Photokina 2010: Looking Ahead

The international mega-show Photokina is just around the corner, and DCR is headed to Cologne, Germany. We'll bring you news, images and product first looks straight from the show floor. Read on for our Photokina 2010 preview and check DCR and our Photokina site to stay up to speed on all things Photokina.

Running every other year in Cologne, Photokina is the largest imaging tradeshow anywhere. Its global nature offers manufacturers a grand stage on which to announce new concepts and products. This year, Photokina takes place from Tuesday September 21st through Sunday the 29th. For a refresher course, take a look at our coverage of Photokina 2008.

Advanced and mid-range devices refreshed
We've certainly seen a flurry of new imaging equipment in the past few weeks, so there's plenty we'll be looking to get our hands on when the show floor opens. A pair of new DSLRs from Nikon have generated plenty of buzz, and so has their new advanced compact P7000. No doubt that Canon will have the new PowerShot G12 on display, though we might be forgiven if we mistake it for the nearly identical G11.

Smoke and mirrorless cameras
Photokina 2008 ushered in the Micro Four Thirds era with the official announcement of the Panasonic G1 and Olympus's concept camera that would later become the EP-1. This year, both of those players have several models on store shelves and in the hands of consumers. We've seen rival concepts spring up in the form of Sony's petite NEX cameras and Samsung's NX series, both equipped with larger APS-sized sensors.

Samsung launched the NX100 in the days leading up to the show. Will we see another Micro Four Thirds camera before the week is over? It's likely that we'll see some kind of MFT news or release, given the speed that this product segment has been growing over the past two years.

3D sticks around
It's almost certain that we'll see 3D-related imaging technology on display at the show. Like it or not, 3D has generated plenty of buzz this year in consumer electronics. In fact, it's hard to get through a magazine without running into an ad for 3D toothpaste or mascara. But that's another ballgame. Recently, 3D-capable cameras have been entering the fray, and Fujifilm has announced a fully second-generation 3D camera. Vendors will surely try to capture the attention of the show attendees with 3D-related demonstrations.

Multi-taskers still kicking
Last Photokina, we predicted the death of multi-function camera devices thanks to ever more capable picture-taking smartphones. Two years later we haven't seen manufacturers abandon these concepts as Nikon put out no less than two compacts with projectors embedded within their gears. Casio teased a GPS-integrated camera earlier this year at CES. Multi-function devices haven't gained a lot of ground since 2008, but they're still kicking.

More to follow
If there's one thing we can count on, it's announcement out of left field during the show. At least, we can hope for one. For now, place your bets on what's coming up at Photokina 2010 and check back throughout the week for updates. Follow DCR on twitter for live updates, 140 characters at a time, and keep an eye on our Photokina site for a complete list of our coverage.