
Media reports
Discret Fachjournal der Unterhaltungsgastronomie November 1996
"Meeting point for experts: photokina in Cologne".
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After six days, a successful photokina came to its end on 23 September in Cologne. The most important topics were the Advanced Photo System APS and amateur and professional digital photography. The sector “Professional Media” was represented by 211 exhibitors in hall 14, where things were rather tranquil.
In the opinion of exhibitors and visitors, photokina had overall demonstrated its position as leading exhibition of the photo industry and global fair for photography. Users from the industry and the service sector, such as advertising and studio photography, marketing, advertising and PR, were attested to have a high level of willingness to invest and decision-making competence.
The professional media offering for image communication focused on the two main areas of "professional video production" and "presentation technology". Here, the term “digital” was also omnipresent. The leading manufacturers presented their new digital formats and solutions for the transition from an analog to a digital world. Presentation technology was characterized by further improvements in image quality and brightness.
According to conservative estimations, photokina 1996 was attended by a total of 166,000 visitors from 134 countries, including 42,000 visitors from abroad. The proportion of foreign trade visitors reached 46 percent among retailers and 32 percent among users.
Exhibitors in the video sector also drew positive conclusions. They also recorded increased interest from consumers and expect a significant market recovery in light of the increased demand. Technical features of camcorders, such as eye-controlled focusing, optical image stabilization, digital effects and color finders, garnered great interest. New pathways in video post-editing were shown as well. State-of-the-art digital technology, combined with an innovative operating concept, was in high demand with professional videographers.
Satisfied visitors
According to initial results of a survey conducted by a neutral market research institute on behalf of KölnMesse, 87 percent of the photokina visitors stated that the fair had met their expectations. 23 percent were dealers, 44 percent were professional users, and 33 percent came to Cologne out of personal interest.
The visitors of the photo/video halls were primarily interested in photo and video cameras (72 percent), corresponding accessories (52 percent) and lenses (41 percent). In the professional photo sector, electronic image processing was named most often (60 percent), followed by professional camera and light systems (56 percent), photo studio equipment (34 percent) and large and specialist laboratory systems (22 percent).
For professional media, professional film and video technology (49 percent), audiovisual image communication (44 percent), production technology for film, television and press (40 percent) and presentation technology (35 percent, including multiple responses) were the most important.
As traditionally largest exhibitor, LOBO once again showed the breathtaking effects that can be generated when combining laser with high tech. Behind an entrance area framed by plants, the company from Aalen presented a smart arrangement of laser, water, pyro effects and light to the tunes of classical music on its light- and soundproof booth with an area of 1,400 m². In addition to nine spatially offset, partially semi-transparent screens, two water basins for a 16m long indoor and for an outdoor Water Screen for laser and slide projections were in use.
In order to generate spatial depth, the fiber optics-supplied laser projectors were arranged in a semi-circle around the audience. In addition, 20 light scanners and 10 slide projectors were in use. The spectacle was controlled by a LOBO Laser Truck, probably the largest mobile show system in the world with 57 Watts light output and 40 kW sound output.
Among the innovations on show were the newest gauze screens, developed specifically for front and rear projections of laser, slides and video, as well as the latest generation of Micon effect generators. While the laser playback units of the Economy line were previously only able to play pre-made laser shows with a maximum of quality, operating comfort and safety, the optional Micon effect generators, available since the beginning of this year, are able to generate effects live. Using two MIDI keyboards, it is easy to call up and animate 240 freely assignable graphics and beam effects as well as directly control external effect mirrors, which are controlled directly via the scanners. An individual set of graphics and effects can be uploaded from any PC. Alternatively, an intelligent sound-to-light algorithm transforms any sound signal into a music-synchronous laser show.
With the Micon software version 2.0, presented at photokina, it is possible for the first time to control the effect generators as well as some important basic functions of the Economy Line directly via the DMX 512 standard, as commonly used in light technology. For this, the Economy Line can emulate up to four light scanners, whose DMX allocation is oriented closely at commonly used devices. With this, it is easily possible to program complex laser effects from any common lighting control desk. Thus, Economy Line becomes a universal laser system for discotheques and theaters that want to integrate laser effects into a presentation either live, fully automatically or programmed by themselves, in addition to prefabricated shows.