Camera
At CP+ 2025 it finally felt like the camera industry got its mojo back
A couple of weeks ago, DPReview attended the 2025 CP+ Expo in Yokohama, Japan, the annual camera industry trade show sponsored by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA). CP+ is an opportunity for us to meet with senior executives from across the camera industry, but it’s also a chance to gauge the market’s health more indirectly.
After going through years of contraction, the past few years have generally been a period of stabilization for the camera industry. We’re not returning to the heady days of DSLRs and compact models flying off the shelves in the tens of millions, but industry executives have consistently told us that the market has reached a point of equilibrium and is even growing a bit.
However, despite the positive outlook from industry leaders, it’s hard to ignore that, for the past couple of years, the CP+ Expo lacked a certain energy that we used to see at camera trade shows. In 2025, however, we saw several signs that CP+, and possibly the industry, are regaining some of that past mojo.
The crowds were bigger
It’s no secret that camera trade shows have been hit hard over the past few years, with stalwarts like Photokina and PMA falling by the wayside and becoming historical footnotes. Trade shows, in general, have been flagging as companies discover new ways of connecting with customers, and the camera industry is not immune to that.
“We saw several signs that CP+, and possibly the industry, are regaining some of that past mojo.”
CP+ was hit particularly hard by the global pandemic in 2020, which resulted in a three-year hiatus before an in-person expo returned in 2023. And, while there was clearly excitement among attendees and manufacturers to be back in action, one couldn’t help but notice that the crowds felt smaller and the energy levels lower. It didn’t portend an exciting future.
What a difference a year makes: in 2025, CP+ felt busy and vibrant again. There were lines outside the expo hall snaking back and forth well before the doors opened, packed with consumers eager to see the latest gear. The expo hall was crowded, the booths were busy, and even the aisles were filled with excitement and energy that have been largely absent since the pandemic.
The attendees are changing
 |
|
CP+ attendees listen to a speaker in the Sigma booth. It seemed like there were more women at CP+ than in the past.
Frame from video: Dale Baskin |
Yes, the crowds are getting bigger again. But what may be even more important is who we saw in attendance.
Typically, we would expect to see traditional camera enthusiasts at CP+, the type of person who has a collection of cameras and lenses at home, and we saw plenty of attendees with current models slung around their necks. To be sure, there were plenty of these people at the expo, and that’s a good thing for the industry.
What jumped out, however, was the number of young people we saw in attendance, and it was common to see them in sections of booths specifically targeting ‘creators.’ You found them in other places, too; at least anecdotally, the industry’s efforts to connect with this up-and-coming customer base may be paying dividends.
Additionally, it seemed like there were more women in attendance this year. I don’t have any hard data to back this up, so you’ll have to trust my observations, but it’s certainly a good sign if the industry is more effectively connecting with women photographers.
Companies are timing product launches around CP+
 |
|
DPReview was the first publication to get our hands on the new Canon V1, a compact camera announced to coincide with CP+ 2025.
Photo: Dale Baskin |
The CP+ Expo hasn’t historically been an anchor event camera companies use to announce new products. It wasn’t uncommon for a few products to be announced in the weeks leading up to the event, and companies occasionally used CP+ for big announcements, but it was the exception rather than the rule.
Suddenly, CP+ is a hot place for announcements.
Panasonic announced its new Lumix S1RII high-resolution flagship camera, Canon had its just-announced Powershot V1 compact model on display, and Sony revealed its new 16mm F1.8 G and 400-800mm F6.3-8 G lenses. Even Zeiss got in on the action, announcing new Otus 50mm F1.4 ML and 85mm F1.4 ML lenses.
On top of that, Sigma announced its new BF camera, along with new 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS and 300-600mm F4 DG OS lenses, at its own event in Tokyo earlier in the week, clearly designed to coincide with CP+, and the expo was the first opportunity for customers to get their hands on the products.
And this doesn’t even include all the new lenses revealed by the up-and-coming Chinese lens manufacturers. Speaking of which…
Chinese lens companies have arrived in force
 |
|
Chinese lens companies unveiled numerous new lenses at CP+ 2025, some designed to go head-to-head with the camera manufacturers’ own lens options.
Photos: Richard Butler |
Over the past few years, Chinese lens companies have transformed the camera market, becoming competitive manufacturers capable of producing sophisticated autofocus lenses with impressive optics.
This isn’t the first year these companies have been at CP+. However, in 2025, they collectively made their presence felt like never before, unveiling no less than ten lenses between them, including several that ought to get the attention of first-party manufacturers.
Viltrox jumped in with its AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE and AF 85mm F1.4 PRO FE lenses for Sony E-mount, along with a full-frame compatible AF 50mm F2.0 Air and APS-C AF 25mm F1.7 Air, both available for multiple mounts. Laowa joined the party with full-frame 8-15mm F2.8 Fisheye and 15mm F4.5 0.5x wide-angle macro lenses, and even a 35mm F2.8 Tilt Shift lens for Fujifilm GFX.
“Chinese lens companies unveiled numerous new lenses at CP+ 2025, some designed to go head-to-head with the camera manufacturers’ own lens options.”
Not to be left out, 7Artisans showed off full frame 24mm F1.8 and 35mm F2.8 lenses in multiple mounts and APS-C 25mm F1.8, 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8 primes, also available in multiple mounts. Even Samyang got in on the fun, unveiling its AF 14-24mm F2.8 zoom for E-mount, co-branded with Schneider Kreuznach.
If this trend continues, CP+ could become a very exciting venue for new lenses.
What does it mean?
It’s one thing for camera industry executives to tell us the industry is headed in a positive direction. It’s another to walk the aisles of an expo hall teeming with excited consumers who telegraph that message in the real world. Seeing younger generations out in force and excited about using cameras is particularly exciting.
It’s also been a long time since we’ve seen this many big industry announcements centered on a single event. However, if the industry can coalesce around CP+, it presents an opportunity for manufacturers to generate industry-wide excitement about new products at a level we haven’t seen since the days of Photokina, and that would undoubtedly be a positive thing for the industry as a whole.
| Image: GoPro |
While the word “Black” in GoPro camera names signifies it is the top-of-the-line model, it has, for some time, also referenced the color of the action cams. While there were silver and white GoPros at one point, the last six generations have all exclusively featured an all-black design. Now, the white color is back for a time, since the action camera giant has announced a limited edition white version of the GoPro Hero13 Black.
While some may simply prefer white for aesthetic reasons, it also has some practical use. If your GoPro falls somewhere, white is generally more noticeable than black, making it easier to locate. Of course, the opposite is true for snow sports, but against grass, rock and other surfaces, white will stand out.
The GoPro Hero13 Black in Polar White is exactly the same as the black version but with a white exterior. The durable action camera offers 5.3K60 video, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization and a Type 1/1.9 (6.3 x 5.5mm) CMOS sensor. It uses GoPro’s long-lasting Enduro battery, providing 1.5 hours of continuous recording in 5K 30p or 4K 30p.
 |
| Photo: GoPro |
Like the black color, the Hero13 Black in Polar White is compatible with the new interchangeable HB-Series Lenses. These lens mods use auto detection, so you don’t have to change settings when attaching a new lens. Options include an Ultra Wide Lens Mod, Macro Lens Mod and a set of four ND filters. Additionally, the Anamorphic Lens Mod, which results in cinematic-looking 21:9 ultra-wide footage, is also available for purchase as of today. It’s been a bit of a wait for that lens, as it was initially announced in September last year.
The limited edition Polar White model is available for purchase today on GoPro’s website for $400, the same price as the original version of the GoPro Hero13 Black. If you already own the Hero13 Black but like the idea of having a white camera, you can purchase a white silicon sleeve with a lanyard to reskin your camera. That sleeve is also available in blue and black.
Buy now:
Press release:
Introducing the Limited Edition Polar White Color of the Award-Winning GoPro HERO13 Black
Best-In-Class 5.3K Video, HyperSmooth 6.0 Video Stabilization and Interchangeable HB-
Series Lenses Compatibility in a Crisp New Color
SAN MATEO, Calif., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) announced its flagship HERO13 Black camera is available in a limited edition Polar White colorway. Available today for $399.99.
Now customers can elevate their adventures and capture every moment in style. The striking new color brings a fresh look to GoPro’s flagship camera, which features best-in-class 5.3K60 video, HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization, legendary GoPro durability, magnetic mounting and the powerful Enduro battery.
The camera is compatible with the all-new, interchangeable HB-Series Lenses with Auto Detection. These lenses make it easy to expand the range of creative shots you can capture with HERO13 Black:
- The industry’s widest-angle, most stable, immersive POV shots with the $99.99 MSRP Ultra Wide Lens Mod
- Close-focus shots with the $129.99 MSRP Macro Lens Mod
- Easy-to-achieve motion blur using the $69.99 MSRP ND Filter 4-Pack
- Hollywood-looking cinematic 21:9 ultra wide-angle shots using the $129.99 MSRP Anamorphic Lens Mod
Combining HERO13 Black in Polar White with a GoPro Premium ($24.99 first year for new subscribers and $49.99/year thereafter) or Premium+ ($99.99/year) Subscription adds the ability to auto-upload your footage to the cloud, receive automatic highlight videos via the GoPro Quik App, save up to 30% on accessory purchases at GoPro.com, no-questions-asked damaged camera replacements and more.
HERO13 Black in Polar White is available now at retailers globally and at GoPro.com.
March Editors’ photo challenge: Water
The theme for our March Editors’ photo challenge was ‘Water’. We asked you to show us the essence of water in its many forms.
DPReview photographers rose to the occasion as usual, flooding us with stunning submissions. We were awash in incredible photos – many more than we can present here. Our top picks on the following pages are presented in random order.
Want to participate in some other photo challenges? Visit our Challenges page to see currently open or upcoming challenges or to vote in a recently closed challenge.
The underside of water
 |
Photographer: Thorgnyr
Photographer’s description: Often during winter, Lake Thingvallarvatn freezes. The view of the ice from below can be spectacular, especially during the thaw period; the ice has broken into flakes and then froze again. This was the case when this picture was taken. I started taking pictures without the diver but felt the scale was missing. So I got my buddy to pose for me.
Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Frost
 |
Photographer: JTF MKE
Photographer’s description: On a cold winter day, there was frost on a bathroom window. Taken using a tripod in the morning with angled early sunlight. Patterns were entirely random, created by lots of humidity and the hand of Mother Nature.
Equipment: Olympus E-510 (EVOLT E-510) + Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro
Surf paddle out for life, and a good friend
 |
Photographer: sundot
Photographer’s description: Surf Paddle out as we do in Hawaii when someone passes with a connection to the ocean. Friends gather for one last shout-out to send a farewell. The skies cleared, and the ocean lit up for the sendoff.
Equipment: DJI Mavic
Throwing up walls
 |
Photographer: owenleve
Photographer’s description: Former Olympian/US Ski Team athlete Daron Rahlves waterskiing on Bocca Reservoir in Truckee, California. “Throwing Up Walls” refers to the “wall” of water produced from each turn.
Equipment: DJI Mavic
Only four drops
 |
Photographer: froggy42
Photographer’s description: This picture of a water sculpture consists of only four drops of water falling in specific fractions of a second, one after the other, onto a water surface. They generate this sculpture that exists only for a fraction of a second. Our eyes are not fast enough to see the sculpture. To take this picture, a flash had to be used to achieve a very short exposure time. To achieve the correct time intervals, I used a Miops Waterdrop Kit.
Equipment: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Water fields
 |
Photographer: 75RobinH
Photographer’s description: Red seaweed cultivation on the east coast of Zanzibar. During low tide, the “seaweed women” with their multi-colored dresses (kanga) enter these water fields similar to small gardens to tend their plantations. The seaweed is fixed to sticks connected by strings. About every two weeks, they harvest it and spread it out to dry. The seaweed is used in the production of cosmetics (soaps, creams, oils etc.), partly produced locally; most is exported. This demanding work is not only a source of income but is also very important for the social life, dignity and development of the women of Zanzibar. The warming of the ocean is seriously endangering these crops.
Equipment: Sony SLT-A58 + Sony DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II
Steam to water to ice: In a millisecond
 |
Photographer: joemellor
Photographer’s description: I’d been thinking about this fun stunt throughout our ski holiday in Norway. It needed a low sun and a very low temperature. Most of the week was cloudy and too warm. The perfect opportunity arose, but the sunny location was a several-minute walk (run) from a source of hot water. With a single vacuum flask of boiling water, there was only one opportunity to get this right. I begged my subject to stand absolutely still in front of the sun as he threw the water as I didn’t want the sun directly on the lens. Fortunately, my camera takes 20 frames per second, and I was able to select the best from around eight shots showing the development of this arc of steam/water/ice. We then returned to our cabin’s warmth and were delighted with our first-time success!
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Strangers
 |
Photographer: 3rkaer
Photographer’s description: We all come from the water. We are mostly made of it, but at the same time, we are all strangers to each other in this crazy world.
Equipment: Leica SL2-S
Misty morning in Grand Teton
 |
Photographer: Stan Petersen
Photographer’s description: This was shot in Grand Teton National Park in early October 2006. The crowds were gone for the season, and this place along String Lake was quiet, except for the bugling of bull elk on both sides. Mists were moving along the lake, and Mount Moran started to show through as the pre-dawn magenta light hit the top.
Equipment: Canon EOS 350D (EOS Digital Rebel XT / EOS Kiss Digital N) + Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
Under
 |
Photographer: Cliff Connell
Photographer’s description: On one of the last hot days in autumn 2011, just before our southern Australian Easter swell kicked in, I had just finished a long session of surfing some pretty big, clean waves when I decided to get back in to capture some in-water shots of the rest of the crew. Most of the shots I got that morning were pretty average, except for this one of a young guy duck diving under the closed-out section of a 5-6 foot wave. It made my day!
Equipment: Canon EOS 20D + Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC LD
Iceland highlands
 |
Photographer: GreenFirePhotography
Photographer’s description: Photographing Iceland felt like being inside a fairy tale at times. This image always draws a critical eyebrow or two. People throw around A.I. However, that’s just how amazing Iceland looks.
Equipment: Hasselblad L2D-20c
Waterbrella!
 |
Photographer: Maureeneo
Photographer’s description: I took this photograph of a moment of pure joy – one of those instances where laughter and spontaneity take over. The sun was bright, the summer air thick with warmth, and cool water was the perfect antidote. But the community swimming pool wouldn’t be open for another hour, and my granddaughter couldn’t wait that long. So, she improvised a mini water park for herself, using an umbrella exactly the opposite way an umbrella should be used! I love the contrast between the black umbrella and the cascade of sparkling water. The way the droplets catch the light. The way her hair clings to her face. Here she is, soaked but carefree, reveling in the cascade she created. I think I captured that feeling: the giddy, unstoppable energy of being a kid, where even the simplest things can bring so much joy.
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Calm summer evening
 |
Photographer: Lars Wara
Photographer’s description: Being on a lake when the water is dead calm, all quiet except a few birds and an occasional trout breaking the surface… Well, that’s pure therapy!
Equipment: Sony a6700 + Yonguo 11mm F1.8
Powerful wedge wave
 |
Photographer: vbuhay
Photographer’s description: The powerful waters of the “wedge” can be frightening for the average surfer. But for some of the strongest surfers, it is a challenge…
Equipment: Nikon D850 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Atlantic sunset
 |
Photographer: bravoricardo
Photographer’s description: It was a beautiful afternoon at Praia das Milícias in São Miguel, Azores, so I decided to go for a swim with my water housing. After a couple of hours on the shore break trying different water angles, I managed to position myself inside this perfectly lit barreling wave, facing the sun setting behind São Roque church.
Equipment: Canon EOS-1D X
Window frost
 |
Photographer: Bram Floria
Photographer’s description: Waiting for the defroster to kick in, Spokane, WA, on January 26, 2025. On a bright, cold morning following a night of ice storms, the water came out to play as leaves of crystal.
Equipment: Google Pixel 6a
Divining rod
 |
Photographer: morelens
Photographer’s description: This is a lovely stream in upstate NY. Believe it or not, this location is on the far end of a cemetery. I was standing in the water to take this photo, and the water and the breeze cooled me off on this hot day – one of the many advantages of photography.
Equipment: Canon EOS R + Canon EF 17-40mm F4.0L USM
A gentle touch
 |
Photographer: wfoto
Photographer’s description: High-speed pictures of moving water will amaze you with the small details we cannot see in real life: every bubble in the foam, tiny sprinklets coming out of each crest, and the contact of the water with sand.
Equipment: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Frisco Pier
 |
Photographer: Keith Hudspeth
Photographer’s description: The goal of this photo was to show the raw, destructive power of water. Frisco Pier was built in 1962 and stood strong until Hurricanes Isabel and Earl struck the Outer Banks in the early 2000s. I took this photo in 2016 before it was finally dismantled in late 2017.
Equipment: Nikon D750 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm F1.8G ED
Shower cap
 |
Photographer: Anne25
Photographer’s description: The subject burst a balloon full of water above his head. The balloon was hung from a support and burst using a spike on a stick. I wish I had taken a later shot capturing the look on his face due to the cold shock.
Equipment: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV + Canon EF 400mm F5.6 L
|
Out-of-camera JPEG. 50mm equiv. crop.
F4 | 1/450 | ISO 80 |
This week, Fujifilm announced the GFX100RF, a 102MP medium format camera with a fixed 28mm equiv. F4 lens. The sensor will be familiar to those who’ve seen samples from the GFX100 S II or GFX100 II, but the lens is an interesting factor – the company says it put a lot of engineering work into it in order to make it as compact as it is.
You can get a feel for what kind of results it produces from the samples we took with our pre-production unit. We were lucky enough to get to test the camera out in a variety of locals; many of the pictures are from Prague, as Fujifilm flew us out for its X Summit and Fujikina event, but there are also images from London, Paris and, of course, Washington.
We’ve added some new photos taken since our initial review went up, including ones taken using a tripod to remove hand shake as a limiting factor on resolution.
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don’t abuse it.
-
Solar Energy3 years agoDLR testing the use of molten salt in a solar power plant in Portugal
-
TOP SCEINCE7 months agoSearching old stem cells that stay young forever
-
Camera1 year agoDJI Air 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
-
Indian Defense4 years ago
Israeli Radar Company Signs MoU To Cooperate With India’s Alpha Design Technologies
-
world news5 months ago
Sirens trigger across central Israel following rocket barrage targeting Tel Aviv Iron Dome battery
-
Camera1 year agoSony a9 III: what you need to know
-
world news5 months ago
Hezbollah’s gold mine catches fire: Nasrallah’s bunker under hospital held half billion dollars
-
world news1 year ago
Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens
