The Photokina exhibition, held annually in Germany from September 26 to September 29, is the largest annual photography equipment exhibition in the world. This year, it was announced that the global filmmaking industry is undergoing a transformation. The size of 8K images is nearly four times that of 4K images, and 4K images are about four times that of Full HD. Images that were once a dream will be more accessible from 2020 onwards. This is the significant news from Photokina 2018. With the development of 5G technology starting in 2019, which dramatically increases internet speed, the possibility of watching 8K images will become available to more people. Currently, expensive Hollywood cameras can capture 8K images, but these cameras are mainly used for special effects. However, with the production of 8K displays, there is a need for more 8K productions, and cameras must be able to capture 8K images across a wide range from cinema to television productions starting in 2020.
Journalists in Tokyo are watching 8K images.
Samsung and LG have also created the world's first 8K televisions. These displays use a system based on artificial intelligence that smartly adjusts images to 8K resolution. Additionally, the increase in pixel density in smartphones or tablets in 8K technology allows users to work with clearer images with more details.
Panasonic announced at the Photokina exhibition that it will launch the first affordable 8K cameras in 2020. This company had previously transformed filmmaking with its GH4 camera, making 4K technology widespread. Now, experts believe the GH6 may be the first affordable camera equipped with this technology, unless Sony or other camera manufacturers intervene.
At Photokina 2018, Panasonic also unveiled its first full-frame (35mm) mirrorless camera. This company was the first to introduce mirrorless cameras with the GH1 and developed this technology in a sensor size known as micro four-thirds, which is slightly larger than super 16mm film. In this path, Sony released the first 35mm mirrorless cameras, and Canon and Nikon entered this market after Sony's success. Now, Panasonic has entered the market with its S series cameras, a market that is likely to end the era of DSLR cameras.
Panasonic develops its new cameras with the help of Leica and Sigma, using Leica's lens mount. Panasonic has stated that its full-frame mirrorless camera will have the best viewfinder. This camera will be produced in two types, S1 and S1R, with qualities of 24 and 42 megapixels, respectively. The company has not provided much information about this camera, only announcing that the product will be introduced in early 2019. Another revolutionary step in the photography industry was taken by Fujifilm. This company introduced a medium-format camera with a much larger sensor compared to full-frame cameras, in a smaller size and at the price of these cameras. The price of this camera is around $4,500, making it accessible for many photographers worldwide who have long dreamed of purchasing medium-format cameras but have used 35mm cameras due to high prices.
There is a theory these days that with the advancement of mobile cameras, traditional cameras will be sidelined; however, this argument is not entirely accurate. The most important factor in photography is light, and the larger the sensor, the more light it can capture. A mobile sensor is about thirty times smaller than a 35mm camera sensor, while a medium-format camera sensor is between 1.5 to 2 times larger than a 35mm camera sensor. This means that a mobile sensor is between 45 to 60 times smaller than a medium-format camera sensor. This sensor size allows these cameras to capture more light and take photos with high detail, making the images appear more like what humans see. The camera introduced by Fujifilm at Photokina is called the GFX 50R, a 50-megapixel medium-format camera. However, not all medium-format cameras introduced at the exhibition were affordable; Leica unveiled the medium-format S3 camera with a 64-megapixel sensor priced over $10,000. Sony also announced at Photokina that it will use artificial intelligence and machine learning in various aspects of its new cameras.