The Camera and Photo Imaging Show, more commonly referred to as CP+, just opened its doors to visitors in Yokahama, Japan. The show, which runs through March 1, is the largest annual photo gear exhibition in the world. It allows photographers to get their hands on all the latest gear, and reliably serves as a launchpad for new equipment.
Lenses Take Center Stage
This year, the show is pretty light on cameras, but heavy on lenses. Big brands like Nikon, Sigma, and Tamron are showing off just-announced glass at the show, and are joined by smaller firms like Cosina Voigtlander, 7Artisans, Brightin Star, and Samyang.
Sigma 15mm F1.4 DC Contemporary for APS-C mirrorless cameras (Credit: JIm Fisher)
Sigma’s lineup is the star of the show. It’s got three new prime photo lenses lenses, the 35mm F1.4 DG II Art, 15mm F1.4 DC Contemporary, and 85mm F1.2 DG Art, and a cinema lens, the AF 28-105mm T3 FF. The 35mm F1.4 and 15mm F1.4 are coming to market this spring. I’ve already had a chance to test them and will have reviews soon; spoiler alert, they’re both excellent performers. The 85mm F1.2 DG Art is still in the development stage with an anticipated September shipping date.
Nikon comes in with an update to the Nikkor Z 70-200mm F2.8 VR S, the go-to telezoom for pros. The 70-200mm F2.8 VR S II includes a host of upgrades, headlined by faster focus motors and an optical formula with fewer elements that cuts weight down to 2.2 pounds, a significant reduction versus the 3.0-pound original.
The Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm F2.8 VR II S is noticeably lighter than the first version. (Credit: Nikon)
Tamron continues with its line of zoom lenses that cover uncommon focal ranges with its 35-100mm F2.8 Di III VXD. The lens is sized in line with the long-running 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2. It’s a good fit for photogs who don’t often take wide angle images, and is downright tiny when compared with the Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 Di III VXD. Its F2.8 optics are a selling point, especially for portraiture, though I think it’s a niche option versus the more common 24-105mm F4 formula.
Cosina Voigtlander cements it position as the most prolific maker of affordable M-mount rangefinder lenses with compact Apo-Skopar 75mm F2.8 and Apo-Lanthar 90mm F4 Close Focus lenses, both in the prototype phase. It’s also expanding its line of manual focus lenses for mainstream mirrorless lenses with a Nokton Classic 35mm F1.4 for Canon RF and Nikon Z cameras. The Nokton, also in the prototype phase, looks fantastic; the Nikon edition comes with a scalloped manual focus ring and the Canon has a diamond knurled ring instead. Both give the lenses a retro look. Cosina is the manufacturer behind present-day Zeiss lenses too, and is expanding the high-end Otus ML mirrorless line with a 35mm F1.4 for Sony cameras.
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Cosina’s CP+ slate includes lenses, binoculars, and filters. (Credit: Cosina)
Other highlights include budget brand Samyang’s first take at a telezoom, the AF 60-180mm F2.8, which will come out for Sony E and L-mount cameras, autofocusing 40mm F2.5 and 135mm F1.8 primes from 7Artisans. Brightin Star, which previously impressed me with its X-Slim 28mm prime, has a couple of interesting manual lenses, a mirrorless 50mm Tri-Sight F2 with bokeh control that shifts between soft and harsh backgrounds, and a 35mm F1.7 for rangefinders.
New lenses, like the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art pictured here, dominate the list of new gear at CP+ 2026. (Credit: Jim Fisher)
I’m happy to see such a variety in lenses come out at once. The big camera makers already have fully developed catalogs, so we’re seeing more revisions like the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art and Nikkor Z 70-200mm F2.8 VR II S hit the market. There’s been a trend toward smaller, lighter takes on existing formulas and both of these lean into it. Smaller brands fill in gaps with offbeat lenses like Brightin Star’s Tri-Sight, and value plays that are good choices for hobbyists who don’t need the very best. There are more brands making interesting photo and cinema lenses than ever before, and photographers who want to venture away from mainstream first-party lenses have so many choices.
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Canon’s Retro Concept Prototype Piques Interest
CP+ isn’t entirely devoid of actual cameras, though. Canon is showing off a pair of rough prototypes of what I’d call a concept camera, a fixed-lens SLR with a waist-level optical focusing screen, manual focus lens, and Type 1 format image sensor. It’s an out-there camera and while Canon has brought similarly odd ducks like the PowerShot Zoom, PowerShot N, and V10 to the mass market before, there’s no guarantee this one will get past the prototype stage. Attendees are reportedly flocking to see it, though I’d guess that’s simply because of the novelty factor.
Panasonic DMW-DMS1 microphone for Lumix digital cameras (Credit: Panasonic)
WPPI Is Right Around the Corner
The Canon prototype is nifty, and there are also some new accessories debuting at CP+, including a Megadap M2RF adapter that converts manual focus M rangefinder lenses to Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras and includes a motor to move the lens back and forth on the mount, effectively adding autofocus to fully mechanical lenses. Megadap is no stranger to this type of adapter, it already has one to do the same thing for Nikon Z cameras. Meanwhile Panasonic is trotting out a microphone for its video-focused Lumix camera line, the DMW-DMS1.
It’s pretty rare not to see any new cameras at a camera show, and I can’t help but wonder if manufacturers are holding back on new models until they get a clearer picture of how the recent surge in memory prices will affect price points and supply chains. There’s also a chance that they’re simply waiting to make a big splash at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) show, which opens this Sunday in Las Vegas.
About Our Expert
Jim Fisher
Principal Writer, Cameras
Experience
Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I’ve covered cameras at PCMag for the past 14 years, which has given me a front row seat for the changeover from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the smartphone camera revolution, and the emergence of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system, and am also comfortable using point-and-shoot and action cameras. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones.
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