This is the first of these I've attended, and a very impressive show of Corporate capability. No expense was spared-- including a working model of yankee stadium, complete with players.
Their message is a complex one, not just for customers and potential customers, but to investors, the press, the scientific community, potential collaborators on the most complex optical/mechanical solutions , or next generation capture, print and display technology, AND how to turn those technologies into solutions for real world problems.
Having seen this, I think Canon believes that the next big step in imaging, has to be about more than resolution and dynamic range in two dimensions. It has to extend what is possible to capture and to display.
That means at least some of their work is aimed beyond what we traditionally think of as Photography. I haven't seen this from many others, especially big camera companies.
This is not necessarily what traditional photography enthusiasts are clamoring for, and Canon is doing it at a time when their traditional photography sensor offerings are not cutting edge. So it leaves them open to criticism from those who are mostly interested in extending the capabilities of traditional photography (like me---- I love all the stuff they are doing but those things are not my issues)
However, when you see some of the work they produced with the 5Ds it is pretty hard to say 'not good enough' with a straight face.
One of their major focuses was 'Better Storytelling' which puts the story above the equipment. Their whole show was organized around themes and solutions. There was no video section or photography section but rather they had their products integrated as solutions into every theme. They also had a lot on basic science, and emerging technologies like virtual reality or textured printing.
They also ad the 120mp camera shooting still life pix tethered to one of their 8k displays. Lots about 8k....
It was not what I expected. I had thought if they didn't announce some new cameras it would be a missed opportunity. But I was wrong about that. This clearly wasn't the place for new product announcements. But they did show new technologies and new capabilities, many of which had to do with their incredible investment in new lens technology. They still need to announce some products but Photo plus would be venue for that.
Not what I expected, glad I saw it, especially in an environment where it was not mobbed with people. I don't know if Bob attended if he did we'll get a better report than this, until then here is a link to Bloomberg.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-11/five-crazy-photography-experiments-from-canon-expo-2015
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