billzilla2000
Veteran Member
Would it make more sense to you if you owned that camera? He's not talking specifically about the A57. He's talking about A mount. That's what this whole discussion is about.
Who claims it should? Nobody.
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Sony commited to expanding A-mount
- Thread starter Anderton
- Start date
They release a lens roadmap for the E-Mount 15 or so lens all the way to 2015.
They did not release and haven't in recent time released any form of roadmap for A- mount.
What we do see if 1 $3000 Full Frame Lens being released.
Everything still lines up the way I see the Future. They will continue with A-mount for high-end or Full Frame camera and lenses.
However, I still think it's likely you will see less focus on APS-C cameras for A-Mount.
Bottom line, there is no new information available today on what are the future plans for A-mount.
They did not release and haven't in recent time released any form of roadmap for A- mount.
What we do see if 1 $3000 Full Frame Lens being released.
Everything still lines up the way I see the Future. They will continue with A-mount for high-end or Full Frame camera and lenses.
However, I still think it's likely you will see less focus on APS-C cameras for A-Mount.
Bottom line, there is no new information available today on what are the future plans for A-mount.
RichV
Veteran Member
To me it's Sony's way of shifting the mindset. NEX has a much better reputation and acceptance level in some circles than does Alpha, so in the future people will only refer to Alpha.
billzilla2000
Veteran Member
Again, he doesn't say anything different there.
'Not going away' for Sony can mean just about anything.
The new G lens, possibly another lens after that, and adapters. He even said 'you can do everything on an A7 with the LA-EA4 that you can do with an SLT' (which doesn't appear to be true re: IBIS but that's beside the point).
Remember, Sony has a vested interest in keeping people buying A mount for the time being, even if they plan to sunset the system. And they have a history of very slow ends to their product lines.
RichV
Veteran Member
Things sure get around quickly! http://www.cameraegg.org/sony-a7-a7r-rx10-sample-images/
RichV
Veteran Member
There's no clear answer, but I'd put my best guess on new A-mount bodies next year. Sony DOES use A-mount on dedicated video cameras, and they DON'T announce any fast lenses for the A7/R because it would defeat the purpose of the form factor. Brian's statement about "doing anything" is just a part of the whole play; it's ridiculous to discuss A-mount bodies at the inauguration of the A7/R - A-mount will have its turn next year.
Here's a SAR clip from the end of May. I haven't seen anything that changes that, but feel free to update me. With this view, the picture makes more sense:
"Two months ago I gave you a shock by telling you that Sony canceled the planed A-mount camera releases for 2013. This means not entry level FF, not high end FF and not A77 successor will come within the next 6 months. The reason why Sony dropped them is that the new CEO wants to really challenge the Canon-Nikon dominance in the only profitable pro camera market. And to achieve that goal the new cameras have to be not just a small upgrade but a real new big step forward over the predecessors. I am now working on the new A-mount roadmap. And I got some reliable info about the new Full Frame strategy:
1) Two new A-mount Full Frame cameras coming in 2014
2) There is a third A-mount Full Frame camera planed but it may be released in early 2015.
3) All new Full Frame cameras will be mirrorless (this means DSLR shape, A-mount, but no SLT mirror).
4) Both cameras will use a new generation 30+ MP sensor (yes, I said new and not the same of the Nikon D800…it’s better!)."
I very much agree with just about everything you've been saying about all of this. I'm now actually thinking that Sony decided a while ago that the A58 was a last one, as a tool, to bridge the time it takes to push more E-mount and NEX style bodies and lenses, and to keep being able clear out any current A-mount lenses out of the pipeline, like the popular 18-135 one.
I'm ok with all of this, except for that darn IBIS loss plus having to spend money on an adapter, and the ludicrous E-mount lens prices. For like another $500 one can have a third party adapter that lets you use Canon lenses with AF and OS functionality...
It's all just about money isn't it... And lots and lots of it with this new stage. It's one helluva marketing effort at Sony.... I mean good grief. $1700 on an A7. $800 on a single E-mount lens. $300 on an adapter so I can play with my $100 Minolta beercan. Last question would be, are those new cameras not too thin and are they going to fall out of my hand? The A57 I can hang off the tip of my fingers without having to grip even. Looks like the A7 would slip right off my fingers... lol.
K E Hoffman
Veteran Member
How can the Ford F250 compete with the F150 price point... Different cameras for different needs.
PRos can use the smaller camera.. I think it will be very popular as a 2nd camera etc.
They are not going to drop full DSLR even if the fact that they have to deal with what the customer expects them to carry.
Pros this is a business expense and in a kit easily over $10-15K or more the price difference is not a decider.
RichV
Veteran Member
I hadn't heard about those, but regardless it feels pretty clear to me that Sony doesn't want to impinge on their A-mount FF plans (I also tend to look at the overall reliability of the bigger rumors that I hear; for Sony, firmware's a small issue in most cases unless the Press is harping on something). I don't have a sure feeling about APS-C, but if the new person in charge wants to take it to the competition in a much stronger way, FF A-mount would be the way to go. (And as Canon and Nikon do, they could then trickle the tech downward.) With E-mount and A-mount I see two distinct markets: compact and full-sized. I'd think it would be "mildly suicidal" for Sony to talk about future A-mount directions now - both from a pov of sabotaging the FE line (which IS a huge thing for them - a relatively unchallenged arena for them now, and the ability to blend the NEX success and good feelings with the Alpha name) and because, if they're truly trying to take it to the competition, they're still working hard on it.
RichV
Veteran Member
I mostly agree, although for certain types of pro's this could easily be their only system. And Sony really needs the cache of the pro endorsement - that's why they're getting rid of the NEX name: it's already strong enough with people who own other brands, and with future bodies they'll start referring to it as Alpha. I think it's a good direction all around, and that next year's A-mount bodies will also be something different from Sony.
70-200mm F2.8 for $2998 with no weather sealing and no optical improvements. What pro would interested in that? Even with a new A-mount mirrorless camera.
RichV
Veteran Member
I think I'll wait until I see some testing results.
K E Hoffman
Veteran Member
EinsteinsGhost
Forum Pro
I am also thinking of an old Cyber shot currently in my camera bag: Sony F828. That lens (28-200mm equiv., f/2-2.8), also a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar, performs beautifully at all focal lengths in terms of sharpness and distortion control for a 7-8x zoom. So, to me, the RX10 is really a revival of the good old F828, albeit with a 4x larger sensor. And today, if F828 has a limitation, that would be the old sensor and RX10 addresses it well with a proven larger sensor.
But, it looks like I will miss manual zoom that I loved about the F828, as the RX10 appears to have taken the Power Zoom route.
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RichV
Veteran Member
EinsteinsGhost
Forum Pro
Sony would prefer to sell you two ILCs: Ax-series (E-mount) for portability and Axx-series (A-mount) for speed. And E-mount is an excellent tool to eat into established markets (namely, Canon and Nikon), because it is very different. It would be a tall order, if not impossible, with A-mount since there is minimal differentiation. With portability as a key point to sell, and adaptability as a catalyst as those who currently own Canon and Nikon DSLRs but could use a smaller body for their use, but still want to consider trying the new guy with their existing lens collection (bodies are less important at higher end than are the lenses that go with it), the E-mount offers that choice. And Sony believes that they will fall in love with the camera, enough to start considering A-mount system as well.
As for lens road map, the E-mount needed it because it is a new system. It allows those interested in the new cameras to visualize building a system around it, in the foreseeable future. As it is, 35/2.8, 55/1.8 and 28-70/3.5-5.6 are available at launch. So, a buyer will consider what other options are available, or if they will be. In a few months, 24-70/4 and 70-200/4 will be added, so that gives early adopters a chance to consider adding more.
OTOH, if Sony announces a road map for A-mount, that they will introduce a 70-200/4, or a 150mm f/3.5 macro lens, there really isn't the impact or need for it. The A-mount is nearly 30 years old.
EinsteinsGhost
Forum Pro
RichV
Veteran Member
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