In Cologne was Photokina time this week. From Wednesday to Saturday many companies around photographing were showing their new products: cameras, lenses, printers, imaging trends and so on. In the past, this fair opened the doors every second year at the end of September.
Starting with next year, they are changing their schedule to an annual event in May.
This upcoming change might already had an effect on this years event. It was the smallest Photokina I’ve ever visited and the shortest time I ever spent on a fair. Also, the opening duration was shortened. It was open from Wednesday to Saturday instead of Monday to Sunday in the past.
Less exhibitions, smaller booths (expect Sony, Nikon, Canon and Panasonic). No major announcement (expect the new DSLMs by Nikon and Canon or the new lens mount alignment of Leica, Panasonic and Sigma called L-Mount). Many well known brands were missing on the fair. Even some major brands didn’t come to Photokina this year. Over all, I was very disappointed about this years Photokina.
Some of the exhibitions were even pushed to the borders, kind of hidden. Although, there were many interesting images shown. In my opinion the best exhibition is located right in front of the railway station Köln Messe/Deutz set up by the Singst Foto Fest and open 24 hour a day for the public: amazing images of the sea.
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There is as an annual PhotoPlus Exhibit in Javits Center, Manhattan, on October 25-27. I predict it will be much like Photokina in scope.
Hmm, I’m not sure. Photokina is meant to be the world leading fair when it comes to photography. Although, I seems to me like the CES in Las Vegas is trying to take over that role. In the past, new products were shown at Photokina first and spreading to the rest of the world after that.