Photography Show 2021 18th-21st September

Status
Not open for further replies.
Damian Brown said:
That action set up was busy whenever I went near it. My 27mm lens wasn't the one for that action though
Click to expand...

Nor was my 1951 Ross Ensign 16/20 :)
 
With so few people attending It will be a chalange for next year , If at all
 
I was going to start a thread asking what the attendance was like.
 
F1.2 said:
With so few people attending It will be a chalange for next year , If at all
Click to expand...
I've been wondering about the viability of the show for a while now, as I said earlier it's a very expensive show for exhibitors, and a combination of Brexit and the Coronavirus pandemic, the failure of the organisers to refund exhibitors for last year's cancelled show, very tight profit margins on equipment and supply chain problems all combine to make it look very poor value for money.
 
Seemed ok on Sunday. Obviously not as big or as busy but didn't feel particularly empty and the main brands had visitors checking out every piece of demo gear.
 
I went on the Monday, and I'd say it was moderately busy. The Canon stand certainly was. It was heaving. It's the first time I've actually got to see some of their cameras in the flesh, so to speak. But you do wonder how practical it is for a lot of traders.
 
On Sunday, it seemed that the Canon and Nikon stands were very busy, Olympus much less so, with Sony in between. There were some small stands with marginal connection to photography that were extremely quiet, others like the one selling fabric backdrops seemed surprisingly busy. It will be interesting to hear, if we can, was Steve from Chroma thought of it as an exhibitor.
 
Last edited:
In the end I didn't go.
Pound Coin said:
I could have gone all 4 days, but was ill yesterday, not so great today. Tomorrow would be afternoon only and Tuesday morning only. After reading comments and reports, I might give it a miss. 3 hours in the car to grope a Z6 II and speak to <redacted> face to face is making me think a bit...
Click to expand...

and that's interesting, because of contacts I took an LFT today. Positive. So have sorted out a PCR test. I'm double vaxed, so would have been able to visit the show, being COVID
symptomless.

I agree that the show might struggle in the future, but we are in a pandemic. Lots of businesses and events have struggled, did I mention there's a pandemic on?

I supported the virtual show and I'd go again to the real show. It beats tramping round loads of different outlets to feel things. Because I'd never do that - they are all over the country!
 
Last edited:
I was there on both the Saturday and Sunday with my partner and overall we enjoyed it - we're certainly hobbyists / beginners compared to the majority of attendees and felt it was very much a trade fair with a secondary function as a 'show', but we both learnt a few things from a number of the free talks on offer. It didn't feel particularly busy on either day, but both days were certainly at their busiest around 13:00 from what we experienced.

We'll go again next year if it's on, but probably for just the one day as it becomes a bit expensive in hotel/travel costs from London if we do multiple.
 
lindsay said:
On Sunday, it seemed that the Canon and Nikon stands were very busy, Olympus much less so, with Sony in between. There were some small stands with magical connection to photography that were extremely quiet, others like the one selling fabric backdrops seemed surprisingly busy. It will be interesting to hear, if we can, was Steve from Chroma thought of it as an exhibitor.
Click to expand...
I'm playing catch up since the show, but it was good to meet you in person, and thanks a lot for your SnapShot order too.

We weren't sure what to expect with regards to visitors, but the organisers said that they'd registered around 25k tickets, versus the normal 35-40k, so we expected it to be slightly quieter. The stands were definitely further apart than previous years, which stopped much of the usual crowding. I expected Saturday to be the busiest, but it was actually Monday that had the most footfall, and sales, on the Analogue Spotlight stand. Saying that though, there were people on the Spotlight stand relatively consistently all 4 days, especially for some of the more popular speakers like Dan Rubin on Tuesday,

Overall, I'm really glad that I decided to re-book the pod after cancelling it for 2020. Whilst I just about broke even financially, the amount of new contacts and potential retail outlets I talked with were definitely worth it. It was also great to spend 4 days with the rest of the analogue guys and girls and we're all definitely up for doing it all again next year.
 
I didn’t get to the show in the end. I had two tickets reissued a few days before the show but did have the time to go. For me it was the move to September that wasn’t as good. March shows time with the end of my annual leave so I have a day or so left over which times really well together.

I hope the show carries on (and reverts back to its March slot) as I’ve been going for probably 7-8 years. The first show I went to was back when it was called focus on imaging. I like going for the day and even gone two consecutive days by staying at the premier inn nearby. The problem does sound like there’s cost implications that could be an issue going forward.
 
I flew over from Northern Ireland on Monday morning to attend the show on Monday and Tuesday. I got there at about 12.30 on Monday and have to say that I was really disappointed with the feel, size and atmosphere. I understand that the pandemic has had a massive effect on this and most other events, but I just couldn't get into it. This is my 5th visit and I mostly enjoy the interaction and demonstrations at the pixapro stand in particular with Glenn Norwood, Tommy Reynolds and Gavin Hoey as well as other stands, but it wasn't the same this year. I actually only stayed for about 90 minutes and then left to instead explore the city centre for the first time. I didn't even bother going back on Tuesday but spent the day again tootling around the city. All was not lost though as I discovered a wonderful city, with great people, shops, restaurants, bars and culture. The perfect place for a city break. Hopefully the show will be back to some semblance of normality next year.....
 
Lostmymojo said:
I flew over from Northern Ireland on Monday morning to attend the show on Monday and Tuesday. I got there at about 12.30 on Monday and have to say that I was really disappointed with the feel, size and atmosphere. I understand that the pandemic has had a massive effect on this and most other events, but I just couldn't get into it. This is my 5th visit and I mostly enjoy the interaction and demonstrations at the pixapro stand in particular with Glenn Norwood, Tommy Reynolds and Gavin Hoey as well as other stands, but it wasn't the same this year. I actually only stayed for about 90 minutes and then left to instead explore the city centre for the first time. I didn't even bother going back on Tuesday but spent the day again tootling around the city. All was not lost though as I discovered a wonderful city, with great people, shops, restaurants, bars and culture. The perfect place for a city break. Hopefully the show will be back to some semblance of normality next year.....
Click to expand...
Birmingham welcomes you and we thank you for the kind words about the city
 
Yes, I remember Birmingham in the 1960/70's and it was not attractive but it has changed enormously since then. I had reason to visit several times in the last 15 years in the evening so used to arrive before lunch and take photographs until late afternoon. There are many interesting buildings to photograph and interesting people. I almost always ask when photographing people and was only refused once which was no problem. Do visit the Library, Grand Central, back to back museum and of course the Bull Ring. I also remember photographing a young guy begging for money to support him as he was at university but he did not look like a down and out. Took a few pics and had a chat with him and he was not destitute but just needed to raise some more money for expensive text books. He was embarrassed and suggested we did not donate. While he was not from a particularly disadvantaged background, he was not getting enough parental support for which I had sympathy so we donated anyway. So overall I agree it is a nice city to visit.

Dave
 
I went on Monday and quite a few exhibitors said it was busier than it had been on the Saturday/Sunday.

Problem was it was quite stripped back with quite a few well known names missing that have previously been there.

Notable missing companies may choose to not come back which would be a shame but understandable
 
I've just had confirmation from the PR of the show that it will be back next year 17-20th September, so put it in your diaries guys.
 
Anyone planning to head to this year's show? My understanding is tickets go on sale around the end of April?

Could be good to catch up with a few of you / do a little TP meet?

I've just spoken to them on Facebook messenger and they said day tickets are £14.95 but they can send me a discount code to get 20% off for people if I want? (I mentioned I was a member of a forum, didn't say which, and they stated they could send me a code for everyone to use).
 
Last edited:
We've been going to Focus on Imaging for as long as I can remember (I can recall Photoshop 7 being the latest version one year) and went to every Photography Show when it started - except the last one. The new dates in September don't work as well for us as the old Feb/March ones, so I expect I'll be giving it a miss again. Should they ever revert the dates, I think we'd attend. But I doubt that they will.
 
I'll admit some degree of sadness in missing the last one, as there were at least five people I would have expected to be manning stands in the analogue section that I would have liked to have had a chat with and compare notes. Depending on how invested you are in seeing everything, you might find a day too little. I know some people have found a half day enough, but we've generally been there for two days with a possible return on a third to cover everything. Alas, with the digital emphasis, there does tend to be less of interest; the one thing that I think does need to be seen in the flesh are the different inkjet papers. (I'm basically a film user, but prefer the scan and inkjet method to print the results over a darkroom.)

And yes, getting a scanner or printer does make for an armfull - I've had a kind exhibitor offering to run me to the car park in his car/van in the past.
 
I very much want to attend the next one even if it means longer travel and overnight stay due to planned house move. Perhaps more for social than GAS reasons this year, but anything is possible..,,.,,
 
The facebook team for the show told me to contact them end of April and they would give me the 20% off code. Is it okay to post that to the forums, or are there some rules we need to follow? Please note I am in no way affiliated with the show and there is no financial interest in it for me, bar my 20% off.
 
Focus/TPS has had less appeal to me in the digital age. Stalking the Fuji stand to get some free films used to be my mission....plus the used sales dealers....

Societies show is down the road for me (I mean tube - as the road bridge is still broken) so I am going to check if Canon are doing some deals....
 
I've booked, but given the September date I probably won't go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top