Final Report 2016 photokina 2016: departure to new dimensionsThe imaging industry is demonstrating dynamic and innovative strength in Cologne
191,000 enthusiastic visitors, satisfied exhibitors: photokina, the worlds leading trade fair for photography, video and imaging came to an end on Sunday following a very successful week in Cologne. 983 exhibitors from 42 countries convinced a trade public and private visitors with a large number of product innovations from all areas of the imaging workflow. The new concept of the trade fair under the umbrella Imaging Unlimited came completely to bear in all sections: considerably more young users found their way to the Cologne exhibition halls and, besides curiosity and interest for all aspects of imaging, also brought the time with them to intensively consider new technologies and services. In the process, more photos were taken, films made and shared than ever before. Nearly 34,000 tweets with the hashtag photokina travelled around the world in the week of the trade fair alone. The societal megatrend of the image as a universal language continues. A focus on the decisive and unique moment was evident as an overarching trend at photokina.
We didnt adapt the concept of photokina merely for the sake of change, but instead to also be able to offer the imaging industry a strong business platform in future. Access to new target groups is indispensable for this process. We are very pleased to see this concept taking off, according to Gerald B se, President and Chief Executive of Koelnmesse.
The industry seemed satisfied following six days of intensive discussions with traders, consumers and industrial representatives. photokina 2016 has underlined the dynamic and the innovative strength of the imaging industry. It was a special experience for all participants, from which the industry will greatly profit. The trade also took away important impulses for the coming months with it, Rainer F hres, Chairman of the Photo Industry Association, looked back positively on the event.
The success of the new concept is reflected in the figures: the share of visitors aged less than 30 increased by around a fifth. Around 40 percent of private visitors said they were at the photokina for the first time in 2016. The number of trade visitors remained at a stable level.
In many respects, photokina 2016, under the umbrella of Imaging Unlimited represented a departure to new dimensions. With the new concept we wanted to, in addition to our core target groups, inspire even more interest on the part of young people with the themes of photography, video and imaging at a deeper level, is how Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, explained the reasoning for the redesign of photokina. With this in mind we have developed photokina away from being purely a product show toward having the character of a multi-media event, in which the focus is on image communication. We could clearly sense over the past days that this idea met with a great response from both visitors and exhibitors.
Concentration on the one decisive and unique moment was evident as the overarching trend at photokina 2016. Technological progress is revolutionising the photography of moments. Consumers are increasingly returning to the one motif or the one moment that is printed out as representative of an experience or prepared in a special form. The boom of the instant cameras is simply one sign indicating this trend. The demand for individual output solutions is also increasing. photokina thus presented, for example, high quality printing on a variety of different materials. New textures, formats and creative impulses for photo books and scrapbooks at the same time take up the do it yourself trend and the love of the image. Increasing attention is thereby being paid to sustainability in production.
The new cameras and lenses presented at photokina 2016 address the individual needs of professional users and ambitious hobby photographers. Whether 4K/6K photo function, exchangeable viewfinders, flexibly useable camera systems or recordings in RAW format that can be instantly edited: photographers today receive a maximum of support when it comes to capturing the decisive moment. In addition to the refinement of the technology, camera and lens manufacturers continue to attach importance to aesthetics: the trend toward purist design with maximum performance continues. The premium compact camera segment in the semi-professional range is increasingly at eye level with system and single-lens reflex cameras. New sensors, among other features, make this possible.
photokina also offered filmers a broad range of solutions for the recording and processing of moving images, both for the professional segment and for video beginners. Imaging presents itself as even more individual and diversified when action photography, 360 degree recordings or multicopters are involved. This was shown in the different designs and technologies of the many new products presented and in the gigantic bandwidth of accessories and additional functions. The emphasis here is on the experience: the feeling of being in the middle of this unique moment instead of only being an observer. Virtual and augmented reality technologies make this possible to a greater extent than ever before, a fact which visitors were able to convince themselves of at many exhibitor stands.
Smart and networked solutions played an important role at photokina 2016. This was shown not only in the cooperation between well-known camera manufacturers and smartphone manufacturers with respect to camera technology and attachment lenses. Whether as an external release or a screen, for controlling drones, for image processing or as a sharing tool: smartphones and tablets are developing into a central factor in all areas of the imaging workflow. To this purpose
