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Posts Tagged ‘Korea’

Olympus will shutter its camera business in South Korea on June 30

21 May

Olympus will end its camera business in South Korea on June 30, according to a new report from The Korea Times. The decision is ‘mostly’ based on low camera sales volume, the report claims. Olympus will continue to sell medical and scientific equipment in the country.

In a statement to the publication, Olympus said that despite focusing on mirrorless cameras and interchangeable lenses, ‘it has become barely possible to sustain the business with profit,’ spurring the business decision.

Though the company will shut down its brand store and online shop for South Korean customers on June 30, it will continue to operate its servicing facility in the country until March 31, 2026, enabling existing customers to get their camera gear repaired.

Olympus says it had to make this decision despite ‘strenuous efforts to increase the profitability and efficiency of its imaging business’ in South Korea. Olympus told The Korea Times that its decision to end camera sales in the country doesn’t have anything to do with a social movement among residents to boycott products from Japanese companies.

The news isn’t terribly surprising as camera sales are indeed down worldwide. Back in November 2019, rumors surfaced that Olympus was planning to entirely exit the camera business, something the company denied, stating instead that it was working on improving the ‘profitability and efficiency’ of both its imaging and scientific equipment businesses.

According to the CIPA figures released last month, camera shipments to Asia in March reached only 39.8% of the volume of shipments reported in March 2019. Overall worldwide shipments only reached 47.8% of the volume compared to the same month in 2019, with mirrorless camera models proving more popular than SLR cameras.

It’s unclear how great of an impact the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had on this drop in sales volume, but it seems unlikely that camera companies can expect a spike in sales at any point in the near future. Given the fact that Olympus’ imaging business was already struggling to survive in South Korea, it makes sense that the company would choose this time to exit the camera business in that market entirely.

We have contacted Olympus for a comment and will update this article accordingly if we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon Korea promo video confirms the RF 70-200mm F2.8 lens won’t have internal zoom

10 Oct

A new video from Canon Korea gives us a closer look at Canon’s upcoming RF L F2.8 trinity and confirms what we’ve suspected from the get-go with the upcoming RF 70-200mm F2.8—it won’t be an internal zoom.

The 72-second video shows off sample images and specifications from each of the three lenses Canon showed off earlier this year: the RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM.

As expected from the first time we saw the ridiculously compact 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM, the lens will have an extending section for when shooting at longer focal lengths, as seen in the animated GIF above. This video marks the first time we’ve seen the extending section in action and as seen in the video, the zoom ring will have a rather short throw when going from 70mm out to 200mm.

Pricing and availability for these three lenses are still up in the air, but we expect to find out before the end of the year based on Canon’s own lens roadmaps.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm releases Provia 100-branded instant noodles in South Korea

16 Jul

Fujifilm has taken an unusual departure from its regularly scheduled programming to bring you…instant noodles?

Yes, you read that correctly — as part of a promotional giveaway, Fujifilm Korea has created Fujifilm Film Simulation Instant Noodles, a line of instant noodles that’s wrapped with the same branding used on Fujifilm’s Provia 100 color reversal film packs.

According to the description, the Provia 100-branded noodles taste like ‘hot and tangy kimchi.’ For those unfamiliar with kimchi, Wikipedia describes it as ‘a staple in Korean cuisine […] a traditional side dish made from salted and fermented vegetables, most commonly napa cabbage and Korean radishes.’

It appears as though you won’t be able to get the instant noodles outside of South Korea. If you happen to be reading this from South Korea — or plan on taking a trip there soon — you can jump over to Fujifilm Korea’s promotional page and secure yourself some film-inspired instant noodles.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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NK INK: North Korea Graffiti, Stencils & Street Art

17 Apr

[ By Steve in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

North Korea may be making the headlines like never before but the world’s graffiti artists have been featuring the Hermit Kingdom’s leaders for years.

When it comes to North Korea, there’s a lot to look down on. Take the country’s unique leadership – a communist dynasty? Who knows what the late Karl Marx might think of that (though it’s not hard to guess). In any case, NK-themed graffiti and street art should never be looked down upon, at least not by those living outside North Korea. Flickr user _eddie999_ brings us our lead image featuring Team America: World Police’s take on Kim Jong-il, snapped in Brighton, UK early in 2012. Just below, Mauricio Balvanera’s (maubrowncow) 2007 photo of a stenciled North Korean soldier with a flower in the muzzle of his rifle gazes out from a wall near the Toy Factory Lofts in Los Angeles, California.

The Sun Is (Still) There

Kim Il-sung (“Kim become the sun”) was North Korea’s first supreme leader – the “Great Leader” in official parlance – who held power from 1948 to his death from natural causes in 1994. Among his most lasting accomplishment was the establishment of the Kim ruling dynasty, now into its third generation in the form of Kim Jong-un. Speaking of lasting accomplishments, Flickr user Loïc Brohard snapped the above artwork captioned “Vote Kim il Sung” in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in April of 2010.

The Son Is Here

Kim Jong-il inherited power from his father in 1994 and was known in North Korea as the “Dear Leader”. Flickr user Larry Jones (westbymidwest) captured this full-color portrait of Kim Jong-il in full panhandler mode on September 20th of 2009 at the Albany Bulb, an artificial landfill peninsula extending westward from the the east shore of San Francisco Bay. It’s uncertain whether the splash of orange paint across the portrait’s “HELP” sign is part of the original composition or a later amendment.

A Spectacles Of Himself

Kim Jong-il was over 50 years old when he assumed North Korea’s leadership but he had been groomed for the position since the early 1980s. Kim the Second raised the cult of personality established and encouraged by his father to ever-greater heights. The stencil above, found in NYC’s Koreatown district, dates from 2009 and was captured in April of that year by Flickr user e.yamasaki.

The Future’s So Bright…

Kim Jong-il’s designer shades take center stage in the above NYC photo pastiche snapped in late 2011 by Flickr user allan molho (amolho4). Sources state Kim Jong-il was a fervent fan of Western cinema, boasting a collection of over 20,000 titles including every Elvis Presley flick. His fascination with “The King” in his late-1960’s rhinestone jumpsuit phase may have influenced Kim’s sartorial preferences, at least when it came to prescription and fashion eyewear.

Thanks, Obama

First rule of tinfoil-hat prognostication and doomsday cult propaganda: never predict near-future events! The unknown creator of the above paste-up mini-manifesto evidently didn’t get that memo. To their credit, they did manage to evoke the spirits (and images) of Lincoln, Churchill and an alarmingly youthful FDR to add weight to their shrill Cassandra callout. Bonus: stating “Prime minister of North Korea said so its the God truth.” Kudos to Flickr users shoehorn99 and allan molho (amolho4) for capturing these ravings in August of 2008 and April of 2009, respectively.

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Nk Ink North Korea Graffiti Stencils Street Art

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[ By Steve in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

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Book-Shaped Pavilion in Korea Celebrates Historic Birthplace of Printing

16 Oct

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

printed-word-book

In 1377, nearly a century before the famous Gutenberg Bible was printed in Germany, the Jikji anthology was made using movable metal type, then bound and and protected for centuries to come.

book-pavillion-exterior

A new installation outside the Cheongju Art Centre in South Korea celebrates this historic achievement, acting as a shelter for public performances in the open plaza.

It also hints at a larger exhibit inside: an array of architecture, art, design and digital media that traces the history and impact of movable type on literacy and publishing.

book-art-stage

The pavilion itself, folded and stitched together with red twine, forms a canopy that mimics the properties of an open book “being pushed down onto a flat surface,” explains its creator Ron Arad. The thickness increases where the pages fan out, and the metal binding of the structure is derived from a traditional spine.”

movable-type

The Jikji is the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document, whose title can be translated “Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings.” It collects teachings of Buddhism passed down for generations.

Printed during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1377, it is the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. Prior printing techniques in China used ceramics to print volumes, but none of those works survive.

book-design-interior

book-monument

book-shaped-stage

book-space-deail

While other versions survive thanks to wood engravings in temples, only the final volume of the metal-printed Jikji is preserved by the Manuscrits Orientaux department of the National Library of France. The process used to create the anthology was only rediscovered in the early 1900s in the West.

Johannes Gutenberg, meanwhile, was the first to create his type pieces from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony—and these materials remained standard for 550 years as printing evolved in Europe.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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DJI opens drone flying and training arena in South Korea

24 Aug

Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has opened a new facility in South Korea that allows drone owners to learn more about flying their craft. The DJI Arena offers 1395 square meters/15016 square feet of dedicated space for education as well as obstacle courses for those wanting to show off and practice their aerial navigation skills. Situated in Yongin 20 miles south of Seoul, the arena will host an academy for pilots between the ages of 8 and 16, as well as individual and group sessions for adults, schools and businesses.

DJI claims it wants to ‘make aerial technology more accessible, reliable and easier to use for anyone who wants to use it’ and to ‘play an important role in building a healthy UAV ecosystem in Korea.’ The company provides drones for those on education programs while others will need to bring their own. Members of the public can book three-hours sessions that cost the equivalent of $ 13.50 per person.

For more information see a translated version of the DJI Arena website.

Press release:

DJI Arena Officially Opens in Korea

Providing a safe and fun environment for new pilots and aerial enthusiasts DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, officially opened its first DJI Arena in Korea to the public today. The facility aims to provide a gathering place for aerial enthusiasts as well as a practice venue for those who are learning about aerial technology such as first time pilots.

“The DJI Arena will help foster the local drone culture and play an important role in building a healthy UAV ecosystem in Korea,” said DJI Korea Country Manager Moon Tae-hyun. “

He continued, “The opening of the DJI Arena is our commitment to the development of the local UAV market. There is huge potential in how UAV technologies can change the way people see the world and create positive impact to people’s lives. Our goal is to make aerial technology more accessible, reliable and easier to use for anyone who wants to use it.”

The 1,395-square-meter arena offers an adjustable LED-lit circuit for pilots who want to test their skills, LCD TVs that show spectators the first-person view from the drone, and a maintenance room equipped with charging docks and workstation for minor repairs.

Details on the Different Programs, Fees and Availability:
* Individual & Group Booking: Visitors are required to make reservations via an online application form (http://blog.naver.com/djiarenakorea). For those visiting from outside of Korea, reservations can be made via djiarena.kr@dji.com by including their full name, expected date and time of arrival, and number of participants. The reservation will be confirmed upon confirmation of the venue’s availability. Each booking session is for three hours and the entrance fee is 15,000 KRW (USD 13.50) per person per session. The maximum capacity of each session is 12 people and will be given on a first come first serve basis. The availability of individual and group booking is 7pm to 10pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends.

* Corporate Event Rental: Rental for corporate and special events is available between 10am-8pm all week. The minimum venue rental fee is 500,000 KRW (USD 452) for 30 people and 30,000 KRW (USD 27) per additional participant. Booking must be made two weeks in advanced.

* Flying Academy: Children between ages 8 to 16 can also learn about DJI’s aerial technologies and become a skilled pilot. As part of the program, participants will learn the features of the Phantom 4, safety tips and best practices, and complete a total of eight practice sessions during the course of one month. The Flying Academy will commence later in September.

* Private Training: DJI’s professional pilot will be available for 1:1 training if participants prefer a more tailored program. To start, participants will learn how to fly the Phantom 4, one of the most intelligent and easy-to-fly consumer drone with features such as ActiveTrack, TapFly, Obstacle Avoidance and a Sport Mode.

* School Tours: DJI Arena is the perfect place for students to learn about UAV technologies and a great venue if schools are looking for an educational and fun experience for their students’ next field trip. The program can be tailored for the school with booking done in advance. Each session usually runs for two to three hours depending on the number of participants.

Visitors are required to bring their own drones for individual and group bookings while DJI will provide the Phantom 4 for participants in the educational programs. For corporate events and activities that require special set-up, please contact djiarena.kr@dji.com for more information and availability.

The DJI Arena is located at 441 Mabuk-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The venue will be open for public tours between 5pm – 9pm this Thu Aug 18 and Fri Aug 19.

For more info or reservations, please email djiarena.kr@dji.com or visit http://blog.naver.com/djiarenakorea.

DJI expanded its retail business in Korea just earlier this year with the launch of its first overseas flagship store in Hongdae, Seoul. The Korea Flagship store has become a gathering place for aerial enthusiasts across different demographics, from recreational users to those seeking to start their own business using DJI’s platforms to retirees looking for their next hobby.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Singaporean photographer makes 360 degree interactive video of tour of North Korea

14 Jul

A photographer from Singapore has created a navigable 360° video of a tour he made of North Korea. Aram Pan has set out to make a documentary that ‘captures the essence of North Korea through the use of 360° panoramas, photos and videos.’ Through collaboration with authorities in North and South Korea, Aram has gained extensive access to the usually closed country and has been able to tour popular sites as well as meet and photograph local people. See video

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Exclucity: Unique GoPro Footage of Pyongyang, North Korea

27 Jun

[ By WebUrbanist in Destinations & Sights & Travel. ]

rare footage inside north korea

Notoriously restrictive of the media, the North Korean government surprisingly granted the request of an outsider seeking to shoot a virtually unprecedented video: a continuous car tour of the nation’s largest and capital city.

Aran Pan of Singapore is a photographer and cinematographer given unique permission to document this secretive country, boasting, among other accomplishments, the first series of 3D panoramas shot within its borders and visible to the outside world.

north korea weird overpass

north korea shrine circle

While the film itself is uncut and uncensored, its filming meant traveling with a state-appointed driver, translator, photographer and overseeing official.

north korea tower steps

north korea bridge shot

The mission of this project, titled DPRK 360, is not to reveal any hidden agenda (or architecture) but simply to convey a sense of place. If anything, the filmmaker hopes his viewers will come away with the idea that there is beauty in North Korea.

north korea intersection office

north korea government buildings

Indeed, the streets seem almost unnaturally serene – quiet and nearly empty – and the path traveled (though potentially by design) is quite clean and relatively unremarkable in itself. The buildings, too, are bland if anything, with hints of Asian architectural styles as well as Neoclassical influences.

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Canon Korea teases new camera, EOS M2 or SL1/100D?

09 Nov

white100d-1.jpg

Canon Korea has put up a page teasing about a new camera release. Showing a camera covered in a white sheet, the teaser text reads, “November 2013, Canon will start from the white world. Coming soon,” according to a Google translation of the site dicahub.com. Rumors seem to expect an EOS M2 or a pro camera, but applying a few Photoshop tweaks, as dicahub did, reveals a few details that make the camera look an awful lot like a more familiar digital SLR with a new white finish. Click through for more.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer creates ‘virtual panoramic tour’ of North Korea

15 Oct

Screen_Shot_2013-10-14_at_6.02.12_PM.png

What’s it like to visit one of the world’s most secretive countries? Singapore-based photographer Aram Pan wanted to find out for himself. North Korea is notorious for stage-managed and highly restricted access for foreigners, but Pan decided to have a go at simply asking North Korean authorities whether he could enter the country and document what he saw. Click through for extracts from his story, and some of his stunning images.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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