Photokina 2019 scheduled for May has been cancelled, show to return annually May 2020

Canon Rumors Guy

Canon EOS 40D
CR Pro
Jul 20, 2010
10,765
3,149
Canada
www.canonrumors.com
The next photokina will take place in May 2020
Imaging industry and Koelnmesse decide on a new starting point for the new annual cycle
Following a successful photokina 2018, the German Photo Industry Association (PIV), as conceptual sponsor of the trade fair, and the event’s organiser Koelnmesse have agreed not to organise the next leading global trade fair in May 2019, as initially planned, but in May 2020. From Wednesday 27 May 2020 to Saturday 30 May 2020, all the market leaders in the imaging industry are expected once again in Cologne. The decision to postpone the start of the announced annual cycle by one year is intended to give all participants the opportunity to further develop the new concept for photokina and to tap into new target groups among exhibitors and visitors in order to heighten the status of the trade fair as a global platform for the photography and imaging industry.

“photokina 2018 clearly exceeded our already optimistic expectations with...

Continue reading...


 
It's hard to believe an excuse like "The products shown in 2018 were so amazing that we're worried 2019 would be a disappointment," after declaring it to be an annual rather than biennial event. Translated from marketing happy talk, maybe they mean, "Vendors weren't that enthused about coming back and spending a bunch of money only seven months later rather than the previous 24 months later."

Given the industry's troubles, they might wish they'd left it at every two years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Upvote 0

maves

24mm TS-e ii is life!
Sep 21, 2017
31
32
Tasmania
It makes sense, things don't progress like they did in the 2000's. With the Olympics in Tokyo in July 2020, I bet they're preparing for a range of new flagships from all the major players (canon, Nikon Sony) at this event. I reckon they're behind this. It should be a good showing. Hopefully we get that 5Dsr replacement before then.
 
Upvote 0

Maximilian

The dark side - I've been there
CR Pro
Nov 7, 2013
5,650
8,461
Germany
I think I remember a rumor that Canon won't participate in 2019 or even that the whole 2019 fair would be cancelled.
Although this was negated it seems that it came true.

Bad times for fairs as the famous CeBIT fair got totally cancelled a few days ago due to the lack of interest (visitors and exhibitors).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Upvote 0
I remember the 1988 photokina when Canon presented their USM motorized lens mockups and I had to free a friend of mine after getting her hair in a micro usm motor model :) it was the usm motor of the 1.4 50 with some gear inside.
There was a lot of new things which had some wow-effect on me. Not only the silent USM drives but also good color printers and a lot of concept models I missed on this years photokina. I decided not to wait 2 hrs on Canons stand and skipped Canon (despite that fact they sold one piece of the excellent EF-M 32 later via an online warehouse).

Lots of fairs are no longer show cases IMO but only some business contact events or "customer-has-to-be-convinced-to-buy" events.

But I have to tell about one exception @ this years photokina: While searching a video microphone for stereo recording I got some very good information from RODE employees. Now I have in preparation for some video documentary a matched pair of M5 microphones with their dead kittens and these (1) perform excellently and (2) are small / robust enough for serious work with a mobile video setup.
 
Upvote 0
Feb 28, 2013
1,612
272
70
The Photography Show in the UK is well attended in March every year. What saved the show was allowing retailers to sell both new and S/H equipment many with trade show discounts from the likes on Canon, Nikon, Sony etc.
We exhibit at both The Photography Show and Photokina and by comparison Photokina whilst much larger was stale and boring and badly needed a make-over.
The visitors to The Photography Show now come expecting to spend money and partake in workshops, demonstrations and areas to try equipment out its much more vibrant.
 
Upvote 0