CIPA announces new camera and photography show in Japan

Despite the fact that many in the industry have been predicting the demise of the big PMA trade show after Canon pulled out of the February 2010 event to be held in California, the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) recently announced that it will be hosting a new camera and photography show in Yokohama, Japan (March 11-14, 2010).

The goal is to create a "comprehensive camera and imaging show for consumers and businesses," comparable to Photokina in Germany or PMA in the U.S., as well as to "communicate the enjoyment of shooting, viewing, and sharing photography through various events, seminars and galleries" and "foster the growth of photography and image culture."

In addition to the usual product and service exhibitions, CP+ will offer photo business seminars (e.g., data processing for photographers, color management system), photo seminars for amateur photographers, as well as several cultural exhibits related to photography, including a number of gallery exhibitions ranging from photojournalists to high-school photography clubs.

Canon will be exhibiting at the new event, called CP+,  which isn't such a surprise considering that Canon is a member of CIPA, along with other big photo industry players like Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony, among others. Currently there are about 60 exhibitors registered, and the CIPA estimates about 50,000 attendees overall.