News

We just returned from the 33rd Photokina World of Imaging in Germany, and if there were any questions about the rate of excitement and technical innovation within our industry they were quickly answered. Some 185,000 visitors from over 160 countries once again flocked to Cologne for photography's bellwether event. On the exhibitor side 1,074 companies from 51 countries were represented, illustrating the degree to which imaging technologies play a roll in virtually every aspect of our lives.

Photokina occurs every two years and it was encouraging to see a very strong youthful contingent to this year's event and their enthusiasm for the latest innovations in photography. I was also reminded of the considerable knowledge and technical expertise of everyone attending this huge international trade fair.

In terms of conventional photographic gear, we saw an abundance of new DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, and even some medium-format digital equipment. As you might expect, these new cameras were accompanied by an array of new lenses, flash equipment, and accessories from camera companies and independent manufacturers alike. There were also some exciting entrants to the premium compact camera category--many with upgraded optics, larger sensors and enhanced Wi-Fi capabilities.

Less-familiar imaging products abounded as well; gear for drone photographers, wearables, a number of new POV/action cameras, 3D printers were all on display, as were new monitors, calibration equipment, software offerings and storage devices. In short, the level of excitement and innovation was high.

Of course if you're a regular visitor to shutterbug.com you are already aware of some of these developments, as our editorial team did a fantastic job covering the show and posting late-breaking updates from Cologne to keep you informed. And speaking of our website, we just set an all-time record in traffic to the site, thanks to a number of upgrades instituted by new Editor Dan Havlik, so be sure to check out our site often for the latest news, features and product reports. We also encourage everyone to post their best images within our online galleries.

Also growing at a rapid pace is our Facebook page with over 93,000 enthusiastic fans. This is also a great place to get timely advisories on all things photographic, as well as to share your images, ideas and passion for imaging with other photo enthusiasts. We really do appreciate everyone who is reading Shutterbug magazine and participating in our interactive community online, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram--keep it up!