nikonownermag" anywhere in their tweet. For example:

"I've entered Nikon Owner magazine's Heather Angel workshop competition - wish me luck! #nikonownermag Pls RT"

To be eligible for the prize, entrants must also be following @nikonownermag. It's as simple as that. The competition ends 24:00 GMT 31 December 2010 and the winner, chosen randomly, will be announced on Twitter by @nikonownermag on 4 January 2011.

"I think we are going to make one Twitter user very happy. To attend a full day's workshop given by one of the world's greatest wildlife photographers free of charge from just a single tweet can't be bad!" said Gray Levett, editor of Nikon Owner magazine and founder of the exclusive Nikon-only dealer, Grays of Westminster. "We wholeheartedly believe in social media so this, our first foray into Twitter competitions, certainly won't be our last. Our next competition will very likely be held on Facebook, so watch this space..."

About Heather Angel
Award-winning wildlife photographer Professor Heather Angel is the author of sixty books and a veritable authority on photography. She also writes regularly for the worldwide photographic press. Through her lectures, workshops, and writing, Heather has always been an enthusiastic tutor on wildlife and nature photography.

For more information on the Heather Angel Wildlife and Natural History Workshop, here is a link to the 2010 press release:
Nikon joins Heather Angel's Wildlife & Natural History Workshops in July 2010
http://nikonownermag.blogspot.com/2010/05/nikon-joins-heather-angels-wildlife_13.html

About Nikon Owner
Nikon Owner magazine and its interactive website, www.nikonownermagazine.com is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners. It was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon users to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills.

For more information, please contact:

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator
Nikon Owner magazine
40 Churton Street
London
SW1V 2LP

+44 (0)20 7828 8971
gillian.greenwood@nikonownermagazine.com
http://www.nikonownermagazine.com

Monday 6 December 2010

The Perfect Christmas Gift for Nikon users

A Subscription to Nikon Owner
is the Perfect Gift for you
or someone special...

Nikon Owner magazine

As part of our celebrations for the festive season, we are launching two brand-new types of subscription to Nikon Owner at special launch prices. This means you will be able to choose a unique gift for yourself or for someone else from three types of subscription, Gold, Silver, or Standard, all of which have been tailored to suit your Nikon needs:

Gold subscription - launch price £349 (normal price £450)
  • 5-year subscription to Nikon Owner
  • 5-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • Gold Priority waiting list for all new Nikon releases (top of the waiting list)
  • A half-hour tutorial on the phone or face to face, by appointment
  • Special offers to Gold subscribers throughout the period of subscription
  • A signed copy of Grays of Westminster - In the Company of Legends, or if you have one already, a Nikon Magic Lantern Guide of your choice
  • A Grays of Westminster umbrella
  • Nikon Owner magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly magazine that is 100% Nikon. Each issue delivers benchmark technical reviews of the very latest Nikon equipment, thought-provoking interviews and articles with world-class images.
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website which includes forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events page and use of a photo gallery
  • Gold subscription card
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Substantial discounts on training sessions organised by Grays of Westminster, including Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Simon Stafford’s Definitive Flash, Portraiture and Macro Training Sessions, Michael Eleftheriades’ panoramic and colour-calibration seminars and Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
Silver Subscription - launch price: £129 (normal price: £179)
  • 2-year Subscription to Nikon Owner
  • 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • A half-hour tutorial on the phone or face to face, by appointment
  • Nikon Owner quarterly magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly
  • magazine as above
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Discounts on training sessions
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
Standard Annual Subscription - special price: £59
  • 1-year Subscription to the Nikon Owner
  • 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
  • Nikon Owner quarterly magazine, a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly
  • magazine as above
  • Private user-name and password to subscribers-only website
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline
  • 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster
  • Special trips and events
  • Discounts on events and training sessions
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK
To apply for any of the subscriptions above at the special launch prices, or for more information, please send an email with your full name, daytime mobile and landline, or call between 12.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 (for International calls telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925) to speak to me or any of my colleagues.

With very best wishes

Gillian

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator

Sunday 5 December 2010

Grays of Westminster News on the Third Day of Christmas

On the Third Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me...

A Great Deal on a D7000 + 18-105 VR Kit

The D7000 is the hottest new DSLR on the market. This is Nikon's first DSLR to boast a 16.2 megapixel sensor and 1080p full-HD movie mode, plus all the trimmings. The D7000 is a semi pro /keen amateur level camera, perfect for any real photographic enthusiast, as it will take all of Nikon's F-Mount lenses and allows full creative control whether you prefer to shoot manually or use the cameras pre-programmed modes. Coupled with any of the vast range of Nikon lenses the body itself is suited to all types of photography, from indoor low-light shooting with ISO levels of up to 25600 equivalent, or sports photography with up to 6fps on Continuous High-speed shooting.

For a limited time, we are able to offer the D7000 camera with Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX IF-ED* and a free Sandisk ultra SDHC 4 GB memory card at a special price of £1239.00 including VAT.

While this camera is still in short supply, we are expecting good deliveries in the next couple of days, so if you've been thinking of getting one for yourself or as a gift, pre-order from us now to avoid disappointment. Telephone no. +44 (0) 207 828 4925.


Sample image taken with D7000 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX
Courtesy of Nikon USA

As a first camera, the D7000 with the 18-105mm VR suits most users and will no doubt be the best present under the tree this year!

Please call us for further enquiries come into the shop to try out our demonstration model.

* For definitions of the lens abbreviations please cut and paste this link into your browser to view our Grays of Westminster Glossary:
www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/glossary/nikkor_lenses.php

Friday 3 December 2010

British Photography Industry Magazine features Grays of Westminster


'BPI visits one of UK’s most unique photographic retailers and finds that it’s not just a pretty façade.'


The article starts: "If you’ve never been to Grays of Westminster, I’d urge you to visit. Nestling in a row of shops in Churton Street, Pimlico, crossing the doorstep is like taking a step back in time. Equipment is housed in spotless glass cabinets, immaculately presented sales staff conduct their business at period desks while an elegant clock chimes every half hour. It’s an Aladdin’s Cave ..."



Service is top of the Grays of Westminster agenda and, to help ensure that they deliver to their own exceptionally high standards, the company uses the ‘Exchange in abundance rule’."

Read the full BPI Magazine article here: http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/pdf/press/2010-11_business_spotlight.pdf

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Nikon Deals: Nikon Introduces Christmas Cashback Offer

Nikon D3100 SLRNikon D3100

1st December 2010: To celebrate the festive season customers purchasing the new Nikon D3100, body or lens kit, are now able to claim £40/€50 in a new Christmas cashback promotion from Nikon.

The D3100 cashback offer will run from 1st December 2010 until 31st January 2011 (inclusive) for customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and claims must be received by 28th February 2011 (inclusive).

The Nikon D3100 is the most easy-to-use D-SLR to date, offering a range of high performance features that are designed to make taking quality images fun and easy. The camera’s Guide mode gives you step-by-step instructions of how to change the camera settings, so you not only get the picture you want but it helps you to understand how it was achieved so you can develop your photography skills. The D3100 is Nikon’s first DSLR to offer full HD movie mode so you can get creative with your photography and switch between shooting stills and video at the click of a button. And, with an HDMI port you can connect your camera to the TV and relive the festivities with friends and family.

Simon Iddon, Product Manager for Enthusiast products, says: “The D3100 is the ideal gift for people wanting to capture festive memories this Christmas and learn how to improve their photography skills. I am delighted that we’re able to introduce this cashback offer on our award-winning model and hope that it will make it even more accessible this season.”

For terms and conditions and information about how to make a claim please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback. Offer subject to availability.

Monday 29 November 2010

Grays of Westminster News on the Second Day of Christmas

On the Second Day of Christmas my True Love Gave to Me...

The zoom lens I have been waiting for...


Nikon's Newest FX Zoom Lenses Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR

One of the highest quality versatile zoom lenses around, any FX camera owner shouldn't be without one. This long-awaited all-purpose zoom is perfect for landscapes, reportage, general purpose, travel and even wildlife photography. If coupled with a DX body one effectively gets 42-450mm, which is a great range for those using DX format cameras, or planning to upgrade to full-frame at some future point.

Special Offer While Stocks Last - £799.00 inc. VAT (RRP - £869.99)

Sample Image taken with 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR
Shot taken at 28mm - f/8 -1/45s


An astounding upgrade of this lens's namesake, the 24-120mm f/3.-5.6G VR IF-ED, the new 24-120mm is ideal for those who don't need the vast range of the 28-300mm. Suitable for wider landscape work, portraits and general photography at very high quality, this lens offers a fixed aperture of f/4 throughout the range and the latest Vibration Reduction (second generation).

Special Offer While Stocks Last - £995.00 inc. VAT (RRP - £1049.00)

Sample Image taken with 24-120mm f/4G AF-S ED VR
Shot taken at 95mm - f/5 - 1/640s


And Last but not Least:

Special Offers on the D700 SLR Body

We are happy to announce several kit prices of the D700 with either of the above lenses, or alternative lens options, for those wanting a complete kit as a Christmas present to yourself or someone else.

Nikon D700 + 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S + 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Kit
(RRP - £5,300.00) £4,169.00

Nikon D700 + 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Kit
(RRP - £3,883.00) £2,975.00

Nikon D700 + 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Kit
(RRP - £3,781.00) £2,890.00

Nikon D700 + SB-900 Speedlight Kit £2,020.00

Nikon D700 + 24-120mm f/4G VR ED Kit £2,665.00

Nikon D700 + 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR Kit £2,495.00

Nikon D700 + MB-D10 Grip Kit £1,890.00

Nikon D700 + 17-35mm f/2.8D ED AF-S Kit
(RRP - £4,087) £3,220.00

Sample image taken with D700 + 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ED

If you have any questions on the above equipment or to place an order please do not hesitate to call us on +44 (0)207 828 4925 between 10am-5:30pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-1pm on Saturday.

What Digial Camera - Good Service Awards 2010

Good Service Awards 2010
Rate the service you received

When you're buying a camera or any item of photographic equipment, the service you receive is as important as the price you pay.

Whether it's informative buying advice, swift delivery and equally swift action if things go wrong, good service is a precious commodity that should be shouted from the rooftops.

That's where the What Digital Camera Good Service Awards comes in, by recognising and rewarding those retailers who go that extra mile. There are three categories: Best Online Retailer, Best High Street Independent Retailer and Best High Street Multiple Retailer.

To vote is easy; all you need to do is complete the competition form on the voting page of the What Digital Camera website.

Competition ends: 14th January 2011.

Friday 26 November 2010

Photography Exhibition: Last couple of days - Jessica Elizabeth Dyer Exihibition


Jessica Elizabeth Dyer has been invited to have her first one woman show at Putney Library from Sunday 14th to Saturday 27th November, because of the outstanding quality of her photographs and because she is a talented member of her community, educated at a local comprehensive school.

Venue Address:
Putney Library
1 Disraeli Road
Putney
London
SW15 2DR

Jessica completed her A Levels this summer gaining an A* in Photography, her marks putting her in the top 10 photography students in the county!

She shoots exclusively on Nikon.

Her work can be viewed at www.jessicaelizabeth.org

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Grays of Westminster News on the First Day of Christmas

On the First Day of Christmas,
my True Love Gave to Me...

A D5000 + 18-55mm AF-S VR + 55-300mm AF-S VR


A perfect Christmas begins with a timely plan. The high streets are already bedecked with Christmas lights, decorations are up in the shops and the count down to December 25th has begun.

Our aim this year, as every year, is to provide our customers with a truly exceptional Christmas. Why not be prepared early and see some of the wonders Nikon have in store for you? As if there is ever a time to treat yourself or someone special, it's now in the run-up to Christmas (and before the VAT goes up in January!).

This week we are offering the Nikon D5000 with kit lens, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX, plus the new super telephoto zoom, 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX Nikkor lenses at a very special price of £769 .00 inc. VAT (RRP £1009.98 inc. VAT) including a FREE 2GB SanDisk Ultra SDHC Memory card. This is an ideal camera for capturing those memorable Christmas moments, recording home videos in HD, and a perfect gift for budding photographers of all ages.

Sample image taken with 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX

For more details on the D5000, you can download the brochure here:

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d5000/pdf/d5000_16p.pdf

To place an order please contact a member of staff on +44 (0) 207 828 4925, or email us at: info@graysofwestminster.co.uk

Because we know that our customers have very particular wishes, we offer a 'build your own Nikon outfit' service.

We are here to help you to create the perfect Christmas. We look forward to hearing from you soon.


Tuesday 9 November 2010

The Definitive Flash Workshop, Saturday, November 27th, 2010

Due to overwhelming demand, we are delighted to announce a very special speedlight workshop to be held in central London, at Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6DX on Saturday, November 27th, 2010.

Simon Stafford

The workshop will be presented by Simon Stafford, one of the world's foremost Nikon experts, who is the technical editor of Nikon Owner magazine and best-selling author of numerous Nikon books. It will take place from 12.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m., and includes a light lunch and mid-afternoon tea and biscuits.

The cost of the session will be £155 with a special price of £95 if you are a current Nikon Owner subscriber. To book, please email me with your full name, daytime mobile and landline, or call between 12.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 or for International calls telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925, and ask to speak to me, Gillian Greenwood. There are very limited places available, so please book as soon as you are able to in order to avoid disappointment. If you are not currently a subscriber, you are welcome to join whilst booking the workshop to receive the discount on the session.

gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.co.uk



About the Workshop
Following his highly successful series of Nikon Speedlight seminars presented earlier this year Simon has developed this entirely new workshop, based on the feedback and demand from delegates who attended those events. The emphasis is focused very much on the practical application of tools and techniques, and it will include an opportunity for delegates to practice applying settings their own Nikon cameras and CLS compatible Speedlight equipment (please note attendance of Simon's earlier seminar is not a prerequisite of this workshop).

Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) offers a level of flexibility and control that provides a huge range of creative possibilities for off-camera flash and portable on-location lighting. Simon will share his in-depth knowledge of the CLS and 30-years of photographic experience, so that you can achieve professional looking portraits easily and swiftly using a minimum of equipment.

Simon will show you how to set-up, position, and control simple lighting that will have an immediate impact on your photography. He will lead you through a variety of lighting set ups with live demonstrations, so you will be able to observe first-hand how to improve your lighting techniques. Starting with a single Nikon Speedlight you will learn how to progress from the uncompromising light of direct, on-camera flash to well crafted lighting that complements your subject to best effect, then building on this foundation Simon will show you how you can introduce additional Speedlights and other lighting control accessories to expand your lighting repertoire.

Session 1
The simplest and most effective way to improve lighting with a Speedlight is to take it off the camera, as this enables you to direct the light at will. In this session you will learn how to:

Understand the relationship between the TTL metering of your camera, ambient light and the interaction with the Speedlight and camera settings for flash.

Work with flash output controls and flash sync options, so you can mix light from a Speedlight with ambient light for more balanced, natural lighting effects.

Modify the light from a Speedlight to emulate the "soft box" look without actually using a sophisticated lighting accessory.

Direct and control light from your flash on to the subject and avoid light spill by using some simple accessories

Session 2
Adding a second Speedlight will increase options and elevate the lighting possibilities to a greater level. In this session you will learn how to:

Set up and control your Speedlights wirelessly from the camera position for effective and efficient shooting

Establish a lighting set up starting with a single flash as a key light, and then introduce a second, or even third Speedlight as fill-lights

Use lighting ratios for creative off–camera lighting effects on both your subject and background

Set up multiple flashes on location quickly and easily using the minimum of equipment

Use light modifying accessories to improve the colour, direction and quality of the lighting

Session 3
Exploring a few of the more advanced flash techniques will help you expand your lighting creativity even further. In this session you will learn how to:

Apply Front -curtain, Rear-curtain, Slow-flash sync to achieve special effects when mixing flash with ambient light

Adjust the zoom head of your the flash manually to further refine the light output from a Speedlight

Understand and use the Auto FP High–Speed sync mode which will enable you to shoot with flash beyond the normal maximum sync speed of your camera

Exploit the FV Lock feature for consistent flash results

Session 4
The final session will be an opportunity for delegates to practice setting up their own camera and flash under Simon's supervision, while asking questions about the tools and techniques discussed during the previous sessions.


Travelling to Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6DX:

Fitzroy House, London

The nearest underground station is Warren Street, but please do make sure that it is open – it is occasionally closed on a Saturday – if so, Goodge Street station is a good option.

What is Nikon Owner?
Nikon Owner Magazine and Interactive Website is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners. It was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon users to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills. Subscription to Nikon Owner magazine and interactive website provides a bridge between theory and practical, technical knowledge and accomplishment. As a subscriber to this group, you will receive an array of offers and assistance, as well as the unique photographic publication:

Nikon Owner Magazine CoversNikon Owner Magazine
From the cold reaches of the Arctic to the muted ocres of The Palio, from the panoramic sweep of an alien landscape to the microscopic detail of a leaf in bud, Nikon Owner magazine is both inspirational and informative. With its mix of stunning images, illuminating articles to assist and enlighten the photographer, and the very latest reviews on Nikon equipment, it is the essential magazine for the Nikon user, and is 100% Nikon.

Nikon Owner subscriber benefits additionally include:
  • Private user name and password to subscribers-only website which includes a lively forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events’ page and use of a photo gallery.
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline: free technical consultation and support from Simon Stafford who is widely recognized as one of the top Nikon experts in the UK; you will be able to benefit from his formidable knowledge and have all your technical questions fully answered by email. This service is exclusive to Nikon Owner subscribers.
  • FREE 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
  • FREE 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster.
  • Special trips: past visits have included a two-week trip to Japan and a personal tour of the Nikon factory, a visit to Nikon Thailand, Angkor Watt, Cambodia.
  • Substantial discounts on events and training sessions such as Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses, Simon Stafford’s Definitive Flash, Portraiture and Macro Seminars.
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK.
  • A range of complimentary meetings and outings organized by local Nikon Owner Groups.
  • Nikon Owner Grand Christmas Dinner at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.
The cost of a standard annual subscription to Nikon Owner is currently at the special price of £59. (Quote ME59 when you call or email.)

With kindest regards

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator

Monday 8 November 2010

Nikon Deals: Advance Preview of Our Huge Double-Page Second-Hand Nikon Advertisement in Amateur Photographer Magazine!

You may have heard that we have recently taken delivery of a third of a metric ton of second-hand Nikon equipment to add to our already very large stocks. You can see our next double-page advertisement in AP (Amateur Photographer) magazine (featuring most, but by no means all of our second-hand Nikon stocks), before it hits the newsstands.


If you have any questions about the equipment or indeed anything Nikon related, then our staff stand by ready to help you. Telephone us on 020-7828 4925.

Kind regards,

Gray Levett

Thursday 4 November 2010

Don't miss a Christmas Evening with...Jim Brandenburg

...at the Institute of Directors in London
Friday, 10th December 2010

A unique opportunity to see one of the world's most famous nature photographers and film makers

There are a just few places left....

Brother Wolf by Jim Brandenburg

A talk from Jim Brandenburg, one of the world's greatest living nature photographers, over Grand Christmas Dinner, at the prestigious Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London - introduced by David Attenborough's distinguished television producer, Neil Lucas, (well known for his work on documentaries such as 'Life' and 'Secret Life of Plants')


Welcome address by Gray Levett, Founder of Grays of Westminster
The evening is hosted by the

Nikon-only dealer,
Grays of Westminster, and Nikon Owner magazine.

BOOK NOW!

Venue: Institute of Directors (IoD) at 116 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ED
Date: Friday, December 10th, 2010
Champagne reception: 6.30 p.m.
Dinner (Traditional Christmas Dinner with a Vegetarian Option): 7.15 p.m.
Presentations in the morning room: 9.15 p.m.
Cost of the evening: £155 per ticket (only £95 for current Nikon Owner subscribers. If you are not already a Nikon Owner subscriber, and would like to attend the event, you may subscribe to Nikon Owner and receive the special discount on the price of the evening.)

Grays of Westminster’s events are extremely popular so early booking is recommended. To book, please call Gillian Greenwood or Katrin Ruckert between 12.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday on +44 (0)20 7828 4925.

Nikon Owner magazine
About Nikon Owner
Nikon Owner magazine and its interactive website, www.nikonownermagazine.com is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners. It was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon users to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills.

For more information, please contact:

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator
Nikon Owner magazine
40 Churton Street
London
SW1V 2LP

+44 (0)20 7828 4925
info@graysofwestminster.co.uk
http://www.nikonownermagazine.com

Thursday 28 October 2010

The Pursuit of Excellence - Michael Bond on Grays of Westminster

Michael Bond, Author

"I have yet to read Grays of Westminster - Exclusively...Nikon; that is a pleasure still to come, but already I know what to expect. It will be a "quality" production: the title, with its two key words Grays and Nikon, says it all.

Such excellence is instantly recognizable; you can see it, feel it, taste it, even smell it. But for all that, it is often hard to pin down as it is to analyze the 'star quality' of, say, the late Rex Harrison or Laurence Olivier.

The car in a Rolls Royce dealer's showroom exudes it, as do the college lawns at Oxford and Cambridge. The formula in both cases is deceptively simple. Untold man-hours go into the making of a Rolls Royce, along with much skill and pride of workmanship; for the latter, you take a level patch of ground, scatter some grass seed over it, then mow it and roll it regularly for some five hundred years or so.

The truth is that excellence is not something that happens out of the blue; it is a goal that needs to be aimed for in the first place. Aimed for and worked on with unswerving dedication.

The story of Nikon is one of dedication to quality; you only have to hold one of their products in your hand to realize that. Pass through the door of 40 Churton Street, Pimlico, take a look around, and you will find a similar story.

To parody the well known song: "Grays and Nikon go together like a horse and carriage": in culinary terms, the French would say it is 'un bon marriage', and in a world where all too often standards seem to be falling around us, these are things to cherish!"

Michael Bond
Creator of Paddington Bear

An excerpt from "Grays of Westminster Exclusively... Nikon - In the Company of Legends" by Gillian Greenwood

Nikon Deals: News Flash - New Nikon Special Prices

We are pleased to announce the following price changes on our New Nikon Specials


SLR Bodies and Kits

D3s - £3,499.00
D3s kit with 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S - £4,775.00
D3s kit with 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S - £4,690.00
D3s kit with 14-24mm f/2.8G & 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S - £5,969.00

D700 - £1,725.00
D700 kit with 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S - £2,999.00
D700 kit with 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S - £2,920.00
D700 kit with 14-24mm f/2.8G & 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S - £4,190.00
D700 kit with 16-35mm f/4G AF-S VR - £2,585.00
D700 with MB-D10 battery grip - £1,920.00

D300s - £1,085.00
D300s with MB-D10 battery grip - £1,280.00
D300s kit with 16-85mm AF-S DX VR - £1,480.00
D300s kit with 18-200 AF-S DX VR - £1,599.00

D90 - £589.00
D90 kit with 18-105mm AF-S DX VR - £749.00

D5000 - £425.00
D5000 kit with 18-55mm AF-S DX VR - £479.00

D3100 - £449.00
D3100 kit with 18-55mm AF-S DX VR - £499.00

Nikkor Lenses

AF-S and AF DX section 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G
AF-S DX VRII - £519.00
55-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR - £315.00

AF-S FX section
24mm f/1.4G AF-S ED - £1,799.00
28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR - £829.00
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S IF-ED VR - £395.00
200mm f/2G AF-S IF-ED VR II - £4,999.00

AF and AF-S Micro -Nikkor section
85mm f/3.5G AF-S IF-ED VR Micro - £385.00

For all orders please email the shop or telephone us directly and speak to a member of staff.


D7000 Exclusive Preview

Nikon D7000Nikon D7000

If you have been eargerly awaiting the new Nikon D7000 body, we will be receiving a demonstration body tomorrow prior to our first delivery on the 5th of November. This camera falls right between the D90 and D300S, so if you are looking for a lighter solution than the D300S but a higher specification than the D90, this may be the camera for you.

There are only a select few shops receiving demonstration models and you will also have the opportunity to add yourself to the waiting list in-store if you wish to be notified when our full
stock arrives.

For further details check our website or call us on 0207 828 4925.


300S Cashback - Final Few Days
Get Closer with £200 Cashback from Nikon
Nikon are currently offering £200.00 cashback on the D300S body when bought with any new lens over £400.00. This offer expires on October 31st so there are just a few days left to take advantage of this. We currently have D300s bodies and all suitable DX lenses in stock and kit prices are accommodated for you to be eligible for this deal.

Claims must be filed before November 30th. Please see Terms & Conditions on the Nikon UK website.

If you would like to place an order please email us at: info@graysofwestminster.co.uk, or telephone the shop and speak to a member of staff who will be more than happy to help you on 0207 828 4925.

Kindest regards,

Tabitha Hardy

Thursday 21 October 2010

The Definitive Panoramic Seminar, Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 - Last Few Places Available

The Definitive Panoramic Seminar

by Michael Eleftheriades

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010


Due to overwhelming demand, we now only have a very small number of places available at the panoramic seminar to be held in London, at
Fitzroy House,
37 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6DX

Fitzroy House, London

The seminar will be presented by Michael Eleftheriades, well known for his own stunning panoramic vistas and his inspirational lectures on the subject.

It will take place from 2.00 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. The cost of the session will be £155 with a special price of £95 if you are a current Nikon Owner subscriber. To book, please email me with your full name, daytime mobile and landline, or call between 12.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 or for International calls telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925, and ask to speak to me, Gillian Greenwood, or my colleague Katrin Ruckert. There are limited places available, so please book as soon as you are able to, in order to avoid disappointment.

gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.co.uk


Panoramic Seminar Agenda
The aim of the seminar is to demonstrate the principles, tools and software behind panoramic photography and to provide attendees with the knowledge to apply these to panoramic as well as to general photography, for example to photograph interiors or landscape vistas with more mainstream equipment.

The event will cover the following and will end with a showcase of projects:

Part 1: The Principles
  • Panoramic theory & principles
  • Selecting the right camera and lenses
  • Shooting techniques
  • How to set the exposure and white Balance
  • High Dynamic Range shooting
  • Using Tilt & Shift lenses
Part 2: Post Production
  • Image processing
  • Creating cylinders and spherical images
  • Creating photospheres
  • Stitching with Photoshop and more advanced tools
  • Creating virtual tours
Part 3: Presenting Panoramas
  • Printing panoramas
  • Publishing on the web
  • Playback on portable devices
Part 4: Panorama showcase
  • Examples of recent work, including panoramas from the Nikon Owner trips to Japan, Thailand and Cambodia.


About Michael Eleftheriades
A Nikon Owner subscriber since 2002, Michael is an architect and photographer who fuses his particular passion for architecture, virtual reality, computer graphics and photography in the creation of large-scale panoramic imagery.

Michael had been photographing virtual reality scenes using Nikon film cameras since 1986, and subsequently moved into digital usage and implementation with the launch of Nikon's Coolpix range in 1998.

He has exhibited his photographs at three exhibitions in London and lectured on panoramic creation to wide acclaim in the UK, Europe and the United States. When not photographing, Michael directs the efforts of Media Synthesis, a media development and consultancy company established in 1993, and is responsible for virtual reality tours and interactive exhibits at many of the UK's leading museums, including the Maritime and Natural History Museums.

Michael has recently created the virtual tour for Grays of Westminster and has been the Nikon Owner London Group coordinator for the last two years.

Comments from the attendees of his Panoramic Seminars at the Nikon UK Headquarters

Thank you for a informative and enjoyable evening. I have been an architectural photographer for twenty something years and your seminar has enlightened me on how to offer clients alternative marketing, display and web site design possibilities. I will be very interested in attending any future workshops that you and Nikon might offer - C.B. & K. M.

I really enjoyed the talk you gave, and was fascinated by the capability of both the software and pano heads. When I got home that night, I told my wife that I had seen true magic! Those are powerful tools, and you have personally done some amazing things with them - J. W.

I was lucky enough to attend both your recent Seminars at Nikon House. It's an interest I have had for a long time and I found your seminar most interesting and informative - M. H.
I just wanted to thank you for the two seminars that I attended, I found both seminars very informative and inspiring. Both seminars were very well presented - K. P.

I should like to let you know, how much I enjoyed the talk by Mike Eleftheriades - I found it most inspirational - T. J.

Fast, but a great deal to cover. Excellent friendly manner, presentation by a master of his art - E. C.

Fantastic, a real eye opener! Excellent! - S. H.

Absolutely fascinating - R. J. S.


Travelling to Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6DX:
the nearest underground station is Warren Street, but please do make sure that it is open – it is occasionally closed on a Saturday – if so, Goodge Street station is a good option.

What is Nikon Owner?
Nikon Owner Magazine and Interactive Website is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners. It was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon users to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills. Subscription to Nikon Owner magazine and interactive website provides a bridge between theory and practical, technical knowledge and accomplishment. As a subscriber to this group, you will receive an array of offers and assistance, as well as the unique photographic publication:

Nikon Owner Magazine CoversNikon Owner Magazine
From the cold reaches of the Arctic to the muted ocres of The Palio, from the panoramic sweep of an alien landscape to the microscopic detail of a leaf in bud, Nikon Owner magazine is both inspirational and informative. With its mix of stunning images, illuminating articles to assist and enlighten the photographer, and the very latest reviews on Nikon equipment, it is the essential magazine for the Nikon user, and is 100% Nikon.

Nikon Owner subscriber benefits additionally include:
  • Private user name and password to subscribers-only website which includes a lively forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events’ page and use of a photo gallery.
  • Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline: free technical consultation and support from Simon Stafford who is widely recognized as one of the top Nikon experts in the UK; you will be able to benefit from his formidable knowledge and have all your technical questions fully answered by email. This service is exclusive to Nikon Owner subscribers.
  • FREE 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
  • FREE 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
  • 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster.
  • Special trips: past visits have included a two-week trip to Japan and a personal tour of the Nikon factory, a visit to Nikon Thailand, Angkor Watt, Cambodia.
  • Substantial discounts on events and training sessions such as Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses, Simon Stafford’s Definitive Flash, Portraiture and Macro Seminars.
  • 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK.
  • A range of complimentary meetings and outings organized by local Nikon Owner Groups.
  • Nikon Owner Grand Christmas Dinner at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.
The cost of a standard annual subscription to Nikon Owner is currently at the special price of £59. (Quote ME59 when you call or email.)

With kindest regards

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator