Section 179 Tax Deductions Shrinking

November 16, 2011 | CI Team, News

As reported by the Associated Press this week, the tax deductions that allow photographers to write off equipment purchases (such as cameras, lenses, lighting, etc) to reduce their taxable income is being greatly reduced next year. That makes the next two months (prior to Dec 31, 2011) a much better time to invest in equipment than waiting until next year.

The Section 179 deduction allows a small business to deduct up front rather than depreciate the cost of equipment like computers, vehicles, machines in manufacturing, office furniture and sheds. The deduction for 2011 is $500,000. In 2012, it will drop to $125,000. And in 2013, it’s expected to fall to $25,000 – the amount it was back in 2002.

We couldn’t agree more with the author that this alone should not be a reason to purchase equipment. However, if an equipment purchase is on the horizon for you then it may save you considerable tax dollars if you can complete the purchase before Dec 31 of this year.

Changes in the tax law shouldn’t be the biggest reason for buying new equipment. Deductions aren’t worth it if you’re wasting your money on something your business doesn’t really need. But if you’ve been debating whether to buy tablet computers for your employees or install new manufacturing equipment in 2011 or in 2012, it might make sense to move the purchase into this year. If you can get a better price now than you would next year, that’s another reason to buy now.

In addition, depending on the type of lease and the particulars of the relevant tax codes, you may be able to write off the entirety of a large purchase (e.g. that medium format digital back you’ve been dreaming of) in this tax year even if you use a lease to pay off the purchase over a few years.

Of course we are not tax experts, so you should consult with your tax advisor. We work with photographers every year to coordinate between accountants, tax advisors, manufacturers, and leasing companies to determine the best way to save them money.

Read More

Full AP Article on Boston.com
IRS Website

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Aptus 22 Factory Refurbs

November 15, 2011 | Promotion

Medium Format Quality for Less Than the Newly Announced Canon 1Dx

Capture Integration has secured a limited supply of Factory Refurbished Aptus 22 digital backs. They come with six months of warranty coverage and all new accessories. We are offering the backs for just $5,390 (back only) or in a kit (with body and standard lens) for $6,290. You can purchase them through our eStore or contact your preferred Sales Person.

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Pics from Cocktail Hour in NYC

November 15, 2011 | CI Team, News

Having recently transitioned from working directly for Bron Imaging to working with Capture Integration I was excited to join part of my new team, Dave Gallagher (Owner, Capture Integration) and Steve Hendrix (Atlanta Sales Manager, Capture Integration) in NYC during the Photo Plus Expo.

We managed to take a few fun shots at the cocktail hour. It was truly great seeing so many of the photographers I have worked with for decades. In my new capacity at Capture Integration I will continue to be able to work with them on Broncolor and other Bron Imaging products,PLUS! my portfolio of offerings has expanded to include Phase One, Leaf, Mamiya, Profoto, Cambo, Arca, and more. So if you’re looking to make a purchase before the end of the year for tax-savings purposes, want to test a medium format camera system, lighting, or other equipment, or you just want to catch up I’d be glad to hear from you.

My cell number (917.402.7550) hasn’t changed but my new email address is jim@captureintegration.com.

Here are a few snapshots from that happy hour. Jump on over to our Capture Integration Facebook Page to see the rest and share your own.

 

 

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One of my heroes has passed…. Pierre Bron, 1921-2011

November 10, 2011 | CI Team

20 Years ago when I was a “younger” man, I was employed by Sinar Bron based in Edison, NJ.  Sinar Bron (now Bron Imaging Group) was, and still is to a large degree, a distribution company for multiple Swiss companies including Bron Elektronik, AG.  To say that I was green is an understatement.  Graduating from RIT, I was one of those kids that I laugh about today.  You know… thinking that I knew everything, ready to make my millions, and ready to take the photography world by storm.  Luckily I had employers that saw the drive and attitude that was necessary for success and were incredibly patient with all my naive ways.  And trust me, they needed a lot of patience!

On many of my training trips to Switzerland I was lucky enough to spend quality time with members of the Bron family.  We were shown great warmth and hospitality on each trip by Jacques Bron and Claude Bron, and on the special occasions we were able to spend time with the retired Pierre Bron.  I especially remember one long evening where I sat next to  Pierre, 60 years my elder, and grilled him about the meaning of life throughout dinner.  What Pierre thought of  all of my young questions, I will never know.  I am proud to say that I still think about that conversation and have used his advice often in business.  I am sad to hear the news of Pierre’s passing this week.  I am forever grateful to Sinar Bron and the Bron family for giving me the chance to get my foot in the door to this crazy industry.  And our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Bron family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.

Dave Gallagher,  President of Capture Integration

On Saturday, November 5, one of our own passed away. Pierre Bron, one of the co-founders of Bron Elektronik AG, passed peacefully in Switzerland. Pierre and his brother, Joseph, founded the company in 1948, which had originally beared the name “Bron and Co.” Now known as Bron Elektronik AG, it became the manufacturer of three product brands: broncolor, Kobold and Visatec, which have become the industry standards for top photographic lighting equipment.

To all, Pierre Bron was known as a “photographic industrialist,” who concentrated his research in European and American studies in invention and scientific repertoire, becoming a source of knowledge and insight into photographic technology. In 1998, he penned a book with a museum curator named Philip Condax entitled, “The Photographic Flash,” in which he gives a concise history of the precursors to and modernization of modern flash photography. In 1982, Bron Elektronik moved their center of production to Allshwil. In 1990, Pierre Bron handed charge of Bron Elektronik AG to his son Jacques, who currently leads the company.

Here is a list of some of Pierre and Bron Elektronik’s extensive accomplishments:

50 years of history in a time capsule

1958 Pierre and Joseph Bron establish Bron Elektronik AG.
1962 Pierre Bron acquires all shares of the company.
1970 Bron Elektronik establishes a distributorship in Germany.
1977 Bron Elektronik establishes a distributorship in France.
1980 Bron Elektronik establishes a distributorship in the USA.
1982 Bron Elektronik moves to its new production centre in the Allschwil industrial zone.
1990 Pierre Bron hands the helm over to his son Jacques.
1990 The second construction phase ends with an office wing adjacent to the production centre.
1993 Bron Elektronik introduces VISATEC, the second product line after broncolor.
1999 Bron Elektronik acquires all assets of Kobold Licht GmbH, now named Bron Kobold GmbH;
the company continues to manufacture Kobold products in Wolfratshausen (Germany).
2002 Bron Elektronik establishes Bron Kobold USA as the US distributor of all Kobold and VISATEC products.
2005 Bron Elektronik develops the new Kobold Event line for the trade fair market.
2008 Bron Elektronik celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Milestones in technical evolution

1962 Bron uses electrolytic capacitors for the first time to reduce the weight of flash units.
1965 Bron begins to use printed circuits in flash units, making them easier to manufacture and service.
1968 Bron launches the world’s first monolight at Photokina.
1968 Bron produces the first flash unit with symmetric and asymmetric power distribution.
1971 Bron introduces the Hazylight area lamp.
1976 Bron introduces infrared flash synchronisation (power pack 404).
1980 Bron introduces infrared remote control for power packs und large-area lamps (Servor).
1982 Bron introduces the impact flash unit with polymer shells.
1984 Bron launches the first microprocessor-controlled power pack (Pulso).
1996 Bron introduces the first power pack with selectable flash duration and stabilised colour temperature (Grafit A).
1996 Bron launches the first power pack that can be controlled with a PC or a Mac (Grafit A).
1998 Bron introduces the first weather resistant HMI continuous light for cinema and television (Bron 400).
2002 Bron uses RFS for the first time to remotely control power packs with a PC or Mac using radio frequencies.
2006 Bron introduces the Verso power pack with a revolutionary battery concept featuring short recharging times.

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Capture One 6.3.2 Released

November 3, 2011 | Tech, Tech Features

A minor bug-fix update has been posted for Capture One. It fixes an issue caused by OSX 10.7.2 whereby brushes and mouse cursors would not display properly, leaving many users scratching their heads.We will be testing Capture One 6.3.2 in the coming week to let our users know about it’s stability and real-world performance.

Download Capture One 6.3.2

Other bug-fixes / Improvements

• Fixed an issue causing MobileBackups to show up as a volume in the library tool.
• Improved colors and noise defaults for Samsung NX11
• Both PEF and DNG format for all Pentax models now supported
• Support added for Olympus Pen E-PM1
• Support added for Samsung NX200
• Support added for Pentax Q

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