I am not that kind of guy, who breaks into a place bypassing security checks…
I broke into photokina bypassing security checks 1 day ahead of the official opening, because I could not wait to deliver you the first images side by side of the XF33mmF1.0, XF16-80mmF4 and XF16mmF2.9 and first hands on video of the Fujifilm GFX 50R.
But let’s talk about it later and start with the Fujifilm managers.
And yep, I am here at Photokina 2018, and today I smuggled myself through the security controls and took a look at the Fujifilm booth, which they are building up right now.
Sadly the press conference room is under the highest level of control, and no chance to enter without press-card.
However, I noticed 2 Fuji guys entering the press hall, and one was holding a rangefinder medium format film camera in his hand (maybe the Fujifilm GF670, but it was hard to see exactly).
It’s pretty clear that they are going to show their rangefinder medium format heritage to the press, and then unveil the long rumored Fujifilm GFX 50R (which you can see who it looks like here).
Size Comparison: Fujifilm GFX 50R Vs. GFX 50S, Hasselblad X1D and Fujifilm X-T2
P.S.: and of course on the way to Cologne I stopped at the Oktoberfest… it was simply fantastic… at least so they told me, since I can’t remember that much ;). But now I am back full power and ready for the ultimate blogging on FujiRumors!
This years’ photokina will probably the most exciting of the last 20 years.
We will assist to the death of DSLR’s (that’s it my friends, just accept it), and open the new era of mirrorless.
Paraphrasing the famous sentence from the movie Deadline we could say “that’s technology, baby, there is nothing you can do about it, nothing“.
Sure, the transition from DSLR to mirrorless won’t happen overnight. But that’s the trend. And that’s why Canon and Nikon are starting to get serious about mirrorless, too.
On this years photokina we will see the following new mirrorless cameras from Fujifilm:
In 2016, the by far busiest booth was the one of Fujifilm, but, between me and you, the most beautiful one was without a doubt the one of Leica (don’t tell Fuji, but I’ve spend hours (!!!) there).
This year, Fujifilm won’t have such an easy game to play like in 2016. The competition is strong, and that’s good for us customers.
The biggest problem?
Well, on the same Photokina days, there is also worlds largest beer festival, the Oktoberfest in Munich (I’ve never been there). So I stand in front of tough decisions: Oktoberfest or Photokina? Life can be so cruel!!!
As you know, Fujifilm has launched a dedicated Fujifilm Photokina microsite, where you can check out all the events planed for photokina.
Now they also published an official press release with all the details.
Well, actually not really all the details, since they don’t tell you that they will display also the Fujifilm GFX 50R, which will be announced on September 25 at 07:30 AM New York time :).