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I refuse to believe the A99 will have an ISO hotshoe

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Klipsen

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Realistically, I have nothing to base my assumption upon, but the rumour about the A99 going to have an ISO hotshoe rather than an iISO one seems perfect in order to discredit rumour sites.

Four years ago, Sony upgraded their flash system to include wireless ratio flash with up to three groups. Last year they added an iISO hotshoe to a NEX camera - not an adapter for the existing NEX flash system. The A77 and A65 would have been prime candidates for a new hotshoe, because the number of A99s sold will not be enough to justify the development costs.

Most people who believe the rumour seem to be glad that their wish is finally coming true, so my guess is they simply want to believe it.

Time will tell if I'm wrong, but what do you think?
 
It is possible... Assuming I read the same rumor, they will build an adapter to fit current alpha flashes onto the A99. Oh joy!

If it is true, I do not see why. For one, we have adapters that can convert iISO to std. hotshoe. They also do not, as I know, release technical information on their strobes so other brands will still have to reverse engineer for compatibility. What they have currently works.

Are they thinking an ISO shoe will be the feature that grabs those that are considering a new camera? With that thought, I will say, with the sensor being the same on other brands, and pretty much similar user features, the larger grip on my A57 is what persuaded my decision. Something simple as a grip... :)

If the thought a future Sony ISO flash unit can be sold to Nikon or Canon users is simply not going to happen. Nevertheless, I'll bet the price of that adapter to mount existing Sony flashes will be huge.

--
Michael Lowe
Ames, Iowa USA
 
mglowe said:
Are they thinking an ISO shoe will be the feature that grabs those that are considering a new camera? With that thought, I will say, with the sensor being the same on other brands, and pretty much similar user features, the larger grip on my A57 is what persuaded my decision. Something simple as a grip... :)
Click to expand...
The last thing on most new users minds will be a flash - especially an expensive flash, and if there really is a new one with at GN of 60 metres at ISO 100, there had better be an affordable one with a GN of around 40 as well.

I don't buy it (the rumour, that is).
mglowe said:
Nevertheless, I'll bet the price of that adapter to mount existing Sony flashes will be huge.
Click to expand...
One more reason why I think it's a hoax.
 
I really don't believe Sony would step away from a unique mount/system. They have never been known for sharing platform parts with others, so very little reason to start here.
 
Minolta had the FS-1200, which allowed one to mount a Maxxum flash onto a ISO hotshoe. The AF assist would not work with this adapter, but I don't see why Sony can't solve that problem.

And, once they do, cheap copies will be on the market, as I don't think Sony would be able to stop the copycats.
mglowe said:
It is possible... Assuming I read the same rumor, they will build an adapter to fit current alpha flashes onto the A99. Oh joy!

If it is true, I do not see why. For one, we have adapters that can convert iISO to std. hotshoe. They also do not, as I know, release technical information on their strobes so other brands will still have to reverse engineer for compatibility. What they have currently works.

Are they thinking an ISO shoe will be the feature that grabs those that are considering a new camera? With that thought, I will say, with the sensor being the same on other brands, and pretty much similar user features, the larger grip on my A57 is what persuaded my decision. Something simple as a grip... :)

If the thought a future Sony ISO flash unit can be sold to Nikon or Canon users is simply not going to happen. Nevertheless, I'll bet the price of that adapter to mount existing Sony flashes will be huge.

--
Michael Lowe
Ames, Iowa USA
Click to expand...
 
Sony might do it, only to appeal to the professionals who care about the issue of using wireless remotes to trigger studio lights.
JohnyP said:
I really don't believe Sony would step away from a unique mount/system. They have never been known for sharing platform parts with others, so very little reason to start here.
Click to expand...
 
I would say that the A99 is the perfect camera to make the move to a standard hotshoe. Since it seems it wont have an inbuilt flash and is aimed at the pro market which is more for off-camera flashes anyway then why not provide a standard shoe and let people just use the range of (cheap) wireless adaptors that are out now. Yes, Sony will still have their proper flashes and a small adaptor so these can still be used, but a last a regular mounting point for flashes, microphones, double adpators.. whatever.. I think they should realise that the R&D on these proprietary devices are not supported by the income they get...

It would be nice if aside from the shoe Sony built in a wireless trigger transmitter (if there was a standard to follow) along with Wifi support, wireless hdmi or other things I would have on my wishlist.
 
Klipsen said:
Realistically, I have nothing to base my assumption upon, but the rumour about the A99 going to have an ISO hotshoe rather than an iISO one seems perfect in order to discredit rumour sites.

Four years ago, Sony upgraded their flash system to include wireless ratio flash with up to three groups. Last year they added an iISO hotshoe to a NEX camera - not an adapter for the existing NEX flash system. The A77 and A65 would have been prime candidates for a new hotshoe, because the number of A99s sold will not be enough to justify the development costs.
Click to expand...
I guess (hope) Sony took a long look at the factors that made the a900 such a flop (saleswise). Sony cannot realistically hope to compete in the sports/PJ market with Canon and Nikon, but they should be able to get a foot into the fashion/portrait business. And for that clientele having to bother with the Minolta hotshoe is a unnecessary PITA which won't exactly increase their willingness to buy a Sony.

The iISO hotshoe may have been a fancy innovation when it was introduced but nowadays it doesn't really offer any advantage any more.

I'm not sceptical because it wouldn't make sense to change the hotshoe. On the contrary: I'm sceptical because it would make such a lot of sense :-)>
 
cyainparadise said:
JohnyP said:
I really don't believe Sony would step away from a unique mount/system. They have never been known for sharing platform parts with others, so very little reason to start here.
Click to expand...
Sony might do it, only to appeal to the professionals who care about the issue of using wireless remotes to trigger studio lights.
Click to expand...
Pocketwizard only support Canon, Nikon SLRs, and it's not Sony's proprietary hotshoe that prevents them from making one for the Alpha line.

Phottix already make most of theirs with an iISO hotshoe, so, again, I don't think it's the hotshoe that makes a difference. Bower, Metz, Nissin and several others have Sony versions of their flashes. There is no reason to change the hotshoe.
 
Nothing from Sony would surprise me on the flash situation. The flash exposure is already broken on the SLT cameras!
--

"Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin.
You can see larger versions of my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com .
 
Bet you that someone said - hey, there will be NO problem with Pocket Wizards in our new A99!

But they didn't mean a hot shoe change.

They meant the A99 will have built-in Pocket Wizard compatible flash sync - wireless inboard. Just like it will have wifi. That's the actual direction development is taking these days.

David
 
Kzoozoomer said:
dennismullen said:
Nothing from Sony would surprise me on the flash situation. The flash exposure is already broken on the SLT cameras!
--
Click to expand...
So far, both the built-in flash and my F43 appear to work just fine on my new A57.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of people having problems with inconsistency and overexposure.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=41341717

Cheers,
--

"Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin.
You can see larger versions of my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com .
 
Klipsen said:
Time will tell if I'm wrong, but what do you think?
Click to expand...
I think Sony will return to the world standard ISO hot shoe because professionals photographers prefer it. That's reason enough.
  • Jon
 
jonikon said:
I think Sony will return to the world standard ISO hot shoe because professionals photographers prefer it. That's reason enough.
Click to expand...
Not for Sony it isn't. If that were the case, then Sony would have produced the A850/A900 with a standard hotshoe, or even the more recent A65/A77. But they didn't.

I also cannot see the hotshoe mount affecting sales one way or the other. Especially as Sony to standard hotshoe adapters are readily available, and fairly cheap. It is only the Sony one that is expensive.

But bear in mind that it is only a RUMOR .

--

The greatest of mankind's criminals are those who delude themselves into thinking they have done 'the right thing.'
  • Rayna Butler
 
DavieK said:
Bet you that someone said - hey, there will be NO problem with Pocket Wizards in our new A99!

But they didn't mean a hot shoe change.

They meant the A99 will have built-in Pocket Wizard compatible flash sync - wireless inboard. Just like it will have wifi. That's the actual direction development is taking these days.
Click to expand...
I agree, Sony can produce its own Pocket Wizard flash sync system and sell it in bundled kit with the A99 instead of changing to the standard ISO

the next step from Sony is to remove the internal focus motor from their new alpha bodies and force you only to use the SAM or SSM lenses !!
 
I think it would be a good idea to go back. The ISO hot shoe is not perfect, but it is standard. Minolta thought that it had built a better mouse trap with its proprietary hot shoe, but I don't think anybody bought Minolta cameras because of the hot shoe. In fact, I think they lost some sales because of the hot shoe. Photographers who own multiple systems would probably appreciate not having to remember how to mount a proprietary flash when they switch between cameras.

Sony has a decision to make: stick with the non-standard hot shoe until eternity or make a move back to the old one at some point in time. It would be interesting to see how they decide.
Klipsen said:
Realistically, I have nothing to base my assumption upon, but the rumour about the A99 going to have an ISO hotshoe rather than an iISO one seems perfect in order to discredit rumour sites.

Four years ago, Sony upgraded their flash system to include wireless ratio flash with up to three groups. Last year they added an iISO hotshoe to a NEX camera - not an adapter for the existing NEX flash system. The A77 and A65 would have been prime candidates for a new hotshoe, because the number of A99s sold will not be enough to justify the development costs.

Most people who believe the rumour seem to be glad that their wish is finally coming true, so my guess is they simply want to believe it.

Time will tell if I'm wrong, but what do you think?
Click to expand...
 
Anastigmat said:
I think it would be a good idea to go back. The ISO hot shoe is not perfect, but it is standard. Minolta thought that it had built a better mouse trap with its proprietary hot shoe, but I don't think anybody bought Minolta cameras because of the hot shoe. In fact, I think they lost some sales because of the hot shoe. Photographers who own multiple systems would probably appreciate not having to remember how to mount a proprietary flash when they switch between cameras.
Click to expand...
The easy solution is to provide an ISO adapter for free with each camera not breaking the system with something worse. There are 5$ adapters in ebay.

--
Regards,
Juan

http://500px.com/endosphoto
http://www.endosphoto.com
 
Anastigmat said:
Photographers who own multiple systems would probably appreciate not having to remember how to mount a proprietary flash when they switch between cameras.
Click to expand...
What?!

You realise that different systems have distance (and aperture) scales that turn in opposite directions, rigth? Canon and Sony/Minolta turn in one direction to focus, Nikon in the other.

Tamron's 18-200 mm zoom turns in the "Nikon direction" for focusing ... even in the Sony branded version!

On manual focus lenses, Canon, Minolta and Nikon had the aperture ring next to the body, whereas Olympus and Leica had it at the front of the lens - except on zooms, where they did as the others.

And you think Sony should worry that professional photographers will be confused because they don't need to tighten a ring on the flash?
Anastigmat said:
Sony has a decision to make: stick with the non-standard hot shoe until eternity or make a move back to the old one at some point in time. It would be interesting to see how they decide.
Click to expand...
They also have to decide whether or not to change to the Canon EF bayonet to make things easier for photographers contemplating to buy an Alpha.
 
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