The UK's largest photographic trade show, Focus-on-Imaging, is back to Birmingham. It feels like nothing much has changed - the show is still on in Halls 9 and 10 at the NEC, and most manufacturers are still around - but, the show, now in its 20th year feels different this year, almost as if it had a facelift.

Talking to many manufacturers today, for the show's first day, it seems that the audience is different this year than previous year. In tough economic times, the people who made the journey to the NEC - some as far away as France or Germany - are more dedicated to the art of photography and are ready to invest their time and money in new products and offers.

According to Focus' organisers, the number of registered visitors - and last minute ones as well - are up from last year, which is a good sign for the like of Canon, Nikon and others that have been forced, over the past few months, to raise their prices as the value of the Pound plummeted against the Yen.

However, new products have been scare, especially among the major manufacturers. It's not surprising. Canon, Nikon and Sony, to cite only the main ones, have released over the past six months an impressive array of professional digital products (the EOS 5D Mark II, the D3x and the Alpha 900 are just some of them). Focus gives the opportunity to many British photographers and enthusiasts to get their hands on these products, and hopefully will lead to many sales during the show's three remaining days.

BJP will continue to report from the show until it closes on Wednesday, but we can say that the "new" and rejuvenated Focus is a success!