Archive notice: This article was originally published on 1 December 2020 and has been translated into English as part of Digital Production’s archive project.
Photokina’s long run was put on hold
Photokina, the long-established international meeting place for the photography and imaging sector in Cologne, was suspended indefinitely. Organisers cited not only the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but also a long-term, double-digit annual decline in the market.
Attempts to broaden the format
The organisers had tried to respond by incorporating smartphones and newer imaging technologies. Those measures were not sufficient to sustain the event at the quality level they wanted to provide, leading to the decision to suspend it.
What came next?
At the time of the announcement, Photokina looked back on a 70-year history. No date was given for a possible return to the Cologne exhibition grounds.
Photokina 2010
Digital Production’s archive offers a look back at Photokina 2010, when products including the Canon 60D and Zeiss Distagon lenses competed for visitors’ attention.
