Jim Ogilvie
Leading Member
Seems to me that Sony is pretty smart. They've decided that in order for them to lead the game, they need to change the game itself.
Sony had tried with minimal success to penetrate the entry level market. The 230 and the like were interesting in their own ways, but they weren't quite what the doctor ordered to really crack the market.
For the past long while, Sony was absent from the DSLR video scene. With the A33/A55, they fulfilled their promise to do it right. Leading up to this point it was Canon and to a lesser degree Nikon, who were insisting that real DSLR's had video now. They created a demand for a feature, but weren't able to implement it in a way that makes sense for the camcorder minded. The SLT cameras are getting the interest they are because of Sonys innovative approach to video (and also of course because the still picture taking experience with the SLTs is potentially more satisfying).
As others here have said it really doesn't make sense for Sony to produce a camera that would be immediately compared to the D7000, D60 and others in that range. It might make loyal A mount users happy, but for Sony to really lead here they need a strategy that makes them stand alone to develop a true following.
The NEX as I see it is a bit of a trojan horse. Beautiful camera, great for the P&S crowd, but at the same time giving them real quality images. Developing a brand loyalty is valuable. They are growing a grassroots point and shoot culture that just might want SLTs one day.
My reason for writing this is simple. I don't believe that the mid, high and pro end cameras that Sony will produce have to follow decade old designs to be successful. While the A33/A55 may seem priced and built (plastic) to suit a budget minded/feature valuing customer, these cameras prove that Sony has a lot of innovation left to offer.
This technology when wrapped into a magnesium body with a great build and lots of external controls (and maybe even a better EVF, even though the one on the SLT's now is wonderful) will be a fabulous camera package to have. I am absolutely convinced that Sony will also produce a FF professional camera with SLT tech. It won't come fast enough for some - but my A900 is pretty future proof. There's still nothing (short of MF) that can compete with it when I strap Zeiss glass on it in studio, without going to a D3X. Even then...the glass....
If Sony is indeed leaving the OVF behind, they know that is going to upset some people. But I can't help but think that the people that will be upset and walk are the people who are die-hard "I hate EVF's and I won't even look at one" crowd. I really don't think that crowd is immense. By contrast people who own A2xx through A5xx cameras are likely going to love the new SLTs and be ripe for upgrading. Hey, I could be totally wrong - what do I know? This is just my opinion, after all.
IF Sony is going to do all these things, it's a calculated risk. I think some good people here are getting a little blindsided about the fact that Sony doesn't have a serious semi-pro or advanced amateur SLT to show. Let's face it, that mockup they are showing at Photokina hasn't changed since they first showed it (even though on paper now it's an SLT). I'm pretty sure that the real A77 won't look like that mockup. Much like the NEX mockups shown at trade shows look nothing like what the NEX actually is - and thank goodness for that.
I've used the SLT's, and thoroughly impressed and I'm willing to wait for an SLT model that meets my needs. If the A55 worked in studio settings, I'd buy that as a nice backup and a guilty pleasure for shooting more fun stuff. So, I'll wait. My current cameras work fine, my Zeiss glass is awesome, and I am very happy that Sony is doing something creative.
I think Sonys camera future is pretty bright. Bring on the advanced SLTs.
One final (I promise) thought. We're likely just at the beginning of an onslaught of threads about people who will state they are leaving Sony because they don't feel Sony is going to offer them a path they want to follow.
In anticipation of this, can we please be as mature as possible and just wish these people well? We're all connected through photography, and no matter what tools you're using that makes us more alike than different. Turning brands into a religion is silly. Let's rise above that and just shoot.
J.
--
http://jamesogilvie.com (my portfolio)
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A700/A900 - a bunch of Zeiss glass and stuff.
Sony had tried with minimal success to penetrate the entry level market. The 230 and the like were interesting in their own ways, but they weren't quite what the doctor ordered to really crack the market.
For the past long while, Sony was absent from the DSLR video scene. With the A33/A55, they fulfilled their promise to do it right. Leading up to this point it was Canon and to a lesser degree Nikon, who were insisting that real DSLR's had video now. They created a demand for a feature, but weren't able to implement it in a way that makes sense for the camcorder minded. The SLT cameras are getting the interest they are because of Sonys innovative approach to video (and also of course because the still picture taking experience with the SLTs is potentially more satisfying).
As others here have said it really doesn't make sense for Sony to produce a camera that would be immediately compared to the D7000, D60 and others in that range. It might make loyal A mount users happy, but for Sony to really lead here they need a strategy that makes them stand alone to develop a true following.
The NEX as I see it is a bit of a trojan horse. Beautiful camera, great for the P&S crowd, but at the same time giving them real quality images. Developing a brand loyalty is valuable. They are growing a grassroots point and shoot culture that just might want SLTs one day.
My reason for writing this is simple. I don't believe that the mid, high and pro end cameras that Sony will produce have to follow decade old designs to be successful. While the A33/A55 may seem priced and built (plastic) to suit a budget minded/feature valuing customer, these cameras prove that Sony has a lot of innovation left to offer.
This technology when wrapped into a magnesium body with a great build and lots of external controls (and maybe even a better EVF, even though the one on the SLT's now is wonderful) will be a fabulous camera package to have. I am absolutely convinced that Sony will also produce a FF professional camera with SLT tech. It won't come fast enough for some - but my A900 is pretty future proof. There's still nothing (short of MF) that can compete with it when I strap Zeiss glass on it in studio, without going to a D3X. Even then...the glass....
If Sony is indeed leaving the OVF behind, they know that is going to upset some people. But I can't help but think that the people that will be upset and walk are the people who are die-hard "I hate EVF's and I won't even look at one" crowd. I really don't think that crowd is immense. By contrast people who own A2xx through A5xx cameras are likely going to love the new SLTs and be ripe for upgrading. Hey, I could be totally wrong - what do I know? This is just my opinion, after all.
IF Sony is going to do all these things, it's a calculated risk. I think some good people here are getting a little blindsided about the fact that Sony doesn't have a serious semi-pro or advanced amateur SLT to show. Let's face it, that mockup they are showing at Photokina hasn't changed since they first showed it (even though on paper now it's an SLT). I'm pretty sure that the real A77 won't look like that mockup. Much like the NEX mockups shown at trade shows look nothing like what the NEX actually is - and thank goodness for that.
I've used the SLT's, and thoroughly impressed and I'm willing to wait for an SLT model that meets my needs. If the A55 worked in studio settings, I'd buy that as a nice backup and a guilty pleasure for shooting more fun stuff. So, I'll wait. My current cameras work fine, my Zeiss glass is awesome, and I am very happy that Sony is doing something creative.
I think Sonys camera future is pretty bright. Bring on the advanced SLTs.
One final (I promise) thought. We're likely just at the beginning of an onslaught of threads about people who will state they are leaving Sony because they don't feel Sony is going to offer them a path they want to follow.
In anticipation of this, can we please be as mature as possible and just wish these people well? We're all connected through photography, and no matter what tools you're using that makes us more alike than different. Turning brands into a religion is silly. Let's rise above that and just shoot.
J.
--
http://jamesogilvie.com (my portfolio)
-----
A700/A900 - a bunch of Zeiss glass and stuff.
