Photokina: Is It Making a Comeback in 2024?

Photokina is not an ordinary event but a kind of big celebration of everything connected to photography. All major companies come: Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus, their ambassadors, and many others are here to present cool new products at the Exhibition Center.

At this time the city of Cologne becomes a center of interest for famous photographers and hobbyists from all over the world, here to catch up with novelties that might be unveiled on the market.

However, according to some Photokina rumors, it may happen in May 2024. So, every company related to the photography world, makes certain plans of getting there.

Photokina 2024 will be definitely the trail toward the future of photography. This mirrorless technology and breakthrough in post-processing applications have long been waited for—a real game-changer in overturning the industry.

Photokina, a renowned trade fair held in Europe, is specifically aimed at showcasing the latest advancements in the photographic and imaging industries. The event includes a remarkable range of exhibitions, seminars, photography workshops, and product rollouts. Attendees can explore everything from the newest camera equipment to cutting-edge imaging software. Therefore, they can get hands-on experience with the finest products in the industry.

A key benefit of participating in this celebration is the opportunity to connect with peers and experts in the photography industry. Moreover, it is a platform to present your work, receive valuable feedback, and establish relationships that may result in fruitful collaborations.

• Premier photography exhibition since 1950.
• Organized biennially in September in Cologne.
• Draws approximately 185,000 visitors annually.
• 1,000 companies from 40 nations each year.
• Spans across 7 out of 11 halls at the Cologne Exhibition Center, covering 284,000 square meters indoors and an additional 100,000 square meters outdoors (equivalent to about 54 football fields).
• Photokina 2020, the first event in its new annual cycle, was slated for May 27-30, 2020, in Cologne but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photokina 2018 took place in Cologne, Germany, spanning from September 25th to September 30th. The ticket prices ranged from €8 to €56 per day. It was expected that 185,000 participants from 127 countries would attend the event.

Camera announcements. Sony, Nikon, and Canon unveiled their highly anticipated products, such as Nikon Z7 and Z6, and Canon EOS R. In turn, Fujifilm, Leica, Panasonic, and Olympus showcased appealing alternatives, including the Panasonic Lumix S1R/S1, Leica S3, Fujifilm GFX 50R, and Fujifilm GFX 100, among others.

Lens announcements. Sigma 60-600MM F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM dominated advertising posters throughout Cologne, showcasing its impressive zoom capabilities. Other notable products like Fujifilm XF 33 F1 R and the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM were also prominently featured during the event.

• Workshops. Visitors could also partake in multiple photo editing workshops. Fujifilm hosted workshops and demonstrations focusing on Portraiture and Street Portraiture. LUMIX workshops featured renowned photographers including Jonas Borg, Tabita Cargnel, Steven Clarey, Jacob James, Bernard Bertrand, and Martin Krolop. Panasonic also had notable speakers such as Ian Cook, Daniel Berehulak, Martin Krolop, and Esther Ling.
• Attendees could also observe professional photographers in action. Among the highlights was the Arri team showcasing their impressively large SkyPanel lighting rig during a haute couture fashion shoot.
• Smartphones. Chinese smartphone giant Huawei set up a booth for its P20 Pro smartphones at the event. Equipped with three rear cameras featuring Leica lenses, Huawei was positioning the P20 Pro as the ultimate choice for serious photographers. They even went the extra mile by hosting a mobile photography competition to highlight the device's capabilities.
• The L-Mount alliance. Major industry stakeholders Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma have announced the "L-Mount Alliance," which essentially guarantees a standard mount for the cameras and lenses that these three brands will produce, therefore providing still greater compatibility and opportunity to both brands and any type of photographer.

• Leica FOTOS. In 2018, Leica previewed the original app developed particularly for their cameras but named Leica FOTOS. The Leica FOTOS app allows realizing almost complete possibilities of their luxurious cameras, providing Wi-Fi support. Install it on your phone and easily share with the cloud or your computer that is super-useful if you’re an event shooter. Besides, images can be edited inside phones.
• Olympus Perspective Playground. Artists Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan, the duo behind the interactive installation "Super Labyrinth" at Olympus Perspective Playground, blow museum professionals right into the creative process of coming up with an immersive and bright experience that holds out the possibility to experiment with Olympus cameras, to visit interactive ways of thinking of the world through your lens. In appreciation to the audience, the corporation also presented the memory cards to them.

There was no Photokina 2017. Nonetheless, during an exhibition concurrent with Photokina 2016, a visitor encountered street photography portraits by US artist Bruce Gilden. In Cologne, from September 20 to September 25, over 1,000 exhibitors from 51 countries presented the latest advancements in digital imaging. Photokina 2016 attracted approximately 191,000 visitors.

• Cameras. Ground-breaking product launches included the Fujifilm GFX, Panasonic GH5, Olympus E-M1 Mark II, Canon EOS M5, and YI M1. Besides, visitors saw instant cameras such as the Polaroid Snap Touch and Leica Sofort.
• Virtual Reality and 360-degree Imaging. Almost every booth featured some form of VR viewer, and Nikon went as far as placing a metal container filled with them outside to display footage from its KeyMission 360 camera. At the Vuze stand, a visitor tried out a 360-degree view using virtual reality glasses.

• Drone photography. Drones and aerial photography were in the spotlight at Photokina 2016, as companies like DJI showcased their latest drones equipped with advanced imaging features. Visitors had the chance to capture images with a DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter drone.
• Smartphone photography. The exhibition also featured a range of smartphone photo accessories and add-ons, highlighting the growing significance of mobile devices in the photography industry.

• Lens innovations. Lens manufacturers showed multiple new lenses for different photography styles, covering wide-angle, portrait, and macro shooting. There was the Sigma 85mm F1.4 Art, Nikon 105mm F1.4, and Olympus 25mm F1.2 Pro.
• Accessories and imaging solutions. Visitors could scrutinize different lighting equipment, camera bags, tripods, and editing software. Notable introductions included LowePro's innovative FlipSideTrek split bag and BlackRapid's latest Breathe series of camera straps, designed to minimize perspiration during extended use.
• The Olympus Perspective Playground. Among diverse offerings, Olympus's Perspective Playground was a notable attraction. Participants willing to embark on a brief 15-minute shuttle bus journey could borrow a camera and capture unique moments at the art exhibition.
• Liveshootings, lectures and photography courses led by such renowned photographers as Calvin Hollywood, Pavel Kaplun, Laura Helena, and Nina Schnitzenbaumer. Notably, Tony & Chelsea Northrup and Matt Granger, each boasting a substantial YouTube following of over half a million viewers, also made appearances.
• Photokina also includes a program of events. The Nikon Experience Days held at the Cologne Zoo from September 23rd to 25th served as a prime example. Attendees could also participate in various photo walks and capture images of landmarks such as the Cologne Cathedral. Moreover, the German Wedding Meetup, hosted by Carmen & Ingo, was another noteworthy event during the period.

Photokina 2014 was organized in Cologne, Germany, from September 16th to 21st. The attendance for 2014 remained stable, with an estimated 185,000 visitors from 160 countries. Photokina of that year boasted an extensive exhibitor list, including approximately 180 companies such as Sony, Samsung, Carl Zeiss, Google, GoPro, Red, Blackmagic, Lytro, and Helipro.

• Camera announcements. Key such of the event were Fujifilm X100T, Canon 7D Mark II, Nikon D750, and compact models like Canon G7 X and Panasonic LX100. Besides, attendees saw a Ricoh WG-M1 waterproof action camera.
• Lens innovations. The lineup of camera lenses deserves special praise. It included Canon 400mm F/4 DO IS Telephoto Lens, Sony 16-35mm Zeiss F/4, Nikon 20mm F/1.8G ED Lens, and Olympus 40-150 F/2.8 Pro Lens. As for zoom lenses, there was Samsung 50-150mm F/2.8 OIS.
• Leica Gallery. The exhibition showcased the impressive 3000-square-meter Leica Gallery with images depicting musicians, both by them and of them. Besides, it presented compelling and impactful visuals portraying wounded war veterans. Furthermore, it displayed iconic photographs by acclaimed artists like René Burri, Gerd Ludwig, and Thomas Hoepker. Notably, Thomas Hoepker himself attended the event to celebrate the release of his latest book, "Wanderlust.

Broncolor Siros Monolight Strobes. The latest Siros strobes from Broncolor are not only aesthetically pleasing but also packed with impressive features. These Siros monos deliver the high-quality performance expected from Broncolor lights, offering exceptional color accuracy and incredibly fast flash durations of around 1/13,000th of a second. Moreover, they come with a redesigned app that enables remote control of the lights.

Capture One Pro 8. In the sphere of raw processing software, Capture One Pro is a top choice. Its updated version was released at Photokina 2014. It included cloning layers and introduced a subscription-based pricing model. It's evident that Capture One Pro is targeting users of Adobe’s Lightroom and the diminishing Apple Aperture.