CP+ Highlights – FUJIFILM, Canon, SIGMA, LK Samyang x Schneider Kreuznach, SIRUI

by Johnnie BehiriMarch 3^rd, 2025

It’s amazing how time flies. CP+ is already a thing of the past, but just before closing the curtain, we would like to stop for a second and take a look at the CP+ highlights that caught our attention. Though this show is on the smaller side – or perhaps ‘cozy’ is a better word – there was still plenty to discover. After all, Japanese camera manufacturers are always eager to showcase their merchandise to local fans, alongside a growing number of international brands (especially Chinese) attending the show as part of their expansion strategy.

I’m not sure how many of you have been to Yokohama, but if you haven’t, do yourself a favor and add it to your list. The town – especially the area around the Pacifico convention center – is always a pleasure to stroll through. And if you’re one of those crazy people who actually like to jog, you’re in luck – the whole place has a great sporty atmosphere and scenic surroundings.

CP+ highlights – the cameras

But let’s focus on the mission of highlighting some of the products we saw there. As expected, all the major Japanese camera companies were present at the show with impressive, well-designed booths. While OM is extremely popular in Japan (their booth is always packed) and Panasonic was proud to show their newly announced S1R II, Sony was busy letting people get hands-on with their new 16mm and 400-800mm G lenses. Nikon was showcasing the latest RED camera edition with Z-mount next to the newly announced Nikon 28-135mm f/4 PZ. (This lens looks cool on the Nikon Z 9…). I’m simplifying here as all companies had much more to present.

OK, so what caught our attention?

FUJIFILM: We’ve already widely discussed the development status of the upcoming GFX ETERNA. For those who missed reading the article or watching the interview, here is a short recap. FUJIFILM is on track to present the final product this year. Currently, the company has revealed that it will offer a 4K open gate recording mode next to dual ISO sensitivity (800/3200). The camera package will include a 5-inch touch monitor.

Canon: Somewhat quietly and under the radar, Canon announced and showcased the new PowerShot V1. According to the company, the target group for this 4K camera is clearly content creators. Personally, I think it was built to satisfy a wider range of users if you look at what it has to offer. Equipped with a 22MP 1.4″ image sensor, built-in ND, 10-bit 4:2:2 recording, Canon Log3, cooling fan (for extended recording time), front tally, zebra, 16-50mm equivalent f/2.8-4.5 lens, vari-angle LCD screen, and more (note that 4K/60p recording will suffer from a 1.4x crop). This easy-to-use, ergonomically designed camera might appeal to many. But before you rush out to get one, keep in mind that it’s currently available only in Japan, with a worldwide release planned later this year. In Japan, the camera costs 148,00 Yen, which is roughly less than $1,000.

SIGMA: It seemed as if SIGMA was the one to steal much of the attention. According to SIGMA themselves, they did not anticipate the hype surrounding the new BF camera and new lenses and were pleasantly surprised to see the level of interest shown by visitors. Although this camera is not breaking any world record in specifications, nor is it comfortable to hold, it is the look that attracted people. Made from a single solid aluminum block, it instantly became a fashion statement. Between the black or silver colors I find the latter to be nicer, but at the end of the day, it is really a matter of personal taste.

Speaking of which, I’m sure many of you have noticed the new SIGMA logo next to the different font the company has started using. How do you like it? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Lenses

Sony, Laowa, Viltrox, ZEISS, 7Artisans and others showed their latest offering at the show. While some of these new products might be great, the two lenses that captured our attention were from LK Samyang x Schnider Kreuznach and SIRUI.

LK Samyang x Schnider Kreuznach: If you are sharp-eyed, you noticed that Samyang went through a rebranding phase and next to their new logo, the company’s name has changed to “LK Samyang”. As end-users we might not feel the difference, but I’m curious to learn more about why this happened. Currently, there are not too many details about this new E-mount lens, but it did get a lot of attention!

SIRUI: The company showed their upcoming 20mm 1.33x, S35 autofocus anamorphic lens, promising to improve the AF functionality after hearing concerns from users who purchased the 40mm AF anamorphic. All in all, with SO MANY photo/video/cine spherical lenses currently being brought to the market, I was happy to see something a bit different. When it comes to autofocus anamorphic lenses, I still think that BLAZAR with their two Apex 1.33x lenses are more suitable for filming, but for the occasional photo/video user the SIRUI might be the easier choice.

So that’s it! With another show wrapped up, we at CineD are now shifting our focus to preparing for NAB… :)

Did you follow CP+? If yes, what product was your personal highlight? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.