cpplus2015
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Japan's big photography show focuses on top-end cameras and distant prototypes
There were selfie sticks. There were even a handful of drones, but Japan's annual CP+ camera show remains, unmistakably, a truly big camera show. It's one for the masses too: press and business visitors mingle alongside the Japanese public, most of whom took Thursday or Friday off to see this year's big camera launches. 'Big' encompasses both the substantially-sized DSLRs that were on show as well the accompanying price tags. While camera companies had plenty of entry- to mid-level point-and-shoots (still!) for customers ignoring the existence of smartphones, it's those substantially pricier models from most of the camera companies that caught our attention most. "See the next groundbreaking models from Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Pentax... but no touching." Having said that, a depressing trend for anyone attending the show: most of the interesting cameras were cocooned in glass cases. Come to CP+ 2015 and see the next groundbreaking models from Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Pentax! But no touching.
Olympus' new lens camera can be (incredibly) upgraded
This is no DSLR. It's not even a bridge camera. This is actually Olympus' recently announced Air lens camera, tricked out to a (some would say excessive) degree. While the accessories on show here were only for internal testing, we admit we'd like to do some external testing with it. Alongside the DSLR-esque handle and controls (the Air camera handles any micro four-thirds lens), what you see on top is Olympus' eagle-eye viewfinder that projects a laser bullseye that will hover between you and your long-range target of choice. That also explains the telephoto lens which is attached to what was, originally, a petite camera upgrade for your smartphone. Naturally some extra framework is necessary simply to support all that attached glass. Check its ridiculous backside -- where your smartphone would sit -- right after the break.
