Sony interview at AP. 36MP FF and an interchangeable RX1 alike camera are a “possibility”.
Amateur Photographer posted an interview made with Toru Katsumoto and Tetsuya Numata from Sony. Here are some interesting info:
- They recognize that many people love the optical viewfinder and this is true especially for full-frame products. But Sony believes the EVF technology is better and the future.
- The very interesting info is that Sony confessed that they didn’t use the 36 million pixels sensor because “we couldn’t do 60p video or produce the same sensitivity levels“. De facto they confirm the Nikon D800 sensor is made by them! They also add: “When the technology improves we can increase the pixels.”
- When asked if there will be a Higher than A99 FF model they answer: “It is a possibility“.
- Sony ddint’ opt for the XQD cards because it “consumes a lot of power“.
- When asked if the RX1 could eventually be redesigned as an interchangeable lens camera they answer again: “It is a possibility“. One more thing about the RX1: Sony has no plan yet to make a RX1 wide angle or telephoto adapter.
Editor’s note: There are three Key PRO FF products Sony has to work on:
1) An entry level FF: The Nikon D600 is now in Stock at Amazon and already back on top of the ranking (see here). There is definitely a market for a $2000 SLT FF camera!
2) A high end Photographic centered High Megapixel camera: While the A99 is an almost perfect hybrid camera there is still some room for a more photographer oriented High Megapixel camera a la Nikon D800.
3) An interchangeable FF camera styled like the RX1 would have no competition on the market (I do not count the over expensive Leica M cameras).
–
A99 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
A99 with kit lens links Alphacameradeals.
RX1 Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Wex Germany Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 with kit lens Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex Uk ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG900 Amazon, BHphoto, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, Wex Uk and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG30 Adorama, Amazon, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 16-50mm Amazon, Adorama, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals .
Sony E-mount 35mm Amazon, Adorama, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 10-18mm Amazon, Adorama, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony A-mount 300mm f/2.8 Amazon, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH.
zane
9 months ago |1st…gold medal again!!!!
phew…its been a while.
but seriously…roll on an ILC RX1
Bear
9 months ago |2nd
Linton5zero
9 months ago |At least they knew the 36MP sensor wasn’t upto their tech standard for quality video work, but, like he said a 36MP sensor could be a possibility for next year. I think they’ll crack it sooner and realize, well instead of 36MP, we’ll skip that and jump straight into 40MP or even The Platinum of a Max 50MP on a 35MM sensor, not that 80% of the Pro Photographers in the world would EVER need that, but knowing sony…….
Lonnie Utah
9 months ago |Then scrap video, (which most of us don’t need anyway), and give me 36MP!
Marek
9 months ago |Then there would be complains about bad ISO sensitivity when compared do NIKON. I think they have to wait for faster processor too.
Rolleiflex
9 months ago |LOL, would I care if it doesn’t have that “left field” issue of the D800? Seriously, people getting the 36MP should be more sensible with the ISO performance. You get it to shoot in a studio or good light, not to shoot in a nightclub (they don’t really that even the D800 would look crappy in that settings compared to other lower MP since the high MP would exaggerate any blurriness). What is there to consider whether to release the NEX FF? People are screaming for it. They need to look at the Leica M sale, it would exceed any previous Leica camera. And that is a $7k camera. They don’t need any native FF NEX lens at the moment. Just release the damn thing and they will see a nice sale figure (then half year down the road, release a few essential lenses). /ranting off
George Evans
9 months ago |@ Lonnie. I’ll second getting rid of the video. I’ve had the A77 for nearly a year and only used the video by accident.
Carl
9 months ago |“A possibility” probably means to say that neither product is close to shipping.
Sony’s A-mount division need to stop being so cautious. Simply making a camera a little better than the last one won’t get them anywhere. Make that square sensored camera. Come out with a lens no one else has. Make the smallest full frame DSLR ever. Mix things up a bit. When your point and shoot and camcorder divisions are coming out with more exciting photographic products than your SLR division, it’s a sign for concern.
Dave Cox
9 months ago |I refuse to believe that the RX100 and RX1 were developed with no input from Sony’s DSLR division. It just makes no sense.
Also, I’m starting to believe that the people buying A77, A99, etc are 99% a band of loyal Sony ‘upgraders’. They need to really ‘change the game’ for Canikon sheep to become interested. A FF ILC is an absolute must for Sony to survive. The RX1 is a great first step in my humble opinion and there is absolutely no way that the DSLR division could not be involved – the 2 products are unstoppable converging!!
Carl
9 months ago |Input, sure, but Sony suffers badly from empire building and internal turf wars. It’s not like all their various consumer and professional photo/video/cinematography divisions share the sandpit nicely with each other.
John Maverick
9 months ago |lets hope the NEX division stakes out the ff mirrorless option then. Just the prestige value would be a huge marketing coup.
Sky_walker
9 months ago |AFAIK A99 was the smallest FF DSLR ever… for like: 1 day.
vladimir at byazrov.com
9 months ago |there is no way a mp war is over. i guess in the nearest future we’ll get 50-60 mp 35mm cameras. I already want one.
WeeSam
9 months ago |I have the D800 and with the proper lenses { a lot more than you might imagine} the extra detail is excellent. Another advantage is the extra detail allows for NR while still retaining more detail than a lower MP model. Considering that some of the mFT cameras are at 16+ mp there is a lot of room in FF
RVN
9 months ago |very sadly sony don’t plan to make RX1 wide/tele conventer lens adapter >.<
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |bet others do though
RVN
9 months ago |yes, fuji x100 has do that with wide and tele conventer lens, sony should do that because RX1 is not interchangeable camera with limited capability range lens
dyna
9 months ago |They’d have to be damn incredible adapters to be worth putting on that 35 f/2, man. I don’t think I’ll trust the knock-offs either. Real, quality adapters for the RX1 would be $500 apiece or more. I realize the cost of the camera means that it’s a priority that the individual buying it will have the funds for such a creature but, historically, that doesn’t mean they buy them.
Jerome
9 months ago |Well, I belong to the full frame users who love the optical viewfinder and I don’t believe that the EVF technology is better for all. I tried the new EVF in the NEX 7, and I don’t want it in a full frame SLR. I see the use for video and for some photographers, but not for me. And it certainly is not comparable to the viewfinder of the A900.
If Mr. Katsumoto from Sony is interested in my reaction about their policy, it was to buy a Nikon D800 two months ago. Today, the choice would be even easier with the D600 which is cheaper than the A77 and does all I need. It is pure arrogance to “know that some customers love the OVF” but still decide that Sony knows better than them what is a better system. It is my privilege as a customer to decide what is a better system for me.
What Mr. Katsumoto from Sony is effectively telling us is that they don’t need the customers who do not agree with their policy. We’ll see how it turns out, but I resent that as corporate arrogance.
Now, having tried the Nikon, I still prefer Sony lenses and ergonomics, so if they change their mind about the “SLT only” policy, I may be back.
Dave Cox
9 months ago |What a great comment! If only Sony could listen to their customers! Keeping them is hard enough but enticing converts is such a different ball game.
Jerome
9 months ago |Thank you.
Unfortunately, I don’t have high hope that Sony will listen to their customers. Corporate arrogance is what brought them down in more than one market. With portable music players or cell phones, Sony also decided that they knew better than their customers what they should want. The rest is history.
The parallel with portable music players is actually frightening. Sony was number 1 and invented the walkman. Then they decided that the “better technology” was not CD burners, mp3 and SD cards but minidiscs, wma and memory stick. At the same time, Sony also marketed their walkman as “fashion statement” for the hipsters, which is just what we see today with the Hasselblad branded NEX 7…
Dave Cox
9 months ago |True, true and true again. All we can hope is that Sony learned from it’s mistakes.
I hope so anyway. For me the A77 is somewhat of a ‘flawed genius’. More than perfect is some ways but shockingly inadequate in others. Frustrating yet fantastic! I will no doubt buy the A99 but I am a fool and even my foolishness has it’s boundaries!!
Jerome
9 months ago |If you buy the A99, you will vote for their policy with your checkbook.
dyna
9 months ago |Jerome: if you buy a D600 or a D800, you’re still paying Sony and rewarding them for their work. To them it’s all dollars. Doesn’t matter how they get it. Sell your phone, get rid of your computer and your car. Start hand washing and drying your clothes. If you don’t want Sony to get your money, it’s time to get earthen.
kebo
9 months ago |just keep in mind that there are also customers that wants the evf instead of ovf.. maybe an option for both? =)
Atlasman
9 months ago |Sony needs to listen to Canikon customers! They don’t have enough customers of their own, that’s the problem.
If they keep listening to the existing base, all they are gonna here is keep on developing for legacy.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |I had a few issues with the N7 too, and thought all EVF was the same. But then tried a77 and it is better, very nice actually. Not because the EVF was better, but because the Optical Lens in the viewfinder to see it with was much better. Easier to see entire view without smearing edges. More forgiving to not having eye perfectly centered.
Jerome
9 months ago |I understand what you mean, but my issue with the NEX 7 is not the lens. I don’t need a very high eye point (I think that is the technical term for the difference between the A77 and the NEX 7).
My issues are linked to the technology of the EVF itself. For example, I have very good vision (over 15/10) and I can clearly see the pixels in the NEX 7. I find the limited dynamic range and refresh rate disturbing. I don’t want anything overlaid on my picture. I have very good night vision and see in the OVF better than in the EVF at night. Etc…
All this is just me and I am ready to admit that other people will actually prefer the EVF. I just don’t.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |I tend to agree. I too can see the pixels. But I’m not speaking of High Eye Point (or whatever it is). I mean the quality of the ocular magnifier that one sees the EVF with. It’s the difference in using a fine Schneider Lupe vs a cheap eBay lupe. The quality of the magnifier makes a huge difference. Though I expected the a77 and N7 to be identical… they were not.
Alas… the biggest Sony news for me is all the great deals on slightly used a900′s that are out there. That’s the best buy in the entire photo industry right now.
Chad
9 months ago |Jerome,
SONY has made a bold calculation based on their view of where photographic tech is heading and I for one, think they are correct. As an A900 owner and film shooter of many classic larger format cameras with great optical viewfinders, I’m with you in that love of a great optical view but I also see the writing on the wall as SONY did.
The EVF is where Canon and Nikon will arrive in the future, SONY is just taking us there first. There are simply too many benefits to a well implemented EVF and the downsides will continue to diminish with each new generation of product.
Wayne summers
9 months ago |so true I finally went full frame for less than 1,200 with a body that was almost new and was able to get a 135 cz for 1,100.
Tom Fleming
9 months ago |I remember YOU, Jerome. Even with the prices OUT you still have the D600 ($2100) being cheaper than a77 ($1300). Facts just don’t bother your conclusion-mechanism.
You can fondly hold onto OVF over EVF, but Sony has been clear that EVF is the future.
In a collegial way, understand that I am not as committed to SLT, but completely committed to EVF.
dyna
9 months ago |Purists down the road will laugh at nostalgic camera releases having an optical viewfinder, chuckling at the novelty stating “Man, I can’t believe people ever shot successfully with one of these.”
The ability to see it all live, at high speed, with histograms and access to all functions at eye level EASILY trumps the OVF and its limited scope of brighter-in-the-daytime-unusable-at-night ideal. And I wear glasses that are corrected for 20/400 or thereabouts. And for the dude up there with superhuman vision:
1.) You can’t have 15/10 eyesight, that doesn’t even exist. You could have 20/10 or 20/15, perhaps, but in either case you are in the extreme minority. Hence what works for your needs has the potential to work for very few other people, regardless of your arguments.
2.) Peaking and magnified manual focus through a high resolution EVF absolutely destroys what we’re able to optically. The fact that EVF technology is only getting better is going to further seal this fact.
I shoot a lot of sports: track and field, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, stunt snowmobiling. The much ballyhooed “blackout issue” is a non-player. It is quite easy to track a moving subject while shooting with the A77. Quite.
Much like the mechanical shutter and the mirror, the prism is going away, people. Suck it up and deal. I can tell you that, at our camera store, the moms and dads and modern youth choose the EVF based SLT product at a 2:1 clip right now. Because of this, our store levels of Sony SLT product have had to triple in response, and now mirror Canon in on site supply.
Sony gambled and the people are buying. That’s just how it is. I’m sorry it doesn’t fit with your paradigm.
Sony is the only company in the past 2 years to have shown a clear path and for their product line. So they haven’t been as fast as some like in releasing that product. More for the whining non-fanbase to bitch about. We’ve seen what happens when product gets rushed. The D800 and 5DMkIII had serious first gen problems. The T4i got recalled. Do you really want speed? Or do you want reliability. Hell even the A77 needed 1.05 to finally get where it’s at… but the EOS 7D and its 11 firmware upgrades should prove that “traditional” product have plenty to deal with.
Comparing the D600, a rehashed D7000 with a fullframe sensor, to an A99 is f#@#ing asinine. And anyone who knows cameras knows this. The D600 doesn’t replace either the D300s or the D700. No, it’s a new breed of consumer grade camera. Canon’s embarrassment of a 6D with its four year old architecture grosses us out even more. The A99 is designed to be used professionally and has the speed and video capability to be as versatile, if not moreso, than either the D800 or 5DMkIII…
Neither the new entry FF models can compete with the A99. The price is nice but the corners cut to get them there are not.
The D600 will outsell the A99 but that doesn’t make it a better product. It makes it a cheaper Nikon branded product. That’s all. Nothing to be ashamed of but also no big deal, either. I’ll sell one to my entry hobbyists looking for the first full frame camera and who have zero intention in buying the best glass they can… and I’ll sell the A99 to my hobbyists looking for a vastly more versatile, weather sealed camera, with better design and customization, who are looking to either go professional eventually or want to be able to shoot as many different genres successfully as possible. Those things and others not mentioned but very much included are worth $700. Easily.
Rolleiflex
9 months ago |Dyna, well-crafted counter point.
Jerome
9 months ago |“You can’t have 15/10 eyesight, that doesn’t even exist.”
Eyesight is measured in different units in different parts of the world. What it means is that I see 50% better than the average person, I don’t know how it is expressed where you live.
“Much like the mechanical shutter and the mirror, the prism is going away, people.”
Only in the mind of Sony fanboys.
These and the corollary that the EVF is bound to improve exponentially are completely unsubstantiated claims, disproven by recent history. What is more likely to be is that the DSLR mirror and prism are likely to stay with us for a long time and that the EVF is unlikely to improve much beyond its present point.
Just in case you had not noticed: Canon, Nikon or Pentax have not announced any move towards EVF systems and the EVF of the A99 is the same as the one of the A77. It is not that Sony is the forerunner in a new innovative technology, it is that Sony is imposing us the technology that they prefer. Apparently, because they believe that video is where their future lies.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“Purists down the road will laugh at nostalgic camera releases having an optical viewfinder…”
Like they do with rangefinders? View Cameras? They’ll probably laugh at Tilt/Shift too, since that can be done in software. And what caveman needs good bokeh when it can be done in post?
Funny how they use modern EVF but still use strap lugs and tripod mounting from the early 1900′s.
saiman
9 months ago |LOL… right, to these purists a smartphone camera with instagram is the future.
Gabriel
9 months ago |I don’t think the viewfinder is a matter of argumentation, they decided which technologies goes in and which don’t, consumers just have to decide what they want, its a free market with lots of options. In my opinion what a viewfinder does is display the image you’re going to capture and frame it, the way it looks on it is irrelevant since as a photographer you don’t rely on the perception or the real world image, but on the effects a shutter speed and aperture combination is going to apply to the captured image, along with the lighting setup. What a photographer do rely on is in light metering instruments like flash-meters or the in-camera exposure meter. The viewfinder is merely for framing and composing, but if you can throw in a lot of useful information like horizon leveling, live histogram and other stuff you couldn’t get with an OVF and that actually helps to determine how that image is going to end up by data interpretation (not visual perception), then if you ask me, an EVF is an improvement over OVF. Technology isn’t going to stop progressing, someday all we know today is going to be very different and all we can do is adapt and learn how to use the new technologies.
Jerome
9 months ago |“What a photographer do rely on is in light metering instruments like flash-meters or the in-camera exposure meter. The viewfinder is merely for framing and composing”
I think that this sentence is a perfect summary of what the discussion is about. For me, photography is not about measuring light so as to come to a technically faultless photograph. For me, photography is about framing and composing.
Stef.
9 months ago |Well, was that not Steve Job’s attitude with Apple products? Did he not say that he did not care about market research as he was the one telling the consumer what they want? Was he not very successful with his way of thinking?
Stef.
Gabriel
9 months ago |That is exactly what I mean…
LightbulbIT
9 months ago |You have this luxury when you are the only game in the market. You are automatically #1. This is not the case here.
(BTW, I agree with EVF decision. I think the OVF people who are complaining are failing to realize that technology only gets BETTER. What is inadequate now will only get better in the future.)
saiman
9 months ago |+1 Jerome…. Thank you for voicing the opinions of a huge segment.. simple and to the point.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“… Sony confessed that they didn’t use the 36 million pixels sensor because “we couldn’t do 60p video or produce the same sensitivity levels“.
CONFIRMATION that the stills photographer is hindered by the video capability.
All you toads that say “Just turn it off… The video doesn’t hurt anything”… Go suck an egg.
DON”T HAVE TO MAKE EVERY CAMERA FOR VIDEO! Jeez, Create an a90 43mp stills camera without video please.
Carl
9 months ago |Or they could have just limited it to 24p.
Lonnie Utah
9 months ago |^^^ This x 1,000,000!
Jerome
9 months ago |“Even with the prices OUT you still have the D600 ($2100) being cheaper than a77 ($1300).”
I mistyped A77 while I meant A99. It seems that other readers corrected themselves.
john
9 months ago |Do you really need to print at 4×6 feet?
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |Yes, at times. I’ve a number of museum, gallery, and restaurant displays. I have 54″, 44″, 17″, 13″ printers in house. I do it for myself and others… mounting, framing, canvas stretching. I’d like some big mega-pixels.
Here’s one I printed for Keith…
www – dot – camstl.org/exhibitions/main-gallery/keith-piper-crusade/
LightbulbIT
9 months ago |I can understand your frustration, but a camera without video simply WILL NOT SELL to the mass market. No matter how much people use it (or need it), it is a BIG checkbox that won’t be filled and will eliminate the camera for alot of people. I believe they are actually trying a strategy such as this for things like the RX-1, a specialist camera with a specialist price. Some people will buy the RX-1, but it is too expensive and too limiting for most. Same for a videoless camera. If Nikon and Canon have a feature, Sony better too. Sony wanted to be #1 in something and that could be a differentiator (for things like slow motion, etc.) for them. Nikon has lots of other cameras that can shoot that and a bigger mindshare for cameras. They decided to take the lower framerate route and tout the 36MP (and more noise). Sony sided with Canon (the biggest camera manufacturer). In this instance, you can’t have it both ways. They just picked a side, that’s all.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“…a camera without video simply WILL NOT SELL to the mass market…”
Clear that Sony isn’t only concerned with “mass market” with $13,000.00 lenses and a $3,000.00 pocket full frame. Leica, Hassy, Pentax, Rollie have all found niche with Still Purists. Too bad they don’t accept my glass.
Dave
9 months ago |I will look at the 99, but I am a true believer in the giant optical viewfinder school. If they make that happen, I am in like flynn!
Dave
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |Spot on… We want a 43mp a909Ti… Just a titanium rework of the a900 with upgraded chip, processor, and NO VIDEO to hamper the stills purist.
BMan
9 months ago |I agree Clyde!
Only one thing to add.
I love my A850, and a better sensor in the same body would be my replacement for it when it eventually goes under, but (there’s always a but)I also use(d) an A55 and A500 and I got to say that the tilt screen coupled with liveview is a *very* good addition when walking about. Even in MF mode it’s awesome for non-moving stuff, but if the new sensor would have a PDAF on board, even better!
Sony, are you listening?!
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |Can’t argue with a tilt screen live view. Perhaps an EVF “Option” for the new hot shoe. That’d be fab… an OVF standard with EVF plug in option.
Patrick
9 months ago |But what about a 50mm RX2? or a 24mm RX3?
These would have been better questions because Sigma has successfully sold both versions of their DP cameras.
Ok, not the same price point, but no FF and no Zeiss and no fast lens either…
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |I wouldn’t encourage this. Otherwise they’ll see the profit in camera/lens combos only. Every time you want a new lens, you gotta buy a camera with it. And yes Sigma did it… but not at $3G a pop.
Rolleiflex
9 months ago |And it ain’t FF either. Nonetheless, that would be a bad strategy to go the Rolleiflex TLR way. The market for such is extremely niche.
Robin Edgar
9 months ago |“- They recognize that many people love the optical viewfinder and this is true especially for full-frame products. But Sony believes the EVF technology is better and the future.”
I see no reason, other than cost factors, why Sony cannot produce a hybrid viewfinder that combines EVF technology with a traditional optical viewfinder. Certainly this could be done in higher end models of Alpha & NEX cameras.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |Sony made it clear in previous rumors they care more about new customers than existing ones.
“We recognize you like it… So you recognize we ain’t givin’ it…”
Jerome
9 months ago |“I see no reason, other than cost factors, why Sony cannot produce a hybrid viewfinder”
Well, cost is a valid argument. If Sony would come forward and say “we don’t have the market size to justify developing a hybrid viewfinder system”, it is a reasonable argument. If Sony would come forward and say “we can’t keep two lines of full frame product and still make a profit”, it is a reasonable argument.
But they don’t say that. They say “we know some customers like the OVF”, but we think that the EVF is a better product, so we don’t make an OVF”.
John Maverick
9 months ago |If you want a OVF then buy a fuju xpro. Seriously. Sony are an electronics company, and should go in the direction of their strength.
Right now, a basic FF ILC, with EFV peaking would probably take half of Leica’s market. And it could use e-mount lenses in crop mode, and a-mount lenses where size isn’t a concern and be marketed under the NEX brand.
Jerome
9 months ago |I had the occasion to test it and the OVF of the Fuji X-pro1 is surprisingly bad. I would strongly suggest any prospective buyer to try it beforehand.
emopunk
9 months ago |How true! I tried it and the results were… well.. below my expectancies!
john
9 months ago |Half of Leica’s market would be what…5000 units?
ArendF
9 months ago |Quote – The very interesting info is that Sony confessed that they didn’t use the 36 million pixels sensor because “we couldn’t do 60p video or produce the same sensitivity levels“.
Is there anyone else who thinks that all this emphasis on video is crap. I get paid to take pictures. If I would get paid to take video I would use a video camera.
JW
9 months ago |Man, possibility my ass. Just release the damn RX1 ILC next year. Cut the crap
Steve
9 months ago |If this guy does actually know something he was not about to say anything, not while Photokina is going on and not to AP.
The a99 looks promising, beyond say that I will wait to see a shipping product review before making a judgment. But we have been here before, in fact, we are here after every new camera is released wondering. Wondering if or when lenses the equal to the bodies’weather sealing will come along, wondering when or even if Sony will replace old Minolta lenses that were old Minolta lenses back in 2006 when Sony acquired them from Minolta.
Sony more so than Canon, or Nikon needs to telegraph to the marketplace anyway it can that it will produce a higher MP full-frame and it will produce a truly mirrorless full-frame and it will support its products with lenses equal to the high quality of its cameras and supply firmware updates as needed up to and even past the products shelf life even if the new firmware fails to fix or satisfy everyone’s hopes and dreams for the product.
Sony needs to just do more than Canon or Nikon, in everything if it has any hope to close the sells gap.
Saber
9 months ago |It’s refreshing that Sony finally has something viable to say regarding the continued mystery surrounding the A99 design. In particular I was pleased to read the explanation for the exclusion of the XQD cards. I still believe an OFV would have been a better a way to go on the A99 while allowing the development of EFV to mature to higher state. I don’t really need a new camera body but if the OVF had been retained, I may well have ordered one anyway.
Rodrigo
9 months ago |Are we still in the OVF/EVF deabte?
SONY is not going to produce an OVF camera, period. There is not even the hint of a possibility, nothing, nada, zilch.
Whatever the benefits of the OVF, SONY has decided to bet on EVF all their chips, even hinting at an OVF would chill sales. If you’re waiting for an OVF, go somewhere else, not SONY.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“There is not even the hint of a possibility, nothing, nada, zilch.”
That’s what I tell my kids when they ask for stuff I don’t think they need.
Usually, after repeated asking, I’ll give it to them… Because I love them.
Let’s remember that nobody ever asked for EVF.
Sony just put it on our plate and said “Eat it or die”. Doesn’t hurt to ask for ice cream every once in a while. Won’t get it if we don’t ask.
And believe me, I’d consider going “somewhere else” if Nikon could mount my huge Alpha lens collection. It’s just not that simple to change systems.
Jerome
9 months ago |“If you’re waiting for an OVF, go somewhere else”
This is exactly the kind of arrogant attitude we are criticizing. Sony has loyal customers from the Minolta times and tells them to go somewhere else…
Guess what: we will.
Rolleiflex
9 months ago |Calling others arrogant because they can’t conform to your need is arrogance in and of itself. Is it that same elitist sentiment to think that EVF can’t never replace your OVF? And just because you called yourself a loyal customer doesn’t mean much in my book. I’m not loyal to any of these camera companies, since they’re just tools for me. Every camera brand has its own pros and cons. If you can’t live with the EVF, please just move on to other OVF camera. Sony has already spent enough R&D cost on EVF and their manufacturing lines are no longer making any OVF. So now, they should just spend more to get back the few so-called “loyalists” as you? And shame on you to call yourself such and at the same time trying to rally others to abandon the company. Last time I checked, we called that a traitorous act. But what do I know? I don’t call myself a loyal customer, so I can come and leave whenever I want without spreading propaganda.
dyna
9 months ago |Precisely. When Canon changed their mount from FD to EF, the death cries were wide and loud. “How dare they? After all I have invested?? I’m switching brands!!”
Sighhh it truly never changes. And the “loyal” Minolta customers abandoned Minolta years ago because Minolta was a bit late to the DSLR party.
Rolleiflex is correct: these things are tools, man. You know, it’s funny, I’ve had the pleasure of working with or being instructed by some pretty serious photographers. Nearly all of them had two brands or more in their kit. Because, you know, versatility. Not effing loyalty.
Sony is leading the charge and if you don’t think that’s the case, I’ll ask you why
Canon and Nikon keep following Sony’s releases with cameras that attempt to emulate what Sony’s offering. When Nikon goes EVF, which they most certainly will, what will people say then? That once again Nikon evolves as only they can, if the picture matters the EVF matters?
Now THAT’S something I can totally make.believe.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“Can’t conform…”… or Won’t?
“And just because you called yourself a loyal customer doesn’t mean much in my book.”
I don’t read your book. Customer loyalty means something, everything. It’s First Principle Business 101. Have you ever run a business. Certainly Sony would have it easier if CaNikon Togs weren’t so “loyal” to their brands.
Rolleiflex
9 months ago |Obviously, you’re mistaken between actually offering competent products so that people would keep buying and banking on the name and the fickle loyalty of a few individuals to get sale. Canikon pro shooters are staying with their brands because of the huge investment they already made (not because of the silly OVF), the competent pro support service (again not because of the silly OVF), and the lens selection that fits their need (… not the silly OVF). It is you projecting your “loyalty” mentality into others. And don’t just sling around that so called “loyalty” when you can just get up and leave whenever you want; obviously, I don’t see any “strong feeling of support and allegiance” from you or Mr. Jerome. Now, if you just outright say that Sony can’t meet your need and thus you leave the brand, then I would be fine with that.
BJ
9 months ago |Sony’s pretty adamant with their EVF. As arrogant as it may be, you should just go elsewhere if you don’t like it.
Jerome
9 months ago |“When Canon changed their mount from FD to EF, the death cries were wide and loud. “How dare they? After all I have invested?? I’m switching brands!!”
I lived that time and the parallel is interesting. Canon and Minolta took a terrible dip when they changed their mount and regaining market share took them lots of effort. Minolta actually never managed to gain the pro market they were aiming at with cameras like the 9000. And Nikon took another route, kludging their mount to keep compatibility.
Can Sony afford to lose some of their full frame customers? If the answer is yes, why did they continue with the A-mount in the first place?
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |“…silly OVF…” is a funny irony from one named Rolleiflex.
CTPhotographX.com
9 months ago |Jerome: “Sony has loyal customers from the Minolta times and tells them to go somewhere else…”
Right… Personally, I’m with Sony because they took the Minolta torch. No other reason whatsoever. And the further they stray from “The Mind of Minolta”… the more likely I am to leave… like a rat from a sinking ship.
Carl
9 months ago |The Canon and Nikon design philosophy is too different from the Minolta one. Where else is there to go? Micro Four Thirds? Leica? Ultimately Minolta’s niche was was too small and the people left at the end of their corporate incompetence too few to convince Sony to stay the path. Sony’s photo business is run more like the successor state to Yashica these days, not Minolta.
Harv
9 months ago |Don’t forget there ARE people loving EVF’s. I couldn’t go back to the old OVF: in relative darkness I feel totally blind. An EVF shows thing the bare eye can’t see. Makes image composition in bad light conditions so much easier. And no, I can’t see pixels – because I’m not looking for them, I’m looking for an image
Saber
9 months ago |Debate? Here I was thinking this forum was open to anyone wishing to voice a perspective, and not simply to subscribe to a Kool-Aid style demographic.
dyna
9 months ago |Funny. I recall Olympus and Panasonic and Sony having turned the market entirely on its ear these past few years simply by not drinking the same Koolaid that Nikon and Canon have been pouring, with little to no innovation, for the past twenty years.
chenfie
9 months ago |Ahh many moaners or ovf lovers here must be canoners, or canoners in disguise
Tristan
9 months ago |if these management people says ‘posibility’, it should mean the product is under development.
Marlon Richardson
9 months ago |I think a higher end model for Sony wouldn’t result in a 36MP model because it would not have any improvements in performance. I could see an entry level model with lower specs that features the 36MP sensor, that would make sense. As is, the A99 competes well with the D800 and 5d3 right now. It has many things that they do not have right now. The D600/6D don’t beat the A900, D800, or 5d3 at anything.
I higher performance model that could top the A99 would have have to compete with Nikon and Canons flagship cameras which are the D4 and 1dx. These camera’s have decreased the MP count in order to improve performance in other areas. A 16MP model could likely could shoot 10fps or higher, lead in ISO performance, and have an integrated grip.
C
9 months ago |They didn’t do it because they agreed with Nikon that they wouldn’t. Also, due to the mirror it would have worse performance so realising them simultaneously and having worse image quality would be a disaster. At least by waiting they can use some technological improvements to at least give the D800 image quality level.
JonasM
9 months ago |@admin: why no post on the upcoming Leica
M camera!? It’s so obviously using a Sony 24mpix sensor, a Sony EVF and Sony LiveView! RX1 will then be the cheapest Leica ever
Or something on the IPhone 5 using Sony’s Sweep Panorama…
admin
9 months ago |Because It’s a sensor made by a Belgium company!!!
DalaaBachoPhotography
9 months ago |I believe in Sony as a whole and quite often Sony thinks too far in advance… A lot of times they create something that the market is just not quite ready for and there are times when they hit the nail on the head squarely… I like the SLT, but I too favor my A900 over all… I do understand the idea and concept of being able to see what you are capturing BEFORE you capture… There is no replacement for the vast amounts of informations available ON SCREEN in my A77, but I am not spring Chicken when it comes to photography so I really don’t NEED the Aids the EVF provides… Some Photographers are minimalists in that sense and while the EVF has it’s place So does the OVF IMHO…
I too look forward to purchasing the A99 because it does have a place in my Arsenal. I look forward to the improvements (HOPEFULLY) that makes it better than the A77, which, i might add, is a fantastic Camera… I totally agree with one of the comments above that it is much of a LOVE HATE relationship with the A77… The Lack of an adequate buffer as well as a faster processor is, IMHO, it’s a chillies heel… 12FPS is truly a gimmick when you only can cature 12-14 frames before hitting the buffer and then you sputter… it’s my biggest complaint about this camera and I hope the A99 will address this IN THEORY it looks like they have addressed this issue.
I tend to wonder if SONY is PLAYING at camera maker rather than being a serious Camera Maker…. I have staked my prefession on Sony so I certainly hope I don’t they start considering more feedback from their faithful customers
marald
9 months ago |I tried the A99 on the photokina yesterday. I must say I really liked the operation & functions, and while I didn’t like the EVF when I tried it a couple of months ago on the A77, I start to appreciate what the EVF can do better than an OVF. It’s good to have all our overlay info in the EVF and I love how you can actually see the depth of field effect in the VF. Histogram and level are also very welcome in the EVF. AF was quite fast (especially with AF-D compatible lens like the 70-400 and 28-75).
The clustering of the AF points, didn’t really bother me. It get things into focus fast, and you can always recompose a little, like I always did on older sony and canon camera’s with less AF points.
I tried the Nik D600 & D800 as well on the very yellowish/greenish Nikon stand (so every picture already has the green colour cast you see on the 800 screen
), and while they are very capable camera’s, I still liked the A99 better. The Can 6D is just not an option with no support for APC-C lenses, the very high pricing of the new 24-70 2.8 II (without IS) and so little direct access buttons.
I think the crop in video mode is still there, and when IBIS was switched off, it looked a little bit less but still a bit crop. Didn’t do a good test, just a quick try though. The image quality looked really nice. Still saw some ‘review’ images while panning in 6 fps mode.
It was a shame for sony that they couldn’t answer my questions (about micro adjust, crop mode, weathersealing etc), I think the personnel on the sony stand just seen the A99 yesterday for the first time as well. (and don’t know if they ever used a DSLR or SLT for more than an hour) Note to sony, train your people to know every in and out of the camera you are trying to sell, I could almost get more info at the media markt stores, and they don’t know anything about sony!!!
I also really missed the possibility to try the 24-70 ZA or the 70-200 on the A99. I didn’t see these lenses anywhere on the stand. They even gave the a99 with a 16-50 DT attached, why???? It works perfectly OK with an APC lens, but this is not the way to promote a fullframe camera, now is it.. Pity that the personnel didn’t even know which lens was what…
All in all I think sony did listen to their customer base for the first time, having a lock for the rec button in the menu, and fixing a lot of annoyances the A77 had. it’s a pity they introduce so many new features but leave out time lapse recording (what the nikon’s can do without any accessories) and that there is currently no option to have on camera WIFI. (which both the canon and nikon do offer). And why did they leave out the onboard flash. I would if been happy if it was just rated GN-6, as long as I can wirelessly trigger my other flashes.
I hope the a99 lowers a bit in price in the coming weeks, so I can afford to buy a new flash, and some lenses as well.
Steve
9 months ago |For me it’s very simple…
I’m trying to stay with Sony
I value my investment in my Zeiss, Minolta and Sony G-lenses and don’t want to spend 10k to replace them.
I do think Sony is correct with the EVF, and I’m a happy a850 OVF shooter I’m sure that EVF’s will get better and the OVF is at a dead-end.
I do like Sony’s stabilization system although it may not be as good as other’s lens based solution.
I think Sony’s technology is better than all of the others
I would be really happy to completely lose the mirror, but not sure todays SLT is as good as in needs to be.
mirrorless would be better, and Sony is closer to this as far as I can tell.
Having said the above……………I’m not willing to wait forever.
I’m thinking about just buying the Nikon D800E and the Zeiss 100/f2 micro with the dual lights just for a upcoming product shot scheduled in late Oct and take it from there.
Saber
9 months ago |Steve,
Your response is about spot-on with the way I feel. I too have a Sony FF with enough investment that it would really hurt if I switch. The EFV will eventually be ready for the pro-level market once things mature a bit. As it is I’m just a little hesitant to buy anymore Sony gear. For me, it isn’t just about who offers the latest and greatest, as I believe there is more to the art and hobby than that alone.
Dan
tony
9 months ago |actually sony’s Steadyshot is better than canons and nikons in len stabilization.
rudi
9 months ago |I tried the Sony Cams also yesterday.
And i looked a bit angry and told them,
that i know the old Sonygames..( have many
cams and equipment and..yes) so first
was QUESTION
WHY DOES THE RX1 have
-no interchangeable sys
-if not, the lens is dowwn to .98
it would be one of heavey often sold
Cameras.. so NOT!!!!
the VG 900 is a nogo in this price, because
in less than 3 months they sell the VG850..
we will see pricetag downcoming of eos d6 D600
A99 fast to 1500 euros. called then eosd6-2 D580
A88…..
ageha
9 months ago |Are you ok?
C
9 months ago |Looks like the RX1 is going to be great. If the D600 DxOMark score is anything to go by, Sony is going to take a top 5 place on the DxOMark scoreboard.
I guess the a99 will come around where the 5d3 is, due to the mirror
joner
9 months ago |it’ll come down to mirror slap vs. leaf shutter
Rooru S.
9 months ago |Hopefully, I will try the A99 on Sunday in my country, there will be an event and Sony will bring the A99 for photogs to test it on the field. Will give some insight about it.
dagump
9 months ago |Question for the next Interview: Could Sony please give a Roadmap for lenses! Some of us would need a 400mm F2.8, others a 600mm … and some are leaving Sony because they don’t know if these Lenses will ever appear.
ageha
9 months ago |Good luck with waiting for a 600mm from Sony…
LightbulbIT
9 months ago |The EVF is a differentiator. It would not be wise for Sony to ditch it (entirely). Take that away and a major reason FOR buying a Sony instead of a Nikon or Canon is eliminated. It becomes a “me too” camera. If Sony has a chance to take on the big 2, they need to be 1) different 2) cheaper (by ALOT)or 3) willing to settle for a distant third (and possibly elimination). Without any advantages, Sony won’t be able to compete. If enough people protest about the EVF (not likely given sales of the NEX series), they might add an ADDITIONAL camera, but they have done too much R&D and invested too much to lose one of it’s major differentiators.
Jerome
9 months ago |An additional camera is exactly what the OVF users are asking for.
ageha
9 months ago |Makes no sense for Sony. Those people can already buy a Canon or Nikon
Anderson
9 months ago |LOL, Sony is kicking NIKON’s ass. “Oh Yeah we do have 36MP sensor, also new XQD for ya!” When releasing Sony’s own FF, “Well, you know 36MP is not the best choice for us, and XQD is too greedy.”
Mike
9 months ago |The fact that Sony is willing to sacrifice a major stills feature (36MP) for a video feature of lesser importance (60p) on a DSLT (traditionally used for taking stills images) is worrying me.
Francisco G.
9 months ago |A dumbed down 36 mp Alpha camera with less than capable video would’ve certainly made a bad impression. Kudos to Sony to sticking to minimal specs for their products! 1080p 60fps is a must have, and if you don’t like it, well, just buy yourself a Canon 6D or Nikon D600 (or their other versions). No big deal folks…
Slaven
9 months ago |24Mp? 36Mp? 40Mp? 50Mp?
Am I the only photographer, who don’t want neither to count pixels on sensor, nor to zoom photos up to 100%?
C’mon, people!
JK
9 months ago |selling the 36m sensor to nikon first was a huge mistake!!! did chrysler sell the hemi to ford or gm ??? musta been a good reason,ya think…..
Pietro
9 months ago |I started my career as a photographer with Nikon. In 1993 my F4 was accompanied by Minolta9xi with 80-200f2,8 HS Apo G: extraordinary. Then came the Minolta9Ti and NikonF5. Today I work with two D4 and two A900. I don’t need more MP, I need quality lenses like my excellent Sony 500F4 and Nikkor 24F1,4G.