Cologne is always full to the brim at Messe time, and there is no bigger Messe than Photokina, the world’s largest photographic exhibition. Finding a room is a challenge, and a room at a reasonable price is near impossible. I visited Cologne regularly over several decades to attend the international motorcycle show and that was no exception in terms of full house. One year I found myself staying in Düsseldorf and commuting by train to Cologne.
This year I was canny and booked up in June. I arrived this afternoon and am looking forward to two days of tramping around the massive exhibition which starts on Tuesday. I will be present at Leica’s press conference at 9.30 am and hope to bring you news of all the new cameras, some of which have been rumoured but I am sure there will be surprises. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is a 4G signal, or wifi, on the Leica stand. On Tuesday afternoon, by the way, I have an interview slot with Stefan Daniel. So if any of you have questions you would like me to put to him please prompt me with an email via the Contact page of Macfilos.
It is worth repeating that it was at the third Photokina in 1954 that Leica introduced the M3. That year Photokina was in April so we are just six months over the diamond anniversary of the camera. Leica has an M60 event on Tuesday and I wonder what that will bring? Could it be a digital version of the M3 without a screen by any chance?
In addition to Leica’s new stuff I am looking forward to checking out the mirrorless offerings from Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony. In particular, as a rangefinder fan, I am keen to lay hands on the new Fuji X100T with its alleged real rangefinder. Can it match the Leica M in accuracy and ease of focus, I wonder.
Now it’s time for a few glasses of Kölsch, after which nothing will be in focus. Even with the aid of a rangefinder.
