SONY Setting a Positive Direction |

SONY Setting a Positive Direction

Just this last Sunday, SONY announced with great fanfare a series of new Digital cameras and a replacement for the SONY Alpha a700. First let me say that SONY really did not show any real working cameras but instead they resented mockups. But as SONY indicated, the cameras that were presented are going to be hitting the streets sooner than one would expect.

Mainstream DSLR range to grow further
Sony officials also confirms that the current α range of consumer DSLR’s will continue to grow with the introduction of further new models using the newly-developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and integrating HD video function with AVCHD format. IS this the same sensor used in the SONY Alpha a550? No, the new HD sensor and not the same as the A550 and in fact the Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor is a completely new development.

I was also informed that the A7xx will have all of the same studio functionality that the SONY Alpha a700 and Alpha a900 currently has. I can only assume that this would include tethered shooting. I also asked about the Sensor Size and ISO range, but was left with an answer that final determinations on those specifications have not been made yet. But one SONY person did say that I will be shocked when the specs and a working camera do appear. The Alpha A7XX will be a large step up from the older Alpha A700 and will be well accepted amongst high end shooters, semi pros and professionals alike. SONY was not going to say if this camera is in what one would call professional caliber of camera.

But the same person did leave me with a tidbit that surprised me. There is a camera that is in development that is intended to be a big step from the Alpha a900. It was indicated to me that this camera could be considered by SONY as a professional camera and they are intending that the focus of this camera would be in that direction. When I pressed this person about what was said, I was given the answer that we are not allowed to elaborate any more on the development of new future DSLR’s.

I spent the evening reading many of the comments and dissatisfactions from many SONY Alpha users who read the announcements from PMA and I will simply put it, if you expect that a camera company is going to put every requested feature into a camera that everyone expects you end up with a camera so complex that you end up losing the lower end photographer just learning to use the camera. Also some comments from the SONY Style darkroom forum indicating that SONY was not listening to what is being said on that forum. Another SONY representative did indicate that they do in fact read with great interest a lot of what is posted in the darkroom forum. But as it was said, SONY cannot fulfill every wish that is posted. But there is some requests that have merit and all SONY ask, please hang in there and you will be rewarded.

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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 Photo Events