BildExpo Is Becoming the New Photokina?

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Once the most important photography and imaging trade show in the world, Photokina was a legendary fixture for decades—until it vanished. Now, B&H Photo’s BildExpo appears to be filling that void. Initially launched in 2023 to celebrate B&H’s 50th anniversary, this year’s follow-up went well beyond a mere repeat. With a staggering 57,000 registrations, BildExpo 2025 came close to matching NAB’s attendance—and did so in just two days.

As noted by CineD’s Nino Leitner in the Focus Check podcast, the event space was “packed with people,” with creators flooding both the massive, three-times-expanded trade show floor and five simultaneous educational stages. Leitner emphasized the unusually young demographic of attendees—many under 30 and all deeply engaged with the gear, talks, and community experience.

According to PetaPixel’s  report, the show’s layout and curation created something rare: a non-salesy, creator-first atmosphere where educational talks took center stage. Unlike the corporate-heavy tone of some legacy trade shows, BildExpo felt “surprisingly personal and human,” thanks in large part to the energy of the crowd and B&H’s transparent, sponsor-supported model.

What Made BildExpo 2025 Special?
– 250+ exhibitors across a dramatically expanded show floor
– Over 100 live presentations on five parallel stages (filmmaking, photography, content creation, keynote, and more)
– A massive turnout of younger creators, vloggers, filmmakers, and educators
– Completely free admission, with strong support from major sponsors and brands
– A keynote by renowned conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier, drawing thousands

The event was not only packed—it was in-demand. Sessions were often standing-room-only, with hundreds left waiting outside for the most popular talks. B&H’s decision to lean heavily into education over product pushing paid off: creators came not just to see gear, but to learn how to better use it, build careers, and connect with peers.

The PetaPixel piece also praised the diversity and accessibility of speakers, noting it wasn’t the usual trade show “boys’ club.” The panels showcased a wider mix of voices than ever before, and the sessions were packed with actionable advice rather than product pitches.

Will There Be a BildExpo 2026?
That remains to be confirmed. As Leitner noted, the B&H CEO told attendees at a private dinner: “Ask me again after these two days.” Yet given the turnout, media coverage, sponsor satisfaction, and sheer enthusiasm of the crowd, another edition seems more likely than not.

“They wanted to show they care about creators—and they nailed it,” said Leitner.

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$500 Sony A1 II Price Hike at B&H – More Sony Increases Coming?

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An unexpected $500 price increase on the Sony A1 II has just hit B&H Photo, pushing the price from $6,498 to $6,998. This is the first sign of a broader adjustment that might soon affect other Sony Alpha products as well. I also got a small rumor saying this: “Heard over someone’s shoulder that some US Sony prices are about to increase this upcoming week.”

Interestingly, Adorama is still listing the Sony A1 II at the original $6,498 price—for now. Meanwhile, Amazon has once again removed the preorder option entirely, suggesting potential supply restrictions or internal pricing adjustments.

Why the sudden price hike? One possible explanation: tariffs. Just like we saw on some lenses like the new 400-800mm G

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Sony Electronics Launches “Camera Verify” Feature for Its Camera Authenticity Solution for News Organizations

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Press text:

Sony Electronics Launches “Camera Verify” Feature for Its Camera Authenticity Solution for News Organizations
The beta feature enables external sharing of image authenticity information via a dedicated URL

SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2025 – Today, Sony Electronics announced the beta release of Camera Verify, a new feature of its Camera Authenticity Solution1 that enables external sharing of image authenticity information via a dedicated URL. This has been developed to help news organizations address the growing challenge of verifying the authenticity of digital images in the age of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

As AI-generated and manipulated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, the need for trusted, verifiable imagery has never been greater, especially for media professionals. Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution is designed to meet this need by embedding C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity)2 digital signatures and Sony’s proprietary 3D depth information directly into the image at the moment of capture.

This solution records C2PA digital signatures and Sony’s proprietary 3D depth information in the camera at the moment of capture, allowing the image’s authenticity information to be verified on the Image Validation Site3. With the newly added “Camera Verify” Beta, news organizations can issue external sharing URLs for images with embedded digital signatures, allowing third parties to view verification results through reliable URLs directly issued by the verification site4. With this feature, the organizations can select specific authenticity items to share during the content publication and distribution process, enabling faster dissemination of credible, verifiable content.

In addition, the Digital Signature Upgrade License—which allows for embedding digital signatures directly into images captured with supported Sony cameras—is now available for purchase via the Camera Authenticity Solution website3, expanding accessibility to more professionals5.

Sony plans to expand support for video content after fall 2025 as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting trusted digital media. Together with activities on the C2PA steering committee, Sony aims to further contribute to improving content reliability in the media field.

Notes:

1https://www.sony.net/cas/

2A standards organization that develops open standards and technical specifications for the origin and authenticity of digital content.

3The Image Validation Site (paid service) provided by Sony will initially be offered to select news organizations. Service availability varies by region/countries. For more information on Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution, visit: https://www.sony.net/cas/

4Verification cannot be performed by third parties.

5Compatible camera models for this digital signature license are Alpha 1 II (Ver.2.00 or later), Alpha 1 (Ver.3.00 or later), Alpha 9 III (Ver.3.00 or later), Alpha 7S III (Ver.4.00 or later), and Alpha 7 IV (Ver.5.00 or later) (as of June 26, 2025).

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Just announced: new Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 FE lens

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Venus Optics just announced the new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 autofocus Full Frame E-mount lens. You can preorder it now at BHphoto, Venus-store, Amazon.

A stunning update to their legendary ultra-wide prime. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, this new version is lighter, sleeker, and ready for adventure. It’s the perfect lens for architecture, landscapes, astrophotography, and anyone obsessed with edge-to-edge sharpness!

🔥 Key Features:

  • Ultra-Wide 12mm Focal Length on Full Frame – Get insanely wide shots without distortion.
  • Compact & Lightweight (Only 426g) – 30% lighter than the original version!
  • Fast f/2.8 Aperture – Perfect for low light and astrophotography.
  • Zero-D (Zero Distortion) Design – Straight lines stay straight. Ideal for architecture.
  • Close Focusing Distance: Just 18cm – Dramatic close-up wide-angle shots.
  • Flare-Controlled 16-Blade Aperture – Beautiful sunstars and cinematic look.
  • Improved Ergonomics & Handling – Smaller diameter, better balance.
  • Available in Sony E / Nikon Z / Canon RF / L-Mount – Full mirrorless compatibility.

Official product video:

First review:

 

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Next bunch of wild Sony A7V specs rumors

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Sony registered new camera closed in May. From trusted sources, we can be almost certain that one of them is for the new Sony A7V. But I don’t know the specs yet and all I get are rumors from anonymous messengers. This one sounds reasonable, but of course it could just be conjecture:

I saw some prototypes,
44mpx 20fps non stacked sensor 100% confirmed.
same body as A1II
same screen as A1II
AI chip
New improved evf compared to A7IV – could not really confirm
better heat management

The Sony A7V is expected to be announced in Summer at earliest…

SHARE RUMORS using this contact box or at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

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