to Sony or not to Sony

[xavier]

Friends
I would like to know ye think of the move by Sony into the DSLR market? As I would stear clear. Call me a crank if you like but I connect Sony more with makeing T.V.s, DVDs, Stereos & HIFIs more than DSLRs. Now given time I may change my mind but at the moment no thanks

[chris-p]

Are you asking a question here?

For what it's worth, Sony aren't "new" to the SLR game at all. As re-badged Minolta's, the cameras were pretty good. They are also one of the few companies pioneering new technology such as front-side lit sensors and new live view AF modes. While I'm not a fan of the newest entry level models (they're too plasticy for me), Sony have consistently produced decent cameras.
Don't forget the make the sensors for Nikon as well.

Optically, the older lenses where (again) all Minolta design and very good indeed. The newer lenses are pretty good as well, certainly in the higher price ranges (for example, the Sony 80-400 is sharper across the entire frame than the Nikon 80-400).

What you have to remember is that cameras are not "photographic" items any more, they're consumer electronics. Walk into a Jessops and a PC World and they look the same. Sony have produced some pretty good entry level stuff recently and, while they're not likely to topple Canon & Nikon from the top of the tree in the next few months, they are certainly improving their higher end kit.

[xavier]

I did not know the Sony had taken MInolta over, and yes I wos asking a question Chris and you answered. I wanted your veiws on sony. I only saw them as a home entertainment maker (ie: T.V.s, DVDs & so on) not SLRs maker. If as you say Sony are Minolta's in a new package they sould be the busness as Minolta were up there with Cannon & Nikon

adrian

P.s. did you see my photos

[cosmicma]

sony aquired minolta a few years ago basicly minolta could not compete in the digital market with the likes of canon and nikon
when this happened i thought here we go sony are going to shelve minolta and bring out there own range which in a way i suppose they did but i'm glad they carried on with minolta technology
i'm a fan of minolta cameras ( or should i say was ) even in the digital world they produced some pretty fine cameras before DSLRs where affordable

[xavier]

When I started this my problem was with BRAND assosiation. I did not assosiate SONY with makeing DSLRs. I saw it like "Lockheed Aeronoughtics" makeing a penny - farthing or simeler such bike. silly me! I wonder are there more like me?

[chris-p]

I imagine lots of people don't think of Sony as a camera manufacturer, partly because the traditional camera makers are (for want of a better phrase) "optical" companies and Sony are an electronics company.

But as I said above, cameras these days are more about electronics. I also don't think of Sanyo, Toshiba, Hewlett Packard, Samsung, Panasonic, Casio or Epson all of whom have made digital cameras and it's only Sanyo and Toshiba that don't now.
I know what you mean about brand association. I didn't think of Hyundai as a car company but they are now!

I also think there is a certain amount of snobbery involved (and I'm not directly aiming this at anyone). Those "traditional" manufacturers who've made a name for themselves in optical technology and precision will always have that to trade off. In my labs at the moment, all out microscopes are either Olympus or Nikon. Every lens, eyepiece, objective, condenser, focussing mechanism and other optical path modifier are proprietary. Our endoscope is a Pentax as is our confocal endomicroscope.

I think "heritage" and snobbery are the reasons that Samsungs DSLRs haven't done very well and are about to be axed. Without Minolta, Sony wouldn't be anywhere today in the DSLR market, if they'd tried and it's down to Minolta's pedigree and Sony's marketing and branding (they've never hidden the fact they were Minolta - they even show top end Minolta kit on their trade stands) that they've succeeded.

[xavier]

I guess you do have apoint Chris ! I wonder are there any Fairs ( as in trade Fairs ) or shows that shoe case new products for cameras like for the car industry? or are they confined to magizens? that is to say adds for new products and equipment or am I so far out of the loop? it is just that I have not heard of any shows

[chris-p]

There are a few major shows.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has recently finished. Photography wise, there tends to me more compacts released here than anything else although the Samsung NX10 hybrid was officially launched in the pre-CES spate of releases. A good roundup of CES is here.

The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) annual show is next month. Like CES it's held in the US, this year in Anaheim. This is the biggy. There will be the usual pre-PMA range of releases and then even more things launched at the show.

The biggest show in the UK is Focus on Imaging held in the NEC in Birmingham in March. I went last year and picked myself up a good deal on my Nikon D90. This year it looks like they're charging £10 for entry (it was free last year) so I'm not so sure if I'll go.

In Ireland (perhaps of most use to you) there is PhotoFest Ireland. It's in Dublin on Sunday the 18th of April. I don't know anything about it really as I've never heard of it before but, if you're interested in going to a show, it might be your best option.

[xavier]

thanks Chris! this is great news! frankly though in Ireland these shows, usely in Dublin, are poorly addvertized, and only to the select few! Great news all the same.

[chris-p]

Focus on Imaging isn't massively well advertised here, although it is advertised in the photography magazines which, I suppose, covers most magazine reading enthusiasts.

DPReview is usually the best place to keep up to date on everything. For the big shows like PMA, they run a day by day update on whats happened and any new kit. They're pretty good for news all round as well. The other place I use is the Amateur Photographer website which is also very informative.