sonyalpharumors

In defense of the trade show team: there were several new people on board, one of them only on the team two weeks (and this individual, along with another fairly new teammate manned the Alpha station), and trade shows are training by fire. Even with all the experience on hand from those of us who’ve been in the industry for years, there were really only 3 that were qualified to handle Handycam from the bottom to prosumer. That’s not a statement against the team… it’s hard to be an expert at over 300 products in 3 category channels. None of us can claim it.

Still, if I’d known Rob was in the house, I’d have left my Handycam section and gone to talk to him myself. This would be an entirely different review, I assure you.

Speaking of bad advertising for the Sony Alpha System. If I go into a SonyStyle in Boston I can only find a couple of models and a handful of lenses. None of the expensive line of lenses like the G series or 24-70, 85, 1.4, etc. Moreover, they offer little promotion or selling of the dslrs in the store. I’m in for now with Sony but I’m frustrated at the slowness of their products being updated and expanding and I oten wish I had entered with Nikon or Canon so I could just splurge and get what gear I need instead of waiting for an announcement at these shows.

I had a similar experience. While at a local tradeshow, I was at the sony booth trying out some fancy lenses, and overheard a few inquiries. It was pretty evident that the reps knew little about the alpha body + lens lineup, and probably little about photography. Seems like they just grabbed some staff from a local sony style store, really disappointing. I can’t speak to the canikon stands, but looks like the training for the alpha team was just memorizing two things from the box. I don’t care how often you repeat EXMOR if you don’t know what it does.

It’s not the line-up that bugs me (after all, there is a 100mm macro, for instance), it’s the lack of effective marketing and promotion, at least here in the UK. If I go to the Sonystyle shop in my City, there is no sign of the Alpha line at all! Flipping ridiculous if you ask me.

Ken is probably experienced enough from attending several shows before, and if he’s a media person of importance, he could have scheduled in a meeting with the vendor in advance of the show. Don’t expect the red carpet, if all the booth personel are already occupied with other customers. He should know better than being spoiled.

futile and eerikoo:
Believe me, I’m wide awake and dn’tneed to “wake up”, as I’ve used lots of different camera/macro lens combos either owned by myself or loaned to me by friends.

There is certainly nothing “wrong” with the Sony 100mm macro, in fact I own one ( the Minolta version, which Sony simply rebadged ).

The problem is that Canon and Nikon both have 100mm / 105mm macros that are far more USABLE – they have MUCH faster autofocus due to internal focussing ( so they don’t double in length as you focus closer ), and focus virtually silently. I find the Sony 100mm macros is slow, noisy, and often “hunts” crazily when shooting at very close distances, even in bright light.

Because of this I find myself forced to use maual focus, which not only defeats the point of AF, but means I’m often not quick enough to capture an active subject like a butterfly.

Before you ask, YES, I have tried using the Canon IS 100mm on a 50D, and the Nikon 105mm VR on a D90 – and their autofocus is MUCH faster and more reliable than my a700 with the Sony 100mm.

Macro is my main interest, so I’m seriousy considering switching to Canon or Nikon.

I use manual mostly on macro, but understand your point. But I don’t think it is a good enough reason to switch brand. Remember you get superb macro lenses from Sigma and Tamron too. The new Tamron 70mm F2 has internal focusing and if it’s optically as good as the SP90 it should be great, and the Sigma 150mm DG APO 2.8 has internal and focuses very fast..it’s highly regarded by many. So everything is available even though they are not originally branded. I am also sure Sony will update the lens line in the future.

Perhaps Sony USA should do like Sony Poland – instead of training random people for selling DSLR hire amateur photographers from forums/web galleries. Thanks to this when you go to Sony Style you can talk with people who use this equipment every day, and that’s amazing! Something you can’t get in any other producer sellers.