Photokina first impressions...

[David Kilpatrick]

Met Paul from Sony hobnobbing with the Canon crowd tonight (last night, Monday, whatever) at Papa Joes's.

Took some snaps of Sony stand before it opened... etc



Sony's cryptic sign in the Press Centre



My working procedure in the Press Centre! Vital components of photokina reporting.



One of the three corridors of the strangely atavistic, almost Knossos-like Sony stand, with its unconventional architecture and layout.



The really strange back side of the Sony stand - apparently no photos will be mounted. The bright part is not a window, it's the next stand along. This is odd. I hope that by tomorrow this huge wall is covered with pix.

Sony stand has dozens, dozens and dozens of A100s. Mounted with SSM lenses aimed at a photo shot scene, in cabs, in SSS demo units. The photos on the stand are awful. They are often not sharp, many show high levels of noise and all of them have an uninspiring colour palette. They look like Sony Germany picked some lousy Magnum photogs and minor celebs - as on the website - and used their pix. Tons of ordinary A100 users on dPreview have infinity better pictures than anything to be seen on the Sony stand- sadly.

David

 

[Papasha]

Thanks David! Will be looking forward for your reports in the coming days...

Then again, maybe just one day will be enough to describe all that Sony has in store for us?

Met Paul from Sony hobnobbing with the Canon crowd tonight (last
night, Monday, whatever) at Papa Joes's.

...

 

[aarif]

Thank you

I was really hoping for some kind of a leak about a new Alpha but my hopes are diminishing by the hour, maybe you can find out something from anyone there

Regards

--
You're welcome to visit my favorite Gallery
http://www.pbase.com/aarif/favorites

 

[JusGene]

dash the hope of any worthwhile DSLR annoucements, don't you think?
--
Gene

I live in Minoltaville, just inside Sony City (but I may have to go with the flow) Awaiting 7D upgrade.
'The only thing easier than being wrong .. is denying it!' -me
MaxxuM 7 Digital

 

[Ken_5D]

If the PMA spring timetable we have heard of is true.. leaks now would be very damaging to creating the right buzz at release and in keeping the competition guessing.

Those that don't want Sony to screw up will have to learn to enjoy the silence.

------------
Ken - KM 5D
Sigma Trinity 10-20, 24-135 f2.8-4.5, 70-300 APO DG
http://www.cascadephotoworks.com

 

[Claymore]

I think we all agree that KM color is sorely missing from Sony cameras. IMO, theirs is "comic book"

color. I feel if the Minolta A-2 was there, --it would be the best camera in the place. I'm spoiled

I guess. (I don't want a DSLR, if anything, maybe a continuing of the Axx series and KM color.)
Here is one straight from the A-2, show Sony-- what we want.



Clifford

 

[Mark VB]

If the PMA spring timetable we have heard of is true.. leaks now
would be very damaging to creating the right buzz at release and in
keeping the competition guessing.

Those that don't want Sony to screw up will have to learn to enjoy
the silence.

Silence is not something to enjoy. Olympus has let it be known fairly clearly they are working on an E-1 replacement, but not showing anything other than a non-descript body with no markings. The Fuji S5 announcement is a product development announcement - some but not all details of the final specifications, for a product to be released early next year. Pentax's digital 645 is similarly apparently a development in progress, but information is being provided.

One does not have to be silent to keep some of the world guessing as to what is planned. My own view is that Sony is not in a sufficiently strong market position to leave current owners and current fence sitters hanging. If we switch Sony actually loses two potential customers in the short term, one in the longer term. Those switching are history, while those purchasing their gear on eBay or elsewhere won't need to purchase something for at least a while.

Indeed, KM did a "product in development" announcement for the 7D at the 2004 PMA show, but the camera was not actually revealed until Photokina 2004, about 6-7 months later. It would do Sony little harm to let the world know it is working on a higher specified model for release early next year (assuming it is true of course). Those interested in such a camera are unlikely to buy an A100 between now and then anyway, and even if some were the numbers are so small as to be inconsequential. It also would give sales reps and dealers something to entice possible Sony customers, pointing to Sony's dedication to the product line for the future.

Let me add that David's comments about the lack of quality photographs in the Sony display is quite discouraging. This sounds like a play out of the Minolta/KM/USA playbook which got them nowhere. There is nothing that says "quality camera" like showing quality photographs from that camera. If what you show is lousy, people will think so is the camera. Very discouraging indeed.

Maybe David will have something better to report tomorrow when the show actually opens.

--
Mark Van Bergh

 

[gordon knight]

I bet you turn up this morning and there are loads of Alpha 200's on show.
--
Gor

 

[PhotoTraveler]

David, your mission should you chose to accept it is to find out what the heck sony is up to.

1. What is up with Zeiss stuff, when, where and what (word on the street is people are eying the new ZFs, hint hint, find more)

2. Road maps, is there one, or does it go off a cliff.

3. Body stuff would be nice, but probably not much there.

I'm sure you are trying to figure out as much as you can, but I think the "what is the lens path" is one of the biggest questions for everyone.

So by that first shot, does that mean future models will stabilized escalators.

 

[David Kilpatrick]

I've got an appointment to see my UK contact around 1.30pm today on the Sony stand. This is encouraging because this summer, he didn't think he would be part of the stand team at all - that it would all be run by Sony Germany. The stand is very much a Sony Germany thing. It is in a good position, but an unusual design - you walk up steps from a public area into the hall, and the stand is laterally across your path. A single corridor leads in, crossing three long aisles, which have tall solid barrier walls between them, and these aisles divide the product areas - Alpha, digital printing, and digital video. There are then several further small stands, like satellites, with specialist products and the inevitable Playstation, Vaio etc.

Alpha is the first aisle and the display of mounted cameras with lenses for people to look through is right as you enter the stand. But where Canon and Leica have had displays like this, the cameras have always aimed out over the halls, so you can pick out distant items and people and stands through the lens; Sony's cameras aim at a brightly lit tableau about 15 feet away, in front of which a photographer will give a demonstration.

There is also an Elinchrom-equipped studio area where I guess another shooting demo will take place, probably with immediate printing through Sony printers.

Anyway, the show opens in ten minutes, I'm half an hour away and must go now!

David

 

[Dat Ei]

Hey David,

thanks for your first impressions. I hope you could enjoy Papa Joes (Klimperkasten or Streckstrump) and the Gaffel beer, which is one of the top four beers (named Koelsch) in my hometown Cologne.

In a german digicam forum I've read the comment of a user, that in the press conference Sony has hinted at the forthcoming (coming soon) cams A10 and A1 and at their goal to become No.1 in the market. Can you confirm that?

Regards

Dat Ei
--
6-6-6 - and still waiting for the beast...
'Charter Member of the Konica Minolta 7D Adoption Society'
'First in - last out!'

 

[hanugro]

Sony should just tell intention, no spec is necessary. I think next year would be A100 replacement around Summer/Fall 07 and 7D-class early on (PMA 07). 9D class would have to wait on PMA 08, I am afraid.

 

[hanugro]

Hm, need to start saving then. Sony need to offer discount/rebate for A-100 now that D80 and K10D start to appear.

Hey David,

thanks for your first impressions. I hope you could enjoy Papa Joes
(Klimperkasten or Streckstrump) and the Gaffel beer, which is one
of the top four beers (named Koelsch) in my hometown Cologne.
In a german digicam forum I've read the comment of a user, that in
the press conference Sony has hinted at the forthcoming (coming
soon) cams A10 and A1 and at their goal to become No.1 in the
market. Can you confirm that?

 

[Rob Vermaas]

Í am glad you still enjoy your vintage A2 but is it necessary to bash Sony in every thread you respond to?

Colors of the A100 are very good to my eyes and difference with Minolta colors is not that explicit ( i shoot in raw).
Remember this thread
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=19838261

Opinions vary and many in that thread picked the wrong one.......

Regards,

Rob

 

[Hatro]

in todays Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (German newspaper) you will find a quite lengthy and interesting interview of Mr. Nkagaawa, responsible for digital camera division with Sony. He states in this interview that within 3 years Sony wants to become the market leader (at present No. 2) in digital p&s compact cameras.

Concerning digital SLR he mentions only that Sony tries to achieve a 2-digit market share within a very short time.

Helmut

 

[digitalshooter]

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

Member of the 7D and Beercan Cult!

The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming clearer and its calling me to the darkside!

 

[kiklop_2]

--
http://www.dyxum.com - the world of the Minolta mount digital SLR

 

[Artur.]

photography is just storing reflection of light ...
so, where are filings?

how would all Rembrandt's paintings look if he could use super hyper technology paintbrush?
you all know.

marketing links filings with product and we all feed this machinery wishing to get dreamed tool. but shouldn't we dream more about great photography then great tool to catch the moment, should we?

All producers work for income and delivering photo equipment is only the way to fulfil businessplan. Sony has their business plan announced many times and our wishful thinking will not change it. There is link to polish interview with Mr Takashim Kondo: http://www.fotopolis.pl/index.php?n=4476 ,(it is just example).

Message from Sony is consistent from beginning: Primary target is to rich third position in digital imaging with 20% market share. Delivering introduction and middle level equipment - it is the way to achieve the target. As it was said during interview, they will think about high end market after reaching first target, and they know requirements of professionals. I was expecting some news on Photokina (Sony's press conference on Monday) but it is was only confirmation of initial message.

Knowing all that we can predict when we can have newer superior brush, and we can also make it faster - just buy as many A100 as you can, and convince all your friends and family ;-)

But why do we need hyper brush?

I take photos for pleasure using Minolta 9xi (great analog machine) then scan. It gives huge dynamic range with negatives but it takes time to process.

Today, because of influence of marketing techniques, I compare tool which was for 'professionals' few years ago with 'introductory' equipment.

A100 can give more detailed images and seems to provide safe dynamic range (in RAW), so I am ready to buy one to attach to my lens ..., but because of crop factor I have to buy new lens (waiting for 16-80) and because of P-TTL, a new flash. The cost is equal to films for few years or exiting outing for family, but it allow to shot more photos in shorter time ;-))) and the noise is so invisible compared to film and ...

A100 looks less durable but in some areas more technically advanced then my current 9xi; so it should help to take more technically correct photos (really?). Will they be better photos?

On the picture below there is my younger daughter Marta (drinking apple juice). Photo is taken in 2003 but it is good, current illustration - there is always way to take share of ...



Best regards
Artur

p.s. Question for David or any person attending Photokina - it would be good to know how Sony treat A100, is it introductory or middle level for them?

 

[KEITH-C]

I'm not too sure what you are saying Artur ? Are you suggesting that because Sony say their initial aim is to capture 20% of the DSLR market that it will automatically happen ? If it were that easy presumably all those with a lesser market share could do the same.

Just as a better camera cannot guarantee anyone better photos so having a a big bank account cannot guarantee that Sony will get their way in this competitive market. That requires experience & skill & yes, a bit of luck as well. Sony have failed in other areas such a handheld palmtop computers & mini-disc so the there nothing automatic about any proposals or endeavours.

PS - your appealing photo needs attention to white balance - it is just not enough to share photos of pretty children & expect automatic praise. Please be happy if you wish but don't try to persuade others that their concerns are unfounded or unrealistic.

Keith-C

 

[Ralf B]

Sony, für dessen Alpha 100 im Oktober auch zwei Objektive von Carl Zeiss auf den Markt kommen, strebt für seine digitalen Spiegelreflexkameras mittelfristig 20 Prozent Marktanteil an und geht den umgekehrten Weg wie Matsushita. Die nächsten Modelle sollen oberhalb der Alpha 100 positioniert werden, meint Katsumoto. Sony hatte die Digitalkamerasparte von Konica Minolta übernommen.

For the non-Germans here:

They aim at 20%, coming from 10% of DSLR market share - which they claim to have already achieved earlier in the text - by introducing additional models positioned ABOVE the ALPHA 100, so states Katsumoto.

Banzaiiiiiii! and C U at PMA.
--
Still no affordable beamer with slide film look, but now I am sold....welcome 5D

Ralf