Sony Interview: The future is mirrorless!
Imaging Resource (Click here) interviewed Mr. Mark Weir, Senior Manager of Technology and Marketing at Sony Electronics Inc.
- Sony clearly says that Optical Viewfinder DSRL are…dead: “It’s hard to imagine that 10 years from now, cameras will operate the way they did 60 years ago“. The future are mirrorless cameras!
- There is a tremendous demand for our NEX-5N and for the NEX-7: “and that cuts across the grain from what you would expect if the mirrorless segment was originally designed to attract that step-up point and shoot user who wasn’t ready for an SLR.”
- Thai flood and production status: “we’re looking forward to ramping up to meet the demand of our consumers in February and March.”
- Sony is clearly committed to Full Frame even if the vast majority of the market is APS-CI. It’s a big challenge to create a big size Translucent Mirror: “so it’s not for the faint of heart, but we’ll see.”
There is much more in the Interview but the general picture is easy to understand. Sony is working on a Fullframe SLT camera. But the main affords goes to the NEX system.
JW
2 years ago |efforts, not affords
I’m excited for the future of mirrorless as well. Only time will tell wether the mirrorless cams of today will be a footnote or not.
One thing I do know is that companies not focusing their efforts or simply arrogant enough to ignore this market will cause substantial market loss to their brand overall in the immediate future.
Yeahhh
2 years ago |I’m not sure if SLT is really a big thing. In my opinion, most users won’t care whether it’s a SLT or SLR. The only thing that could happen is that they look for the advantages oder disadvantages. That’s the only point.
To me, I don’t see a advantages in SLT. OK, it should be fast – but I don’t see that on the specs. It’s better for AF while video recording – but I don’t care about video but only photos. It could make you see anything under bad light conditions – which is really a advantage. But on the costs of light sensibilty of the sensor. And this is a disadvantage as the final photo is everything that matters.
zehan
2 years ago |SLT is good for frames rates. Sony problem is not fast enough AF.
markfil
2 years ago |it depends on the lens motor.
Yeahhh
2 years ago |Yes, right. For continious shooting. But the A77 is not that unbeatable fast. Sony claims for 12 fps, Nikon’s D4 is running at 11 fps and Canon’s 7D is going for 8 fps – not that much of a difference to me. And I’m also more concerned about a single shot (=image quality) than to have 2 more photos per second.
So, I would really like to know what the main benefit of a EVF is that every one is going for. I don’t see it. And in that case, I don’t care whether EVF or OVF.
Steve
2 years ago |I think the optical viewfinder will remain desirable but I’m a little surprised heads-up displays haven’t become more widely used by now. I really thought that technology would be adapted from the aircraft industry to almost every other “real view + data” system. It has appeared in cars and I guess Fuji’s hybrid vf is the first example. I’d also expect lcd-mirror technology to appear at some point – a fully transparent LCD that can be switched to a full mirror or any level between, with image enhancement and data overlay too. So I’d expect dslrs to evolve, not be suddenly replaced by something else.
Back to today – gotta hope Sony will produce some decent e-mount glass soon.
SLTPro
2 years ago |Sounds like we will get an A99 after all was getting worried there!
JustAPro
2 years ago |Sounds like it will take much longer then september to get it…
JB
2 years ago |Really hope not. Sony can’t take it’s time like the A700.
JB
2 years ago |I really hope not. Sony can’t take it’s time like the A700.
People will jump ship.
Arthur
2 years ago |September 2013 is realistic.
I have a feeling that big transparent mirror wil be subject to shape change due to temperature and vibration.
Sadly, after years of waiting, I will be buying an A900. There are some great Zeiss lenses to rely on, not to mention Minolta stockpile. While Sony went in the direction of lower resistance(amature shooter market) Nikon will always be a household name among those who care enough to read the books and manuals. Those of us who equate photgraphy with still images, will always cherish technology that delivers just those even if the market is driven by folks who need a GPS guided video HDR 30fps Facebook/You tube AutoPhotoshop monstrosity that is half the size of the kit lens.
David
2 years ago |A900 is still an incredible camera
My lineup is a850, 35/1.4, 16-35/2.8, 50/1.7, 85/1.4
I’m still incredibly happy with everything. Focus is fast, resolution is still the best around. And the build quality is still far better than a 5d2 for instance.
I wouldn’t feel any regrets buying an a850/900 right now.
Draggoon
2 years ago |I hope that Sony has taken VERY serious note of the focusing technology Nikon used in the 1 Series – and are extremely busy implementing their own version. If they do not come up with something similar they’ll be dead in the water when Nikon finally brings it to cameras with APS-C and FF sized sensors. Once Nikon gets a lead in that area, Sony will never be able to catch up and might not even survive because many current Sony buyers will jump ship.
Geir E
2 years ago |Sony has patents for pdaf on sensor as used in the 1 series from Nikon. it is just apparently not that easy to implement in larger sensors thus it is only yet available in cameras like fujis better compacts and nikon 1.
Don Cox
2 years ago |Do you really want PDAF or do you simply want fast focussing?
It seems to me that as CPUs get faster, contrast detection will soon speed up and be quite fast enough for sports and flying birds. Maybe in two or three years time.
I think people underestimate the importance of the computer part of current cameras and its development.
SonyA77
2 years ago |Like I said when somebody made the same comment when the 1 was first launched, I’ll only be impressed by the Nikon system when I see it on a large sensor.
Jiri
2 years ago |Should be the SLT cameras considered as mirrorless? There is a mirror inside, though translucent. So far the only really mirrorless Sony products (besides the P+S) are the NEX cameras. Let´s see what will Sony bring this year. I hope that at least one FF models will be really mirrorless (not SLT).
Arthur
2 years ago |Transparent mirror is a correct term.
SonyA77
2 years ago |No it isn’t. Transparent means letting light through. Translucent means not allowing some light through, i.e diffusing.
The SLT has a TRANSLUCENT design, not a transparent one.
Xyrea
2 years ago |No, transparent is definitely the correct term. Here are the dictionary definitions:
Translucent:
Permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc., on the opposite side are not clearly visible: Frosted window glass is translucent but not transparent.
Transparent:
Having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.
SonyA77
2 years ago |Well it isn’t transparent as the light path is being blocked and redirected. That isn’t transparent!
You have found one explanation of the term, big deal!
JonasM
2 years ago |Sony prints “translucent” on the A65/77 and a LA-EA2 adapter. That should tell you something…
Xyrea
2 years ago |No offense but I will take dictionary definition over your creative interpretation
markfil
2 years ago |translucent is the right term.
because the SLT mirror allows 70% of light to pass towards the sensor while reflecting 30% to the viewfinder. it does not allow completely the passing of light.
-This is Markfil Tersol, SONY Alpha Asia Marketing Director
Carl
2 years ago |Semantics is fun. Translucent means something that allows light to pass, but obfuscates images, like frosted glass. I think the closest term would be semiopaque.
If they wanted a fancy term, they should have gone with pellucid. A nice name for a pellicle mirror.
Jiri
2 years ago |My point is not semantics, I rather mean real things. I might be an idealist, but I believe that the time has come for a general shift in the construction of digital cameras which are (and will be) more and more relying on revolutionary non-material (SW) solutions and technological progress than on the modestly advancing clasic approach.
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |Words are always changing, slipping and sliding, in every way–in meaning, in form, in pronunciation, in use, in connotation. And dictionaries are merely attempts to define how words are used–not how they have to be used. Language is and always has been dynamic. You cannot pin it down, not even the French Academy, which, a half century ago, was still attempting to freeze the French language in place. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.
GunnarK
2 years ago |Carl wrote:
“If they wanted a fancy term, they should have gone with pellucid. A nice name for a pellicle mirror.”
That would have been even more wrong. Sony is not using a ‘pellicle beam splitter’. Canon did long ago in their Pellix cameras, but Sony is using a ‘thin plate beam splitter’ in their SLT series.
And that is good. Pellicle means a thin membran, which is all to fragile to be used for mass produced cameras.
All in all, I think ‘SLT’ is not to bad a term after all. And it can be interpreted as Translucent OR Transparent OR Thin plate beam splitter.
.
GunnarK
2 years ago |Arthur wrote:
“Transparent mirror is a correct term.”
Well, the correct term for the techcnology Sony is using is “Thin plate beam splitter”. Its main function is not to absorb or diffuse, but to redirect some of the light (in this case to the AF sensors).
But such a term would surely have been all too heavy footed to be used in the marketing…
PS My post ended up at a different place than I had expected, so LC’s “Agree” comment below applies to another post somewhere above.
.
LC
2 years ago |Agree, but at first SONY have to improve the performance of AF on NEX system.
Raphael
2 years ago |@ Jiri
Same question here, I wonder if the future A99 will be the last Sony body that has native support of A-mount lenses (without adapter). Every following real mirrorless body could have a smaller flange distance…
SonyA77
2 years ago |Nope, there is plenty of upgrade potential for existing APS-C bodies yet.
passer-by
2 years ago |Surprise me Sony, bring in something new.
SonyA77
2 years ago |SLT and NEX wasn’t enough?
zehan
2 years ago |Hybrid mount FF please.
Tristan
2 years ago |I tried Fuji X100, the hybrid O/EVF looks very intesting.
Q
2 years ago |Where is Walt to crack the sad’s over this post?
Anyways, I’m glad I purchased an A850 as it’ll go down as a classic in the A-mount history.
passer-by
2 years ago |Congratulation buddy.
Q
2 years ago |Much appreciated
fotowolf61
2 years ago |@Admin: Any update news about a new FW 1.05, 1.1 or 2.0 for the A65/A77 ?
Please, we need an update on the JPG-Engine!!!!!
Harvey
2 years ago |If you’re not happy with the Sony JPG-rendering, do it yourself, using Lightroom, Bibble, PS, whatever.
Remark: serious photographers shouldn’t use JPG’s and non-serious photographers should be happy with the Sony engine!
SonyA77
2 years ago |The point is that if RAW conversation software can produce good jpegs, then this class of camera should do it too.
Nikon appears to do just fine with Sony sensors, so why can’t Sony get the best from their own sensor? They did very well with the A580 so they can do it…
Harvey
2 years ago |My point is: good JPG’s don’t exist. Why bother buying expensive lenses and taking a lot of time and effort when you throw away three quarters of what you recorded
f/2.8
2 years ago |“But the main affords goes to the NEX system.”
What does it mean? Does it make sense to invest further in the Alpha-System?
Will Sony go completley to the NEX-System and E-Mount? Or will we get TOW mirrorless-versions. The light and small E-Mount-Cameras and the DSLR/DSLT looking and handling A-Mount-Cameras.
Sony should clear these things up. Since these informations are quite important for the customer …
SonyA77
2 years ago |The rumours of Sony pulling out of dSLR has been around since Minolta (mostly spread by Canikon users) and they were wrong.
I wouldn’t worry about the future of A-mount as Sony are doing FF, the most likely thing that’ll happen is that a hybrid A and E mount will come along on a mirror-less design in a dSLR sized body.
There is a lot of FUD going around, ignore it.
Carl
2 years ago |Minolta did pull out, though.
SonyA77
2 years ago |Minolta HAD to. Completely different scenario.
Carl
2 years ago |Had to why? They already had a cross licensing agreement in place with Sony, so their immediate future was secure. Ultimately they just lacked the desire to rebuild their camera division after their own mistakes caused it to bleed market share.
Carl
2 years ago |It’s pretty simple. Sony will keep investing money in A mount until it stops making money, then phase it out. When that’ll happen depends on us, their customers, not on Sony.
Atlasman
2 years ago |I think the translucent mirror is a good bridge for Sony—but ultimately they will need to lay the A mount to rest.
Bill
2 years ago |When Minolta designed the A-mount to replace the MD mount, they designed it to be a good full frame mount for electronic cameras. It is still a good mount for full frame digital cameras. I think the mirror will be going away, but no reason to ditch the mount itself.
Carl
2 years ago |The problem is the long back flange distance, which is why Minolta pretty much mothballed the mount themselves in favour of the V mount, and only went back to it as a rearguard action.
passer-by
2 years ago |I think long back flange distance is needed for an FF camera, especially with electronic sensor. Alpha back flange distance is 44.50 mm, about the same with Nikon F-mount(46.50 mm) and Canon EF(44.00 mm).
E mount was designed for APS-C sensor size, that’s why they wanted to make a hybrid mount, to enable them to use A mount lens on FF NEX. That’s just my speculation, of course.
john
2 years ago |When there are 300+ NATIVE E-mount lenses as there are for A-mount from Sony/Minolta/Sigma/Tamron/Tokina etc that all focus as fast then I would say that A-mount is in danger of being phased out.
And lets not forget an E-mount body that will balance 400-500mm lenses hand held with I.B.I.S!!
There is no reason that a mirrorless A-mount body will not happen. Not every square mm of a camera body has to be packed with electronics. People will just have a larger more ergonomically designed body that fully support all the legacy lenses with I.B.I.S. that contains dead air space where the moving mirror once was.
I’m sure once CaNikon go fully mirrorless they will support all mounts or do people really think Nikon will only support CX mount for mirrorless in the future?
SRL
2 years ago |+1
Ergonomics are extremely important to photographers that hold their camera for hours at a time and the NEX just doesn’t fit in my hands with a 70-200/f2.8 like I need.
Cameras like the NEX are wonderful for people who want a camera that can be carried in a pocket or all day on vacation and hopefully someday someone will develop lenses that better match in size to the little bodies.
As someone that is getting “older” carrying big cameras and lenses for street work is getting hard.
Several months back I went up to Portland to cover a Occupy protest carrying two a850’s one with a 70-700/f2.8 and the other with a 24-70/f2.8 and at the same time seeing others using much smaller and lighter and still getting great shots.
Atlasman
2 years ago |SRL
I’ve actually shot a 300mm f4 on the NEX and all it takes is a mental re-adjustment and holding strategy.
I held a similar view until I got the NEX-5n and began attaching my full-frame Canon lenses.
I’ve even used the 5N for a corporate event I covered recently. The NEX is a highly capable system and its size does not necessarily mean its a vacation camera.
Adi
2 years ago |E-mount will not work for FF, I think Sony already said this.The phrase I remember was “they were looking into it but conclusion was it will not work”. So eitehr come with yet another new mount but no lenses or use A-mount, so if you have investment in this don’t worry.
The mirror in it’s SLT form will probably stay for at least a few more years until they can do in sensor PDAF (or in sensor hybrid PDAF/CDAF most likely) with speed equivalent with mirror PDAF. It will come I’m sure once technology improves.This is not only sensor improvements but also processing power (new faster CPU) as a lot of contrast detection is based on algorithms which require a lot of CPU power if you want to improve the precision.
passer-by
2 years ago |That’s what a hybrid mount for. E-mount back flange distance is just too short for an FF sensor. That’s what they meant by the line “..will not work.”.
conny
2 years ago |I can not detect the statement you cited in the Interview and i am not sure how Andrea came to make it (context ?) . All i am reading in the interview is, that NEX was originally designed to appeal to users that step up from compact cameras and that Sony underestimated the demand for the NEX system .Obviously due to the sucess Sony wants to further develop the NEX series to make photography easier and more apealing to beginners (that’s a statement that IS in the interview). I don’t think that Sony has made any decisions yet to discontinue SLT/A-Mount at all, i think it’s the contrary: They will invest to further develop it , e.g. by addressing the HD VIdeo creation (end of interview) with appropriate tools/features built into the cameras , 4k res. This way they can build on their strong points. Certainly the weighting of the NEX system is more dominant in the interview due to the fact that it’s realtively new, unexpectedly sucessful and creating a unique selling point for Sony which allows them to attract customers from other brands and their own. Broadening the portfolio to win new customers is one way of making better numbers
Having said that i am sure that Sony will stop any product or technology once it doesn’t sell any more. Wouldn’t that be normal for a company ?
Regarding the NEX vs FF (“the main affords go to the NEX system”) i really think this is not a decision for or against A/E mount but rather a necessity for a compnay: The just released NEX system fills their pockets NOW and the market is far from being saturated, production is not up to speed. So why shouldn’t they focus on their cash cow first and take the time to release a pro cam which (and that’s a personal guess only) will not create the same ROI in dollars than the NEX system to Sony as a company (not talking here about the strategic importance of it). I guess even SOny has to decide on their priorities and can not allocate unlimited resources to their projects/product development. ..just my two cents ..
hanugro
2 years ago |Andrea, I think you are misleading here. I browse the interview and I could not find any indication that Sony is putting more effort in NEX system. They simply acknowledge that NEX is lacking a pancake lens to make the system truly small. However building a small lens for a big sensor is not an easy thing to do and Sony will try to address this ASAP. Reader should really read the interview themselves.
One thing to rejoice is that Sony is committed to FF a-mount body. There will be FF A-MOUNT body (NO mention of NEX going to offer FF sensor). The challenge currently is creating a big translucent mirror for FF. Sony said for people to just look at the kind of lens lineup that Sony has. Most of the premium lens is FF. CZeiss has said that they will only make FF a-mount in the future. Sony prototype 500mm is also FF.
They are also talking about how fast CDAF now comparing to that used just few years ago, and on-sensor PDAF will be very important. This also prove that A-MOUNT itself will go mirrorless as soon as core components are ready. Sony’s new EVF is IMHO 80% good, just a little tweak to make it 95% as good as OVF and with the added benefit then there will be no need for OFV. On-sensor PDAF and CDAF are the next core components and when they are ready a-mount will go mirrorless. SLT is just a temporary solution.
zehan
2 years ago |Maybe Andrea made typo. “accords” instead? NEX getting accolades for sure.
poke
2 years ago |Sounds like they are having problems with their full frame.
Cliff
2 years ago |Look Sony. Just give me a kick ass “a77″ body with great EVF and all the bells and whistles. Forget the phase detect AF, drop the translucent mirror and give me your best contrast AF.
Release this right away as the “a98″….then you can spend a year worrying about how to make a FF “a99″ with phase detect AF.
I’ll take my mirrorless “a98″ without the translucent mirror, please.
Lol….besides, isn’t that the “true” mirrorless future you keep talking about anyway?
Cliff
2 years ago |Edit! Give me a kick ass FF “a98″ body. (Not APSC) damn cell phone auto correct..lol
Atlasman
2 years ago |If Sony truly believes the future is mirrorless, then most of their resources should be dedicated to mirrorless-based products.
If Sony were to produce the NEX-9, include sensor-based stabilization and make available a translucent mirror adapter (LA-EA3?)—there would be little need for an A99. This would be a perfect bridge to migrate existing A-mount users.
I would have bought into the LA-EA2 and the prospects of A-mount lenses, if the NEX-7 had in-camera stabilization.
Eric
2 years ago |I still don’t understand where Sony got their marketing research from. In my experience, the exact same people that want DSLR’s are those that want CSC’s. Meaning; people that want good image quality and are willing to spend over $600 to get it. Why they thought all of use would prefer monster size DSLR’s over a compact body like a NEX-7 is beyond me.
I don’t even know what “user who wasn’t ready for an SLR” means. It has nothing to do with complexity. A DSLR is no more complex than a Canon G11. I will never be ready for a DSLR again period, and it has nothing to do with my photography education level.
conny
2 years ago |@Eric
a while ago i saw an interview here on SAR with someone form SOny (don’t remember the name) but it was about the design of future cameras/SLTs in particular.. His answer was simple: Try to build a body that offers a certain amount of HW control buttons and dials, connectors and interfaces, big LCD, usability, .etc.. and you’ll end up with what SLRs look alike today ..more or less.
So why do i for example want a “monster size DSLR” to use your words ? Because i want manual controls not on screen menus, i have big hands and couldn’t even hold an A350 comfortably with a big lense on it ( i basically always bought the vertical grip for my cameras just to increase the size and optimize handling. I also like a built in pop up flash more than an acessory i have to store somewhere in my pocket until i use it.
All i want to say is: i can fully understand your view and preferences but they definitely do not match mine. I for myself will not buy a toy size CSC unless it’s as a backup or special use camera . I am glad though that we both do have a choice now that makes us happy. Having said that i am not to sure that exact the same people who want a DSLR would also want a NEX.
SRL
2 years ago |Maybe not an educational problem with Eric but a lack of experience using professional lenses and cameras in a production environment.
Eric
2 years ago |Believe it or not I actually do like larger cameras for some things. However, for me, what I do larger is only better about 10% of the time. So it just doesn’t make financial sense for me to buy a large body camera since it would get so little use. But make no mistake about it, the new Nikon D4 is drool worthy.
I would love to see Sony design the NEX-7 replacement to be a bit more modular. The size if the NEX-7 is good, but it would be better if they’d have designed it in a way that a battery grip could be added nice and flush for times when small size isn’t important.
@SRL
For the record, I used 4×5 format film cameras for 2 years in the studio environment back in the 90′s, so I know all about your “professional environment”. I however simply don’t see the point in them anymore with the resolution small cameras like the NEX-7 are now capable of. But then again, I don’t feel the urge to overcompensate…
hanugro
2 years ago |Yes, I also read this. Basically the best form factor is dSLR like, they just need to make it more compact or lighter to make it manageable. This is also the reason while Sony insist of NOT making the back LCD panel Canon’s style because they are trying to make the LCD and sensor in the same axis.
AG
2 years ago |UGH. Doesn’t sound like the a99 is coming anytime soon. All i wanted was great image quality. I’ll splurge on the 5D Mark III next month. Goodbye, Sony. It was a nice 4 years.
Sony Bye
2 years ago |I had a great ride with Sony till my a700 died last year, & I wasn’t happy with the a900 missing features (live view, good iso, etc), so I jumped ship to Nikon.
Couldn’t be happier!
Maybe I’ll get back into Sony when their iso can compete with the market or the 500mm gets released. Which ever happens in 2018, haha.
SRL
2 years ago |I just do understand WHY people that no longer use Sony cameras or have any interest using a Sony camera are reading this site.
Just to complain or what?
Marek
2 years ago |If it is difficult to make translucent mirror for FF then I can wait a bit longer for A99 without it
michaelchee
2 years ago |Will wait & see the future of FF
1 more year to see how things go (or the next announcement)… before i really start jumping ships.
Love the a850 & CZ lens for my weddings shoots.
But there are some concern
-noise level ( iso 1600,3200 & 6400 out from the camera with less editing would help )
-MP race (really hope they pause a moment at 24mp, its already taxing on my system to perform on the fly editing)
-lenses (what sony can offer for to serious photographer ? )
Camaman
2 years ago |“It’s a big challenge to create a big size Translucent Mirror”
Loool, there’s a statement of the week!!
And yet there was that guy who repaired his translucent camera to 90% functionality with food wrap cellophane instead of OEM mirror!!! Lool!
Cliff
2 years ago |Funny! Yeah…I imagine they are trying to get the negative artifacts of the translucent mirror lower than the A77.
If they are trying to place a 36mp sensor behind that translucent mirror, I’d guess that it’s not letting that much resolution hit the sensor.
Have they reached the resolution limit of the translucent material itself??
Who cares? Install a flip up gear or just leave it out completely. Besides, the future is “mirrorless” anyway.
passer-by
2 years ago |If I’m not mistaken, Sony’s translucent mirror uses nano tech for ghosting control. So much for a food wrapper.
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |Nothing in the actual interview of Sony’s Mark Weir says that mirrorless is the future. Instead, Weir says that traditional dslrs and optical viewfinders are NOT the future. This leaves room for both slts and NEX cameras in Sony’s future, probably little or no room for optical viewfinders.
Nor does Weir imply that there is any likelihood that we won’t see the A99 this year. We will, in late August. The Thailand floods have simply delayed everything about four months.
SRL
2 years ago |Reading between the lines here it sounds like that the future is mirroless but Sony just can’t make that work yet as as well as needed as it try’s to make a camera that will compete with the current Nikon and Canon top of the line designs.
Stay tuned……… the a99 development may just be a rough ride.
Has Nikon or Canon made any statements showing that they see the same future?
GunnarK
2 years ago |No, they haven’t, and they will most surely not do that any time soon.
Nikons and Canons experience and core expertise is in the traditional mechanic and optical based DSLR concept. I am sure they are going to hold out with this as long as they can! Just introducing something not too threatening, like the Nikon J1/V1. Canon don’t know what to do yet.
EVFs, computerintense functions (such as Anti Motion Blur, Hand Held Twilights, Panorama stitching and more), mirrorless designs etc. will give them head ache – because therein lies Sonys (and other major electronic companies) experience and core expertise. Not theirs.
WhentCanon/Nikon will move in that direction, they need to buy a lot of know how and components from outside sources, e.g. from Sony (I can’t see them being too eager to do that instantly)…
If they will at all? If not, they’ll have a hard time to survive in the long run, IMO. At least as gigants. I would think that Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and later perhaps also some Chinese companies are lining up to become the future gigants.
However, I think that Canon and Nikon can hold out for quite a long time with the traditional DSLR technology, because of their massive user base and the lock-in effects.
.
Clyde
2 years ago |“But the main affords goes to the NEX system”… This attitude concerns me greatly. DO NOT… I repeat… DO NOT abandon Maxxum DNA in your cameras Sony. Doing so will result in your return to consumer grade electronics photo levels in public perception. Get that full frame flagship into the hands of pros ASAP… everything will work out fine for you from there.
E
2 years ago |“We assumed it was a difference in the low-pass filter.”
A tip for reviewers and interviewers! – Do not do like this!
1st, don’t assume , the technical reasons between differences of any kind, has very little value.
Typical from hifi: “The harsh tremble comes from the ribbon-tweeter” or whatever.
And suddenly reviewers will know the sound (or picture quality) in advance by looking at the design. And of course review accordingly.
Do thank dpr for trying to minimize this.
Also:
“We’re just wondering if it might be a weaker low-pass filter in the NEX-7. There’s a very noticeable difference in the images. If you put a set of A77 images next to the NEX-7′s the difference is significant.”
Again, pursuing your perception of the issues, instead of just asking:
“Images differs in sharpness. why?”
k
2 years ago |I agree and was impressed by the way Mark Weir responded.
Carl
2 years ago |While I agree the manner in which the question was asked was clumsy, the question itself was valid. The only difference there should be between the two cameras, lenses aside, is 1/3Ev of extra noise, but that appears to not be the case.
SLT Pro
2 years ago |+1 @ David, Love my A900 to pieces, nothing to touch the image quality up to ISO1K other than the D3X that’s 3 times the price! And when you stick the lovely Zeiss glass on the front there’s just nothing that compares to the images it can produce! I’m very very keen to see what Sony has planned with the SLT tech though as I love my A55 too for different reasons. For all the doubters though, do you really think Sony will let Nikon use it’s new 36MP sensor for over a year without releasing their own camera. That’s just boll**ks! There are rumors going around in the pro circles of black box prototypes being spotted that appear to be similiar in Shape to the A77, so my bet is they are already experimenting with the new sensor, SLT or otherwise. This is one of the biggest Electronics corps in the world and they are a lot more serious now about pro/prosumer photography than they were when they released the A700, if they want to get a new camera out, then they will. A9x will be here this year it’s just a question of which month…
cameraman
2 years ago |“nothing to touch the image quality up to ISO1K other than the D3X that’s 3 times the price!”
Except for a 5dII which offers better lowlight performance, and a killer video mode for basically the same price….
Come on guys, the a900 is behind the curve, and the a77 is riddled with numerous problems. The a77′s sensor is alright in terms of sharpness, but struggles to compete with the 50d (which was god awful) in lowlight situations. Don’t believe me? Look at DPreviews samples of both cameras shot in RAW. For shits and giggles, compare it to a 5dII, 7d, or any camera that used sonys 16mp sensor.
Carl
2 years ago |The 850/900 comfortably beats the 5DII at base ISO.
barnhopper
2 years ago |You’re absolutely right. Canon 5D II does have better ISO performance (all around except lowest ISO), PLUS it does HD video! And it also have a slightly worse viewfinder, slightly worse build quality, slightly worse AF, slightly worse for hand held photography, a whole lot of wavy special effects on fast moving objects that can’t be turned off.
For the money, it’s a slightly worse camera that does jello-shots.
barnhopper
2 years ago |And forgive me if that sounded like a personal attack. I’m just frustrated at the fact that there are no ‘affordable’ large-sensor-interchangable-lens video recording camera that use a CCD sensor.
SLTPro
2 years ago |5dII superior! Don’t make me laugh! The a850/a900 clearly betters the 5dii up to about 1000ISO in color and detail, not to mention the overall lok of the files or the superior non toy like build quality!! Trust me, I have used both cameras alongside each other extensively and in professional environments! Until you have done the same, your not really qualified to comment, thanks! @Barnhopper, just saw your comments – Hilarious! But yes you have made even more points about the 5d II. If the 5d II were that great then half of the wedding industry wouldn’t have ditched them for Nikon!
cameraman
2 years ago |So half Nikon, half Canon? :p Enjoy that sickkkkkkk new EVF and laggy response time on your a99′s. Should be awesome! Maybe noise will be usable past ISO 800? That’d be wild.
Great lens selection too! You guys DO know that those zeiss lenses you all brag about are available for Canon mount to right? It’d be like me calling Sigma lenses an advantage.
Gotta love Sony users, you guys are all sooooo cute with your justifications!
barnhopper
2 years ago |A99, EVF, and Zeiss. WOW. You must be out of baseless smack about the A900 vs 5D II talk that you got the other posters into. I guess shift and tilt is the norm from Canon PR.
“Great lens selection too! You guys DO know that those zeiss lenses you all brag about are available for Canon mount to right?”
Why thank you. And yes, we DO know that Zeiss make lenses for other mounts. In fact we also know the battery life saved by manual-focusing every shot and turning off IS huge.
Nikonfanboy
2 years ago |Good point on manual focus and battery life! You’ll need it to compensate for your EVF.
cameraman
2 years ago |Yes, the Canon camp IS into tilt and shift. I’m suprised you know what that is,considering Sony doesn’t make them. Actually, the Nikon people have them too! Don’t worry, lensbaby has some terrific optics AND it’s manual focus. What a feature!
Cliff
2 years ago |I can’t figure out why Sony is sooooo hell bent on translucent mirrors. EVF I understand but why are they pushing phase detect AF like its someting we desperatly need or can’t live without?
I mean, jeez. Just make a kick ass full frame body with great EVF, leave out the translucent mirror and put it on the market.
It will be like a fat A77 with A mount lenses.
Make that puppy 24mp or 16mp and Sony will sell a ton of them!
hanugro
2 years ago |Because PDAF is still faster than CDAF at the moment. And pro will not appreciate slow AF. My bet is they will release mirrorless A-mount with CDAF only late this year but it is the entry level (maybe to replace A55) to test the water.
passer-by
2 years ago |PDAF will always faster than CDAF, given both do the calculation with the same speed. PDAF requires only one reading(actually two, but taken simultaneously), while CDAF requires two reading, at different focusing ring position.
But the question isn’t whether the CDAF will be faster PDAF, but rather is it fast enough now? Is it still practical to have dedicated AF sensor when we can do it by the sensor alone?
poke
2 years ago |It seems to me that while Sony is attempting to innovate the photo industry, until it actually produces a killer DSLT or DSLR camera with great image quality, excellent low light performance without significant noise and fast accurate autofocus, the two giants can keep tweaking their old cameras with newer sensor technology and Nikon and Canon will continue to dominate the industry. Sony needs to produce a great FF camera but I am not going to hold my breath. There was no way that Sony was going to be able to come out with a FF in spring. It sounds like they are having difficulty with the translucent mirror with the FF. I just wish they would come out with a mirrored FF new 24MP sensor that handles high iso noise like a nikon and focuses fast and accurate like a canon. You outfit the 900 with an improved 24MP sensor for better high iso performance, improve the speed and accuracy of the autofocus, add video, live view and bump fps to 7or greater and I will plop down 4k for it.
passer-by
2 years ago |A900 and A850 are great cameras, how many were sold compared to Canikon’s?
The problem is not with Sony [alone].. it’s [mostly] the buyer’s perception.