Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Special > Miscellaneous > Digital Photography's Present and Future Live at Photokina

Digital Photography's Present and Future Live at Photokina

06:00 - Thursday 30 September 2004 by Martin Barzilai

1. Introduction
2. The War Of The Reflexes, Continued
3. Smaller And Smaller, Sexier And Sexier

With thousands of square meters of floor space on two levels, all completely filled, the Photokina is an impressive trade fair. And it's no longer a secret: All eyes are now riveted on digital images. New players and "historic" manufacturers are all here offering all sorts of equipment, from consumer products to ultra-professional monsters. In an atmosphere that's relaxed yet studious, huge displays stand alongside small ones, while loudspeakers try to out-shout each other to attract visitors and reporters. But though the total effect may be akin to a photography bazaar, the products being presented this year are anything but frivolous. Several major trends that were already visible two years ago have been confirmed, to the delight of anyone for whom photography is a passion.

The War Of The Reflexes

Complete, easy to handle, sturdy, and quite comparable to their film homologues, digital SLRs (single lens reflex) are undeniably the star products of this 2004 Photokina. On the professional side, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II is getting all the attention, with its 16.7 million pixels, if you please, its 24x36 sensor (meaning no focal-length conversion factor) and its total compatibility with all the lenses in the range. In the same category, but with smaller sensors (and thus a conversion factor of 1.5), the Nikon D2X, just out, is aimed at the same audience. Its 12.4 million pixels and totally professional design are winning the favor of everybody at the show. Except that with the EOS 1DS Mark II, Canon has pulled the rug from under its eternal competitor's feet... We'll keep an eye on developments.

Halfway between prosumer and professional, Fuji has finally presented its S3 Pro, the new version of the S2 Pro. With its SuperCCD sensor with 6 million photosites (with two photodiodes per photosite), it can deliver images in 12 million pixels, which puts it in a very good position on a market where competition is fierce... especially since its Nikon mounts will be attractive to many.