CP+ 2020 Cancelled

Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA; President: Masaya Maeda) has announced the cancellation of CP+2020.

"Given there is no effective treatment or containment measures to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), organizers of CP+2020 have decided to cancel the event due to overall concerns, mainly the risk to the health and safety of visitors and exhibitors. The event was originally scheduled to be held over 4 days at PACIFICO Yokohama from February 27.
CP+ is a trade show for consumers. The main feature of this show is that visitors can actually handle the newest camera and related equipment to get a feel for how they operate. The event attracts around 70,000 unspecified visitors and therefore we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection. The CIPA believes it is important to avoid such risk at all cost. While it is truly regrettable, we have decided to cancel this year’s show. We ask for your cooperation and understanding concerning this matter."

In conjunction, Ricoh has also put a quick notice at their CP+ webpage:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/news/cpplus2020/

Measurbated: Psychological Hypothesis with Firmware Upgrade Proven :-D

Since some Pentax users suggested that new K-1 and K-1 II firmwares have improved AF, I have carried out a formal test and measurbation to find out the truth, as a renowned measurbator of camera gear, in particular, Pentax gear. :-P

My test procedures and methodology as follows:

1. A K-1 and DA50 F1.8 combo was selected and used for the test, i.e. same gear setup as claimed by one of the OPs for improved performance. ;-)

2. AF was carried out in a fairly lit room in about 300 lux, two objects were placed at about 1m and 3.5m respectively and AF was made on the two objects to and fro alternatively. This was repeated for more than ten times and the AF sound was recorded:

    (Click to Enlarge)

3. Measurbated the AF starting and completion times, right before the AF motor started to move and before the AF confirmation beep was sounded:

4. Input the times into an Excel table and calculate the AF time required (in second) for ten times of AF operations and take the average time and get the results. Here we go:



Left table contains the results with FW version 1.52 and the right one are those with FW version 1.51. Indeed, I cannot see any real and significant difference between the two. So, it's what psychological effect of people strikes again, case closed! :-D

New Firmwares of K-1/K-1 II Improve AF Performance Significantly?

Two experienced Pentax users at a Chinese Pentax forum reported (here, here and here) that the new firmwares have improved the AF performance and accuracy of their K-1 and K-1 II cameras a lot for their many different Pentax lenses and the difference has been obvious and significant.

Should this again be a hypothesis made owing to psychological effect? I would later on test myself to see if there is really any improvement as claimed. I believe that "measurbation" does help and will tell. Stay tuned. ;-)