After internal division, Sony finally brings Alpha tech to its camera phones, starting with Eye AF
What seemed like the most obvious strategy in the world – Sony implementing its world-class Alpha camera technology in its underperforming smartphones – is finally starting to happen, beginning with the Sony Xperia 1.
The Xperia 1 will be the world's first smartphone with Eye AF, which has been used to great effect in cameras like the Sony A6400. In addition, it will also feature 10fps with AF/AE as well as Raw shooting.
So why didn't all this happen before? According to Adam Marsh, Sony's Senior Manager of Global Marketing, it was due to the structure of the company under previous President and CEO, Kaz Hirai (who rose to power from the company's PlayStation division).
With the change in leadership last year, some company restructuring took place: Sony's Mobile division is now under the same umbrella as Imaging, with Alpha's Kimio Maki heading up product development.
Sony Xperia 1
“He said, 'Okay, so we work with Alpha here, let’s take this bit, we work with the CineAlta brand, let’s bring this bit,'" Marsh told Trusted Reviews (hat tip Sony Rumors). "He opened up the whole of digital imaging for us… Because that imaging team is all together, they can share that experience across Cybershot, Alpha and Xperia.”
However, the departmental segregation may not have entirely eroded. “Even though we’re one company, there are still sometimes barriers that Alpha doesn’t want to give Mobile certain things, because all of a sudden you have the same as what a £3,000 camera’s got.
“Now that barrier’s gone a little bit," Marsh continued. "They’re saying, 'Okay, we see that having a smartphone and camera that gives you the same experience is a good thing.'”
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It's about time that Sony's stopped divisions stopped competing with themselves, given that their real competition are the Huaweis and Samsungs of the world. The sooner it leverages the full weight of its Alpha team, the sooner Sony Mobile can become a true force.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
