Read the latest issueThe Photography & Video Show Preview 2024
We gather key exhibitors, top photographic wares and major innovations you’ll want to check out at The Photography & Video Show this month
|13.03.2024
15 min read
Best in show
We gather key exhibitors, top photographic wares and major innovations you’ll want to check out at The Photography & Video Show this month
Words by GAVIN STOKER
After taking a break in 2023, The Photography & Video Show returns to its regular venue of Birmingham’s cavernous NEC over four days on 16-19 March. For many, this will be the first chance to get hands-on with the latest cameras, lenses and accessories, chatting to makers and suppliers face-to-face.
Regular show deals provide yet another major incentive to visit, with the opportunity to potentially grab a bargain from the photographic retailers in attendance – or at least make a better-than-average saving. Who knows, whatever discount you get could essentially pay your rail fare, petrol money or hotel for the night.
Talks and showcases are also scheduled at regular intervals every day. Mixing things up for this year, talks with the biggest photographic names in the business are free to attend, leaving more to spend on the goods exhibitors will be showcasing.
All this being said, money and time can only stretch so far. So which are the key attendees you should be seeking out, and what are their must-try products? To provide some steer, we share the following information. Meanwhile, to keep abreast of the latest updates, visit the address below.
Canon
Stand N500, N400
Canon is pulling out all the stops once again with a line-up of ambassador speakers covering wildlife, sports, maternity, landscape, fashion, cinematography and wedding photography on the Spotlight Stage.
Alongside this, it will be showcasing its full range of products – including the recently launched RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z, RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM and RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lenses.
A new addition for 2024 is the Canon Creator panel, offering hints and tips on how to create visually compelling content, as well as interactive Q&As with its influencers.
Practical advice for photographers will also be imparted via its Bite-Size Stage during the day.
Steer will further be provided for achieving the best results from printers courtesy of free Canon Professional Print and Layout software, plus advice on which of its photo and fine art papers to use for optimum results.
Highlighted here is the recent Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro-4600 printer and Lucia Pro II ink system.
But that’s not all; visitors can also enter a prize draw to win a Canon EOS R6 Mark II and RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens worth £3000, as well as the opportunity to have their photos professionally printed.
Plenty of reasons to visit Canon at the show!
Canon
Stand N500, N400
Canon is pulling out all the stops once again with a line-up of ambassador speakers covering wildlife, sports, maternity, landscape, fashion, cinematography and wedding photography on the Spotlight Stage.
Alongside this, it will be showcasing its full range of products – including the recently launched RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z, RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM and RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lenses.
A new addition for 2024 is the Canon Creator panel, offering hints and tips on how to create visually compelling content, as well as interactive Q&As with its influencers.
Practical advice for photographers will also be imparted via its Bite-Size Stage during the day.
Steer will further be provided for achieving the best results from printers courtesy of free Canon Professional Print and Layout software, plus advice on which of its photo and fine art papers to use for optimum results.
Highlighted here is the recent Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro-4600 printer and Lucia Pro II ink system.
But that’s not all; visitors can also enter a prize draw to win a Canon EOS R6 Mark II and RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens worth £3000, as well as the opportunity to have their photos professionally printed.
Plenty of reasons to visit Canon at the show!
Hahnemühle
Photo Studio
Marking an incredible 440 years of papermaking, Hahnemühle will have its latest modern-era additions on display.
Among them are the Photo Rag Matt Baryta and Bamboo Gloss Baryta plant-fibre-based Natural Line papers, plus the Sustainable Photo Satin and Photo Silk Baryta X from its Photo Paper range.
The fine art inkjet paper specialist will also offer engaging talks and demonstrations at the show.
Professional photographer Karl Holtby is hosting a workshop entitled How to Make Your Fine Art Prints Sing. While Gabrielle Motola will present Bringing Portraits to Life in Print, a session on the art of paper selection and the profound impact of print in a world dominated by screens.
Italian landscape and travel photographer Francesco Gola will also delve into Printing a Long Exposure Seascape, and reveal how his passion for long exposure seascapes is accurately reflected in his choice of fine art Hahnemühle paper.
Rounding off the line-up of presentations is Alan Bell, a former shortlisted artist for the Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award.
Bell will be speaking on Opportunities for Photography Students, sharing which Hahnemühle papers he believes present his images in their best form.
Last but certainly not least, attendees can take advantage of special show offers on products by Hahnemühle, available through its show partners.
Dupli is located on stand G406 and Fotospeed on stand D600.
Cewe
Stand E406
Europe’s leading photo print company Cewe will be displaying its personalised photo products, including its flagship Cewe Photobooks.
These have found thousands of satisfied customers – described as the perfect way to bring your photographic memories to the page.
Visit stand E406 to learn how each photo book is fully customisable, thanks to a selection of premium paper, design elements and multiple finishing touches.
Find out how its professional-grade papers can lend images a lifelike quality, while layflat binding can beautifully underscore photography across two pages, making for an immersive storytelling experience.
Make your Cewe product even more memorable by adding a stylish protective slipcase, emboldened text for greater impact or an elegant gift box by way of deluxe packaging – you can even imbed an innovative video feature to set memories in motion.
Pay a visit to Cewe at the show and see for yourself why it won our Photography News 2023 Awards category for best photo books & photo gifts.
OM System
Stand L500
While the branding may have shifted from Olympus to the less immediate OM System, the performance, look and feel of its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras and accessories remain just as impressive as ever.
Visitors can get their hands on the newest additions to the line-up – including the flagship OM-1 Mark II mirrorless camera with its 20-megapixel sensor.
Plus, two new lenses: namely the M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 II, which provides a 35mm-equivalent of 18-36mm when married with the Micro Four Thirds system sensor, and the super telephoto M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm f/5-6.3 IS.
The latter gives a 35mm equivalent of a generous 300-1200mm on its own, extendable to 2400mm when paired with an optional MC-20 2x teleconverter.
With the OM-1 Mark II body, up to seven steps of image stabilisation are provided.
Come and chat with the OM System team to find out why this brand is still the one to beat when it comes to ultra-compact camera bodies and lenses big on performance.
Fujifilm
Stand J500, J505
A regular commanding presence, Fujifilm will be exhibiting its medium format GFX line-up, mirrorless APS-C X Series, Instax instant-print cameras and smartphone printers.
Plus, discover a host of lenses, accessories and media options – all designed to enable its customers to get the best out of their devices.
Instax will have its own area with a selection of instant-print products for visitors to pick up and try for themselves.
Attendees will be among the first to experience the Fujifilm X100VI, successor to the in-demand X100V, as well as the well-received existing X-T5, which continues to be a firm favourite in its class.
Another major lure is the GFX100 II – the brand’s 100-megapixel medium format marvel delivering both huge resolution and pin-sharp detail for commercial and fine art photographers.
Talk to the team to discuss all your requirements and find the best Fujifilm match for your needs.
OM System
Stand L500
While the branding may have shifted from Olympus to the less immediate OM System, the performance, look and feel of its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras and accessories remain just as impressive as ever.
Visitors can get their hands on the newest additions to the line-up – including the flagship OM-1 Mark II mirrorless camera with its 20-megapixel sensor.
Plus, two new lenses: namely the M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 II, which provides a 35mm-equivalent of 18-36mm when married with the Micro Four Thirds system sensor, and the super telephoto M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm f/5-6.3 IS.
The latter gives a 35mm equivalent of a generous 300-1200mm on its own, extendable to 2400mm when paired with an optional MC-20 2x teleconverter.
With the OM-1 Mark II body, up to seven steps of image stabilisation are provided.
Come and chat with the OM System team to find out why this brand is still the one to beat when it comes to ultra-compact camera bodies and lenses big on performance.
Innova Art
Stand C400
Innova Art was established back in 2003 to provide print and display media that makes the most of inkjet technologies.
It now offers products devised via collaborations with artists and photographers worldwide.
Visitors to its stand can discover why many Innova products are listed as Artsure-approved by the Fine Art Trade Guild.
The Innova Art product range includes multiple surfaces perfect for producing limited- or open-edition digital prints, which attendees at the show will have the opportunity to examine in person.
Such wares include archival inkjet fine art papers, resin-coated inkjet photo papers and true woven canvases – coated for use with pigment or dye-based inkjet printers.
Further display options from the fine art producer include inkjet printable wall coverings, canvas stretcher bars, photo book covers and display panels for resin-coated photo papers.
Joining Innova Art on its stand is online retailer Fine Art Foto, which lets visitors purchase Innova products at great show prices.
It goes without saying, the team will be available to offer advice first-hand on papers and printing.
Rode
Stand L310
Audio specialist Rode, a top choice for photographers who also dabble in videography, will showcase its latest wares at the NEC.
Recommended products to touch and try include the Rode Wireless Me ultra-compact microphone, offering an impressive range of 100m+ and camera, computer and smartphone compatibility via a 3.5mm output or USB connection.
This is ideal for content creators who are interviewing, reporting or presenting to camera, with a Rode Capture iOS video app allowing for direct control.
Alternatively, check out the more conventional ultra-compact, on-camera Videomic Go II.
This supercardioid shotgun microphone is claimed to be essential for run-and-gun filmmaking and content creation.
Highly directional, it can clearly pick up sound at the front, while reducing background noise from both the sides and the rear.
These core options and much more will be among those presented at the show.
Just talk to the team to find a sound fit for your work.
Calibrite
Stand D701
When managing your workflow, many will be familiar with Calibrite – formerly the X-Rite series of photo and video products – and its dedication to providing the best colour solutions for photographers, filmmakers, designers and content creators.
These are designed to provide consistency and reliability for colour-critical creative work.
After all, a colour-managed workflow is the cornerstone of any digital darkroom, crucial for when we want to be certain what we see on the screen is exactly how the image will appear at every stage of the process – and to others when printed.
So be sure to make a date in your diary to talk with the staff on its show stand.
Discover for yourself how the easy-to-use, affordable and extraordinarily precise Calibrite Colorchecker suite of new products can work for you to provide peace of mind and colour fidelity at all times.
The Insurance Emporium
Stand F800
The Insurance Emporium is the specialist to seek out when protecting your precious camera gear.
As well as offering insurance starting from as little as £1.46 per lunar month (that’s every 28 days), it offers peace of mind whether you’re a part-timer or pro, are seeking up to £2 million public liability cover, or just want to ensure your gear is covered when travelling.
Two types of cover are offered: the first involves its Amateur and Semi-Professional policy, aimed at photographers earning less than 50% of their income from photography, and who have less than £25k worth of equipment.
The second is its Professional policy for those who earn a higher proportion – and are lucky enough to own up to £50k worth of kit.
Tweaks to either of the above choices can be made to make sure the policy is bespoke to each individual.
So come and chat with the team to explore why you would be better off insuring your photo or video equipment with The Insurance Emporium.
DS Colour Labs
Stand B701
Pay a visit to the above stand to discover why leading pro lab DS Colour Labs prides itself on delivering the highest photographic quality for its products and services – not to mention rapid turnaround times after placing an order.
Speak with the team to find out why DS Colour Labs is your reliable partner for wall art, photo books, fine art printing, photo gifts and all types of analogue film processing and transfer services. Its experts can help get your printed images looking their best.
Whether you’re shooting digital or analogue, stop off at stand B701 to get ideas on how to make your images pack a serious punch.
Tamron, Think Tank, Peak Design, Leofoto, Zhiyun, Broncolor and Lexar
Stand G500
All these brands will be at the show courtesy of UK and Ireland distributor Transcontinenta UK.
Sony full-frame mirrorless camera owners should keep an eye out for Tamron’s 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens.
The latest iteration offers better image quality, 0.18m minimum object distance, scratch- and fingerprint-resistant design, twice-as-fast AF response, plus user-customisable functions.
Need a bag for that lens? Consider the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2 in a choice of black, charcoal, midnight blue or ash colours.
Alternatively, examine the Think Tank Presspass 20 – worn like a shoulder bag or belt pack.
Want a compact tripod? The Leofoto Ranger LS-223C and LH-25 ball head is one of the smallest.
With a set of stainless steel spikes, a carry bag and a multi tool, it’s perfect for macro photography.
Videographers needing support will love the Zhiyun Weebill 3S gimbal. Its time-saving portrait and landscape switch allows for seamless movement between set-ups.
Also on the stand, and providing durable high-speed media, will be the Lexar Professional Gold Series UHS-II 1800x V60 SD card and USB-C Dual Slot Reader for SD and microSD.
For those wanting lights, the Broncolor Pulso L 3200 J lamp and latest Satos 3200 J power pack will surely prove illuminating.
Sigma
Stand J304
Sigma continues to innovate with its Art, Sports and Contemporary lens ranges.
With new gear recently announced to coincide with now-concluded trade event CP+, this will be the first chance to come to grips with its new ultra-wide and super telephoto lenses, arriving in the UK for mid-March.
L-Mount and Sony E-mount camera-owning customers will want to get their hands on its exciting new full-frame f/1.4 diagonal fisheye lens in the Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DG DN – a first for the brand.
This bright Art series optic allows the capture of expansive landscapes and star-strewn skies, thanks to its generous 180° angle of view.
Those photographing sports will be sure to make a beeline for the Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS, again intended for L-Mount and E-mount owners – described by its maker as the definitive ultra telephoto prime.
Visitors to the show will be able to test its claims that this prime lens for full-frame cameras is relatively compact and lightweight at 234.6mm in length and 1370g in weight.
DS Colour Labs
Stand B701
Pay a visit to the above stand to discover why leading pro lab DS Colour Labs prides itself on delivering the highest photographic quality for its products and services – not to mention rapid turnaround times after placing an order.
Speak with the team to find out why DS Colour Labs is your reliable partner for wall art, photo books, fine art printing, photo gifts and all types of analogue film processing and transfer services. Its experts can help get your printed images looking their best.
Whether you’re shooting digital or analogue, stop off at stand B701 to get ideas on how to make your images pack a serious punch.
Visit thephotographyshow.com for more.
This preview was first published in Issue 114 of Photography News.
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