Boot Düsseldorf

Type: trade show Frequency: annual (January) Location: Düsseldorf, Germany

History

Boot Düsseldorf is the world’s largest water sports trade show, held annually in January. For the underwater photography industry, it serves as the European counterpart to the DEMA Show, with major housing manufacturers (primarily European: Seacam, Subal, Sealux, UK-Germany, Hugyfot, Subtronic) using it as a primary venue for product launches.

Boot 2006

Canon 5D and Nikon D200 housings dominated, with Seacam, Sealux, Subal, and UK-Germany all showing 5D housings. Subtronic debuted its interchangeable arm-battery system. UK-Germany showed a Hasselblad H1D 22MP housing. ([1])

Boot 2007

Enhanced viewfinders were the dominant theme: Sealux GV150, UK-Germany 45° viewfinder, Seacam/INON/Hugyfot viewfinders all shown. Housing support for Canon 400D and Nikon D80. ([2])

Boot 2012

Adam Hanlon attended and began Wetpixel’s regular Boot coverage, continuing through 2019. ([3])

Boot 2013

Andrej Belic filed a personal report. Nauticam (via German distributor UW-Fotopartner) displayed the most extensive housing lineup of all companies, covering everything from compacts to Red video cameras. Seacam showed a new smaller S45 viewfinder and three strobe models (100 Ws, 150 Ws, and a 150 Ws deep-rated version). BS Kinetics showed carbon fiber housings with new metal wire weave. Subal displayed housings. ([4])

Boot 2016

Adam Hanlon reported from the show. Boot remains the world’s largest watersports trade fair, held in the giant halls of Messe Düsseldorf. A growing number of underwater imaging companies and individuals exhibited. ([5])

Boot 2017

Exhibitors included Nauticam (represented by Edward Lai and Ryan Canon), Keldan, and Easydive. The World Shootout announced its 2017 results live on stage. The upcoming Lembeh-Gulen Critter Shootout 2018 was announced at the show. ([6])

Boot 2018

Adam Hanlon reported. The show consisted of 15 giant halls with underwater imaging gradually establishing a base in Hall 4, now occupying “a significant and discrete space.” The World Shootout 2018 awards ceremony was held at Boot, with prizes worth $70,000 awarded. The show runs for 9 days total. ([7])

Boot 2019

Adam Hanlon reported. The show expanded to 17 halls over 10 days. The imaging zone included the “Water Pixel” stage with presentations on imaging-related topics. Nauticam (Ryan Canon, Hergen Spalink) showed their comprehensive housing and optics range. The World Shootout 2018 results were also announced at Boot. ([8])

References

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2006: Boot 2006 Show Report ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2007: Boot 2007 Show Report By Gerard Wijnsma ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2012: Wetpixel At Boot 2012 ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2013: Show Report Boot 2013 ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Jan 26, 2016: Wetpixel At Boot 2016 ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2017: Shoe Report Boot 2017 ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2018: Show Report Boot 2018 ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2019: Show Report Boot 2019 ↩
  9. Boot 2006 show report (article) ↩
  10. Boot 2007 show report (article) ↩
  11. Boot 2007 impressions (article) ↩
  12. Boot 2013 show report (article) ↩
  13. Boot 2016 (article) ↩
  14. Boot 2017 show report (article) ↩
  15. Boot 2018 show report (article) ↩
  16. Boot 2019 show report (article) ↩