Mark Weir (Sony) interviewed at Imaging Resource
Sony marketing is finally giving some sign of live and they are spreading good news regarding the future of Alpha and NEX! Mark Weir has been interviewed by Imaging Resource. The interview is very long and full of interesting news. Thanks Mark for answering all questions! I am sure also SonyAlphaRumors readers will appreciate it 
A few interesting notes:
- NEX They are by far the number one selling mirrorless cameras in the United States…the A580 and also the A55 have seen demand that has exceeded just about everyone’s initial expectations
- . We’ve been acutely aware of the concern for the arrival of the A700 successor — actually, quite acutely aware, and we’re sorry that it’s taken as long as it has — but we believe that when this successor arrives, everyone will realize that it was very valuable to first develop the technologies and the capabilities that will go into the model, and to save it for those.
- With another year of development of those key devices, we believe that we’ll see a new generation of translucent mirror cameras with new capabilities
- I think it comes as no surprise that many of the models that really are attracting the attention of many enthusiast, semi-pro and even professional users these days are no longer full-frame, but rather the very, very top-end of the APS-C line-ups that are being created. ….This has led to longer life cycles for full-frame cameras
- The 500mm f/4 is coming soon
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Comment from somebody: price of body => come on, the a900 is...
Comment from Houckster: FROM MARK WEIR WE HAVE THIS: I think it ...
Comment from rob: Snapping the mirror is all what they can...
Comment from Steve: that's how I feel
to replace my good Mi...
somebody
2 years ago |Who the hell wants APS-C Models?
I really don’t get that point!
Why should any professional desire a crop camera?
This statement is totally ridiculous!
AVESTA
2 years ago |hehe seriously… I was gonna say the exact same thing.
If pros wanted cropped they would buy cropped lenses. It doesn’t make sense to buy a lens that’s meant for a full frame camera when you’re never planning on using it on a FF camera. Yeah, let’s just multiply by 1.5 for the rest of our lives.
Paul W
2 years ago |Who the hell wants APS-C Models?
95% of the market…who do you think? Doh
john
2 years ago |“Why should any professional desire a crop camera?”
Price of body.
Smaller/lighter
Using sweet spot of FF lenses
Different FOV
Wildlife/Sports = more reach
Comes to mind.
Jesse Lim
2 years ago |Couldn’t agree more, as a macro/portrait photographer, I love the center crop for its greater reach and sharpness offered by APS-C =D
Ezio
2 years ago |Also acts as a better “1.5x” teleconverter without the addition of glass elements that reduce image quality, and keeping the aperture wide open and bright!
somebody
2 years ago |price of body => come on, the a900 is pretty cheap!
smaller/lighter => positive? not for me….
Using sweet spot of FF lenses => come on, buy the right lenses than this comment is ridiculous!
Different FOV => one of the greatest disadvantages of Crop cameras
Wildlife/Sports = more reach => okay, but if you’re a pro shooting sports you will probably not stick with Sony.
Mark
2 years ago |“- The 500mm f/4 is coming soon”
Together with the A700 successor?
Adi
2 years ago |This was a long standing rumor (that they will be released together). Maybe “soon” means April ?
sure
2 years ago |April 1st
acolyte
2 years ago |With another year of development of those key devices, we believe that we’ll see a new generation of translucent mirror cameras with new capabilities
Wut? He’s not talking about A77 isn’t he? another year?
semi-pro and even professional users these days are no longer full-frame, but rather the very, very top-end of the APS-C line-ups that are being created
Tell that to the old FF users. They won’t admit this XD
john
2 years ago |Maybe he meant 1 year from when the A55 design was finalized not released.
Mark
2 years ago |I agree, it’s more of a step back. The first batch of professional DSLR’s had an aps-c sensor. Not long after they made full frame sensors. Why take a step back?
I think professionals want to be able to choose for a fullframe camera or an aps-c camera depending on the situation.
Adi
2 years ago |Proffesionals are a very small segment of the market. I’m not a pro and would not buy a 2000+ FF camera ( it’s not only the camera but FF lenses also). Byt I’m considering a $1000 APS-C like an A77. I’m not the only one. Some higher level semi-pro will buy it also, and even some pros at least as a backup camera. At the end a much bigger market, especially if the camera has the rumored features, and they keep the price competitive. A55 has good features and a good price and it sells. Keep the same ratio of features/price and A77 will sell also.
Steve
2 years ago |It’s about the quality of the image for professionals.
Don’t care what size the sensor is as long as the lenses work. I’m still using a few Minolta lenses I purchased over twenty years ago and have changed camera body’s several times now since the Minolta 9000 in 1986, and I’ll be more than happy to use them with a a77 or the replacement to my FF a850.
It’s really about lenses because that were the real cost of a pro camera is.
It’s likely that Sony’s a77 but the time it ships later this year will image better in some if not all areas than the FF a850/900 class.
that what we all want, right?
acolyte
2 years ago |Yeah. And as Adi said, even if the pros don’t like the wait for the new FF, they would need a backup camera, and an a77 would do the trick.
acolyte
2 years ago |*still need
Mafiosito
2 years ago |Love my a700 but can’t wait for the a77….Hope I get it by May latest in july before my trip
greenieadi
2 years ago |FF users have to wait. Let us A700 users have our camera first. As I see it Sony successfully introduced the Nex cameras to bridge/prosumers segment, the entry DLST to the newbie/beginner segment.
And now the so-called Advanced Amatuer segment will have the DSLT, maybe with different implementation but still with translucent mirror.
My main concern though is the mock up body doesn’t have the same buttons as the A700. I be glad to have the same body like the A700 with better AF and everything else in the A55.
Jj
2 years ago |Im a pro photojournalist, and i use cropped cameras. Hell i even use p & s sometimes just fine. So quit youre blubering.
hanugro
2 years ago |You forgot this very very important subject:
“We will certainly be introducing more and more lenses with SSM motors as well. We’re really pursuing a two-part strategy with A-mount — not only affordable, but also some high-performance SSM lenses as well, which are well-suited for video.”
Daniel
2 years ago |Don’t forget that much more of the people that buy a camera these day would choose full-frame if it weren’t for the high cost it implies. I’m sure that each one of the 50% that really understand phtography would love to get his(or her) hands on a camera that delivers great image quality…and believe me that there is no comparison here, no matter if we are speaking of Sony or the others.
As far as having guality lenses you must take into consideration the fact that every brand has it’s top of the line fast lenses designed for FF. That’s not mostly about aperture, it’s about usefulness of the focal lenght.
There is indeed a wide area of consumers that are going to be happy with even nexes but that kind of user will never put any effort into understanding how to work with&around shallow deapth of field on FF. Image as a stills camera maker is achieved through very decent performance on the top of the line products.
If it weren’t for the Zeiss primes and zooms and the G lenses that came with the Minolta herritage we wouldn’t be talking about Sony as a true dslr maker, would we!?
Do you hear this Sony!!?? If you build a competitive top of the line gear even if it would mean a fraction of the sales it will ensure your future, working for you in two ways…the image of the company building such quality camera’s and lenses will ensure even the entry level consumer that he is making the right choice. And a collection of lenses would make it easier for the already Sony user to stick with your system instead of another brand as long as you try to mantain o more linear policy on a long term regarding camera lines.
These days it looks to some of us that you’ve got it backwards deploying an armada of entrylevel and mid-range cameras, confusing clients that don’t have a lot of experience and neglecting camera lines such as the a700& a900/850 that have built you a name as a serious camera maker..at least only promisses that buy you time…
It’s the same as it is in your line of electronics..you want the big one with all the good stuff but settle for the more affordable smaller one that has got most of the requierments too…it’s the big boys that put your name out there and the Zeiss FF & G lenses..so you should put more interest in this in the near future!!
Ezio
2 years ago |Daniel, if you don’t have a long line of FFs and FF technology to ride on, and you had to start the design development and construction of a new line of FFs from scratch, would only having 1% of your camera sales come off of this new FF be justified for the cost you need to put into making it happen? Lots still consider A900 as a competitor to 5D / D700 and that Sony dosn’t have anything against 1D / D3S. Think about that.
acolyte
2 years ago |But Daniel, you said it for yourself. For the price. If I have to I had to choose a camera that performs 30% under for 40% the price, I’d pick the cheaper one, especially considering that most photographers (I say most general ones) has it as a hobby, is willing to spend few thousands of dollars, but not more than that. If I had to pick lens vs. camera price, I’d pick a cheaper camera for a better lens.
Sadly, most of us don’t have the luxury of getting the best of all worlds, and those are who Sony targets.
Daniel
2 years ago |No professionals would choose a cropped sensor camera compared to a 35 mm with same specs. The cost element comes second here. Meybe that’s of interest to the 95% that buy APS-C…why are there 1D’s and D3′s in more than one version and selling so well!? Becouse true professionals love true quality, simply as that. Under these you bring out the D300s&D7000 or 7D&60D and you adress both the professional audience with a backup or second, third camera and the most advanced users who have not stepped up that much or never will..where is Sony to compete with these!?! Just Sony people know. I don’t believe a word from them asside that a cropped camera’s life cycle is around 18 months. When A77 rolls out it will face the D300 and probably 7D’s succesor. Even if it appears that Sony’s lost a “generation” thy have won what they thought would be only a niche with the Nex line. Discovering it can grow to be a serious piece of the pie they have put more of their efforts in this line of cameras.
The delay to the A line is due to this large investment of resources in the mirrorless cameras. The a55&33 just happen to have come in handy becouse the company’s big interest is in exploring with the new technologies. They are creating a new market, a bold, smart move in terms of sales, to which they are adding anvanced video capabilities.
You have your answer regarding a900 lack of video and live view..the cost was to much compared to the proffit regarding sales numbers. And true professionals won’t miss video anyway!! So they put video into the cameras that would ensure large sales in the future.
Let’s face it, they are behind with the top of the line products!! What’s very important is how they make up for the lost ground and time..that’s why they make promisses of SSM lenses, to ensure us that the higher end of their line is safe. But we have to wait and see..and even if i repeat myself, they have made a nice move with the NEX line between the FF line changes.
Ali
2 years ago |Well more I hear about the A700 replacement, the less I am interested in it. Let me guess, like my A700 it is going to have bad hi iso performance, and to top it off Sony is going to add an EVF finder to it! Joy! Lets hope my frustration with my A700′s hi iso performance won’t boil over and I will not throw it into the river, before I buy a Canon of Nikon full frame! One thing I will miss, is the in body stabilization, on all of my lenses.
Milos Janata
2 years ago |And Sony is well aware of your lenses collection :]And it gives them the time because you have to become pretty frustrated before switch to CaNikon
Joel
2 years ago |Really? I recently made the switch to a Nikon D7000 after waiting a year for an A700 replacement. Let me tell you, there are many others like me who will simply leave in frustration if they dont get a model out soon to complete with the excellent 7D and D7000.
acolyte
2 years ago |Joel, an underperforming A77 would be the last push people like you’d need to move
Daniel
2 years ago |I agree with you Ezio, it is true..and yes I find myself considering the A900 as a competitor to the 5D and D700..and it does a pretty good job between ISO 100-800 when shooting raw. Not that going higher wouldn’t be safe but at low ISO I prefer it to the others..I’ve used 5D and 5D II and the mark II has some weaker points when comparing viewfinder and autofocus..it only does better with image quality from ISO 800. And the 24-70 Zeiss is better than the 24-70 L.
)
Ezio, they have some of the best lenses, they should build a few more, mostly fast long fixed focal lenght and a few cameras. There is potential…but you need to invest and have patience. They have the power being such a big company..they just have to work closely with serious photographers and journalists to better undersatnd this market. There’s a seriuos market here with constant sales..it depends on them if they are able to do something in the serious sports&action&wildlife segment as well, but there are two lines in the full feame as well.
I just hope they dont’t put an EVF in the next FF
b shaw
2 years ago |Kudos to Mark Weir for discussing their view of the market and Sony’s intent. It seems to me Sony has made great strides to improve their communication to the on-line forum community. Even if some folk don’t like the content, I appreciate their effort.
Daniel
2 years ago |Well everyone, let’s put everything together..Sony is late, late, late, late, late…and once more, yes, late…the interview we are discussing about is a marketing move towards already existing Sony DSLR users…something just saying “stay tuned”…but that’s just talk. Keep in mind that it is more aimed at feeding unofficial rumors, which sooner or later will come to life..but it is the later part i’m putting my money on:)) This unofficial discussion is due to repair their 2011 strategy first steps, becouse an official from Sony at CES said that there will be more at Photokina. In the upper DSLR line they have made no anouncement at CES so everyone waiting for more than a year for such news now felt a little bit disappointed. To ensure us and it is fair to say to keep the advanced SLR segment clients on the hook even if their patience is stretched to a maximum they said that we all are going to have a pleasant surprise…well..just talk…if they really meant anything by it they would have said something certain..this means that they are only now building the new camera..thy’ve been to busy with the NEX line, but now everything’s in Tokyo and everyone’s working together…just words..the mock up they’ve shown is just part of a strategy of hyde and seek:)) now you see it now you don’t…:)) it is most certain that the final version of the camera will look quite different due to technical requierments.
Regarding the claim that it will be of interest to proffesionals, even if i consider myself far from being an expert but being experienced enough to comment on this subject, I must say that the camera should be very, very good compared to it’s little SLT brothers, and it’s feature should be on the same level at least to those seen in Nikon D300s and Canon 7D…the camera’s most Sony A700 users are switching to if they haven’t already done so…(60D and D7000 also).
It would be interesting to know is Sony is aware of how many A700 users have sold all of their equipment lately on Ebay comitting to other producers cameras and lenses…
Back to the A77, in order to be aimed at pros it should have 100% EVF with a high level of magnification, high burst rate, more than 8 FPS with full autofocus, a very good, fast, accurate autofocus, very good mettering, very good autofocus in low light, and low light performance. It should bring much better high iso capabilities..better battery life than smaller SLTs…a two card system capable of saving JPEGS on one and raw on the other..the ability to turn in camera noise reduction off for RAWs and to leave it on for JPEGs..and a robust, weathersealed well made body…with a longer shutter life…
Milos Janata
2 years ago |What does FF offer what We can’t get out of APC?
Wider angle, better ISO performance, shallower DOF.
Looks like Sony wants to “cheat” with APC and it’s new technologies:)
1) BOKEH will be achieved even with compact cameras using double shot and will not be dependent on expensive fast lenses nor sensor size.
Imagine 5D+1.2L user being overcomed by cybershot kiddo:) This will hurt so much I can´t stop laughing. Not so funny if U already invested into expensive gear for shalow DOF…
2) LOW LIGHT ISO performance will be improved using multi-frame algorithm.
In static scene there is already several stops advantage.
3) WIDE SHOTS – take your pocket camera and make several movements around. It will capture 50 frames and those will be stitched together “on fly” in camera to create amazing wide panoramic photo(also in 3d}. Again, it will probably have some issues with movement in scene.
This is why I think Sony is moving towards APC and I am a little bit sad about it, because it can’t substitute real FF camera in every aspect.
On the other hand 1000$ camera will include a lot of FF goodness.
HOPEFULLY VERY SOON!
hanugro
2 years ago |If they sell A77 for $999 or less than I will buy it. Or a cheap plastic FF if it is about the same price. But dSLT is the thing I really want to try. Don’t want to buy A55 because the batt is not good for my shooting style.
acolyte
2 years ago |I tried it. If you played with A700, A55 is actually quite annoying it some aspect in terms of usability. Results are good, but I’m not comfortable with the camera..
Daniel
2 years ago |Yeah, right…these features are for amateur camreas…they don’t work in real life as well as they sound…there’s no substitute for one good exposure…you don’t have to merge 5 shots together to come with more detail in the final output, you just need a good high ISO capability. Not all your subjects will be static you know…some of them will be on the move, not to say on the run.
Let’s not forget that the A77 is targeted towards a more demanding client, on that might want to relly more on getting the job done fast. Sometimes you need high ISO even in good light, when you want to freeze the action(fast moving subjects).
Trust me when I say so, there’s no real substitute for FF&quality lenses. There’s a lot to consider with a larger sensor…more light hits that sensor so that means more info, more color, better color rendering, more information for each pixel to ensure better quality & high res images. It’s not all about shallow DOF..there are times when you need more DOF and have to work with smaller aperture on FF in order to get everything in focus. Let’s put things apart and leave the FF for now…bottom line, we need to see a seriously good camera in the autumn(it wont hit the stores anytime sooner, it takes several months just to run tests for components, software and do any tweaking if necesary)…you just need to understand that this big company, electronics giant, just needs to buy more time.
True, they’ve hit a home run with the NEX, creating a market of their own with a DSLR like camera(sensor mostly) adressing a wide area of consumers with a new concept, but it’s an entire different story with the Alpha series..they are not alone…it’s no virgin teritory there..so they need to build up experience and buy back some of the confidence they have lost with their costumers, the advanced enthuziasts and pros.
acolyte
2 years ago |Hey Daniel, can you not use the new post too much and use the Reply button? I know you like to post long posts, but it makes it hard to read if we use a Tree View for reading. And you’ve been repeating the same thing over and over again. We got your point, but you can help by making it a tiny bit easier for us to read the discussion^^
And remember, the advanced enthusiasts and pros.. sadly.. is a less significant part of the market. Even if they give advice to the new users, the even newer users that watches TV gets pulled by NEX more.
Canikon are mainly using word of mouth to spread the news of their greatness.
Sony knows they can’t beat them in this, so they market it better.
rt3
2 years ago |i hope this so called “a700″/850/900 (but not so much on FF) successor is coming out very very soon. i am a wedding photographer on weekends and i need another camera for back up and have considered d7000 as it is becoming available in the next month or so, right before the April weddings start. i know Sony monitors blogs and i hope they see this message as i would be one other customer that’s moving to non-Sony equipment because of frustration.
Daniel
2 years ago |Why on earth would anyone produce a low quality body with FF sensor!?
) That’s one crazy thought..but really, Sony’s croped A77 might be a little bit expensive at first, I don’t see it under $1000. If it wiil be a serious tool with a magnezium alloy outher body like its predecesor it won’t be cheap…but it will be more important to be wll built, it’ll last more, who knows how long it wiil take to meet its succesor…:))
Daniel
2 years ago |Look, Sony, there goes another one!!
) What is your main camera for weedings? I find myself in the same spot, looking for a second camera…
acolyte
2 years ago |weedings? Why would you want to use camera to weed? o_O
Most of the time an A700 and a 24-70 and a 70-200 do good enough for me in weddings
rt3
2 years ago |acolyte. i agree. since i have 80-200 2.8 minolta, it is my long range. 28-75 2.8 minolta (need to replace though), 35 1.8, 50 1.7 and 30 2.8 macro for small details works. that is why i need another camera so i do not have to change lenses all the time or move back or forward to compensate.
rt3
2 years ago |for now, i use a700 with combinations of Minolta Primes and Sony. i just started last year and it seems it is picking up this year so i have to get another one. but still waiting, also i am considering a850 but i want a video capability (just to have a all-in-one “couldn’t hurt, y’know”). my partner uses a Nikon and urges me to switch but i’m hanging on. i just hope not too long.
Steve
2 years ago |Are we seeing the death of the full-frame?
The current group of Pro full-frame camera’s from Nikon, Canon and Sony are all now two plus years old right?
Sony’s tells us not to expect anything soon
Has anyone anounced a new full-frame camera?
acolyte
2 years ago |Nah, it’s not the death, just not enough new technologies to make enough designers feel it’s worth to make new technologies yet.
Remember though, with the A77 coming, it means the new sensors are in place. The designers and developers are already developing, but it takes a few years since they first started to market them.
Daniel
2 years ago |No, guys..thete are a couple of reasons for a slower movement in the FF league. I don’t see anyone bringing anything new, the cameras out on the market are still selling well and very capable, and have longer phisical life time due to very good build quality. They each have their fans, users, whatever…the most important investment is in lenses…the cameras are very, very capable regarding image quality and the purposes that they serve. So they don’t become updated so fast…they serve a dedicated purpose mainly, and the owners of FF don’t feel the need to change cameras so often simply becouse they are a lot better than APS-Cs. There’s no new gadgetry to steal you away from your old love ant throw you in the arms of a new lover here. Romances last longer here and the kids(lenses) keep it all together.
It’s a much more mature “family”…one that has more ways to keep you committed…divorces here are unlikely to happen…FF cameras and owners mate for life:)) (you stay with the same manufacturer).
Steve
2 years ago |that’s how I feel
to replace my good Minolta/Sony/Zeiss glass with Nikon or Canon it would cost me around $10,000.
Bodys are cheap
Lenses are investments that I keep for years.
I don’t want a divorce, but I do need Sony to take care of my needs or I’ll have no choice.
If the a77 is as good as Sony wants us to believe it is, I will add it to my kit as a second camera(maybe first) while Sony develops a new “pro” series to replace the 850/900 class FF bodys.
rob
2 years ago |Snapping the mirror is all what they can afford.
Houckster
2 years ago |FROM MARK WEIR WE HAVE THIS: I think it comes as no surprise that many of the models that really are attracting the attention of many enthusiast, semi-pro and even professional users these days are no longer full-frame, but rather the very, very top-end of the APS-C line-ups that are being created. ….This has led to longer life cycles for full-frame cameras
_____
Earlier this year we learned that Zeiss is no longer going to be developing lenses for APS-C for the APS-C format.
This seems a very sad thing. While my Tamron lenses do produce very nice images, the Zeiss 16-18 that I have is my principle go-to lens surpassing my Sony 18-250. Even at the relatively low 12MP level of A700, I still get very good quality images. It would be wonderful to see, for example, a Zeiss 18-250/4. It might cost like the blazes but when 80-90% of the images I take are within the 16-250 range, the cost might seem worthwhile. Of course, I’d not be sad to see a 10-24/3.5 ultra wide from them either.
We have all seen that advancing technology has produced more and more megapixels in a given area and it seems that with the 24MP sensor with its low noise levels that we’ve heard about, that the APS-C format is fully capable of producing competitive quality to the FF format at a far lower cost.
Once can only hope that Zeiss sees the error or their ways or, failing that, we see some Sony G lenses for the APS-C format.