This year’s instalment of CP+, the annual “World Premiere Show for Camera and Photo Imaging” was constantly crowded with excited camera users. Canon’s booth at the show incorporated many novelties to delight camera users of all levels. We take a closer look.

 

Visitors to experience the joy of the entire process from photography to printing

Yuji Takai, Deputy Manager at Canon Inc.'s Public Relations Department described the objectives of Canon’s booth this year:

"The Canon booth is divided into 3 zones with different themes, and is based on the concept of showing visitors the wonders of photography and movie shooting with a digital camera, suggesting to them possible new ways of enjoying these, and then allowing them to experience it for themselves. In each zone, visitors can touch and try the cameras, lenses and other equipment suitable for photographing and producing images with the respective themes, as well as view a photo print exhibit of the same themes. We also have seminars where visitors can learn shooting techniques for various themes from photographers with firsthand frontline experience."

Yuji Takai, Deputy Manager, Public Relations Department, Canon Inc.

 

Walk around the entire Canon booth, and the corners themed around various photographic subjects lining both sides of the Centre Stage immediately capture your attention. The Touch & Try corners, where visitors could try out the products (including new products) that belong under the theme were constantly filled with people.

 

As covered in our other article, the event area was packed with a variety of events. There were many talks by photographers, who also shared their amazing photographs along the way. Takai informs us that this year, Instagrammers and YouTubers were among the speakers, giving visitors new ideas on photography as well as tutorials on how to make full use of movie shooting features. Many prints of works by professional photographers were also displayed around the Centre Stage, which were intended to enable visitors to enjoy the process of photography from input to output.

“Much effort was put into designing the Canon booth so that users will handle the products hands-on and experience for themselves the joys of photography, and get inspired to take good photos by the talks and demonstrations by photographers onstage,” Takai tells us.

 

Introducing visitors to Canon’s advanced technologies

A corner exploring Canon’s technologies was situated in between the galleries and the hands-on corners, and allowed visitors to see for themselves the imaging technologies behind Canon’s products and the amazing works they are capable of producing.

Here, too, it was apparent how topics of explanation were matched with related photographic subjects. The Right Zone centred on optical technologies, explained via the themes of landscape, flower, portrait and street photography. The Left Zone centred on the AF system, explained via the themes of vehicles, animals and sports. Meanwhile, at the side of the Centre Zone stage, another corner commemorated the 30th anniversary of the EOS system.

A wall panel commemorating the 30th anniversary of the EOS system

A section highlighting the AF system, in the corner dedicated to technologies that support Canon's cameras, 

Meanwhile, the “ENJOY! MOVIE Zone” featured exhibits on the Cinema EOS System and EOS MOVIE, with the highlight being the 4K Theatre, where users can experience for themselves the amazing footage possible. The latest 8K footage solutions were also exhibited for reference, and visitors marveled at the beauty of still images stitched together into a time lapse movie and played back on an 8K display screen. There were also live demonstrations by movie creators held in the EOS MOVIE Demo/YouTube Studio Demo corner.

CP+ would not be complete without the display of new products yet to go on sale, which is arguably the biggest delights of any exhibition. In CP+2017, this included the EOS 77D, EOS 800D DSLR cameras, the compact mirrorless camera EOS M6, as well as the compact digital camera PowerShot G9 X Mark II, all of which drew the crowds to the Touch & Try corner.

 

At the large format print gallery, stunning photographic works taken with the EOS 5DS R and printed out with the large format printer imagePROGRAF PRO-4000 were displayed to much admiration by visitors to the show.

 

Channel for direct communication between Canon's planning team and users

Canon employees involved with camera planning and design were on duty at the “Communication counter”, where key Canon camera models were on display. This space allowed for users to operate the cameras, and it also provided a wonderful opportunity for communication, where the staff could directly answer users’ questions and users, in turn, could feedback on the products and let the staff know what they wanted to see in future cameras.

 

CP+2017 is best enjoyed in person—just like any other camera show.  Indeed, it is one event where manufacturers, photographers and show visitors can bond through one shared interest: Photography. Photographer Taichi Kozawa, who gave a talk on the EOS M5 at CP+2017, described CP+ as an "annual festival for photographers". He added that “photographers should make it a point to share how to photograph and enjoy photography,”  and expressed his hope that all visitors and participants alike would unite and enjoy such events.

CP+2017 may be over, but if you have the chance, how about stepping into a local camera show in your country? Who knows, you may just discover some new things to love about cameras and photography.

 

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