Canon Camera Store Week 2026: Macro Photography with Animal Cwtch
Canon Camera Store Week returned for 2026, and at Carmarthen Cameras we celebrated with something a little out of the ordinary.
On Monday 14th September 2026, we welcomed Canon UK and Animal Cwtch to our Carmarthen store for a special Macro Photography Event & Canon Touch & Try Day, forming part of the 5th anniversary celebrations of Canon Camera Store Week.
With the latest Canon cameras and lenses available to try alongside an incredible collection of exotic animals, the day gave photographers the opportunity to experiment, learn and capture subjects they don't normally find in front of their lenses.
And judging by some of the photographs captured throughout the day, there were plenty of great opportunities!
Getting hands-on with Canon
One of the main aims of the event was simple: give photographers the chance to actually get their hands on the latest Canon equipment and see what it can do.
Throughout the day, visitors were able to pick up and try a range of Canon EOS R cameras, RF lenses and photographic equipment, whether they were existing Canon users or simply interested in seeing what the system had to offer.
We were also joined by Canon expert Peter Taylor, who spent the day demonstrating equipment, answering questions and helping photographers get more from the Canon system.
Rather than simply looking at equipment on display, visitors could put cameras and lenses to use in a real shooting environment – and Animal Cwtch provided some particularly interesting subjects to test them on.
Macro photography with a wild twist
The stars of the day undoubtedly came courtesy of Animal Cwtch.
Their team brought along a fascinating selection of exotic animals, including snakes, spiders, lizards and more, transforming the store into a unique close-up and macro photography environment.
It presented photographers with a fantastic variety of colours, textures and details to capture.
Reptile scales, eyes, patterns and the incredibly fine details found on spiders and other smaller creatures all offered something different to photograph. Visitors could experiment with composition, depth of field, focusing techniques and lighting while working with subjects that most of us rarely get the opportunity to photograph.
For anyone new to close-up photography, it was also a great demonstration of just how much detail a modern camera and macro-capable lens can reveal.
Trying new equipment in a real shooting environment
One of our favourite things about Touch & Try events is seeing photographers use equipment rather than simply reading a specification sheet.
There is only so much you can learn about a camera from its megapixel count, autofocus specifications or burst rate.
How does it feel in your hands? How quickly can you move the autofocus point? How does subject detection perform? Is the viewfinder comfortable? Does a particular lens balance well on the camera?
Having real subjects to photograph meant visitors could answer those questions for themselves.
Some photographers brought their own equipment, while others took the opportunity to experiment with Canon cameras and lenses they hadn't used before. With the Carmarthen Cameras and Canon teams nearby, there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions, compare equipment and pick up a few tips along the way.
Photography for everyone
The event welcomed photographers with a wide range of experience, from those experimenting with macro and close-up photography for the first time to experienced photographers arriving with their own equipment and ideas.
That relaxed atmosphere was exactly what we wanted from the day.
Photography events don't always need to be formal workshops or structured seminars. Sometimes the best way to learn is simply to have an interesting subject in front of you, a camera in your hands and knowledgeable people nearby when you have a question.
It was fantastic to see people experimenting with different settings, lenses and compositions throughout the day – and, most importantly, enjoying their photography.
Celebrating five years of Canon Camera Store Week
The event formed part of the 5th anniversary of Canon Camera Store Week, an initiative designed to celebrate independent photographic retailers and give photographers more opportunities to experience Canon equipment in person.
For us, that hands-on element remains incredibly important.
Buying a camera or lens can be a significant investment, and specifications only tell part of the story. Being able to visit a specialist camera shop, talk to people who use the equipment and physically compare different options can make choosing the right kit considerably easier.
Events like this take that idea one step further by giving photographers a genuine subject and shooting environment in which to put equipment through its paces.
Canon Camera Store Week offers continue until 27th September
While our Animal Cwtch event may be over, Canon Camera Store Week isn't finished yet.
The Canon Camera Store Week offers are continuing at Carmarthen Cameras until 27th September 2026, so there's still time to take advantage of the special offers available across selected Canon equipment.
If something caught your eye during the event, or you've been considering adding a new Canon camera or lens to your kit, make sure you take a look at the Camera Store Week offers before they finish.
A big thank you
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Canon UK and the team at Animal Cwtch for helping us put together such an unusual and enjoyable day.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who visited Carmarthen Cameras and took part.
Whether you came specifically to try some new Canon equipment, wanted the opportunity to photograph the animals or simply stopped by to see what was happening, it was brilliant to have you with us.
We've included some of our favourite photographs from the event throughout this blog, giving you a look at what happened on the day and some of the incredible subjects our visitors had the opportunity to photograph.
More events at Carmarthen Cameras
The Animal Cwtch Macro Photography Event was just one of the photography events held at Carmarthen Cameras.
Throughout the year, we host Touch & Try days, photography workshops, demonstrations, talks, photo walks and special events, often working alongside some of the biggest names in the photographic industry.
If you missed this one, keep an eye on Carmarthen Cameras for details of future events and opportunities to get hands-on with the latest photography equipment.
We hope to see you at the next one.
