Cameras still spark passion in Japan

You've heard the memes before. The camera industry is dying; smartphones have destroyed the market for point-and-shoots; mirrorless cameras' sales haven't lived up to the hype. But no one in Japan appears to be listening — cameras are the one consumer electronics field where the country remains the undisputed leader, and photography occupies a place in the heart of the populace like nowhere else.

With that in mind, spending a day or two at Japan's biggest annual camera trade show is a lot of fun for photo obsessives, even if there's little in the way of actual news from the event itself. Companies announce cameras like the Fujifilm X-T1, Sony A6000, Canon G1X Mark II, Panasonic GH4 and Sigma DP Quattro in the days and weeks leading up to CP+, and the show represents the first chance for the Japanese public to get their hands on the new products.

In the spirit of sharing the joy of photography, here's a selection of shots from the show floor.