Photokina 2014 a DUD ?

[CameraQuest]

Well Photokina 2014 is over,

and I for one am a bit disappointed.

The big product announcements that I was SURE would be made,
were not. Oh well. Yes, I saw the new Voigtlander and Leica and Zeiss products!

I just expected a LOT MORE new stuff, and indeed, one new market changing product in particular! still waiting ....

Or did I miss exciting news?

Your thoughts ?

Stephen

 

[YYV_146]

Sony has another announcement coming later this year. I know something about it, but of course I can't go into details...

I'm pretty happy with seeing the new Leica and Zeiss stuff, there is nothing that interests me particularly, though...at least not to the point of pre-ordering.

 

[Highway 61]

The digital age is about to reach maturity, and the endless marketing competition may have come to a global pause, because things are levelling themselves re. either the retro-look trend, or the megapixels race, or the sensors size, etc...

Looks like the only "new" stuff now resides in brand 'x' releasing some copycats of products made by brand 'y' a while ago, and which proved to sell reasonably well (e.g., the Canon G7X).

What did you expect ?

As for Nikon, the Df was such a disappointment last year than I almost missed the D750 out...

The Leica M60 might be very interesting if only it was an announcement of something similar, but produced in series, and "normally" priced...

 

[jsrockit]

Do we maybe expect too much these days? Overall I thought it was just fine and there were good surprises (Voigtlander). Were there products for me? Not really much (only Sony 28mmm f2 and maybe the 40mm CV 2.8)... but I consider that a win for me. It's always good to not spend cash.

 

[bwcolor]

Money has moved to cellphones. I've only been following Sony, but they seem less focused on a single show. After all, new cameras are small computers which run operating systems. The whole thing is a blur.... no pun intended.

 

[sevo]

The rat race has driven all makers to product cycles of a year or less, with gradual improvements, where we formerly had "camera generations" lasting for years - that rather spoils the big announcements.

 

[daveleo]

I agree that the 2-year announcement cycle is a big part of the "problem" here.
If you're introducing new hardware every 12 - 18 months, then really, is a 2-year cycle event like Photokina really "on top" of the hot news ??
I think not.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Quite good I thought :

Finally a new Zeiss 35/1.4
Voigtländer 15 mm optimized for digital
Nice new hoods for the Summarits

The M-A to remind us how cameras should feel.
The M.60 as a 'concept car' - to gauge direction to a production minimalist digital M.

The Panasonic GM5 and LX100 to show us compacts can be evolve.

Still noting much from Sony other than the promise of more gigantic Zeiss lenses - the RX2s / A7-2 etc. will have to wait to CP+

Pentax/Ricoh/Nikon/Canon seem a bit stuck in the rut.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I thought the lack of straplugs on that 18K Leica..was a pretty big deal...hahaha!

 

[Dirk]

I agree. I was hoping for a Canon 50mm IS, and/or a 85/100 f/1.8-ish IS. And mirrorless competitors to the A7 line from the usual suspects. Quite a dud, indeed.

 

[jsrockit]

I'll admit to being disappointed by Fuji not showing a X-Pro2.

 

[burancap]

I'll admit to being disappointed by Fuji not showing a X-Pro2.

Agreed, but I did like the freshened 100.

 

[mfogiel]

I couldn't care less about digital cameras, but I am a bit disappointed with lack of upgrade to the Epson 3880 printer. I am waiting for a version that will have some gloss optimizer to make satin B&W prints look more like they should.
For the rest, the Zeiss 35/1.4 seems news.

 

[nongfuspring]

I'm very impressed by the LX100 and GM5, but disappointed by lack of XP2.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

I think the big news or maybe not news but what Leica did with most of the space they rented for Photokina: a huge photo gallery emphasizing what photography has always been about.

 

[cz23]

I'll admit to being disappointed by Fuji not showing a X-Pro2.

Me too. And nothing GR- or GXR-like from Ricoh.🙁

 

[Eric T]

I very surprised by Canon - not responding to the mirrorless business, no change in their Bayer sensors including no big jump in resolution to match Sony and Nikon. Just a few minor upgrades to lenses and the 7D.
Panasonic and Leica were interesting but Leica was mainly taking features away from their cameras (the M60 and M-A). Fuji is continually updating things so I am not worried.
But Canon is falling behind.
So yes, overall, disappointed.

 

[shadowfox]

What is the best media outlet to get the summary of what is in Photokina?
English, please.

 

[zuiko85]

Used to follow Photokina announcements back in the 70's and 80's but not since plasto-blob styling (as popularized by the Canon T90) took over. I've just lost interest in new products since then.

That said I was encouraged this year by Leica's gutsy move to bring out the M-A. I mean really, an all mechanical film camera with no built in meter? In 2014? That took some nerve and is something I can cheer even if it is not something I could even dream about buying. Well done Leica!

 

[CameraQuest]

What is the best media outlet to get the summary of what is in Photokina?
English, please.

hmm, take a look at PopPhoto's exciting coverage of Photokina!
http://www.popphoto.com/gallery/photokina-2014-best-new-camera-and-photo-gear

or maybe not.

Spoiler, you know its a damn slow Photokina when you see a "bad weather shooting cape," a camera strap and this many camera bags
in their "PHOTOKINA 2014: The Best New Photo and Camera Gear."

Seriously? If a camera strap is worthy of major notice, it must have been a real BORING Photokina.

Stephen