The Grays of Westminster Gazette was first published in August 1992. Initially four pages long, and thereafter eight, it contained a wide range of intelligent articles by clients as well as staff on the latest Nikon equipment and a full page devoted to the History of Nikon by founder, Gray Levett starting from 1917 onwards. The Gazette is now expanded to a 32-page full colour publication.

Inside this issue you will find Simon Stafford's review of the Nikon D7000, wildlife photographer and respected broadcaster Chris Packham on the new EDG binoculars, legendary National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg on the D3s and our Nikonopaedia which highlights some of our best sellers as well as the most recent product releases from Nikon.

The latest edition of the Grays of Westminster Gazette is now available. If you'd like a copy (free of charge), please pop in to the shop and take one. Alternatively, a PDF version of it can be found here.

http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/legend/gazette.php

After a twenty year gap which I truly regret, I have taken up photography again. After a great deal of  research, all my experience was pre-digital, I decided to purchase a Nikon camera. Having scoured all available avenues I came upon Grays of Westminster and having perused the website made my way to Churton Street with a certain amount of apprehension - after all I am a novice in the digital photography age.

On the first occasion, I was helped by Bron who was patience personified as he explained the features and mysteries of the D7000 allowing me the opportunity of taking the aforementioned onto Churton Street to have a play. As time was short, I bid my thanks and farewells and dashed to a meeting.

The following week I returned and received a warm greeting from Bron, he was attending to another customer, and was helped by Tabitha. Again the service was exemplary, she was friendly, knowledgeable and patient. I purchased the D7000, the 18-200 zoom and all the peripherals and the whole "Grays' experience" made my re-entry into photography such a joy.

Nikon D7000

The ambience of the shop, the friendliness of the team and the range of product is absolutely out of the top draw and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about purchasing a new camera to pay a visit to Grays before they make their decision.

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Just a note to confirm safe receipt of a Nikon D700 and MB-D10. Excellent service as usual - ordered late afternoon on Friday, delivered before 9.00 a.m. on Saturday!

Nikon D700 with the MB-D10 Battery pack

The camera is a gift for my son, because I'm still so pleased with the F6 that I bought from you some years ago, that I am still using that ... along with my original F, and as new F3 & F3P of course. All four cameras are used with MF Nikkors; my collection of AF's have been donated to the D700. ... Who knows, I may be converted to Nikon D yet!

Thank you again for your continuing excellent service.

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Thank you so very much for yesterday's (Mike Eleftheriades Definitive Panoramic Workshop) talk in London.


It was extremely instructive, helpful and you were most generous in sharing your knowledge. I came away inspired even though I had to leave for my train just before you showed your final images.

We Nikon owners are so fortunate to have Grays of Westminster and people like yourself who are so generous with your time and instruction.

I would also like to say that your way of showing the techniques is much superior to most 'gurus'. Your pace enable us to follow everything whereas most, if not all, others speed through with quick clicks in such a manner that one has difficulty in following and, by the time a note has been made, one is way behind what is happening on the screen. This is not what happened yesterday and I greatly commend you for that.

Yesterday was my first 'Grays' event' it will not be the last even given the hassle of travel down from Nottingham.

My sincere thanks to you and Gray for arranging the event.

Now it is time to emerge from the long winter hibernation, time to step blinking into the spring sunlight and with it the good news that Nikon have introduced a new cashback offer on the D3100 body for UK and Ireland residents, whether bought as a body only or with an AF-S lens. Whether this is your first DSLR or a backup body the 14.2 effective megapixel sensor combined with an Expeed 2 processor will get you stunning images every time.





We are also very pleased to announce special combination deals with the body and lens (all prices are VAT inclusive and do not include the cashback offer, which is supplied by Nikon UK after purchase):

D3100 body only = £399.00

D3100 + 18-55 AF-S VR = £449.00

D3100 + 18-55 AF-S VR + 55-200mm AF-S VR = £660.00 to UK & ROI residents - includes a free Sandisk 2GB SDHC Card (£690.00 to non-UK & Ireland residents)

D3100 + 18-105 AF-S VR = £575.00 - includes a free Sandisk 2GB SDHC Card






We have only a handful of these bodies left in stock but if you want a compact DSLR that packs a punch like the D90 & D300S, the D5000 is the way to go. This camera also features a flip-out screen, to allow image shooting at previously difficult-to-capture angles. The below deals are now available on the D5000, but hurry - once they're gone, they're gone! All prices are VAT-inclusive.

D5000 body only = £415.00

D5000 + 18-55 AF-S VR = £499.00

D5000 + 18-55 AF-S VR + 55-200 AF-S VR = £710.00 to UK & ROI residents - includes a free Sandisk 2GB SDHC Card (£740.00 to non-UK & Ireland residents)

D5000 + 18-105 AF-S VR = £590.00 - includes a free Sandisk 2GB SDHC Card


As always, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone or email if you have any questions regarding these Nikon deals or on any other Nikon-related matters.

The seminar will be presented by one of the world's foremost Nikon experts, Simon Stafford, the technical editor of Nikon Owner magazine and best-selling author of numerous Magic Lantern Guides to the Nikon camera system.


Part one: Camera skills

• Understanding f/numbers & shutter speeds
• Learn how to optimise white balance and ISO
• Mastering camera menu settings
• JPEG versus RAW: the pros and cons of both
• How to achieve accurate exposures
• Understand how your camera’s metering system works
• Learn the benefits of digital histograms
• Improve your focus techniques with AF and manual focus

Part two: Shooting skills

• Learn good camera handling
• Camera support systems, tripods, monopods and alternatives
• Understanding and using depth-of-field
• Choosing and using filters
• Imaginative use of shutter speed
• Creative use of white balance

Part three: Beyond the camera

• Planning and visualising the picture
• Techniques of composition
• Transporting photographic equipment
• Tips for location shooting

Questions and Answers:
Please note that there will be ample opportunity to ask questions throughout the seminar.

Nikon Owner Subscription

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 (gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.com), an email with your full name, daytime mobile and landline. Alternatively, please call between 2.00 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.


Standard Annual Subscription - special price: £59

• 1-year Subscription to Nikon Owner
• 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster
• 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
• 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

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 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

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
• 2-year warranty on second-hand Nikon 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 (in store only)
• Nikon Owner quarterly magazine as above
• 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
• 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 Workshops , 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

Specialising in the Exceptional

A Nikon F-36 Motor Drive (for the Nikon F camera) + Cordless Battery Pack, Motor Drive adaptor plate, connector, Japanese instruction manual, warranty, complete in maker’s boxes NEW (ONE ONLY) £2,000.00.

Think Tank Camera Bags

We are delighted to be able to offer to our Nikon Owner Gold subscribers* a special 15% discount on any Think Tank product purchased at Grays of Westminster for a limited time period. Think Tank provides camera bag solutions for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Their products are born from the collaborative effort of photographers and product designers and together they have created inventive and effective solutions for all photographic situations, with enormous attention to detail. Our offer, which is available between March 1st and March 14th, allows you to start planning all your photographic trips this year using the best camera bags to suit your specific camera and lens' requirements.


Chris Weston's Mastering DSLR Photography Seminar, Saturday, 5th March, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Oxford.

As a result of exceptional demand, a small number of additional places have just been made available at Chris Weston’s Mastering Digital SLR Photography seminar on Saturday. If you are a Nikon Owner subscriber you will be able to take advantage of your Nikon Owner subscription and receive a £25 discount on the normal seminar fee (RRP £75.00).

Book now for just £50!

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.



Please note that the last available time to book will be Friday, 4th March, at midday

Alternatively, please call Chris on 01305 831752

(International callers please dial +44 1305 831752).

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 2.00 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

1st March 2011: Nikon UK today announces a new spring promotion entitling customers to claim £40/€50 cashback when purchasing the Nikon D3100 digital SLR from 1st March - 4th May 2011 (inclusive).

The promotion is available to customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Claims must be received by 5th June 2011. Full terms and conditions and information about how to claim the cashback can be found at www.nikon.co.uk/cashback.

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 offers step-by-step instructions for changing camera settings that helps improve photography skills whilst capturing perfect images.

The D3100 is Nikon’s first DSLR to offer full HD movie mode which can be accessed at the click of a button so users can switch between shooting stills and movie with ease. And, with an HDMI port the D3100 can be connected to the TV to relive special moments with friends and family.

Simon Iddon, Nikon’s enthusiast product manager, comments: “We’re pleased to introduce a new cashback offer on the award winning D3100; with spring around the corner and the upcoming bank holidays, now is the perfect time to invest in a digital SLR that will allow you to capture high quality images you’ll want to treasure.”

Offer subject to availability.