CES 2024 closed after a week that set the technology narrative for the year ahead. The show saw 4,300+ exhibitors, including a record 1,400+ start-ups from around the globe in Eureka Park. Moreover, CES showcased the innovative trends shaping tomorrow that seek to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. CES 2024 took place in the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The resurgence of CES proves that face-to-face conversations and meetings are a necessity for the technology industry,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “For more than 20 years, I’ve said that every company must become a tech company. And the diversity of exhibitors at CES 2024 proves it. The CES footprint and conference programming span the entire tech ecosystem.”
CES 2024 Wrap: By the Numbers
This year’s show featured 2.5+ million net square feet of exhibits, which is 15% bigger than CES 2023. In addition, 135,000+ attendees, a record more than 40%, came from 150 countries, regions and territories. Furthermore, 5,000+ global media and content creators attended. There were also 250+ conference sessions with 1,000+ speakers. 
“CES 2024 brought the ‘All On’ experience for media, executives and industry thought leaders. Across the show and on CES conference stages, thousands of global brands announced new visions, products, investments and partnerships,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA senior vice president, CES and membership. “Technology is solving global challenges. We’re excited to see so many collaborations and partnerships start here in Las Vegas and produce a show where attendees come to meet, dream and solve.”
A Sample of CES 2024 Imaging Company Highlights
Nikon at CES 2024: Co-Create Seamlessly
Visitors to the Nikon booth enjoyed a range of activities and displays designed to ignite the senses and demonstrate emerging technologies. Under the theme of “co-create seamlessly,” Nikon showcased its current and emerging advanced solutions and products for consumers. It also exhibited industrial applications.
Further, the Nikon Theater hosted a range of speakers, including inspirational Nikon Ambassadors, filmmakers, creators and industry experts. One highlight was a special conversation about combatting digital misinformation with Santiago Lyon from the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative.
In addition, the booth’s touch-and-try area featured the latest Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras. This included the Nikon Z 8 and the new Nikon Z f, which converges an iconic retro design with the latest mirrorless technology. Furthermore, just in time to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Nikkor optics, attendees were able to get their hands on the latest lenses. Featured lenses included the Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 Plena as well as the Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3S VR lenses.
What’s more, the Nikon Z f Portrait Studio was a new addition to the booth this year. It offered free portraits from Nikon photographers, using the new Z f camera and Plena lens. Consequently, showgoers could get their updated headshot or social media profile picture captured with Nikon equipment.
Unreal Ride Returns
The Unreal Ride also returned with a new immersive virtual production experience this year. It captured a video of attendees moving through a virtual environment as if it were the real thing. Participants rode in a vehicle against the backdrop of a giant LED screen. When captured through the lens, it appears as if they are riding through the virtual environment. The ride was captured by MRMC—a subsidiary of Nikon—using a Bolt X high-speed camera robot against an LED screen. Video footage was captured by the Nikon Z 9 flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. This activation expressed the power of combining all these technologies and demonstrated how filmmakers can shoot against any background, without being bound by time, season or place.
Telescopes & Microscopes
Also displayed in the booth were the new Odyssey Pro and Odyssey smart telescopes, developed jointly with Unistellar SAS, France. With the Odyssey, Unistellar is offering a new generation of smart telescopes that can reveal the farthest celestial marvels. Moreover, they can instantly transform stargazing evenings into adventures across the cosmos, even in the middle of the city.
In the Healthcare section of the booth, Nikon’s microscopes were exhibited for the first time at CES. Visitors could also enjoy an immersive experience into Nikon Small World. The annual competition recognizes excellence in photography through the light microscope.
Canon Provides Immersive Journey
Canon provided an immersive journey that took booth visitors on an adventure beyond the show floor via a travel theme. With the theme Journey Beyond the Destination, the exhibit enabled visitors to experience virtual travel via Canon’s virtual reality innovations. They could also explore content creation technology and engage with the cameras and lenses used in Canon’s original travel pilot, Now Boarding: Argentina.
The travel show follows actress, producer and author Lily Collins on a three-day adventure to Argentina. It is produced in partnership with 101 Studios, creators of the hit series Yellowstone and 1923. The pilot was filmed with Canon’s Cinema EOS C300 Mark III, EOS R6 II,
as well as PowerShot V10 cameras. At this section of the booth, users also saw real-world examples of how the products are used at the cinematic, professional and consumer levels.
Kokomo by Canon
Back again, Kokomo is an immersive virtual reality software that allowed CES guests to feel like they were part of Canon’s travel content. At the booth, visitors stepped into the Kokomo journey to participate in a travel-themed virtual scavenger hunt. Attendees could learn how Kokomo helps people feel like they’re together, no matter where they are in the world.
Moreover, Kokomo has an ImmersiveCalling feature—a face-to-face immersive 3D video-calling experience. This technology expands digital connection, giving friends, family or colleagues the opportunity to meet virtually “in-person” through a VR headset and smartphone. Users can appear as themselves in a 3D environment with lifelike detail, interacting in real time.
Free Viewpoint System & Mixed Reality
With Canon’s Free Viewpoint Video System (FVS), CES guests jumped into a sports match and experienced the match from various angles. FVS uses more than 100 Canon Cinema EOS-based 4K cameras and lenses. The cameras work together to create a 3D model. The system reproduces a wide breadth of views, from drone-style shots swooping in and around the players to smaller PoV angles that place viewers in the middle of the action.
In addition, Canon’s mixed reality concept experience integrates the real world with virtual imaging. It can account for limits of scale, perception, analysis and collaboration, with lifelike image clarity and color accuracy. This gives it the potential to make an impact on industry, education, medicine, entertainment and more. Guests at Canon’s CES booth got to know mixed reality in a 3D product viewing experience.
AMLOS
Canon developed its AMLOS (Activate My Line of Sight) solution to elevate the modern hybrid meeting experience. At CES, guests experienced the AMLOS solution by teaming up with the Australian luggage brand, July. CES attendees participated in a focus group with July’s Luggage Design Team and collaborated with fellow CES guests on the design of a travel-themed product.
The software-and-camera product suite also works with a company’s videoconference solution. It supports collaboration for modern hybrid creative meetings. Guests at CES acted as remote participants in an AMLOS meeting where they customized their own view based on what is shown by the in-person participants. It allowed guests to see physical objects in the room clearly.
In addition, Canon exhibited its MS-500 SPAD sensor camera, a CES 2024 Innovation Award winner.
Panasonic Debuts Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro
At CES 2024, among Panasonic’s consumer product debuts was the Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens. The lens is based on the L-mount system. Moreover, compact and lightweight to match the camera body, it joins the Lumix S lineup that addresses the demand for accessible yet professional-grade photography gear.
With a new optical design as well as a dual phase linear motor, Panasonic touts the S-E100 as currently the “world’s smallest and lightest medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens.” The lens weighs in at 10.5 ounces. Beyond close-proximity photography, the S-E100 also produces portraits and images unique to medium-telephoto lenses. Moreover, its more compact structure is thanks to an optical design with a new double focus system; three aspherical lenses; and a new dual phase linear motor and actuator. Consequently, the lens is suitable for a range of situations beyond macro photography. This includes natural photos and portraits as well as faster-paced action.
What’s more, addressing the increased demand for video capabilities, photographers can use the S-E100 to produce video through silent operation with corrected focus breathing. It suppresses focus breathing, in which the angle of view changes, caused by movements in the focus position. This is a benefit of its newly developed linear focus motor and micro-step aperture control. These features allow for smooth exposure change as well as the ability to choose between linear or nonlinear focus ring settings.
The lens’s newly developed dual phase linear autofocus motor also enables speed and precision for faster action tracking in both photo and video uses. And a manual focus sensor allows for manual focus precision, even when working at 1:1 macro. The Lumix S-E100 lens reaches retail the end of January 2024. It will have a suggested retail price of $999.99.
Additional CES 2024 Highlights
The 2024 show highlighted how innovations in sustainability, transportation and mobility; generative AI (artificial intelligence); digital health and more are addressing the world’s greatest challenges. Audiences also heard from industry experts during live keynotes, including leaders from L’Oreal, Walmart, Nasdaq, Siemens and Qualcomm.
Just a sample of the sessions of interest to content creators and the imaging ecosystem follow.
Augmented & Virtual Reality in the Creator Ecosystem
Creators have embraced new technologies from the beginning, new platforms as well as new social tools. This includes AI, VR (virtual reality) and beyond. They’ve used these new tools to fuel creative projects and new ventures. CES visitors could hear from those who have innovated since day one. Featured in this session, in the Content Creator category, were Lianne Baron, strategic partner manager, AR partnerships, Meta; and Nanea Reeves, CEO of Tripp.
The Creators Who Are Leaning into AI
As AI ushers in new avenues for artistic expression, the once-clear distinctions between creators and consumers are now blurred. Does the involvement of AI compromise the authenticity of a piece of art? There is now a debate on the true essence of creativity and whether AI assistance diminishes or enhances it. Leading the discussion here were Lesley Silverman, head of Web3, UTA, and Aaron Andalman, cofounder and chief science officer of Cognitiv.
Creators in Premium Audio
Featuring Michael and Lauryn Bosstick of Dear Media, this session looked at how they use the power of platform and storytelling to build the roadmap for creators in the premium audio space.
Creation and AI – What Will Humans Do?
How will the advent of AI impact the creative process and the content business as we know it? What is the future of IP ownership? These and other questions were discussed in this session moderated by Eric Savitz, associate editor at Barron’s. Joining the panel were Lisa Oratz, senior counsel, Perkins Cole; and Michelle Vincent, CEO, Mofilm.
CES 2025
Continuing the theme All Together, CES will return to Las Vegas, Nevada, January 7 through January 10, 2025.
