Over at Xitek people is having fun creating their own A7r design variations like the Minolta version you see on top. And this is how a Silver or White A7r version would look like:
That silver version should really be made by Sony!
—
Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.
Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.
35 Responses
Just get a used a900 and be happy. Very very happy.
Too big and twice the weight.
Sony’s rather forward thinking in offerings (RX1/r, RX100, A7/r, RX10) doesn’t really lend itself to retro designs.
Although I understand the appeal, I think of retro designs (like Fuji and Nikon’s Df) with less engineering substance than contemporary designs. Not because they are badly designed or lack engineering success, but because the point of moving forward is of ‘moving forward’. Do people want a Motorola brick to go with that Df too? Maybe a VW Combi to make sure you can carry that wooden tripod as well? We should all consider buying Brady bags again too, because Billingham may be too modern for our X Vintagepro 100.
I like old designs, but even Contax showed Leica how to move forward on that department.
Yeah, I guess what Sony could do is rather then embrace fully the retro design, they can keep it forward modern design while paying homage to retro design, like what they did with the A7/r
Yeah, functionality first… retro look last.
+1. It sure is nice the have one company providing a retro interface, but new technologies should be embraced. And for the moment that is not really happening.
I think it is less about new technologies and more about traditional layouts. The Df isn’t necessarily taking a step back in any area. It offers the same controls as a D800/600 (via the unlabelled dials) as well as traditional controls via knobs. The only thing it really lacks is wireless interfacing, but traditionally, Nikon have been behind in that area. Df has wifi, but its implementation is up in the air.
People like me prefer designs that lend themselves to automatic work. The Df has some automatic workable stuff. For instance, as long as you are using an Ai/pre-Ai lens, you can tell what aperture it is at without turning the camera on. Ditto shutter speed (if the x1/3 function isn’t on) plus ISO. You don’t have to wonder what setting it was you last used.
The a7r (which I have ordered) isn’t so much about advancing tech, it’s about making it more compact. The Df is about using today’s tech in a more mature design. I wish Sony would apply mature design shtick to their technology, as their cameras would be a bit more intuitive. Nikon has gone overboard on unlabelled controls and a million buttons. They need to scale back. Sony are somewhat in a better boat, but not by much.
Fuji have a much simpler layout than Nikon do, but the back of the camera bristles with buttons that really do get in the way. It isn’t really about retro, it’s about a return to simple, direct control schemes. The fact that it looks retro is a by point.
That’s an interesting discussion. I don’t think we can separate technology from layout. What I mean is that the camera has already changed. It basically has a computer integrated into it. But there is that insistence to keep the physical interface the same. One example of actually embracing that new technology is precisely the unlabelled dials. They are faster to use, can be customized as to function, take less space and help with new functions like video. Sure, they do not show you the information at a glance, but rather than addressing this problem (and it is a mitigated one, once you have a top LCD or an EVF), we are reverting back to an old interface. That’s not how one moves forward. Admittedly, there is a place for the old interface, but that should be a niche, imho, same like what rangefinders have become.
I personally do not consider labelled dials more intuitive. Maybe you don’t need to get used to them, but the basic camera functions aren’t that numerous to warrant losing all the flexibility that has been achieved. In any case, to reiterate, I don’t think anything is solved by going back to the old interface, which was a part of an entirely different product.
I think a (small) Minolta Hi matic 7 inspired rangefinder design would be cool.
I think it pays for companies like Olympus, Sony/Minolta, and Nikon to remind people of their heritage.
Lately I think Sony has been walking a good balance with modern and clean aesthetics, yet taking a nod towards the past with proven ergonomics and incorporating “classic” rather than “retro” styling cues. The big difference here, is that when this retro trend is over, the Nikon DF and possibly the Fuji X cameras may suffer a bit of weakened enthusiasm in the market. Classic design however, never goes out of style. I can’t imagine the RX1 ever feeling old aside from the electronic bits.
Well perhaps that’s how ILC-A A77 would be.
Retro styling with IBIS, Z-Axis moveable sensor which means your Nikon and Canon lenses will work as well.
I keep getting some add popup on my android when i visit this site?!
Mobgenie, or something…
Sure? I have nothing like that! You mean on Xitek?
I am getting reallyobnoxious flashing adds on my home computer but i have not gotton them yet on my android smartphone.
Can we please put some effort into where photogernomics can go, rather than where it’s already been? How long will camera co ride the legacy pony before that old mare collapses beneath them?
Give me one grip with a rotating sensor and viewfinder… sensor based shutter with full flash sync for studio strobes… interchangeable sensor modules… tilt/shift sensor with IS… get rid of those antiquated strap lugs that bite fingers… radio flash remote with full control… allow for shooting in stop down mode… and no buttons with a “?” or printer icon. Take a cue from the Leica S2 for sleek design without label clutter on buttons.
Of course I like the version with the shutter release button on the grip much better.
Judging by the comments like yours of what is wanted in the A7(R), it reinforces what a great camera the NEX 7 is. I can’t justify an upgrade from it at the moment.
I like the silver one version 🙂 It resemble me also a Hasselblad Solar, which I like much with those chromes…but this price 🙂
I personally think the mockups look excellent and I would love to own a FF retro design A mount body if released.
Si
No keep to black, it’s good. Lets not get cheesy…
No one wants these old man cams!
You will sooner than you think become an old man.
I will take the silver one please
I do find myself looking at the XD7-alike and thinking “Now there is a pretty camera”, but then I always was a sucker for the old Minolta logo (the shouty capitalised one was never quite as good, even if the ‘cricket ball’ logo was quite good).
There is probably a market for someone to make pentaprism ‘wigs’ for these cameras aimed at ex Minolta, Olympus, Pentax etc MF shooters who might buy a 7 for their legacy manual focus glass…
These are utterly atrocious. Why do nostalgists drive design decisions, and constantly to boring well-trodden territory?
No Sony camera made can match Minolta for ergonomics and handling, none. Film 7 is the benchmark camera for design unrivalled even to this day from ANY maker
And none of those look like the Dynax 7. All they do is take Nex-6/7 and mount a pointless 1990s-styled pentaprism on top. Ghastly design schizophrenia.
rlol, in what way are nostalgists driving the design and why are the designs boring? I don’t get people getting so hug up on camera design, so long as the controls are comfortable, it is comfortable hold who cares what it looks like, I don’t for one. A camera is a tool to use to capture the colour world around us not a designer fashion statement.
Si
Just playing devil’s advocate here, but we all know what happened to Apple 😉 the power of good design must never be underestimated.
I’m an architecture student so at least for me, design is every bit as important as function, even in cameras!
# 12 with touch screen
+1
As much as I love live view, I never use the EVF. I’d rather use live view 90% of the time and have an OVF (preferably some type of hybrid eyepiece I can attach to the hotshoe) for when I need to the other 10% of the time. I’m assuming it would keep the cost down.
Simple and beautiful. Give us this for a mount. Put a OVF/EVF hybrid in there. I would buy it next day.
I was liking the A7 styling until I saw the Nikon Df. Then I saw the price of the Df and was liking the A7 again 🙂
And then i woke up. Damn.
The Minolta Version is beautiful, I wouldn’t mind to pay 100-200€ more for it. I have shown It to my Father who was using Minolta Cameras back when he was a Professional photographer and he preferred it to the Stock A7R, too.