The Photography Show - is it worth it?

[rob-nikon]

Second, why do so many people take cameras to this show, especially with long lenses and knowing how busy it can get, I don't get it, what is the point? I went to the camping and caravan show in Feb, I didn't feel the need to take my tent...

It’s a game of ours to spot the biggest lens there! I saw a guy with what looked like a 600mm f4 lens and camera, until I then worked out he was working on a stand. I guess selling the strap,

You say that about tents but the number of motorhomes in the car park at the camping and caravan show when we went the other year surprised me!

 

[rob-nikon]

We went yesterday. It was definitely smaller than previous shows with clear unused space down one side and end where the cafe/food village were.

It didn’t feel as busy on Sunday as previous years. It felt like the year where the Sunday had really cold weather stopping many travelling. I guess a lot of that is down to it being Mother’s Day. We were told by someone working on the stands that it was busier on Saturday. ComicCon wasn’t on at the same time either so that made it less busy outside too.

We spent time going to quite a few of the talks which were good. Food was ok priced as we even got a half price pasty as the Cornish bakery outside in the foyer area closed at 1pm which felt like a weird time to close!

 

[jamesev]

Second, why do so many people take cameras to this show, especially with long lenses and knowing how busy it can get, I don't get it, what is the point? I went to the camping and caravan show in Feb, I didn't feel the need to take my tent...

and so many have to carry them round their necks rather than just in a bag. as has been said almost like its a fashion accessory especially with primes like an 85 f1.2 which look huge on many mirrorless cameras

 

[Spy]

I didn't go this year but past years were good.
Thoughts on this year ?.

 

[Dave Canon]

I feel the biggest threat to photography is Ai and especially to certain genres such as modelling. If you can bypass the need for models, lighting, licencing, contracts and just take a few basic snaps of an item of clothing and then have Ai generate a whole perfectly lit magazine image from that then it will make a lot of aspects of a studio shot redundant.

That may be true for commercial photography but many of us amateurs will still choose to produce our own photographs using models and studio lighting as needed. Why would anyone climb mount Everest when they could fly to the top in a helicopter.

Dave

 

[jamesev]

That may be true for commercial photography but many of us amateurs will still choose to produce our own photographs using models and studio lighting as needed. Why would anyone climb mount Everest when they could fly to the top in a helicopter.

Dave

if the goal is to get a photo of yourself on top of mount everest then the way in which you get there is inconsequential.

 

[jamesev]

I didn't go this year but past years were good.
Thoughts on this year ?.

I got out of it what I wanted, 3 talks and to look at products from a range of manufacturers, some of the smaller brands that would be difficult to access in a single location normally:

PYGTech
Sirui
Speedigimbal
Stedilens
TTartisan
Cotton Carriers
Godox
Loawa
Platypod
Prograde
Tiffen

to get hands on some of their products ie the Laowa 200mm f2 and the TTartisans 17mm f4 tiltshift, attach them to my camera and get some sample shots.

 

[rob-nikon]

We went yesterday. It was definitely smaller than previous shows with clear unused space down the side and end where the cafe’s were.

It didn’t feel as busy on Sunday as previous years. It felt ad busy as the year where the Sunday had really cold weather stopping many travelling. I guess a lot of that is down to it being Mother’s Day.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

L Adler talk was well worth the hassle of getting here. Another one to go in the afternoon

 

[zinterz]

Anybody here know if WEX/LCE offer 0% finance on what they are selling? If not, do you know if they accept Amex? Looking to get back into photography after a hiatus since my teenage days (half a lifetime ago) and this seems like a good opportunity get a camera, etc.. I'm planning to attend tomorrow. Thanks so much!

 

[Nod]

A call to any of their shops will get you an answer from the horse's mouth, Zachary.

 

[jamiewednesday]

Went today and found it was alright overall and spent most of the day there. Busy though. Several people said Sunday was quiet, Mother’s Day.

Wandered round several times, engaged and chatted with lots of people on their stands, let them show me stuff I wasn’t interested in but learned some things that could be considered interesting and sat in on a few enlightening talks at the Adobe ‘theatre’.

Got my steps up and a decent discount on a new Thinktank bag (it was good to have a mooch, squish and peep at all the options in the flesh). And Canson paper was close on half price with a free sampler pack thrown in too.

So, glad i went on balance.

 

[zinterz]

A call to any of their shops will get you an answer from the horse's mouth, Zachary.

You’d think that wouldn’t you? I phoned them and they said that they didn’t have any info about the show… I just thought I’d try to ask those who’s already been

 

[cuthbert]

I agree there were fewer smaller independents there this year, but annoyingly, I thought there were more unrelated charities there - some of which were in particularly hard sell mode.

Gavin Hoey was doing something interesting with lighting on one of the stands, but sadly, there were so many people crammed around it I did move on, but all in all, was a good laugh, and I enjoyed playing around with some different cameras and lenses.

Didn't buy anything big this year, but might go back to a 50 1.4 VCM at some point though!

 

[MartinJvilla]

I agree there were fewer smaller independents there this year, but annoyingly, I thought there were more unrelated charities there - some of which were in particularly hard sell mode.

Gavin Hoey was doing something interesting with lighting on one of the stands, but sadly, there were so many people crammed around it I did move on, but all in all, was a good laugh, and I enjoyed playing around with some different cameras and lenses.

Didn't buy anything big this year, but might go back to a 50 1.4 VCM at some point though!

Totally random charities seem to be an increasing presence at exhibitions these days. The disabled photography charity is a welcome addition but some of the others are a bit unconnected to say the least. I assume the hugely discounted costs they benefit from compared to other exhibitors are a factor.

 

[Adamcski]

I did wonder what eat fresh were doing there lol

 

[Zangoose]

It was my first time going and I did enjoy being able to get hands on with various equipment and camera bags to see what I could potentially buy in the future,

 

[rob-nikon]

I did wonder what eat fresh were doing there lol

I did wonder why a guy was walking about with a big stuffed toy octopus until I later saw Octopus Energy near the fundamentals stage. It was bit of a surprise seeing my energy supplier there!

 

[rob-nikon]

Has anyone been to the Kase Filter stand and seen the Kanopy lens hood? I managed to buy the 95mm set for my Nikon 14-30mm f4 but somehow missed the Kanopy lens hood! Having got home today and put the 95mm set on the 14-30 I’ve found it’s not possible to still use the Nikon lens hood. The Kanopy seems to be the solution to this by there is limited info online.

I’ve posted questions in a new thread below asking if anyone has one seen one and their thoughts.

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/kase-kanopy-metal-lens-hood%E2%80%98s-opinions-and-thoughts.773476/

 

[Mozthecat]

I did wonder what eat fresh were doing there lol

I cannot remember an event at the NEC, business or retail, over the last decade where they haven’t been present, as well as the guide dogs.

 

[Phil V]

Anybody here know if WEX/LCE offer 0% finance on what they are selling? If not, do you know if they accept Amex? Looking to get back into photography after a hiatus since my teenage days (half a lifetime ago) and this seems like a good opportunity get a camera, etc.. I'm planning to attend tomorrow. Thanks so much!

Hi and welcome.
OTTOMH I don’t think any of the major retailers does 0% finance.

If I really wanted to buy a camera on 0% I’d use my current credit card, then get a new card that offers interest free on balance transfers.
Straightforward instant interest free loan. Just cut up the card and don’t add it to your mobile wallet.

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Hi and welcome.
OTTOMH I don’t think any of the major retailers does 0% finance.

If I really wanted to buy a camera on 0% I’d use my current credit card, then get a new card that offers interest free on balance transfers.
Straightforward instant interest free loan. Just cut up the card and don’t add it to your mobile wallet.

Several of the major retailers do 0% finance on manufacturer promotion backed deals. 0% is often available from Wex and Clifton for certain manufacturers products.

Some of them offer a buy-now-pay later arrangements where 0% can effectively be had (subject to small arrangement fee) over a 6 month period.

 

[jonneymendoza]

I feel the biggest threat to photography is Ai and especially to certain genres such as modelling. If you can bypass the need for models, lighting, licencing, contracts and just take a few basic snaps of an item of clothing and then have Ai generate a whole perfectly lit magazine image from that then it will make a lot of aspects of a studio shot redundant.

You reckon?

 

[jamesev]

Anybody here know if WEX/LCE offer 0% finance on what they are selling? If not, do you know if they accept Amex? Looking to get back into photography after a hiatus since my teenage days (half a lifetime ago) and this seems like a good opportunity get a camera, etc.. I'm planning to attend tomorrow. Thanks so much!

they sometimes do 0% but generally through a third party like Novuna Finance but they tend to be over 12 months and pon certain items. So they may do Canon for 2 months then Sony for 2 months etc. As has been said if you can get a 0% on purchases credit card for 23-25 months then you have a 2 year interest free loan.

 

[A_S]

i went for the first time in a few years, really good. Really enjoyed it, but more as a social to catch up with old friends and spend some time talking about photography!

I am not really one for speakers - but I had a look at the list and I found it a bit samey, lots of repeated subjects or speakers who (in the brief job/role/photographer type) were tagged as doing the type of work as the last and no sport or action speakers at all.

 

[David Stallard]

Been a few years since we last went, Wife and I went on Saturday - to be honest was a bit disappointed, needed a new decent backpack which I eventually found and ordered, but other than that very underwhelmed. Didn't bother taking cameras with us - nearly didn't make it when found out how much the parking was, stopped briefly at the Hasselblad stand but with everything behind plexiglass decided my Canon set up is more than enough for me (thankfully)

 

[StephenM]

You can save £5 on the parking by prebooking. Or park elsewhere for less - there are several suggestions here. We chose to stay at a hotel at the NEC for our 2 days at the show.