It’s not a surprise that Sony just reported a bad financial quarter result. At least in the camera division it’s easy to figure out the Thai Flood as main result for the bad results. Nevertheless the company as a whole had to report huge losses (85,7 Mrd. Yen or 855 Mio. €) and CEO Stringer had to give up his post (Source: CNET). You can downlaod the full financial report here: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/index.html.
While we are still waiting to see the new A35 and A55 successors Ricoh-Pentax (now they are the same company) announced two new cameras with Sony sensor inside. The A12 module (here at MR) and the ugliest camera I have ever seen…the K-01 (here at MR). I have to say our Sony designers are much better 🙂
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K-01 is, erm, an “interesting” design…well okay…it looks crap…
If this was 1st of April it would have been a great prank.
It just makes zero sense to build a mirrorless camera that has the same size like a DSLR and no benefits to compete with it.
Mirrorless with gigantic flange back distance to use the original Pentax lenses, where is the benefit over using a K-5 or even a k-r???
always better than a sluggy nex 😉
Does not the mirror box add a lot of weight to the camera body? If so then I can see that as being at least one benefit. A body that weighs less.
Some notice that its weight is comparable to an entry-level DSLR.
I remember rumor that Sony is planing the same type of camera without mirror and with A-mount. Didn’t see any reason for camera without EVF and bad ergonomics. Should be rather slow AF.
Isn’t this supposed to be a dual mount sony alpha A-mount AND alpha-NEX-mount??? This would well make sense…
Stringer should have been ousted a long time ago. Sony managment thinks Sony stock should be trading close apple stock and that their brand is the second most recognizeable behind Coke. They need a complete overhaul of managment from top to bottom.
Don’t know who that was. But, the writing was on the wall regarding the camera division.
The only innovative product to come in the recent times is the NEX-7. Hope they will profit from it and build on it.
Make some useful accessories for the NEX-7 for starters! Flashes, for example. And some proper sized decent lenses.
SLT and EVF isn’t innovative? How odd… I guess you have missed the innovation on the video side too!
SLTs also will become a very short chapter in Sony DSLRs’ very short history, very soon. Th Nex-7 has an integrated EVF. Useful and an integral part. Not an innovation. Other brands had them for years.
What has the length of time got to do with innovation? Innovation is innovation regardless. You are still missing Sony innovating in the video arena too, innovation isn’t all about NEX.
SonyA77:
Try a GH-2 for video. 🙂
Try AF tracking on fast moving objects with a GH2. You’d have to stop down a $hitload with deep DOF to have a decent chance of succeeding.
PDAF for video, that’s innovation. Nikon followed with the N1 system (but with even less control less quality and deep DOF).
The SLTs are an intermediate step in the evolution of the modern interchangeable lens camera. It’s not going to be too far in the future when you see a mirrorless camera that takes A-mount lenses directly. Each camera has advantages and disadvantages. The GH2 is certainly a capable camera, but it’s not perfect for everyone. No camera is. Choice is good and competition spurs development of even better cameras. To say that the A77 and the 5N are not innovative is a bit of a stretch, however. They are both good photographic tools that can be used to create good videos. Maybe not to your standards, but others are quite happy with the work they are doing. And Canon, Sony, Nikon – they are all reporting fairly poor financials. Panasonic and Sharp don’t seem to be doing well either. And Olympus? We can only hope that the downturn won’t claim many of these players.
EVF is a the crapiest thing in the world!
Except when it’s dark and I can’t see anything on the old OVF and the EVF equpped camera lets me frame and shoot subjects readily. Then again, everybody looks at different things.
You’ve obviously never used one for any length of time. Coming from the A700 to the A77 I am a convert. Focus peaking, magnification, and the information on display is astounding. As pointed out I can frame and focus a shot in the dark LONG after my A700 becomes useless.
SLT is a bad joke, not an innovation
Yes, of course it is. Because you really know what you are talking about…
Agreed.
If they dare to think that, they need a smack in the face.
I doubt they’d wake up even then.
Yeah. Built-in night-vision is a must. Most photos are being taken in pitch black and some people want to be able to take good photos with lens cap on too 🙂
Personally I never ever had problems to use OVF in dark places or when I was shooting night skies. Both EVF and OVF had their advantages and disadvantages. It would be best to have both.
Couldn’t have been that dark then, it was always a problem for me.
I’d have to say the pancake lens is quite interesting though.
I know one of the things they keep trying to emphasize is making compatibility for older lenses, so I’m wondering if pancakes like that are mirrorless only, perhaps built that way so that they go deeper into the mount while still keeping compatibility with standard k-mount.
B&H says “compatible with KAF mount” so at least one good thing came out of the announcement.
hmmmm. so after Pentax winning the prize for the ugliest and stupidest camera of today and SONY stating their bad financial results… how much more does SONY need to finally understand, that they have to build a camera that people want more than any other? a camera that provides the user/buyer with everything, so that he doesn’t even think about the Nikon 1 system or anything from m4/3?
why do they struggle so hard NOT to build such camera?
Isn’t that the NEX5-N, or the NEX-7?
Small, great to use, impressive image quality. Win, win, win. That’s why they’re selling so well.
impressive image quality, nex = FAIL
Your standard of image quality is quite high. I wonder if there’s any mirrorless can ever satisfy it.
For some people a camera with a Sony badge will NEVER be good enough for them…
Pentax has done an amazing thing here. They held off on entering the mirrorless market until it appears things were going to take off for this format and catch on in the marketplace…and then they release the ugliest, largest mirrorless camera body, with no real feature set to set them apart from anyone else. That is Pentax for you.
As a backup to a K5 it’d be okay, so there’s a couple of sales for starters 😀 Other than that, I can’t see it appealing to buyers when sat on the shelf next to the other CSCs out there.
Why as a backup to the K-5? Same sensor and almost the very same size (no viewfinder), unless you only want it for video?
Cost.
Good job Pentax, lol
3D televisions and Thai floods (watch out for another flood in 2012!) is killing Sony.
Sony needs a legitimate and cheaper competitor at the entry level. Their entry levels are more expensive than Canon’s entry level cameras. Why Sony refuses to compete on price is beyond me. If they want to make inroads into the DSLR market they should undercut Canon by a $100. Right now the crappy Canon T3 can be had for well under $500 at certain places. IF Sony were to bring in an A35 replacement at $399 with lens they could start winning new customers and get them locked into buying Sony lenses.
Unfortunately Sony are delusional, they consider themselves to be a premium brand in all areas of their business, hence the premium price tag of their most basic SLT model.
Personally I’d have the A3x series as a loss leader.
In my country, Sony’s are cheaper than Canikon’s. That’s for body only. For lenses and other accessories, Canikon offer cheaper products.
I’m not going to claim that I’m an expert in Sony’s business although I do own shares Sony and Canon, and today I was thinking about increasing my stake in Sony with an additional stock purchase, but a huge failure in the Tokyo Exchange has disrupted that plan.
Bloomberg News:
Canon Inc. (7751 JT): The world’s biggest camera maker said it will spend as much as 50 billion yen ($660 million) to buy back up to 1.3 percent of its outstanding shares. The stock rose 0.3 percent to 3,280 yen.
Sony Corp. (6758 JT): Japan’s largest consumer-electronics exporter more than doubled its forecast for a full-year loss to 220 billion yen, underscoring the challenge for incoming Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai, who will replace Howard Stringer. Sony will close less-competitive businesses and review its portfolio, Hirai said. The stock lost 2.6 percent to 1,328 yen.
The NEX and the SLT products has added some new life into Sony’s camera division, let’s just hope new Sony management see it the same as we do.
Ops, I forgot to add that I do see a great deal of promise what Hirai had this to say about Sony’s future:
“The path we must take is clear: to drive the growth of our core electronics businesses–primarily digital imaging, smart mobile, and game; to turn around the television business; and to accelerate the innovation that enables us to create new business domains”
Digital Imaging! 🙂 🙂
I noticed that too, sounds promising!!!
“Digital Imaging!” yey, more compacts!
Sony in digital imaging is crap and can fall behind a fuji and evan samsung hoho
Yeah because professionals don’t use Sony for video do they….sigh…do people here have ANY clue at all?
Yes, and divisions have divisions so personally, I hope that whatever divisions within Digital Imaging the next full frame professional camera is in, that it’s not one of the ones considered to be closed because of being “less-completive” and the same for the division that includes A-mount lenses.
I think the NEX product line is safe for now, as it’s proving to be a big hit for Sony.
Three words: Pentax Limited Primes. You can make fun of the K-01, but out of the box you have an incredible number of lenses that work *with no adapter*. Consider the number of E-mount lenses available. Very limited. Oh, but you can use an adapter! Ok, then the camera is a bulky as the K-01. As for the industrial design, it certainly isn’t what I’d call “elegant” but at least they didn’t go “me too!!!” with the design. Pentax has style, albeit quirky at times. And they still make some of the best glass around. There is no Sony lens that I find particularly compelling. But a Pentax 77/1.8 or 33/1.8 ltd prime? Gorgeous.
sorry but those two Pentax lenses you just listed are not compelling to me!
Have you ever shot with them? The 77mm is sublime and quite possibly my favorite lens ever. Over any Canon L glass I tried or various Nikkors. Most people like the 40/2.8 pancake but it wasn’t my favorite. The 35/2.8 macro however was another nice lens.
I had all three FA Ltds (and 15Ltd) and I must say you will get better results with any FF camera + mediocre lenses, like 35/1.8, 50/1.8, 85/1.8. This set will cost about the same as Pentax camera + Ltds.
On the other hand, DA Ltds are just compact good performers which are not any better optically than those 35/1.8, etc.
You can put practically ANY lens on the Sony NEX though. Focus peaking makes manual lenses a joy to use.
marc newson get eyesore out of my head. pentx is new crown, of uglys
Looking at this, it appears they sold less volume for less profit than 2010, and losses were across the board. At least they’re consistent. With the Thai floods and the Japan earthquakes, this shouldn’t be a surprise. All I know is they got the proceeds of me buying 3 bodies, 8 lenses, 6 batteries and a flash. I know it is fractions of fractions of pennies on the dollar, but they got a ton of my money.
I like the new pentax more more than the nex, and it make sense, is in balance with the lens it isnt a crap thing like that cheese flat nex 3 5 7 are worse than a hurting kik
Why not just get a Pentax dSLR? You get the same size and weight, but also faster AF and an OVF.
Its aaaaa its Modern! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-lSQlvqFKs&feature=youtu.be&t=1m8s
New meme!
sony nex is like… that: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3292/2988741880_40a19eea52_z.jpg?zz=1
Lots of haters out today. One wonders if some of these people like any cameras at all?
How is it people are always forgetting the tsunami. The tsunami hit sony pretty hard.
So because Canon had a bad quarter and forecast a smaller increase in sales, they’ll be “Dethroned” by Sony, who also is going through the same exact thing?
What I’ve learned about Sony over the last ten years:
“Never leave an American to do a Japanese’s job”
raven if that was the case then Sony wouldn’t be getting its butt handed to them in the personal audio dept. Android and ios are both AMERICAN.
Not even close to the ugliest camera ever made. I give you the Fotron.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Traid_fotron_iii.jpg
What? That things AWESOME.
the fact that the image is actually the “fotron 3” begs the question what the hell did the previous 2 versions look like 🙂
You have a fair point!
Now Pentax and previously Nikon have managed to implement CDAF that works with screw-driven lenses.
When will Sony catch up here?
Maybe I’m missing something, but which camera was camera of the year for 2011? How about 2010? Right now there is one excellent prime lens for the NEX. That’s fine ith me, because after buying the NEX 7, and the Zeiss 24, I need to recuperate financially, by which time hopefully there I’ll be another quality lens. Further, sony’s sensors re good enough for several other camera makers to use them. And finally DXO has the NEX 7 as the highest ranked APSC camera, with only $7000.00 and up cameras ranked higher. That being said, if low noise is more important to you than higher resolution, the fuji x1 pro is probably the way to go in that price bracket. I saw a photo at ISO 25000, that was incredible. I’ll still take the NEX 7 for it’s video, higher res, panorama mode and use the low light mode, or HDR mode for HIGH ISO situations.
It looks like crap to your eyes admin but some others will like it..Pentax has nothing to prove, they have been camera makers for quite a long time..Sony ??? (i am trying to be fair even though i am a sominolta user..
EVF isn’t perfect on the the A77, try to shoot portraits in low light conditions, it’s really hard to get the rite focus as u can’t see clearly in the VF..I always use my old rokkor 58 .12 and i am really disappointed with the EVF of the A77…thinking of selling it and buy a A900 as the price has dropped here in Asia.
Those who are defending the A77 at any price are not so rite..it’s a nice camera for shooting landscapes or portrait during daylight, but the noise level is unacceptable for the price..compare it to the pentax K5 which is older..pentax is better..build like a rock, great dynamic range, better iso level..honestly, if i didn’t have my old minolta lenses, i would probably switch to Pentax..
EVF is not perfect.. but at least NEX-7 has one. Not perfect is better that nothing.
I think it’s silly how people go “Oh, how ugly!” on one side when you have people on the other going, “Oh, who cares about the look of colored cameras?”
Sony camera is minolta so quit a long time they have been making cameras.
+1 thank you for your views
If you think the A77 noise level is unacceptable then you don’t know much about post processing high ISO images of your cat.
I never said the Pentax was crap. the DXO sensor rating for the K5 andvNEX 7 re nearly identical. The NEX has a higher res and the K5 has a slightly higher ISO rating. The NEX will print out somewhat larger at native res, and the K5 will get you a slightly better photo at an ISO greater than 1600. I wanted a camera that was smaller and lighter than a DSLR. I think that the NEX 7 with the Zeiss 24mm lens is at least as good as a K5 with any native Pentax lens. Even if there were more quality lenses for the NEX system, I couldn’t afford them. Maybe next year. I can wait.
Full frame cameras are in a different category altogether. They are much larger and heavier, and their lenses, besides being much larger and heavier are also much more expensive. I don’t know about you but I can’t afford those systems.
There are always trade offs. Price, size, weight, resolution, ISO, programs, lenses, feel of the camera in your hand, your intended use, etc. all go into making an intelligent decision on this expensive item. What works best for me won’t necessarily work best for you.
That K-01 is one fugly camera. It also looks as deep as an SLR. I don’t see the point.
Cheaper than a K-5 but equal image quality.
As a photographer using both Minolta/Sony for more than 25 years I’m hoping for the best A-mount camera possible, and for Sony to succeed, so I don’t need to replace my investment in lenses and purchase stuff all over again from Canon or Nikon. The camera is a tool for me…………And I’m not for any one manufacture, just someone looking to make the best image possible…..
So as if now, I’m a Sony fanboy looking for a full-frame lens roadmap and a replacement for the a900/a850 class of cameras.
“The ugliest camera”?
Have you ever seen the Nikon J1 in pink? Then you will know the realy ugliest camera in the world and outerspace.
Gentlemen, we have a winner.