Fujifilm at the CP+ Camera Show – Yokohama, Japan

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) is holding the CP+2014 Camera & Photo Imaging Show from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th Feb in Yokohama, Japan. CP+ is a comprehensive camera and photo imaging show covering a wide range of aspects of the photographic industry.

Like most years, Fujifilm is in attendance and has a great stand demonstrating our wide range of products including X series cameras, Instax instant cameras and prints.

Unlike most years, Fujifilm decided to invite some active professional photographers from Europe to come out to the show to talk to visitors about their photographic experiences and in particular explain why they shoot with X series cameras.

This is also the first major show that is open to the public where the brand new X-T1  will be on display for users to try out and talk to our staff about.

X-T1 buzz

The show opened for VIPs and Press at 10:00 Japan-time today – the general public has to wait until high noon for their stand-off.

Despite the fact that the show wasn’t officially open, it was pretty clear from the start what product was catching most attention.

We had a wander around the show and checked out many other great products. From portable stabilisation systems, high quality cases and straps to small and relatively-inexpensive helicopter-like drones to allow you to shoot from the air, there was a lot to see.

But besides a small queue of people on the Sigma stand who wanted to check out their recently announced DP2 Quattro, the only camera with any sort of demand to see was the Fujifilm X-T1.

It’s hardly surprising. The anticipation for this camera has been high since it’s announcement (and even before that!) but it was still flattering for us to see that camera is very interesting to so many people.

To learn more about the X-T1, please visit our website. People in the UK will be able to get their hands on the X-T1 at The Photography Show at the NEC next month.

X-Photographers

Fujifilm would be nothing without the photographers using their products. This was reflected with a great gallery of images from photographers all over the world plus a stage where in total there will be 20 talks from X-Photographers over the course of the 4 days. Additionally there are some interviews with the R&D team and the Design team. We will publish all of these as videos soon (the interviews are in Japanese but with English subtitles)

Day 1 saw British Photographer Jim Marks and Italian photographer Gianluca Colli take to the stage to share their experiences with the audience.

Jim Marks

Jim’s talk started with an introduction to him as a photographer. His needs and requirements, his shooting style, and how important it is to be in the right place with the right kit if you ever want to record that “killer” photo.

He showed some example shots he has taken using the X-Pro1 on various assignments including a great set of images with Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean that simply wasn’t possible to shoot on a standard D-SLR camera because it was drawing too much attention from passers-by.

He then went on to talk about how he believes that Fujifilm’s kaizen (改善) philosophy of continuous improvement is the main reason why he has stayed using Fujifilm products from the original X100, right up to the brand new X-T1 before then sharing his own views on the X-T1 camera he has been using for the last few weeks and why he thinks it will completely supersede the X-Pro1 he has been using for his professional work over the last 2 years.
During the Q&A sessions at the end, someone asked him what his favourite Fujifilm camera was and why. He replied with
“The X-T1 and for three reasons:
1. The viewfinder is almost comparable to an OVF but with the added benefit of allowing additional information such as Digital Split Image MF assist
2. The ISO dial. The X-Pro1 controls are instinctive and easy to use, and the X-T1 takes that base and adds even more
3. The vertical grip. It gives you double battery life and makes it is perfectly easy to hold and control in either orientation.”

Gianluca Colla

Gianluca similarly kicked off by talking about his style of photography and how he believes that his equipment should by compact and easy to control so he can forget all about the tool he is using, and focus entirely on creating images.

He started his relationship with Fujifilm with the X100, using it alongside his normal D-SLR. In many situations his clients were unable to notice any difference between shots taken on his D-SLR and those taken on the X100 and following the launch of the X-Pro1, plus continued development of the XF lens range, he has slowly become less and less reliant on D-SLR up to the point where he virtually never uses it anymore unless he is shooting something that has a specific requirement for it.

He stated his dislike for EVFs on digital cameras and says he only ever uses his X100 or X-Pro1 in OVF mode. He was never interested in trying an X-E1 or X-E2 for this very reason, however he says that the Real Time Viewfinder on the X-T1 is an altogether difference beast.

He finished with these wise words:
“We will not be remembered for our gear but by pictures we take. / But Fujifilm gear allows you to take great pictures”

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Once the videos are ready, we will post them online so you can listen to everything they had to say.