Photokina, the worlds largest photo trade show, has been in full swing since 1950. Along with CP+ and PMA, Photokina showcases the latest in digital gear, photographic presentation, drones, accessories, and so much more. 2016 is the first year that The Camera Store TV took the long flight over to Cologne, Germany. One could easily be forgiven for assuming that TCSTV would be in camera gear Heaven. However Photokina, and Cologne, held much more in store for us than just technology.

In fact the common sentiment at Photokina 2016 was it’s lack of new and exciting camera launches. Although the Canon EOS M5, Panasonic G85, and Panasonic FZ2500, were exciting new products many of the eagerly anticipated products were still sealed behind glass and untouchable. The Panasonic GH5, and Olympus OMD EM1MK2, definitely created a big stir but we still have to wait until these exciting products hit the market. However Sony had a huge display of products and we got our hands on the brand new A99MK2. Combining 42 megapixels and an insane shooting speed of 12 frames per second, the A99MK2 will certainly make a splash. Let’s also keep in mind that Pentax released their new K-1 and K-70 recently, and the Canon EOS 5DMK4 hit shelves days before the big show. All in all, 2016 has been a pretty good year for new camera releases.

I have to admit that even though our lively hood is gear, and our Youtube show is centered around technology reviews, Photokina takes a back seat to the beauty of Cologne, and the friendly people of Germany. Wandering the streets at night, shooting photos in a city where old meets new, was the most enjoyable of experiences. Jordan and I had the pleasure of meeting so many of our fans, and taking photos with them throughout the city. Lots of beer, and new friendships made. As usual on our trips we also ran into many of our fellow You-tubers. There is an instant camaraderie with fellow presenters from all over the world. We even had a little collaboration with Luminous Landscape, and the Northrups.

We even had some time to venture out into the countryside. A few laps around the Nurburgring, a plethora of castles, and some photography along the Mosel River rounded out our fantastic trip to Photokina. We had a hard time agreeing with the disappointment many felt for this years Photokina trade show. For us it was an incredible new experience, filled with huge booths, new gadgets, amazing food, and beer of course. We met so many friendly people all in the city for the same reason, to celebrate the world of photography. To be in a vibrant city, where for two weeks photography takes over, is as fun as it gets. It was a remarkable experience and one that we hope to repeat two years from now.