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If you could ask Sony...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil Askey
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hmmm.

I'm assuming that, given this is a Sony digi-cam forum, the question should be related to Sony's digi-cams.

I would probably ask about Sony's current image sensor research and development other than those efforts devoted to merely increasing pixel count.

I expect I would have to sign an NDA to get any answer worth listening too.

Howdy.
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
 
CTzen said:
Steve Cavigliano said:
So I can start saving my money now. I may have to take a kid or
two out of college. So I need to know ASAP.....LOL
Steve
Click to expand...
--
Slava
Click to expand...
Indeed it will be different five years from now. Recalling, if I may, a remark made by a very young salesman in Germany, where as a traveler, I bought my first Leica in 1950. His comment I have never forgotten,--"They have gone as far as humanly possible with this model. There cannot be futher improvements"!!! (He was serious).

But to address the "One" question; Mr. Sony, will you please consider the following in the new flagship following the 717,--An LCD upgrade that would truly enable manual focusing,--Enable compact flash card usage,--image stabilization,--cordless remote. There! All those things in one question.
--
Bob Fornefeld
 
Why do you only offer 90 day warranty? Do you know something we don't??
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--

Sony SevenSeventeen, Canon SFourHundered, Canon SNineHundred Printer, Canon SForty (Wife), Sony NZNinety PDA w/ two meg camera (kid), Olympus CTwoThousand (Dog) - There.... a search friendly list of equipment.
 
Simple, they'll keep the total package price at about 1/3 the cost of doing a DSLR....
JoeSchmoe said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/josephthai
Click to expand...
--

Sony SevenSeventeen, Canon SFourHundered, Canon SNineHundred Printer, Canon SForty (Wife), Sony NZNinety PDA w/ two meg camera (kid), Olympus CTwoThousand (Dog) - There.... a search friendly list of equipment.
 
I second what Luther wrote, but 35-50mm is considered "normal" for human eye focal length.....
LutherHeggs said:
Why do they (and practically every other manufacturer) think that
35mm focal length on the wide end is "where to start" ? Especially
for "pocket" cameras which are often used at gatherings of people,
inside rooms and restaurants or taken with you all the time in your
daily routine. I'm tired of telling everyone to "squish in" so
they all can fit into the picture, or not getting the picture of a
building or a scenic.

Who the h*ll came up with the "35 (or 38) to 140" as the most
desired and most useful focal lengths? Fire your entire market
research department.
Click to expand...
Natalia
http://www.pbase.com/lilredspy/galleries

 
but are you prepared to pay more for the camera???

Service campaigns vary from country to country based on research, repairs, past years of consumer usage and the competitive costs or other manufacturers. Here in Canada the 707 was $1799.00 compared to the $999.00 in the US. But we had a 1year warranty too.
DigitalDoggie said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
Sony SevenSeventeen, Canon SFourHundered, Canon SNineHundred
Printer, Canon SForty (Wife), Sony NZNinety PDA w/ two meg camera
(kid), Olympus CTwoThousand (Dog) - There.... a search friendly
list of equipment.
Click to expand...
--
Posting these days requires either dedication or medication...
cheers
Zip:P

 
This is sounding again like a wish list but hey, Phil you started it. Personally I'm sure Sony is listening to this forum. As profits are down after restructuring, the heads at Sony no doubt want to capture their profit share back, and keep many from the Expensive SLR market(since they don't have one)

So on that note, lets get to the real subject since they are now in product development on the 717 sucessor, and listening.

To SONY lets this time get the lowest noise, best 10x Optical Carl Zeiss lens you can get. Then get your 8mega-pixel 4 color ccd really happening where the images are distortion free, noise free, incorporate Raw/Batch processing and a fast processing times in multiple bursts and you will have a camera that will outsell the market. Just make sure also that the firmware is upgradeable by customer downloads,and supply the camera with a 256Mb memory stick pro, unlike the 35Mb stick that came with the 717.

I own a 717 and would look forward to the 717 sucessor providing that one it passes Phil's review with flying colors, and two it has the same type style as the 717.Keep in mind most of us here like the syle and pictures the 717 provides, and we like the fact that this prosumer camera is a clear portable go anywhere digital, without bags of gear and lenses etc. Good job Sony...now listen to your customers, and lets see a Real 828 that blows the doors of the compitition!!
 
Gene Miller said:
From what I see, Sony has been activitly expanding the popularity
of the MS. All these memory cards are important to the bottom line
of all these companies. Olympus/Fujifilm w/Smartmedia & xD, Kodac
w/MultiMedia, Panasonic w/Secure Digital, I'm not sure whose behind
the CF cards, But they all want their cards to dominate the market.
The competition should force the price of memory cards down. Plus I
really think there is a market for all of these memory cards. A few
short years ago it would of been impossible to ever think that so
much storage could be in such a small package. My hats off to all
these manufactures for developing such great technology. Like
everyone else, I just want to see large capacity storage prices
come down. That will happen in time.

I think it is foolish to stop someone from buying a camera they
want based solely on the memory card being used.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's so foolish at all. Tell that to someone who has a lot invested in other memory formats (be it CF or SD or...many of which could have been paid at a higher premium before prices dropped, so harder to recoup costs even if sold). In a case like that, given all other things being relatively equal, the media may be the stumbling block with going (or even considering) Sony.
Gene Miller77510 said:
I think with
higher end cameras we will see the continual use of multiple memory
sockets.

I can still remember when buying a 100 or 200 megabyte hard drive
cost you a small fortune. So no matter what memory card you have to
use, the technology for them has really advanced, and I for one, is
very thankful.
Justme said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
C700uz, E100rs, V1, i950
http://www.pbase.com/gene
Life is just a stage and we all have enough pictures to proof it!
Click to expand...
 
Will u stop using propreitery media and standars unless it is the absolute need to advance technology. For eg : Memory Stick is a loser in media war.

Best way to get good prodcuts out is universal plug and play these days. If u support multiple media that will be ideal.
sudeep
Angelito Jusay said:
keith13d said:
Angelito Jusay said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
Quiet, it's my loudest cry.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Quiet, it's my loudest cry.
Click to expand...
 
LanceD said:
I agreed with you on the "rebadged" of DSLR. But "rebadging" won't
help them win over Canon and Nikon.
Click to expand...
See, heres peoples first problem. Sony isnt looking to 'win' over Nikon or Canon. Why would they want to??? Sony is the most diversified electronics manufacturer there is. Making a DSLR would be 'just' to reach another market segment. thats all.

When Sony decided to get into the car/mobile audio segment people said they were crazy. Alpine, Clarion, Pioneer still lead but Sony did it just ...because they can!
LanceD said:
About SUV, it is a huge, growing market in the US, and is expanding
to Europe as well, so it makes sense for Honda to grab a piece of
it. DSLR, on the other hand, is more for semi-pro and professional
photographers.
Click to expand...
My Honda SUV example was exactly what it was. An example. Dont worry, im with you not against you. Sony probably wont be coming out with a DSLR anytime soon. BUT if they do, as ive said. The most cost effective way is to rebadge another.

Sony as a whole probably has the biggest and best 'consumer loyality' of any other manufacturer. People mature and evolve. Sooner or later people will want to move to the DLSR segment. This is and will be a concern for Sony. No different than when Honda only made the Accord, Civic and Prelude in the early 90's. No van or SUV existed. And now theyre making a Honda truck.

It takes a manufacturer twice as much work to re-gain the customers they once had than to get new ones.
LanceD said:
The only reason I think make sense for Sony to go DSLR is for the
image of the company and show its leadership in digital cam market
at a whole, but I still don't think profitability out of it would
make sense.
Click to expand...
The profitability would make sense if its done right.

Look at all the hoopla on the 8MP CCD. In my opinion this 'may' be a disaster waiting to happen. Such a large chip will force you to buy the bigger sticks. Guess what complaints this forum will be filled with then?
LanceD said:
ZipperZ said:
LanceD said:
sale of Sony digital cam is much smaller than their gaming devices,
and a high-end 717 is only 1/10 (or even smaller) of their digital
cam market. So putting out a DSLR won't do much for their profit.
Actually, it would be the otherway around b/c of the R&D money put
into it. Also, the price difference b/w a DSLR body and a 717 is
only 1/3, so I don't think it's justifiable from the business point
of view.
Click to expand...
yes and no.

each product line brings residual profits in other areas like
accessories where profit points are highest. It would be wisest for
a manufacturer who has not been known to be any type of leader in
any market segment to test the waters with an already produced
product. Prime example is Honda with their 'Passport' SUV. It was a
rebadged Isuzu Trooper.
If and thats a big if.(total pie in the sky) If Sony was to bring
out a dslr it would be best for them to do so with a dslr cam like
the Contax N. It keeps the CZ cooperation and Sony spends no money
on R&D. Perfect way to test the waters. And, knowing theres very
little profitibility in ultra high end products this solution will
satisfy some. Most likely very little. Then it will get shelved and
it will become one of the 'also rans'

You really have to think about who Sony targeted when they decided
to make the 1-gig MS-pro. At its cost factor is someone who just
bought a U60 or a P-series cam gonna buy a 1-gig stick? NO! only
people with really deep pockets will dig deep for the 1gig. Does
anyone here on this site have one??? probably not. and yah i know,
cost is still too high right now.
LanceD said:
ZipperZ said:
Im sure this thread is really all about what SOny can do to keep or
gain more profibility. Gain or regain their market share.
With Sony being a technology leader where most look onto them to
see what they do next i really dont think Sony needs to follow.
(off my soapbox now)
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
Posting these days requires either dedication or medication...
cheers
Zip:P

Click to expand...
--
Lance
Click to expand...
--
Posting these days requires either dedication or medication...
cheers
Zip:P

Click to expand...
--
Lance
Click to expand...
--
Posting these days requires either dedication or medication...
cheers
Zip:P

 
Sudeep said:
Will u stop using propreitery media and standars unless it is the
absolute need to advance technology. For eg : Memory Stick is a
loser in media war.
Click to expand...
I don't think so. That is just your bias. I think Sony feels that their MS will dominate the industry. But right now it is too early to see if any of these new memory cards are going to dominate. I think there is room for all of them. All the manufactures are using propreitary media. I lost track at what is considered standard. I guess for some it is double A's and CF. Not for me.
Sudeep Kottilingal said:
Best way to get good prodcuts out is universal plug and play these
days. If u support multiple media that will be ideal.
sudeep
Angelito Jusay said:
keith13d said:
Angelito Jusay said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
Quiet, it's my loudest cry.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Quiet, it's my loudest cry.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
C700uz, E100rs, V1, i950
http://www.pbase.com/gene
Life is just a stage and we all have enough pictures to proof it!
 
Ulysses said:
Exactamundo, Zip.
Click to expand...
whhooooHoooo...im 2 for 2 with the grand poohbah Uly-meister
Member said:
Sometimes because we users frequent the forums so... well... so
frequently, we can make the mistake of thinking that our own
microcosm represents the overall buying patterns of the market at
large. But it's not usually the case.

On your point of 'testing the waters', a good example by Sony can
be seen in the Screenblast software for compiling and editing video:
http://www.screenblast.com/main/home/index.jsp
Click to expand...
interesting site. Ill have to take a closer look. thanks :o)
Member said:
Initially, this software was licensed by Sony from a small but
versatile company called Sonic Foundry. It's a very nice but
inexpensive package, and yet it does some very advanced things for
software of its type. Sony was saved the development costs and
initially only rebadged the software. Later on, they bought the
desktop software assets of Sonic Foundry, which included the video
and music related software assets. It was a great move for that
small company, and it was a great move for Sony who could now
expand the concepts and tools. It seems to be achieving success for
them.
Click to expand...
Sony did simular with Akai.
Member said:
On the Pro, I totally agree. I've been saying that the Pro was not
intended for "us" --- at least not initially. When it is, we'll see
prices come down as well as a lot more supply.
Click to expand...
well, theres something in the horizon that will see better usage for the larger stick. Maybe an ultimate MP3 player with 50,000 songs hehe

cheers
Member said:
ZipperZ said:
yes and no.

each product line brings residual profits in other areas like
accessories where profit points are highest. It would be wisest for
a manufacturer who has not been known to be any type of leader in
any market segment to test the waters with an already produced
product. Prime example is Honda with their 'Passport' SUV. It was a
rebadged Isuzu Trooper.
If and thats a big if.(total pie in the sky) If Sony was to bring
out a dslr it would be best for them to do so with a dslr cam like
the Contax N. It keeps the CZ cooperation and Sony spends no money
on R&D. Perfect way to test the waters. And, knowing theres very
little profitibility in ultra high end products this solution will
satisfy some. Most likely very little. Then it will get shelved and
it will become one of the 'also rans'

You really have to think about who Sony targeted when they decided
to make the 1-gig MS-pro. At its cost factor is someone who just
bought a U60 or a P-series cam gonna buy a 1-gig stick? NO! only
people with really deep pockets will dig deep for the 1gig. Does
anyone here on this site have one??? probably not. and yah i know,
cost is still too high right now.
Click to expand...
--

Ulysses
Click to expand...
--
Posting these days requires either dedication or medication...
cheers
Zip:P

 
Justme said:
Justme said:
I think it is foolish to stop someone from buying a camera they
want based solely on the memory card being used.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's so foolish at all. Tell that to someone who has
a lot invested in other memory formats (be it CF or SD or...many of
which could have been paid at a higher premium before prices
dropped, so harder to recoup costs even if sold). In a case like
that, given all other things being relatively equal, the media may
be the stumbling block with going (or even considering) Sony
Click to expand...
I disagree, I too think it's foolish to base a camera buying decision on the memory card. One can sell any used memory card on eBay for price of new card, so it's a non-issue, IMHO.
--
JohnK
 
While the Sticks are at present used only in the cameras from Sony and maybe one or two other companies, it is still the fastest-growing format around, while CF is seeing a decline.

It's not doing at all a bad job.

But it's still a good question to wonder.
Gene Miller said:
I don't think so. That is just your bias. I think Sony feels that
their MS will dominate the industry. But right now it is too early
to see if any of these new memory cards are going to dominate. I
think there is room for all of them. All the manufactures are using
propreitary media. I lost track at what is considered standard. I
guess for some it is double A's and CF. Not for me.
Click to expand...
--

Ulysses
 
Justme said:
Gene Miller said:
From what I see, Sony has been activitly expanding the popularity
of the MS. All these memory cards are important to the bottom line
of all these companies. Olympus/Fujifilm w/Smartmedia & xD, Kodac
w/MultiMedia, Panasonic w/Secure Digital, I'm not sure whose behind
the CF cards, But they all want their cards to dominate the market.
The competition should force the price of memory cards down. Plus I
really think there is a market for all of these memory cards. A few
short years ago it would of been impossible to ever think that so
much storage could be in such a small package. My hats off to all
these manufactures for developing such great technology. Like
everyone else, I just want to see large capacity storage prices
come down. That will happen in time.

I think it is foolish to stop someone from buying a camera they
want based solely on the memory card being used.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Justme said:
I don't think it's so foolish at all. Tell that to someone who has
a lot invested in other memory formats (be it CF or SD or...many of
which could have been paid at a higher premium before prices
dropped, so harder to recoup costs even if sold). In a case like
that, given all other things being relatively equal, the media may
be the stumbling block with going (or even considering) Sony.
Click to expand...
I too have a lot of old money into different memory media. SM, CF, xD, Zip cartridges, 2" Sony floppy disks (I don't want to talk about that), and so on. That still hasn't stopped me from buying what I want in new technology. I still say if what a person considers that they want to stay with the accessories they have, then that is okay. A lot of people do that. But if they want the new technology and won't do it on the principle that the manufactures should not have changed the batteries or memory cards, and if you really want the newest and don't get what you want if you can afford it, then I do think that is foolish. Who knows how technology is going to change in the future. All those things are part of the cost of upgrading into the newer equipment.
Justme said:
Justme said:
I think with
higher end cameras we will see the continual use of multiple memory
sockets.

I can still remember when buying a 100 or 200 megabyte hard drive
cost you a small fortune. So no matter what memory card you have to
use, the technology for them has really advanced, and I for one, is
very thankful.
Justme said:
Phil Askey said:
Hi guys,

Just out of interest if you had a chance to ask Sony one question
what would it be? (Nothing rude please!)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
C700uz, E100rs, V1, i950
http://www.pbase.com/gene
Life is just a stage and we all have enough pictures to proof it!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
C700uz, E100rs, V1, i950
http://www.pbase.com/gene
Life is just a stage and we all have enough pictures to proof it!
 
ZipperZ said:
whhooooHoooo...im 2 for 2 with the grand poohbah Uly-meister
Click to expand...
We now get our buffalo skin hats! ;-)
ZipperZ said:
interesting site. Ill have to take a closer look. thanks :o)
Click to expand...
Whoops. That's the subscription site. I meant the Movie Studio software at:

http://www.screenblast.com/main/content/index.jsp?name=sw_moviestudio_main&menuPath=%2Fsoftware%2Findex.jsp
ZipperZ said:
well, theres something in the horizon that will see better usage
for the larger stick. Maybe an ultimate MP3 player with 50,000
songs hehe
Click to expand...
Hmm... my vote is something for video would be nice.

Say, that's the question: What in the world are the Pro Sticks going to be for? Heheheheh...

--

Ulysses
 
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