CP+ 2024: what can we expect from the world’s largest photography fair?

Since the end of Photokina in Cologne (Germany) in 2018, two general public photo fairs have gained momentum: the Paris Photo Show and the CP+ in Yokohama (a suburb of Tokyo, Japan). If the central and continental character of Paris allows it to display a greater attendance than an island event like the CP+, the latter has the advantage of being held on the native land of almost -all photo brands. What it possibly loses in international audience, it gains in industrial legitimacy.

This is particularly true in 2024: apart from the fact that we are in an Olympic year conducive to a renewal of equipment, the sector is benefiting from a renewed interest on the part of new generations. ©generations. A blessing for the sector after years of decline linked to the replacement of family compacts by smartphones. The Digitals will be on hand to follow the show. Here is a list, brand by brand, of planned or potential products.

Cannon
Fujifilm
Leica
Nikon
OM System
Pentax/Ricoh
Sony

Will Canon heat up the sauce before the Olympics?

The world number 1 in images has so far let nothing leak about his intentions. But as a member of the very exclusive club of “sports brands” alongside Nikon and now Sony, Canon must shake up its fleas. Indeed, among the competition, the Nikon Z9 is a racing beast (45 Mpx, 8K video, burst and pro tracking, etc.), while the Sony Alpha A9 Mark III is a real demonstration of technological superiority with its incredible global shutter sensor, its 120 fps burst and its AI chip dedicated to subject tracking.

Faced with these two monsters, the EOS R3 is the oldest and least expensive sports camera. The Olympic Games which will take place in Paris this summer of 2024 seem to be the perfect time to launch such a camera – and the CP+ the ideal place to start working on the expectations of photographers.

The other renewal that could be announced or glimpsed during the Japanese show would be a possible EOS R5 Mark II. While Canon quickly evolved its R6 to give birth to the R6 Mark II, the brand made its R5 last longer. However, no solid information has leaked. The answer will therefore arrive around February 20 or 21.

Fujifilm, the year of APS-C and a new X100?

After a year 2023 rich in medium-format launches – a body and three lenses! – 2024 would be, according to Fujifilm’s cycle, an APS-C year. The problem being that for the moment, the Fujifilm range is quite complete and modern in this area, between the X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s and X-S20. If we project from existing models, there is potentially room for a replacement for the aging X-Pro 3 and X-T30, but Fujifilm’s move upmarket suggests another story. .

According to information leaks, the hero of this year would be the successor to the X100V, logically called X100 VI and which should be one of the stars of the show. This sixth iteration of the X100 format would receive the complete technical platform of the XT5 – with 40 Mpx sensor, X Processor 5 and mechanical stabilization of the sensor. Additions that could prove revolutionary for the brand’s most emblematic digital device. The unknown being obviously the price…

Leica is not on its land

Leica being a German brand, the only chance of an announcement at an Asian show would concern one (or more) special edition(s) of existing bodies. Which cannot be ruled out since a good part of his biggest (and rich) fans are precisely Asian!

Nikon: many bodies to renew… and others to be reborn

With the Z9 and Z8 in their prime, and after a Zf which fully plays the marriage of retro look/modern technical specifications, it is difficult to predict what the next steps will be from Nikon. However, we could reason based on the reflex DNA of the brand, and look at which possible boxes need to be replaced or are missing.

Among those that we imagine to be replaceable, there are the Z5, Z6 II and Z7 II. Showing between more than three years and soon four years in the catalog, most of the full format range is aging. Faced with the performance of Canon and Sony, Nikon is now giving way in terms of autofocus, and there is clearly work to be done.

In terms of the missing body, we can’t help but think of an APS-C sports hybrid which would take over from the D300 / D300s / D500 reflexes. This range, revered by many wildlife photo enthusiasts, offers an additional 1.5x zoom thanks to its smaller sensor and is extra heavy with a full format. For now, Nikon has only produced very mediocre APS-C hybrids (no mechanical stabilization, soft knee AF). A good surprise therefore remains possible.

OM System in consolidation mode

If we rely on the launch of OM System last month – an OM-1 Mark II with mainly software new features and a 150-600 made by Sigma—we don’t expect any earth-shattering new products from the brand. This is also in full consolidation: its OM-1 (and now the Mark II) is still in high demand, its small sensor format constituting an advantage in many uses.

With its refocusing on “natural” uses, OM is now charting its course in a niche. This leaves little room for a possible successor to the Pen F and the heyday of very small and compact Micro 4/3 cases. However, the growing demand for expert compacts – X100 of all generations, Ricoh GR III/IIIx, etc. – gives hope that the managers of OM System will deign to remember the ™historic heritage of Olympus.

Pentax/Ricoh: street photography, film and reflex spirit

Even more than Olympus, Ricoh/Pentax plays the niche card. After major brands stopped production, Pentax is now the only one to produce SLR bodies with Canon – and the only one not to have hybrids – after to have been a pioneer of the genre! Its K-1 Mark II is therefore one of the rare full-frame SLRs that could have a successor. We begin to imagine a Mark III version, which is in development according to certain rumors.

From the Pentax brand, it is in fact a more modest body that is expected since it is a film compact. The company has in fact announced its intention to relaunch the production of such a camera to meet the demand of new generations who are discovering silver film.

Another case that could benefit from an update, the GR III. Launched in 2019, this compact with an APS-C sensor is both a pioneer of the genre, but is also riding the comeback thanks to the compact that really fits in the pocket. A GR IV version would be welcome to meet demand, and technically stand up to a potential X100 Mark VI which should be at the cutting edge.

Sony plays it strong

Between its A7R V marketed at the end of 2022, its A6700 / A7C II / A7C R launched in 2023 and the A9 Mark III announced at the end of last year and just available this year. goal of the year 2024, Sony’s news in terms of housing is quite dense. As usual, one might add.

Aside from leaks concerning one or two compact zoom lenses, nothing has filtered out in terms of announcements for this CP+. Like all behemoths, Sony is in any case not very fond of major launches lost in the noise of the competition. If we readily imagine a successor to the A7 IV and A7S III, which will respectively be three and four years old next October, nothing suggests a renewal at the start of the year.

Sony could agree to release a possible optical roadmap by enriching its range of telephoto zooms in order to stick to its A9 Mark III. However, these are just speculations.