Canon is not too worried about the competition from Nikon, which is a fairly small company, relatively speaking, but Sony? They have a deep pocket to finance sizeable R&D programs. One more blunder in the magnitude of the 1D Mark III and Canon will be left behind, way behind.....
Based on those photos, I really hope that the rear buttons don't do anything important, cause I know if I were using that camera, i'd be pressing half of them anytime I picked the camera up, and the other half of them when running around working. It looks too cheap and toyish IMO. Doesn't really matter - I'm not about to jump ship to move to Sony.... If nikon's offerings can't get me to switch, sony's really got nothing to offer me. I already own a full-frame camera and an entire lens system.
Only reason I'll like the Sony is because it is competition, and it seems like Sony is at least trying with thie alpha line. I didn't really expect them to go very far with dSLRs - I thought they would release a couple of entry level dSLRs and maybe slowly add semi-pro bodies before finding out they werent getting the sales volume they'd hoped for. Around here, from what I can tell, they still haven't - I think I've seen two alphas out in people's hands, compared to hundreds of Canon or Nikon slrs. Nonetheless, I hope that Sony does keep at it - I am all for another camera 'war' - the last one got us lenses like the 50 1.0L, 200 1.8L, IS lenses, bodies like the EOS 1V-HS, EOS 3, 1Ds, 1D, D30. I hope that Canon can again top themselves....
Its 2.8. What comes to the body, it looks old and toyish with buttons placed randomly all over it. And if its supposed to be their "pro" body, why separate battery grip? However, sensor and lenses can be tempting. More competition is always welcome.
Shuko wrote:
Its 2.8. What comes to the body, it looks old and toyish with buttons placed randomly all over it. And if its supposed to be their "pro" body, why separate battery grip? However, sensor and lenses can be tempting. More competition is always welcome.
I suspect the body shape and the ergonomics are still evolving. Watch this space. Sony's first target was to knock Olympus off third place. I've seen more Sonys out there than Olympus so perhaps they have succeeded already. Olympus would have been relatively easy. The new system is quite different to the OM system so it can be effectively regarded as a new line. Besides, it's 4:3 and I think Olympus backed a losing horse there. Sony's next target is Nikon but I think that will take them a lot longer because there are so many Nikon users already out there with a bagful of lenses they're not interested in offloading. With legacy lenses still able to be used with current bodies (to a limited extent), it will be much harder to dislodge Nikon from second spot.
J.D. wrote:
I suspect the body shape and the ergonomics are still evolving. Watch this space. Sony's first target was to knock Olympus off third place. I've seen more Sonys out there than Olympus so perhaps they have succeeded already. Olympus would have been relatively easy. The new system is quite different to the OM system so it can be effectively regarded as a new line. Besides, it's 4:3 and I think Olympus backed a losing horse there. Sony's next target is Nikon but I think that will take them a lot longer because there are so many Nikon users already out there with a bagful of lenses they're not interested in offloading. With legacy lenses still able to be used with current bodies (to a limited extent), it will be much harder to dislodge Nikon from second spot. ...Show more →
I am a bit skeptical to be honest. Some predict/expect 2008 to be the last year for the DSLR bubble of wild expansion and monumental sales. With the possible exception of Pentax all traditional camera makers have already well developed lines with multiple distinct models at different price levels. Surprising perhaps but Olympus is extremely well focused in it's efforts regarding cameras and lenses. And I suspect most manufacturers' profits are from entry and mid-level lines.
Where all that leaves Sony? In my view nowhere.... and no publicity from possible future full format models will change the game. They lost two years with only one DSLR model on the shelves. Whatever they have now lack distinction and is a "me too" lacklustre products. They lack distinction and couldn't excel/ stand out in any particular area. No doubt they realise sales but in a saturating market Sony lack a lot to dislodge any of the two biggest players; Olympus is well and kicking from it's niche market, and it's share is too small anyway for a player like Sony.
I.G.I. wrote:
I am a bit skeptical to be honest. Some predict/expect 2008 to be the last year for the DSLR bubble of wild expansion and monumental sales. With the possible exception of Pentax all traditional camera makers have already well developed lines with multiple distinct models at different price levels. Surprising perhaps but Olympus is extremely well focused in it's efforts regarding cameras and lenses. And I suspect most manufacturers' profits are from entry and mid-level lines.
Where all that leaves Sony? In my view nowhere.... and no publicity from possible future full format models will change the game. They lost two years with only one DSLR model on the shelves. Whatever they have now lack distinction and is a "me too" lacklustre products. They lack distinction and couldn't excel/ stand out in any particular area. No doubt they realise sales but in a saturating market Sony lack a lot to dislodge any of the two biggest players; Olympus is well and kicking from it's niche market, and it's share is too small anyway for a player like Sony. ...Show more →
A full frame in-body anti-vibration system and line of Zeiss branded lenses are not distinctive?
At one time Sony used to be known as a manufacturer of walkman audio players, until they decided to enter the TV market. If they follow the same pattern they will be more than "just competition".
I'm really surprised to hear all the negatives coming mostly about "looks" and "button placement" - people should be more concerned about image qualities, iso preformance, etc, rather than where a button is located...
I.G.I. wrote:
Whatever Sony has now lacks distinction and is a "me too" lacklustre product. They lack distinction and couldn't excel/ stand out in any particular area.
AJ Nadershahi wrote:
A full frame in-body anti-vibration system and line of Zeiss branded lenses are not distinctive?
OP has to go with AJ on this one.
Those factors - more MP than any Canon, anti-vibration built in, and Zeiss lenses - could get the attention (and purchasing dollars) of a lot of serious photographers in a hurry, especially if Sony's full-frame body with those features costs less than the Canon flagship.
I think brand loyalty based on "investment in lenses" is grossly overestimated in an era when a lot of equipment is purchased secondhand after it has largely depreciated and interested buyers (to resell it to) can be found in a matter of hours using eBay and the B&S forum.
?!!!!!