So, the A57 is out and we are already epecting a new SLT model to be announced soon. The A37! A source just sent me that little info: “The A37 is not compatible with Minolta lenses, only with SAM and SSM lenses!“. Yeah I know, very disappointing 🙁
The same source also told me that Sony will in future implement Wi-Fi in NEX and SLT cameras. About time!
Reminder: New camcorders and a new NEX are also coming within the next 1-2 months! Full Frame is due for September.
188 Responses
“The A37 is not compatible with Minolta lenses, only with SAM and SSM lenses!“
Are you f*cking joking?
minolta lenses include SSM lenses wtf
Whoa.. Hold your horses there.. I believe it would meant that A37 don’t have internal motor.
The good thing is, you can always stuck your beloved Minoltas but most likely lose AF. The bad thing is, most of the old Sony lenses doesn’t have an internal AF motor too, which will make it a manual lens.
This rings with the news of Sony is going to renew the entire range of lenses. Pretty much like Nikon did with their Gs and no motor cheap bodies.
That’s just my 0.02.
this is what I thought too.. bodes well.. We need more SSMs.
Yes, I know. The whole point of the Sony system is that you can use old Minolta screw glass!
How long before the A5x doesn’t have a screw drive?
This is a slippery slope.
I never thought this would happen in my lifetime, but I agree with you. Amazing things can happen.
If this rumor comes to pass, it won’t surprise me. Sony are trying to save all the money they can on production costs and this is just another step- you’ll hear them say “Well Nikon does it, it’s not all that unusual you know….”
Keep it up Sony, just a few more blunders like this and you’ll drive out all your serious photographers.
I do like the frog in the warm pot of water approach Sony has taken the last 6 years- make gradual changes to weed out serious photogs one by one, that way you don’t piss them all off too fast for one big large migration away.
end of line.
Oh MCP, how I have missed you! Welcome back!
end of line.
No screw drive motor = a37 can be made cheaper
Sony have been making cheap bodies with a screw drive for years. Any saving will not be passed on to the customer, it’ll stay in Sony’s bank.
I agree.
So, a beginner can’t use a beercan (70-210 f/4 Minolta)
The shame.
Bodies may be cheaper, but lenses more expensive? I’m wondering if sony will remain attractive to the budget enthusiast. The current bodies are way more expensive than the old A2xx/A3xx, e.g. the current A35 is more expensive than my A500.
Canon 1100D price is killing the A3x series. Guess what? The Canon 1100D also has 25 years worth of cheap lenses too…
After disliking Sonys new SLT-only direction it looks like other too are more and more ready to change line completely 😉 And don’t forget that Sigmas HSM often has problems with new bodies like last A77 and A65, so not only your screw driven lenses will be to sale on ebay 😉 For me it is definitely clear now to look towards Canon because:
1. cheaper and (for me) better OFV in whole line,
2. better JPG IQ,
3. endless buffer and not only 1-2 seconds,
4. raw of 18mp cmos as good as sony 16mp cmos,
5. guess that soon announcement of 650D will beat A57 in price
6. confidence in Canon line and FF (Sony will never be Minolta)
7. Nikon same CMOS as Sony, same buffer shortness, software extra
8. and last but not least: image and reputation (here in Germany)
I will keep my alpha material as backup in the car, just sell a few rarely used lenses and acc. on ebay and start slowly with 650D or 600D and a few F2.8 zooms and no more a lot of accessories that anyway I never had with me in case I could use them. RIP Minolta OVF !
@blabla
HAHAHAHA!
What’s the point in telling us what you are doing? You think we actually care?
I have only counted a hand full of old timers that doesn’t like the SLT technology. Others see potential in the system and though it is not perfect, it has it’s advantages.
Even SLR has it’s advantages and disadvantages.
Your points 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are rubbish.
You are however thinking on the right track in regards to selling your stuff on ebay.
So much Q.Q because babby can’t shoot through an OVF.
hehe I took my fist picture in 1972 so I guess I am a little older than you sunnyboy, you will follow me earlier than you think 😉 Sony is definitely leaving the pro market to CaNikon and it’s up to you if you want to be taken seriously or continue playing with new Sony gimmicks all the time. Sony and FF is just a never ending story, life is too short to wait and wait and …
@blabla You are saying I should use Canikon to be taken seriously? I just lost all respect for you.
I can understand you, we are finally here on a Sony fansite ;-). Well for years I was happy with my 2 alphas, just bought them because I had a few Minolta glass and I found Canikons too expensive at that time. Now we almost have a reversed situation and I really can’t understand people’s loyalty to a cam constructor that doesn’t show loyality to its fist-time customer (OVF, tethering, AF-motor, good prices) I am not driving the same german car (not even german ones) for my whole live, why should I shoot with the same gear? I’m not a Canon fan either, but at the moment they have the most serious products.
@blabla
OMG no OVF! Sony is dead! Sony is never be my beloved Minolta. My life is too short to wait..(well I can’t argue with that).
Maybe it’s time for you to slow down from photography and consider gardening or something.
@z: +1 good idea, but we must help poor Japan to recover from last year disasters. So even if I don’t like Sony anymore, I will spend my money for Canon, finally the same country will be benefiting 😉
Oooh ! I love your point no 3 ! Endless buffer for Canon cameras –
Canon 1100D – 2 fps for RAW. Buffer size a staggering 5 frames !!!
Canon 600D – 3.7 fps for RAW. Endless buffer size of 9 frames !!! 😛
Ok ok, lets get serious and see what semi pro 60D can do !
– 5.3 fps (great !), Endless buffer size of a staggering 16 frames !!! 😮
Ok ok how about 7D ?
– 8 fps (woah ! Now we are serious !), Endless buffer size of 15 fps !!!! 😮
Amazing ! So Canon’s best cameras have a staggering endless buffer size of max 16 frames!!! 😀
Ok ok, so much for Canon. Lets see what the new $699 Sony A57 can do.
10 fps at full resolution (How much could the 7D do again ?) – and 21 RAW files !!!!!
I rest my case. 🙂
@Brendon: you are (almost) right, I messed it up here. But look at this video (part 2) http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D7000/
There you see that EOS 60D has endless buffer compared to D7000 and any Alpha. As I am changing system just now, I read and looked at so many articles and videos in the last few weeks to find out if I should go with Nikon or Canon and this was one of the Canon advantages I remembered, but I didn’t realize that this is only true for 60D. Thanks for rectifying this! You see I am just a frustrated alpha amateur knowing nothing about CaNikon yet 😉
Hi blabla,
What you saw was when the Canon was shooting JPEG. If you shoot JPEG then obviously thats great. However no serious photographer I know off shoots JPEG, and all of them shoot RAW bar none.
However the 60D’s RAW buffer is just 16 as tested by Dpreview – http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos60d/9
Ill admit Canon/Nikon both have better JPG IQ and a OVF which a lot of people will appreciate, but frankly I was an OVF guy all along till I was forced to get a A55. I hated the EVF when I first got it but frankly I am now really digging the functionality of the EVF. I am using my A700 less and less now.
In any case, if you appreciate the advantages of a Canon or Nikon then by all means do try them out. I will admit I did like a Canon 60D I tried but frankly I anyday prefer that all my lenses are image stabilized. 🙂
you don’t put the motor in one body, so you have to put it in all lens… how can this be cheaper?
It’s cheaper for them as most users don’t buy many lenses. It’s more expensive for us as any serious photographer who buys multiple lenses has to pay for the motor each time.
It would be less of an issue if Sony didn’t already have lens prices on the higher end of the continuum. If they go up further once “updated” with SAM motors, the situation will be worse.
Wow, you guys have covered yourselves in gasoline and are looking for matches.
1) Canon ‘cheap’ lenses? Canon has mandated SAM/SSM for 25 years, they have never been cheap, compared to Minolta screw-drive lenses. Those motors break down over time and cause lenses to have a ‘lifetime’ of several years (before they need an expensive overhaul). Sony is now-up for that, too. There are certainly sub $150 SAM lenses in Sony’s lineup.
2) You don’t have to like SLT, but it DOES allow for a convergence of Photo w/ Video. Without SLT, you are left with CDAF, which is lethargic and doesn’t handle action shots or zoom-while-recording very well. Attempts to marry CDAF with PDAF have resulted in CDAF performance, anyway (Nikon 1, others).
3) Motor in lens DOES have the advantage of finer-control than screw-driven mechanisms. This CAN result in faster focusing vs screw-drive.
4) Canon is getting a lot of love here that they don’t get on Canon fanboi-websites. They have a lot of text that supports a grass-is-always-greener viewpoint of Nikon and Sony tech. Oh well.
maybe we should all just walk down to the pub…
Why? Quite predicteable.
hahahaaha.
Sony is one funny company. They keep on releasing new bodies many times with less functionality that the bodies that came before.
The are now requiring motors in lenses but yet many of the desirable Sony lenses are screw driven. This is really stupid.
The following SONY lenses are all screw driven and can’t be used anymore on this body:
16mm f/2.8 fisheye
20mm f/2.8
28mm f/2.8
50mm f/1.4
50mm Macro f/2.8
100mm Macro f/2.8
85mm f/1.4
135mm f/1.8
18-200mm
55-200mm
75-300mm
500mm f/8
I guess we should be expecting the lenses above to become discontinued shortly then.
I hope Sony will not discontinue the 500mm f/8 Reflex Super Telephoto.
I would love to own one of these.
For all that doesn’t know, it’s the size of a normal portrait lens with a 500mm focal point.
Unlike the other manufacturers, this lens can AF at F8 and have Image Stabilization thanks to the Alpha system.
I really want to get this 500mm F8 and the 135 STF.
They are both very interesting lenses.
The 500/8 was discontinued a couple years ago
they discontinued that lens a year or two ago.
I use these lenses on my A55 with adaptors: MC Rokkor 28mm f3.5, MC Rokkor 50mm f3.5, MC Rokkor 100mm f2.0, Leica R 50mm f2.0, and MC Rokkor 200mm f3.5. I’m happy with the images I get as with the new SSM-SAM lenses.
There’s not many of those Rokkor 100/2s out there. How do you find yours?
not compatible with minolta lenses? that makes no sense, its the same mount
No AF screw motor.
Screw Sony! 😉
Same mount but most of the old Minolta lenses do not have AF motors inside them. That is where the only SAM and SSM part of the rumor comes into play. Only the very few minolta lenses with motors built in will or should work ok with the new a37 if the rumor is correct.
I would judge this as Joke of a Nikon Fanboy, Sony has too much screw-driven lenses on their own for cutting away the motor.
I am sure it’s a correct rumor. A37 would be for first time beginners who usually never buy any lens other than the kit lens. The price needs to be $599 (with the kit) to justify such a camera.
Then Sony have a problem, there isn’t a SAM lens past 200mm.
but nobody buys the 75-300mm for 249€ when there is a Tamron 70-300 4-5,6 USD for 320€ anyway, that’s not the point.
The Sigma 70-300 DG OS has an internal motor as well, like the Tamron 60mm Macro.
Those aren’t Sony lenses. That’s the point.
True but Sony is rumored to be overhauling the lens line up. We very well could see many lenses updated with motors in the not to distant future.
This is Sony you are talking about. You know, the company that can’t launch E-mount lenses either…
we will see. maybe the nex success has lit a fire under them that will soon erupt into a fireball! we can only hope!
I think most of us would let it slide if Sony was suddenly turning over a new leaf. The thing is they’re giving us nothing to make us believe that is so. The impression I get rather is division looking at their own goose with a ravenous expression, with a pot boiling away in the background.
But it is understandable plan to abandon screw motor in low end camera.
The upcoming stuff sound interesting … but what about NEW NEX LENSES ?!?
Guess Sony has planned to remove the motor on entry class DSLR/DSLT since the introduction of SAM lens back in 2009 (there was rumors that they would do this eventually back then).
Will probably reduce the body cost (typical Sony’s design mentality since their 2nd generation of DSLR)
What users didn’t expect was how slow the older lens were being replaced.
Hope this means there will be some new lens being annouced soon
With Sony focusing heavily on video capbilties in their DSLT, I guess all future lens (and not just G and ZA lens) would have SSM like the 16-50f2.8. SAM lens are simply too noisy for video…….
most new user journey.
buy a camera. use 18-55 SAM…..
out of nowhere, desire to get a tele (if he didnt brought twin kit), the 55-200 SAM.
next, urge of low light, or someone introduce him/her the “Bokeh” 50mm F1.8 SAM, or the 85 F2.8 SAM, or the 35F1.8 SAM… or the 30mm macro… budget 🙂
now… next would be a kit replacement, and definately 1650F2.8 (or possible upcoming tamron1750F2.8 PZD, or sigma HSM)….
and 3 years has pass, its about time to pick crop flagship or FF….. wait… he didnt even bother with any screw drive lens? 😛
You forgot his urge of ultra wide angle lenses and macro lenses. I’ve seen hobbyists to buy them first before moving to pro bodies or FF’s. And Sony’s offerings in these sectors are all screw mount: the 11-18mm, the 50mm macro, and the 100mm macro.
oh yea, sorry bout that…
i think there was a strong rumor bout 10-24SAM coming?
Sounds like they want to increase their lens sales rather than newcomers buy cheaper Minolta kit.
I agree, I think that’s the thinking, but I’m not sure that it will work as they think it will. Being able to use the old Minolta lenses was one of the reasons I bought a Sony Alpha in the first place.
As for me – it’s pretty logical – to cut off the in-body motor in entry-level bodies. And then, may be, in midrange.
BUT, Sony should not make mistake, as Nikon did – firstly, the bunch of lenses must be replaced with one SAM or SSM, then, yes, it will be OK, to start shipping bodies with no AF motor.
Anyone thinking the same?
I agree, first change/add lenses, than change the bodies. At least the demand for minolta lenses will get lower so they can be cheaper…
Exactly. Sony is already known for having a poor lens selection, they just made it worse for new starters!
I wonder what Sigma/Tamron/Tokina/etc will do about this… Would be sad if A37 not only had reduced Sony lens selection, but basically no 3rd party lenses to choose from.
I think tamron will be ok with this.
It’s the Sigma who did reverse engineering of A-mount (heard somewhere about that) – but Sigma has in-lens motor too.
We’ll see.
sony and tamron has been working this out, expect to see more PZD and USD lens replacing common lens.
the new 17-50 f2.8 pzd is coming 😉 it’s about time.
I say, cut costs whereever possible !
Just give me the 16MP sensor, IBIS, and the 1.44MP EVF, at the lowest possible price point.
On another note, I think that the typical kit zomm is a complete waste. I would like to be able to chose one of the affordable prime lenses as the kit lens. Like the SAM 35 mm F1.8 or the SAM 50 mm F1.8.
Just wishful thinking.
Retiring an old format often starts at the entry models because those users are the least likely to need it. Could this be the beginning of the end of A-Mount? Or more specifically the beginning of the merging of E-Mount and A-Mount to eventually grandfather A-Mount?
I don’t know, it does seem weirdly ass-about considering even NEX can use screw drive lenses. Could be a designed differentiator? But I am leaning towards lenses that are relatively compatible with both mounts and are CDAF optimized as well as working nicely with PDAF. Because PDAF will be superseded by CDAF in a few generations, or at the very least hybrid AF.
NEX cannot natively support screw driven lenses, only via adapter. No signs of dropping A-mount with this news, only the same thing Nikon did.
The only problem with this rumour is that it feeds the doom-merchants and fud-mongerers (you know who you are) and gives them yet another excuse to have a pop at Sony.
As has rightly been pointed out, the as yet non-existent camera will undoubtedly be targetted at newcomers who will never remove the kit lens from the body. Of course, if there was any real indication (rather than unfounded fear and speculation) that Sony were intending to remove the screw-drive from ALL future bodies … well, that’s another story.
I have to say I’d be pissed off. I usually am pretty ok with Sony’s choices but that would really rub me up the wrong way. I don’t see it as a problem at all if a) it only affects 5 series and below and b) there is actually a benefit to 5 series and below customers (who wouldn’t otherwise have used screw drive lenses) such as making the bodies smaller and cheaper.
*pop*
🙂
WHAT? FF in september??? are you kidding?
Maybe the announcement.
most ppl who commented above will not buy a A37 anyway. i wonder whats the buzz…. lol~
but please have peaking mode in A37, so even with minolta lens… we still can MF like PRO… lol~
oh yea, those who buzz bout the missing motor, go buy the 5 series then… sheesshhh~
Until it’s dropped from the 5 series too. Then they’ll probably be told to buy a 7 series.
hopefully not… they still can sell the 5 series 50$ more just to have motor.. and it will be pretty stupid move to remove it and still sell it 50$ more… >.<
We live in hope, as there are certainly serious photogs who for whatever reason opt for a 5 series body.
Nikon don’t have motors in their 5 series, but they have a pretty comprehensive lineup of AF-S lenses (actually, more AF-S lenses than Sony have total). It seems like Sony’s trying to send their cart in a logical direction, but have forgotten to put the horse in front.
The problem is that when people ask me for a cheap dSLR recommendation it is already hard enough recommending Sony over a much cheaper Canon 1100D. The one key point was that the A35 could use all those Minolta lenses like Canon can use EOS.
I found it difficult recommending an expensive A35 over the 1100D, now it is impossible to recommend the A37 over the 1100D. Price and no screw motor kills it stone dead.
Renewing the existing lens range and dropping support for screw drive AF would allow getting rid of the in-body AF/MF switch. That would make the camera controls more unified/logical and lower production costs too. Makes sense to me.
Not without the lenses be available it doesn’t.
So I guess A37 owners won’t be buying the SAL16F28, SAL20F28, SAL28F28, SAL35F14, SAL50F14, SAL50M28, SAL85F14, SAL100M28, SAL135F28, SAL1118, SAL1680, SAL16105, SAL1870, SAL18200, SAL18250, SAL55200 or SAL75300 then.
I always expected it to happen, but doing it while they still have ~2/3rds of their lineup screwdriven is just crazy. Having no cheaper camera than the A57 that’s compatible with the majority of Sony’s lens lineup isn’t likely to boost their market share any, even if most 3-tier users don’t exactly buy a lot of lenses. On the plus side, the 500/4 will still work with it.
expect new 18250 SAM announcement soon.
Very nice joke…
I could imagine some stores selling combo Sony A37 + SAL18250…
That would be funny.
hopefully, they will soon (quickly) implement electronic aperture… so they will fix the issue with aperture control in video mode.
I think this makes perfect sense.
Nikon did this with the D40(x), D60, D3000(3100) etc etc.
Sold plenty of these cameras to users who rarely buy a secondary lens.
Let admit it, MOST users in these forums are not the target market for A37.
The comments posted here (even the ones I disagree with) usually are from experienced users and not first time buyers. This is not the camera for you, specially if you have plenty of glass.
If Sony want to build a smallish, cheap body without AF screw, so be it, it may introduce Sony to more users.
Lets cut down on the whining shall we.
Wow I said Sony would say it but now they have customers saying it for them already! Nikon does it, so ….
Sony aren’t Nikon, they need to attract users not whisk them away. Shops that actually do sell Sony are going to laugh at this move all over the world. Why would they even try to sell a Sony without an AF motor built in when Sony have only a few SAM lenses to choose from?
Utter FAIL. COMPLETE UTTER FAIL.
Just one more step in the direction I’ve been saying Sony are taking all along… Sony are doing exactly what I said they’d be doing. Thanks for being so predictable Sony- you ROCK.
end of line.
“Sony aren’t Nikon, they need to attract users not whisk them away. Shops that actually do sell Sony are going to laugh at this move all over the world. Why would they even try to sell a Sony without an AF motor built in when Sony have only a few SAM lenses to choose from?”
Oh FFS, I am agreeing with MCP. I am doomed…
If you and I can agree, then I’m sure world peace is possible after all.
Sony’s success in the DSLR market though… not so sure about that one! (at least success they’d like to achieve)
end of line.
Can I nominate you two for UN ambassadors?
Err, you do know that when you say “end of line” that you aren’t supposed to say it again, yes?
Nikon had plenty of AF-S lenses.
Nikon had the brand name.
Nikon was cheap.
Sony has none of these advantages with the A37.
Will you still say the same when the 5 series lacks a screw motor, like the D5xxx?
Nikon’s only low-end AF-S lenses at the D40 intro were the 18-55 and 55-200.
70-300mm was out three months before the D40. Plus the super-zooms were already AF-S.
There will probably be plenty more but I can’t be arsed looking them all up.
It should also be noted that Nikon brought out AF-S lenses at a rate that Sony will never do.
70-300VR was a $600usd lens and the 18-200vr wouldn’t be introduced until well after the D40 and also was $600usd+. The cheap 18-135vr wouldn’t follow for a couple years
At that years exchange rate 600USD was a budget lens.
and the AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED is from 2005 and cheap too.
Nikon had plenty of AF-S lenses.
—-> Does not matter as most buyers of entry level DSLR only used the kit lens.
—-> Nikon’s only low-end AF-S lenses at the D40 intro were the 18-55 and 55-200. (Adam Maas)
Nikon had the brand name.
—-> Does not matter as most buyers will upgrade from P&S cameras where Sony is well known.
Nikon was cheap.
—-> Not true. Nikon D40 was 599:- USD (and this was the cheapest version of them all)
—-> You do not know the price of the A37
Will you still say the same when the 5 series lacks a screw motor, like the D5xxx?
—-> It will depend on how many lenses are available and the price of D5xxx?
—-> I am experienced shooter. Don’t care for cheap DLSR/SLTs
I guess we differ on the meaning of cheap. A lens that is the same cost of the D40 camera is CHEAP.
Sure, but I think people are completely over reacting here.
Sony have what, 8 bodies and counting and rumors is they may come with one small, cheap “screw-less”SLT.
Big deal! I guess it will affect 0.2% of the users in this forum.
I am sure Sony marketing have looked at this and said…..let make a small cheap (400:- or less), light (400g or less) SLT for people who would only use a kit lens, a la Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100 etc.
I am not sure however it will work. Why?
When Nikon introduced the D40, there were no mirror-less cameras, no m4/3, no NEX-C3 etc. You either had a mid-range DSLR or P&S. There was a market for cheaper, light DSLR for user who only had one lens.
This is not the case anymore.
The NEX series and m4/3 made (in my opinion) the entry level DSLR obsolete.
But it is no BIG deal for the rest of us.
No, a lens which is north of $500 USD is not cheap unless you’re shooting M mount. The Easy Choice lenses from Sony are Cheap (up to $300USD), Nikon’s 351/8G and 50/1.8G are cheap, Canon’s 50/1.8 is cheap.
“The same source also told me that Sony will in future implement Wi-Fi in NEX and SLT cameras. About time!”
About time? Really? I never understood why WiFi would be useful on a camera. No use for it while shooting or at home. Can happily live without WiFi and the price increase that will come with it.
Wireless tethering duh!
FYI canon charge $850 for their latest wireless transmitter WFT-E7A. The feature that should have been included in the body and cost nothing.
Wifi!!!
What the hell!
I hope this will be a module that you can plug (Somehow) on the A77…
It would really piss me off if the A37 gets wifi tethering and not the A77…
Nobody said anything about there being Wi-Fi in the A37.
Yes, which is why I hope it will be a system that can work on existing system.
The A77 already has Eye-Fi, just get the card.
Bought the Eye-fi card… it melted in the camera….
An iPad/iPhone app, wireless transferring of photos, automated backup. I can see it being useful.
Tethering trade off with Wi Fi???
I hope it will be both.
I hope it will be available for existing Alpha/Nex systems.
WiFi will not give you tethering, it’ll just be about sharing your photos on FaceBook.
Then a33 is the best camera in 3x series, flip screen plus screw motor
The A350 is the best 3 series. It has the final iteration of Sony’s CCD sensor which at base ISO it has pixel level image quality that matches the A900.
To walk down the path of pure lens based motors (even on the low end models) is the path to the dark side.
I think it makes sense at this point that Sony is introducing an entry level camera without in-body AF motor. It will have less parts involved which translates to lower production cost and possibly cheaper retail price.
A3x series should target newbies who will not use more than a kit lens plus one or two additional entry level lenses, and obviously the entry level SAM lenses provide decent performance and quality for their usage. Besides, Sony will definitely continue to produce SAM lenses to replace old Minolta/Konica Minolta based AF lenses. So far, the only original Sony based lenses with screw-drive system are the ZA 85mm f1.4 and the ZA 135mm f1.8.
SAL1118 – Tamron
SAL1870 – Minolta
SAL18200 – Tamron
SAL18250 – Tamron
SAL55200 – Tamron
SAL75300 – Minolta
SAL16F28 – Minolta
SAL28F28 – Minolta
SAL35F14G – Minolta
SAL50F14 – Minolta
SAL50M28 – Minolta
SAL100M28 – Minolta
I don’t think Sony will abandon in-body AF motor on the mid and upper range, at least not within the next 5 years. Serious photographers with Alpha background normally have good amount of legacy lenses
The 16-80 is also a Sony original with a screw.
Also 16-105
Heck maybe they’ll integrate network capabilities in the future.
That could probably help news and photojournalists upload real time footage and images in an instant…
I want the Wifi, so I don’t even have to remove the memory card.
I can then setup a Linux system that will automatically extract the images from the camera and store it in the Network Attached Storage system.
Or review the shots through my Android Tablet when I am on the go!!!
Fine, but at least improve the SAM system, it too noisy
SSM is good, but expensive
I have to agree, all internal body motors are quite nasty.
I too hope SSM will become much more affordable in the future.
I guess I simply don’t know any better. I have the ZA 135 and it seems fast enough and the noise is of no consequence. In fact, if I could I’d buy the ZA 85 before the price hike of 1 April.
It depends on what you are happy with.
I am comparing both systems, SSM and SAM.
If your lenses had the option of SSM with no additional costs involved, I am pretty sure you would prefer that.
Actually, i feel the scewdriver system is better than the SAM system, less noise, more accuate, and less cost.
so, sony , if you want to give up scewdriver system, please improve the SAM or put ssm inside all lens
Piezo motors are too expensive to put in all lenses, so that will never happen, unfortunately.
A lens roadmap of the A-Mount would answer all of the questions!
Most regular posters to this site understand that Sony has a lens problem, and most of the current lineup in it’s a-Mount lens catalog date back to Minolta, and Sony just put the Sony name on them, basically rebadged them in 2006.
If Sony published a roadmap with maybe eight or more motored lenses we would then see that Sony has a plan, maybe a plan we the A-mount community could be excited about.
As an owner of seven Minolta lenses many ready for replacement if Sony was to release them, personally any lens rumor no matter how small that takes away without adding lenses just adds to my distress and reinforces any planning I might have about moving to a more “stable” mount.
Sony needs to move away from 1990’s Minolta and Sony needs to compete at the low-end kit camera level if the A-Mount is to survive, but Sony should reassure it base with both a comprehensive lens roadmap and announcement of its plans for a 9x series camera and maybe a 8x series camera too that competes with the best Canon or Nikon offer.
wrong reply… intended to post above
Very well stated and I agree it would really help to keep them in the hunt. If I didn’t already have the A900 w/ZA135 lens I would buy the D800.
Most of the Sony users won’t buy that body anyway, it’s for beginners who have no SLR gear at all
I started with the A200.
If the rumor is true then I hope they keep AF motors in the bodies of the upper level model cameras much like Nikon did.
impossible, if there aint internal screw drive thingy, this means the camera cant use almost the entire batch of SONY’s ZA series, which it is totally pointless. wont happen!
Wifi is WELCOME! just drain more battery
while that is true now there are rumors that Sony is going to update or refresh the lens line up. If that is indeed true then I would have to say that it is not impossible or pointless.
How long do you think it will take Sony to update ONE lens, never mind a long list…
Well they haven’t even updated one lens yet, not even the ZA135.
Huh, they did an update…to $1799,99 !
I stand corrected, good sir.
55-200 was updated with SAM a couple years ago. Admittedly it is the only update, but is is an update.
I know, and I own both the 85/f1.4 and the 135/f1.8 and both are very good lenses, but both will, at somepoint need to be updated and that will mean a different drive system. Old ZA is still old
The newer ZA’s I have like the 16-35 and the 24-70 have motors in them.
The 24-70 is my favorite, just wished it was weather sealed.
It’s everything you’ll expect from a CZ.
I want Sony to bring out a FF 50mm STF with SSM, weather sealed with a 2.8T.
It’s probably impossible without having it cost a fortune. Being able to control the Bokeh on portrait shots would be so cool.
Admin- Will the A37 use the same recycled A65 body the A57 has? If so, Sony will save even more cash and Its doubtful the consumer will see that savings either.
Guess we’ll have to see what happens.
I’ve made 3 comments on this rumor news (includes this one), that’s enough. I’m going to stretch out and watch this whole thing unfold with a big chit eating grin on my face.
No need to stoke an inferno.
end of line.
Unlikely, it will probably use a minor variation on the A35 or A33/55 bodies.
As of now, the rumor is for the low-end a37
How many buyers of a a37 plan on then buying a 2,000.00 USD Zeiss or G lenses for it anyway 😉
They might plan on buying a Sony 75-300mm.
I DON’T LIKE THE FLAPPY MIRROR IN SLRS!!!
I AM GOING TO SELL EVERYTHING AND GO BUY SONY!
Seriously, how can people think along this line. It’s perplexing to even imagine how some people think that their equipment will enable them take pro shots.
People gives the SLT crap, yet they are willing to put shit ND filters on the front of their lenses…
All you pixel peeping trolls are seriously annoying. Most of which doesn’t even own a SLT system.
There are plenty of reviews on the A55, A57, A65, A77, done by professionals, go read them!
Buy a camera, learn how to work with it, and STFU!
Stop your mindless dribble on how XBox 360 is better than PS3.
Finally the day arrive that Sony low end don’t have internal motor anymore. It will be very cheap. Maybe $399 body only.
You mean like removing the mirror mechanism and OVF also makes SLT cheaper….oh wait…
Removing the mirror and OVF doesn’t make an SLT that much cheaper, since you need a high-tec semi-transparent mirror and an EVF, including supporting hardware. Now Sony is good with electronics, but these things are quite new, and there are R&D expenses to be covered. Also consider the ongoing R&D costs while developing better EVF technology. Are there any references for prices of OVFs, EVFs and mirror boxes? Sony should be able to cut the costs at higher end bodies, since on full frame bodies, mirror boxes and optical viewfinders are much more expensive compared to entrylevel bodies, and the replacement mirrors and EVFs are quite comparable compared to entry level bodies.
However, it still takes some time since its quite new compared to ancient OVFs and mirrors.
Sony said that EVF was cheaper as the OVF is very expensive and hideously expensive on FF.
What has ended up is that it is indeed cheaper, but they increased margin and we didn’t see the cost benefit.
So… Some chump buys an A37. They can’t put on the Minolta 70-210 f/4, or the CZ 16-80 f/3.5-4.5.
There goes the good daytime lenses that could last a lifetime on a crop-sensor camera. Good job Sony. At least there’s a used market.
((Meanwhile, buys an A9x))
I guess nex’ week we’ll see an announcement for the A25.
I would buy the A1!
…Only to be superseded by the A1-Basic. It will have its own Kiosk at Wal-Mart between the fishing tackle and toy aisle.
Is this the same source that said that a vertical grip will be available for the A57? At this point, rumors are great, but features mentioned are not set in stone.
Sony had its work cut-out for itself back in 2006 when it purchased the camera group Minolta, it started up okay with some excitement, but then sat on its hands and by the time of the earthquake and everything else that happen in Japan had pretty well screwed it up to the point that experienced users of photographic gear no longer trusted Sony to get it right.
The a57 looks from the tests and reviews I’ve read today to be an excellent camera maybe the best of any other even close in price and on the heels of the a77 and the recent NEX-5n and NEX-7 Sony looks to be on the rebound.
Sony must now commit to replace all of its old 1990’s design Minolta lens with new state-of-the-art optics that match the resolution of its sensors very soon and publish its planned roadmap for all to see.
I for one disagree with the notion of breaking-up announcements into little pieces at this point like was said in a recent rumor,its to late for that,I think Sony needs to make a BIG splash, all at one time, with one or both rumored full frames, and a completely new from top to bottom lens roadmap, showing two or maybe three lens family’s, starting with Kit/low-end for the a37-a57 shooters and reasonably priced may be slower full frames and then Zeiss top shelf primes and zooms and pro telephotos like the new 70-200/f2.8, 300/f2.8 and the 500/f4.
It’s not only sony that’s in the game of embedding wifi in their cameras FYI. 2013 will be the year for wifi enabled new cameras. Also, this would kill the business of Eye-Fi cards. But if you can’t wait for it on your NEX, get an Eye-Fi card. It’s great, works out of the box when plugged in to my NEX-5 and a77 and will have a new menu option to enable or disable wifi transfers. but I have to warn you, setup is a pain in the ass. First time users will find setup frustrating especially if you have a lot of devices to sync to, which i have from a sony tablet s, to an ipad, to an iphone to an imac.
I hope sony does approach this simply, not like apple or eye-fi that requires a software to sync (it’s a waste of time developing it and complicated for end users to use), but make it just like a shared folder on the wifi network where pictures/videos from the camera can be accessed via finder (mac) or windows explorer (pc).
I also got into the Eye-Fi cards. I have 6 of them in different cameras… It works great if you are just transferring images from the camera to the PC… Sets up seperate folders for each day.
Works a lot faster from Sony TX-5 and TX-10 P&S cameras set at lower resolution… transfer takes a little longer from A77 at highest resolution but we are still talking seconds!!!. As you say, it’s fairly easy to set up for one device. It gets really complicated when you have iPad, iPhone, etc. involved. I did that then cancelled it. Now my PC gets all the photos, wirelessly, and I manage them from there to other devices.
I also like the fact that I can add other networks, when I am travelling, so my photos download automatically to my PC when I get back to the hotel.
Other added bonus is I can then reformat the card and keep using it because all my photos are safely stored on the PC. Even works when the PC is in the room safe!!!
The biggest card is 8GB and their PRO-X2 records RAW+JPEG… of course, you don’t really need more than 8GB because as soon as you get within wireless range of your PC it downloads all your photos and you can then reformat the card and keep shooting. I carry 3 with me for my A77… 1 each in my TX-5 and TX-10.
Doesn’t appear to be any power drain using these cards. My guess is that a camera internal Wi-Fi system would use more power…
and will you change “Small A35 rumour” to “Small A37 rumour”! 😀 😀
I am waiting for September. I wish sony comes up with better firmware for A77. I will be also be looking at Canon 7D Mark II or similar midrange camera. Will also have a look at A99. I am stuck with old good a300 and need to replace it to move at the next level. No news on compact fixed lens SLT/DSLR from sony. What happened?
This is a very bad move from Sony unless they make an entire new set of lenses replacing all minolta and early sony “branded” designs without built-in AF motor…
At least we’re talking about the entry level SLT camera and not a mid-level or “pro” level without built in AF motor.
For now…what’s the betting that if this rumour is true, the A58 will lack a motor, just like the D5100 does now.
it takes decades for Sony to update so many lenses, not to mention E-mount
The good news is that Tamron may be forced to finally update their 200-500. Been looking for that! Tamron is capable of making that lens better than the 70-400G if they want to.
I can’t think of a single wildlife area that has WiFi. Hopefully they won’t remove internal memory from cameras and make them just cloud computing 🙂
It would be nice of Sony to add Internal Memory to their cameras, unfortunately that will add to the cost of the camera considerably.
Think of it like a holding area, like 32GB of memory for high speed storage, then when the camera is idle, the camera will slowly move it to the memory card. Thus eliminating the need for expensive memory cards. Of course, the option to turn off the feature for pros that wishes to use the camera for continuous shoots in studio situations.
Looks like Sony will have to build a camera like a PC. Everyone can go buy what they need and piece up their own cameras.
Switchable Sensors
Switchable Memory Modules
Network adapter Add-on
Power pack Add-on
Only then will people be happy… That or they go buy a Mac…
Canon does that with flash based HD camcorders, but it does raise prices that exceed the price of memory cards without any IQ improvement. Not a good strategy.
Maybe Sony should stop making A-mount cameras and become a Canikon reseller
I hope not
Will you all shut up and stop your bickering? Not accepting old Minolta lenses will be fine for the main demographic that this camera is targeting. As long as Sony doesn’t restrict other lines of cameras (like enthusiast and pro bodies) from accepting Minolta lenses, it’s all good. The people they are targeting to buy this entry level body will NOT use old second hand Minolta lenses anyway.
Bickering is part of the character of this place, so I doubt your words will have any effect there (also, someone could argue that you’re doing the same thing yourself).
Blocking off Minolta’s lenses is one thing, blocking off most of Sony’s own lenses is another.
The type of person to buy this camera will most likely NEVER buy another lens. So all they will use is the kit lens and maybe the double kit lens with SAM. This sort of camera is fine for the market and makes perfect marketing sense. I mean why bother implementing a motor in the body if the target audience of this specific camera will NEVER use it? Also it will force the user to upgrade to the better model instead of buying this one if they really want an AF motor, so they think they’re getting a better deal and in reality its more $$$ for Sony. Everyone wins. The problem with SAR and dpreview and all the Sonyfanboy pixelpeeping fanatics is that you all don’t think in terms of marketing and sales. You have to look at the bigger picture. A camera like this will draw in new customers, make the higher more expensive models ‘look’ more attractive and appealing, and will help boost Sony sales in a very cost effective way.
+1
Most people I know that bought the A55 actually shoots with the kit lenses. They arn’t willing to buy more glass.
I think it’s that mentality that DSLR = pro.
My view is that not alienating one’s customer base is a very important part of marketing and sales, as it’s much easier to keep one’s own customers than win someone else’s.
But everyone has their own ideas in business.
If the a99 has no motor in it, I will be a sad person.
🙁
Wondering if I should sell before it comes out. the only problem is, I hate canikon and if I sell all my sony/min stuff I could only afford a hasselblad with 1 lens.
I pray the a99 has a motor because I love my cz stuff.
Seems there is an assumption that those that buy at the a37 level will never want to move up. In Sony’s planning it’s those folks who are supposed to move up to build Sony’s line rather than attracting folks from other lines.
Of course then they get to stick the a37 folks with a extra camera body upgrade to take away from the lens upgrades they want.
Where did you get that assumption from?
First of all, despite the predictions that this is the start of the end for Sony’s screw-drive, it remains nothing more than a rumour.
But in the more immediate future, if we are to believe that the entire lens line-up is to be re-jigged then the chances are that by the time that an A37 user wants to upgrade their lenses there will be a suitable choice available. But let’s also assume that the screw-drive is not going to immediately disappear from the upper bodies. If as we think the target market for the A37 is newcomers to DSLR photography (and the camera will therefore be rather limited in functionality, build etc) the chances are that when that person wants to upgrade they will want to move up the line in body as well as lenses.
It would have been quicker for me to summarise your post in 3 letters – F U D.
I put some pretty expensive lenses on my A200.
My personal experience from a great many beginners is that if they buy a bottom-end camera (as the A37 will be in the Sony line) they rarely buy more than 1-2 lenses before they upgrade their bodies. And those lenses will usually be new (typically it’s a cheap telezoom and a cheap 50mm prime, ie the 55-200 SAM and DT 50/1.8 in Sony land).
Once they’ve upgraded their body then they usually discover that lenses matter more than bodies for IQ and start upgrading their glass.
Well I guess no one will be buying the A37. Who the hell wants that piece of sh**?!! I’d rather spend an extra hundred bucks or two to buy a camera body that can utilize Minolta glass and save multiple hundreds on used Minolta glass.
IF TRUE, Sony has clearly lost the plot and will only confirm what many feel already… That the leadership at Sony is a loser.
Or, spend LESS on a Canon 1100D and have access to 25 years worth of lenses…;)
And a badly crippled body, the base model Rebels are horribly maimed compared to their brethren.
Note that all you’d be losing on the A37 anyways is AF, the Minolta glass will still work in MF mode (and do so better than an EF lens on a 1100D). And if you really care about lens compatibility, buy a Pentax and get 74 years worth of lenses (1948-2012 with Pentax’s Mount Adapter K) or Nikon (and get 1959-2012 with a D3100 or D5100, albeit without metering). Canon actually offers the least lens compatibility at 25 years (it’s 27 for A mount).
About Sony lenses …. They should use the new 16-50 f/2.8 as a guide for making new glass. It’s a real nice lens at a fair price. I am comparing to EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS.
There is no reason for an A37 model. It will diminish the SLT line. 3 models are enough and let NEX pick up the sales for those wanting a smaller size.
I don’t think Canon or Nikon have done anything good with the low end bodies or glass. There is no need to copy when Sony has so much innovation in SLT.
Actually, Sony does need a body under $699 other than the NEX. This may not be a need long-term but Mirrorless hasn’t killed off the low-end DSLR market yet.
I’m asking this as a person at has seven Minolta lenses and three two Zeiss that need a motor in the body and it’s only because of my inventory of Minolta glass that I’m still shooting A-Mount and haven’t moved to Nikon or Canon.
Question:
Do you think Sony must keep an in-body motor forever and not be allowed to make a better A-Mount and camera just to make a few old CHEAP farts happy?
Answer: NO!
Reason: Sony will replace all existing lenses with newer tech (SSM or better).
All the old farts with many old lenses, can afford better camera bodies that support legacy items. Like why the f–k would I buy an A57 if I have over $10k worth of FF lenses, I would rather get the A99.
I can’t see it going from the 9 series anytime soon, the people who buy those wouldn’t take it very well, and Nikon continue to offer the screw in their FX bodies.
I can see it going from the 5 series, Sony have always had little to differentiate their 3s and their 5s, and Nikon don’t offer the screw on theirs.
7 series? Reply hazy, try again.
No, but I do believe that Sony should replace their screw driven lenses FIRST.
And finally, we agree.
If you were someone just starting down the road to a $10K plus top end system would you trust Sony to be supporting the system long enough for you to complete it? For that matter how many years would it take you to afford to build such a system? And are you planning that far into the future?
That’s the sort of stuff you need to think about when things like a potential mount incompatibility crop up. It’s not just the next year or two.
I don’t think it’s safe to use Nikon as a model of what Sony might do on this sort of support issue.
I pretty much figured Sony would go the route of dropping the lens drive when the SAM lenses came out. And that it was unlikely to stay at the bottom end for long with Sony.
If I was on a road to spending 10k, it would have NEVER been on Sony.
Sony suits me as a hobby.
I’d happily spend $10K on Sony, that’s a fairly small system investment as it were.
If you think about it, 2 FF bodies at $2.5K a ZA 24-70, a G 70-200 SSM and a couple FVL-58’s and you’re just about at $10K for a basic pro-level system. A similar system from Nikon or Canon will run around the same and this is all basic Pro or high-end Amateur kit.
My personal Sony kit right now is worth probably $6-7K and that’s with all midlevel kit (my most expensive body is a A700 based on MSRP, lens is the ZA E 24/2.8, with 2 NEX and 2 Alpha’s plus 2 Maxxum 7’s plus a fairly extensive mid-range lens lineup). I add a couple f2.8 zooms and I’m easily north of $10k.
Tbh so long as this only happens on the lowest end body where the vast majority of buyers stick with just the kit lens so be it. After Sony released the the a5xx series the lower end a2/3xx class has been increasly crippled so its not that much of a shock that would eventually do this