The Mirrorless strategy slide posted back in late 2014.
Sony released their Mid-Term Corporate Strategy for FY2015 – FY2017 (Full press text here: sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201502/15-017E/index.html). Here are some of the key info:
1) Overall it looks very good for Sony. They target for consolidated operating profit of more than 500 billion yen for the Sony Group in FY201.
2) Focus on High Value mirrorless cameras. The actual words used by Sony are: “While Sony does not anticipate overall market growth in these areas, the Company will target certain areas within each market that are unlikely to experience commoditization by continuing to offer new, high value-added products such as its advanced mirrorless single-lens reflex cameras and high-resolution audio products.”
3) Customer attention: “Sony will seek to reinforce its deployment of “recurring-revenue business models…also for interchangeable lenses and accessories within the Digital Imaging business.” Recurring revenue models provide a way to reach out to customers more frequently and build a more loyal customer base.
There is no other info in their report about particular products. But it’s also important to underline that their Imaging Sensor sales are booming and Sony plans to invest more resources in research and production. We should all benefit from that strategy too because it means Sony will lead the digital system camera sensor market too.
–
Thanks Dicahub for sharing the news.
325 Responses
Yes!!
High End ,High End = FF agan !!! dame no more APS-C ????
Is this the End of APS-C camera’s from Sony, only High End FF Body, it’s insaine
Nikon hasn’t released a decent DX lens in 5 years and that system isn’t dead. The low end is happy with slow 18-xx zooms and incremental updates on the bodies…
wasnt their new super zoom good?
Where do you read that? The A6000 is a big succes and is APS-c
The Sony line up need a A7000 weather sealed APS-C camera !!! it’s more then time for it.
A7000 = A6000 with FF sensor?
The A7000 will obviously be APS-C, if it ever arrives.
We are need for a7000, not Sony, dude. This is а main problem.
High End doesn’t mean FF only.
Admin, any new A7000 rumor ? thanks
not yet. I am trying to get the next announcement date yet.
See the next Nikon 7200 announcement it’s on 13/03/2015, I hope Sony wake up also at that date !!
Sony sealed it completely lol…
Nope. There ws no rumor about a camera announcement date the last 2-3 months simply because there was no camera announcement 🙂
@admin: any news on the RX2? Thanks
Forget about it. It’s marketing fake from Sony.
@admin
Can you provide more infos whats going behind the curtain?
We havent seen any rumor posts or pseudo rumor posts neither.
Thanks
Made a 2 weeks pause because of the CP+ show. new rumors coming soon.
P.S.: 1 week for CP+ and 1 week pause for my family 😉
I’m smelling A7S-II here…
not yet my friend , A7R II first
Well, this may not be the case if Canon has some sort of exclusivity over the 50mp sensor (like Nikon and the 36mp sensor).
But it’s not a Sony sensor is it?
You’re guess is as good as mine. All of the rumors leading up to the announcement indicated it would be.
Yes, but then Chuck Westfall from Canon USA went on record saying that the DR wasn’t improved from the 5D3 sensor.
Last rumor I heard here is the Canon 50MP sensor was not made by Sony (not sure about it) , so I don’t think that Nikon story with 36MP will happen again.
Even if the sensor was made by Sony , I still don’t expect it to happen again, Sony now is leading mirrorless ,IMO it’s not a good choice to sell sensor exclusively to Canon , it will give Canon a big chance to catch up with Sony in mirrorless category in the future.
For Canon dSLRs, Sony getting a piece of that big pie by making them their own exclusive sensor would make good business sense I believe. The better the sensor & semiconductor business does for Sony, the more flexibility the camera division can have I. Regards to options and pricing.
Canon insists that they designed and manufactured the sensor in-house, and I believe them. A Sony sensor would have a higher DR than the sensor from the 5D3.
Canon certainly has the capability. As a long time canon dSLR shooter, their sensors tend to be the most boring aspect of their cameras.
I think they are saying the three differences are in three separate cameras, however, this would imply an a7rii because the resolution winner goes to the new canon so far for this year
“mirrorless single-lens reflex camera”
“advanced mirrorless single-lens reflex cameras”
Can you have a mirrorless reflex camera?
That’s what I thought as well, and I think its probably an error in translation. There is no ‘reflex’ without a mirror.
It seems that SLR is marketing speak for system camera. The general public still don’t know exactly what to make of the mirrorless category, but if you call them SLRs, then people understand that they are not just ‘compact cameras’.
It is called “internal reflections”. Nikon does this for a while now… ^^
Yes, the sensor will flip out of the way exposing your eyes with true ovf-like rays of light!
I wonder what they mean by Single Lens, although I really would like to have a digital Rolleiflex. One thing’s for sure: one single lens wouldn’t fit my needs!
That caught my eye. Could there be a missing comma. It might be, “advanced mirrorless, single-lens reflex cameras, and high-resolution audio products”. Commas would certainly change the meaning.
we all know Sony would not produce SLRs any longer.
True, but they are still arguably single-lens reflex. That is a term that has been debated ad nauseam which is worth a new debate, however it could explain the reference. For the record I don’t believe that is the explanation. I also don’t put much stock into this slide being anything to get worked up over. It is too unprofessional to be much more than a low level presentation.
Actually meant to say not worth a new debate. At least I am not interested in arguing terminology.
What about lenses!?!? There are enough bodies already…
“Sony will seek to reinforce its deployment of “recurring-revenue
business models…also for interchangeable lenses and accessories within
the Digital Imaging business.”
So the will release a new slightly improved standard zoom every 6 month from now on?
so the focus is to make more cameras than lenses.
while I agree that a mirrorless apc-s with ibis would be a game changer the enormous amount of cameras compares to lenses is just absurd.
oh and A mount is dead.
The currently produced models are: A99, A77II, A58, A7S, A7R, A7II, A6000, A5100, A3000. That’s nine models. Surely Sony has more lenses than that?
It is getting interested, Olympus will further improve their mirrorless with handheld 40MP shooting. D7200 to be 1st DSLR offer HD120P.
That 40mp talk is marketing nonsense. Look at the samples they are terrible. Nothing like a 40mp file.
Ultimate speed? There are no Sony f/0.95 lenses, even no f/1.2.
Ultimate resolution and sensitivity? Nikon uses the same sensors.
What it is, ultimate cluelessness about direction in which to go.
a7s sensor is in which nikon camera?
D700. You don’t develop a new sensor with the same megapixel number as an old one. It’s just a D700 sensor with some tweaks.
Well they are pretty significant “tweaks”, wouldn’t you say?
I beleive the D700 sensor was NOT manufactured or designed by Sony. It was designed by Nikon and manufactured by someone other than Sony
Correct, it was the same sensor as they used in the D3, and the sensors in the flagship pro models are always Nikon designs. I believe the manufacturer they use is Renesas.
No that’s wrong. Sony did not use the 6+ year old d700 sensor, which was discontinued 2 years before the a7s was released. Compare the cameras: http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-D700-versus-Sony-A7S___441_949
Simply because the same number of megapixels existed in a prior sensor does not make it the same part.
But how can he be wrong? He’s an expert!
a7r, a7ii, a7, a6000 sensors are in nikon cameras.
By speed they are referring to the shooting/processing speed of the sensor, not the aperture of lenses.
Out of their release: “By capitalizing on its existing technological expertise in these areas rather than engaging in large-scale investments, and by optimizing fixed costs and enhancing inventory control, Sony will aim to maximize profits and return on investment.”
success slows innovation and rises prices. basically this statement means that rather than investing in innovation and making new good value products to increase their sales, they will now squeeze out anything possible moneywise of what they have achieved so far. So products will still be fine, but no further investment means less improvement. And more importantly, maximizing profit out of what they have means exactly that they will overprice the products. Time for more competition i guess.
No news for awhile on the a7rII (a9). Are we still expecting this camera soon?
A7RII and A9 would be two different models. The former is an update of the A7R, while the latter is a body higher up in the line-up, just as A99 is higher than A77.
Actually from what I read it wasn’t clear if there was actually 2 models. It was believed the A9 was going to be the 50 mp model but when the the A7 was updated to the A7II so quickly, there was the thought the A7RII would go from the 36 to 50mp and would be in fact what was believed to be the rumored A9. At least that was my take on it. But anyways, any hope of either entering our lives soon.
The A9 will have a more pro-grade body, that’s what the ‘9’ signifies (A900, A99). The number ‘7’ is used for enthusiast bodies (A700, A77, NEX-7, A7 series).
You mean fancy plastic instead of less fancy plastic?
No, big cameras for big man hands. Grrrrrr… *beats chest*
any more news on the new 16-50 pancake mk2 ?
No a7000, no 1650mk2, no weather-sealed 1670. It was just marketing fakes from this marketing place.
the 16-50mm is seriously bottlnecking the 24MP sensor. dont mind the distortion, but need to sharpen up abit.
Sorry…you missed pancake day by just two days 🙂
The “Image Cube” in the graphic looks suspiciously like a triangle.
It’s a tri-force of Sony power.
The Holy Trinity is: Sensor, Lenses, and Processor.
The words thrown around the pyramid fall into one (or more) of those 3 categories.
Now, the question is, is there significance to Sony putting the Sensor as the top of the pyramid? And will Sony bank on Full Frame as a competitive advantage… or will they continue to try and exceed others in the APS-C format as well?
Well cube can be 3, if look in math perspective
To many products in a sea of competition leads to consumer fatigue. Sony’s problem.
Cure for consumer fatigue.
http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0809/Leica/Leica_new/S2-Booster.jpg
Not enough MP’s under the hood. I like the design though.
Would rather be in the ‘sea’ of innovation of Sony. Than the desert of mediocrity that is canon…
Pretty much everyone photo ive seen come out of the S could have been taken with a 5D. Doesn’t look medium format in the slightest.
If Leica is the answer…You’re asking the wrong question…
You almost made me cry, what an ugly camera. Thank God this $hít is fake.
yawn….no new full frame A-Mount ….just the A99 then…..zzzzz
‘recurring-revenue business models’?
You mean… Cameras that break even easier?
Right? Faulty lenses and cameras that break just in time for the new model to come out. This year 16-35mm f4, next year 16-35mm f2.8, the year after that 16-35mm f2….. ah who am I kidding, Sony could never produce lenses that fast….
I am at a point where I am waiting to see what Sony brings out with regards to the a7000 (or what ever name it will have) + future lenses and flash support.
I’m tempted to sell up my Nikon and move to Fuji but love the a6000 my wife has and just need to hear that Sony will take a step to the next level with lenses (and flashes?.)
Where is the “PRO” user and 9 series?
7 series might be fine for “high end user”… but it ain’t pro at all.
OK betraying of crop E mount is fact now… give up and go find another camera and system
You guys are missing the big part! Sony is bringing 4k to current devices this year!
The other big part missed is that SONY plans to spin off the audio and video vision (i.e. Cameras) while retaining the image processor division.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/18/8063269/sony-electronics-future-selling-off-pc-smartphone-tv
Camera manufacturing is not part of the audio and video department so before you spread bullshit around, get your facts straight. The TV and Video department does not include cameras, cameras are handled by the sensor department, one of the highest money making machine of Sony.
No, the sensors are made by Sony Semiconductor, which is a separate company from the consumer electronics company. Get your facts straight!
According to USAToday
“The Japanese electronics giant plans to spin off its video and sound division, which includes cameras and music players, by Oct. 1, Sony chief executive Kazuo Hirai said Wednesday during a corporate strategy event at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. This follows Sony’s spinoff of its television manufacturing unit last year.”
Your source is??
“hi value” and “high value-added” are two different things. One smells of marketing bullshit.
For a company that can designs such beautiful products, this PowerPoint slide is hideous. Have your marketing department make these slides not your engineers.
I’m pretty sure the marketing department did make it, not the engineers. Just look at that triangular “cube”!
Cube can mean 3.. If you know math
Yes, good point. However, I don’t think that is what they meant.
“High-end user.” No native radio controlled flash. No flash sync port. No USB3. No dual card slots for redundancy. No true 14bit colours non lossy raw (less obvious to the human eye if not printing).
Nothing subjective was posted here, just facts
To imply that USB3 is essential for a high-end user is pretty subjective.
Can’t you two just agree to use your surname initial or use Bob 1 and Bob 2?
No need, his straw man argument was great fun
It’s objectively faster. I didn’t imply anything in that sentence, I just said “No USB3”
This plan doesn’t contain words “A mount”, “Alpha”, “SLT” or “DSLR”.
So, Sony plans to sleep forward, while even Pentax is stepping up?
Waaaaaaaa! Last time I checked A-Mount fell under the ILC banner. But gotta complain every chance you get do-what?
No “ILC” in the article either.
“Sony will seek to further leverage this approach within its Network Services business, the Media Networks business operated by the Pictures segment, and also for interchangeable lenses and accessories within the Digital Imaging business. ”
That’s the only word “interchangeable” in there, and that sounds as unpromising and general as it can be.
Sony only has 11 days left of February, where those huge A-Mount announcements were supposed to happen and fix the dire situation Sony put themselves in. If nothing happens once again, a new exodus of users will follow.
This will happen. It is obvious that Sony is in absolutely DIRE straights and even though they may like to develop/announce new A-mount products, they do not have that ability.
Sony’s days are numbered, for sure.
Yeah, they are screwed. For A mount, the best they probably can do is refresh existing lenses. This would only apply to the very few which are moving out in sales enough to at MINIMUM recoup costs. A99II will be a minor improvement and I’m guessing the same body- no marketing for it either. Get ready for the next 5 years of mediocrity until their’s no sizzle left in the steak.
Spot on, me thinks.
…
Pentax: The new Sony.
Pentax FF DSLR – the reality is that nobody will care.
Almost 2% of the market will care.
Damn pedants!
😉
2 beefy loyal percent that is.
Unless it’s mirror less. I can dream can’t I.
I love corporate BS. The triangular “image cube” is splendid.
I hope their engineers are better…
Very nonspecific goals Sony has. Thriving businesses often have detailed short term and long term goals. Canon camera might be primitive, but the lens selection and image quality are what photography is about. Tempted to give up on Sony at this point
I’m still reading SAR, I started since first rumors of a FF were appearing, but nowadays I’m going to abandon sony mirrorless soon. I know that my comment doesn’t matter to anybody, here, but it’s just my good bye and thanks to SAR.
Nikon I assume.
I feel u
Nah, I’m good thanks.
I wonder, what’s your specific reasoning? Just curious…
There are definitely some areas where Sony is still frustrating. I won’t abandon their mirrorless, as I love what they’re doing with those cameras. My a6000 might be my favorite camera ever. However, I’m thinking about dumping all my Sony DSLR/DSLT gear and going to Canon or Nikon. I fear Sony support for their existing system is fading away quickly, and also, even if it isn’t, they’re still weak with their flash system, compatibility with many third-party products, etc. So I’m thinking maybe a Canikon camera with a couple/few key lenses for my pro and studio work, but then my Sony mirrorless w/ native, lightweight primes for my street stuff, landscapes, etc. Not sure yet, though, as I do still love my Sony gear, and switching it all up would be a major hassle.
you and a-mount will be missed, hope to see you soon with a cool new e-mount
Good luck trying to figure out Sony’s long term plans.
I hope that’s not their actual chart. If so, please hire me as your designer lol…
This is like a teenagers goal chart. Get better, do more stuff, make more pocket money
Sony’s erratic behavior would certainly make sense, if it turned out that the company is run by teenagers.
Sony is in absolutely DIRE straights and even though they may like to develop/announce new A-mount products, they do not have that ability. Soon, they’ll run out of things to spin off.
We already know that Cameras (all cameras) are on the decline. No matter how successful E-mount becomes, it will start to slump and slump hard! It’s already showing signs of this.
Once the sensor sales start to dwindle for smartphones (this will happen too), Sony will implode in on itself.
Sony’s days are numbered, for sure.
2016
It’s looking pretty bleak for sure, they are talking about spinning off or just stopping to make smart phones. They have closed all retail stores in Canada and other places around the world, who knows what’s next but one thing is for sure they are falling fast.
Why is this clown still the CEO of the company? Give this idiot the boot already!
Folks, unless your getting paid I’d suggest approach Sony the way they approach their customers. Use them sparingly and when something else comes along change directions FAST.
Who’s paying you to post a lot of nonsense here? Tell them to hire me!
… opens new browser tab to start pricing out a switch to nikon…
or maybe fuji…
Sounds well thought out.
ha! its just a mater of what direction i would want to go if i jump ship. larger FF kit, or smaller crop kit
Both. Nikon for full frame and I go the other extreme- M43 for small stuff. KILL SHOT.
I enjoy my Olympus m4/3’s system. I have all the f/1.8 primes and the E-M1 and first-generation E-M5. It’s a great travel system and nice for long shots involving sports with the 2x crop factor and my Olympus 150 mm f/2.0 coupled with a 1.4x Olympus magnification lens.
I intend to develop a collection of fast primes and quality adapters for my Sony a7R. I rent fast primes to help sort out my needs.
I went to Nikon. And so far I love it. Really brought fun back to my photography. I totally forgot how good OVFs are (got D800).
I’m “out”!
F this. Sony, you destroyed your company.
Switching to Canon TODAY.
I’d much rather have a stable, consistant product line to count on, than
innovation and fresh technology. Looks like the vast majority agree
with me! Did you see this from yesterday!?
Out of curiosity, where was that shown and where is the source of the data?
If it is even remotely accurate, there will be around 6 million A mount cameras sitting unsold or unused. One look on ebay tells me it is not likely to be the case.
DISCOUNT FOR ME!!!!!
Take a look at B&H used dept. They have over 40 A77 cameras, and 19 A99 cameras. A year ago, you might see one or two.
Maybe most people arent selling them – this says “ACTIVE” users. So they’re just ending up in shoeboxes somewhere. But…clearly people ARE dumping their gear. No disputing that.
Yup.
19 used A99 cameras is a drop in the bucket. That in no way indicates mass abandonment. B&H charges to much for their used gear. KEH- three A99’s, zero A850’s (had two and 1 on amazon last week- gone) and three a900’s (admittedly overpriced because they keep selling-darn). A99 on ebay goes for 1300-1400 on auction now. B&H prices used way above this with no shutter count.
40 A77 and 19 A99….that leaves about 5,999,941 to account for!
The greatest likelihood is that those few Sony cameras in B&H (and it is a few) are from trades-in for A7, A7II, and A77II, rather than any ‘dumping’.
It says to me that Sony are judging their market well and that people like the new innovations. The cameras aren’t perfect, certainly, but they are moving in the right direction and Canon are likely flapping; hence the rather dreadful M3…
A-mount was mostly popular in countries that don’t use eBay much. Like Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Oceania, Southern America, etc.
eBay is as stupid way of judging things as Amazon is.
Why not Nikon?
I’ve just put all my Sony gear – except for the RX1 – up for sale. After so little action on the A-mount side and this haphazard approach to E/FE bodies and lenses (two 35’s and no real portrait/tele lens?) I’ve had enough. I’m getting a bargain used 5d3 as my stills workhorse and the Samsung NX1 for 4k video and timelapses.
It doesn’t seem like Sony can decide which direction its going with any of its cameras other than to push out updated bodies ASAP. More bodies with features that don’t carry to the next generation or leaving off popular features from previous models (touch screen, xavc video on A5100, not on A6000, the disappearing level, just one control dial on the a6000 and so on).
Will we see a RX2? Will there ever be a A99II? I’ve been using A-mount and E-mount for years but my A99 is ready to be replaced. I would like to see an updated model, but I don’t think its ever going to happen.
If the RX2 ever sees the light of day I’m in, otherwise thanks for the memories Sony…
Link to sale items?
They don’t exist.
Here’s the trade feeler I posted as I’ve been mulling this over for awhile. That graphic isn’t what pushed me to dump Sony, its been brewing for the last year and a half because of nothing on the A-mount side. I still need a real AF that mirrorless can’t match.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1344882/0?keyword=trade,a7s#12828737
Apologies then. It’s very hard to sift the truth from the BS around here.
My A-mount stuff is all but gone (except an A700 and an 18-70 kit lens) – neither is worth very much, so I’ll probably keep those forever for DSLR nostalgia purposes. 😀
My A7’s AF is perfectly adequate for my needs (it actually tracks subjects quite well), and it’s only going to get better on mirrorless, if the A6000 is anything to go by.
I understand your reasons, but I just couldn’t go back to a DSLR (and I don’t miss my A77 at all). Whenever I pick up my father’s 5D MKIII, as good as it is, it just leaves me cold. Photography is supposed to be fun.
No worries, I get the BS factor.
See below. From the trade feeler I’ve gotten offers from almost everything pictured.
You’re a fool.
Kneejerk Photographer.
Not kneejerk, I’ve actually been considering this for awhile, that goofy graphic has nothing to do with it. The lack of A-mount movement in the last couple years aside from a few token lens updated and the A77II leaves me with no upgrade for my well used A99. The A7/s just isn’t cutting it either.
You’ll like the 5D3. Good luck with with the NX1 & h.265, it’s a great camera, pity the software available isn’t up to the task yet. If I wanted 4K video now and a competent stills camera it’d be a GH4.
The NX1 is going to be a knockaround camera that happens to shoot 4k – I may go NX500 since its 1/2 the price. I can work around the h265 transcoding.
I couldn’t be happier than I am with the A7S to be honest, it’s a lovely camera for both stills and HD video. I certainly don’t mis lugging around my 5D3’s. The NX1 however is kinda intriguing………
No Nikon huh?
I prefer Canon’s ergonomics and UI. Plus I can run Magic Lantern. Plus I want to shoot with the 85/1.2 and 24/1.4
I would really like an updated A99, but I don’t think that will ever see the light of day.
Yea, Magic Lantern makes a huge difference. Good choice man, hope you’ll enjoy your camera. 🙂
I am buying a Sony 70-400GII today, as well as a second A77II.
Who gives a F&$*& if Sony is doomed. ALL camera makers are going down the drain because the market is changing. The A77II is the best APS-C camera ever made, and the 70-400GII is the best telephoto zoom ever made, and I want them.
You people are silly.
Canon 7D2, Pentax K-3, Samsung NX1, Fuji X-T1, Sony A6000. They all beat the A77II hands down.
7D2- nope. K3- not in AF, NX1- yeah, kind of. XT1- laugh. A6000- pfft.
The 7D2 has the most accurate continuous AF of all those models, though. Not in liveview, but when you use the separate AF sensor.
I’ve used the 7D2. It’s nowhere near the level of the A77II.
Nice try.
I have used both, and you’re wrong. Nice try.
I’ve used both, and YOU’RE wrong. Nice try.
Guys, this discussion is getting frisky. 7D2 is a great camera if you want to pony up another 600-700 bucks. But if you want better DR and all the Sony toys then A77II. No wrong answer here. I find the auto lock focus on the A77II to be near perfect. It’s consistant and 12FPS is great.
No, there’s a wrong answer.
Canon sucks. The 7D2 is a sad camera, even for a Canon. They had time after the A77II release and STILL couldnt improve upon it. Yeah, it may be a decent camera in general, but it’s NO WHERE NEAR the A77II.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAAAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAAAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAAAAH!
OF course the A77II is a better camera. is this even a quesiton!?
Quesiton? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I use my A77II as a planter. Fill with mulch and soil. That’s all it can really be used for. That damn camera is not even capable of making an image!
Price is rediculous- almost laughable. Body build is cheap and menu layout archaic. No touchy or swivel screen, no improved DR…slight increase in ISO. Yeah, I think it’s a sad excuse for a camera upgrade. But it’s AF is quite good.
Body build is not cheap. That’s the one area where the 7D2 actually beats its competitors. The A77II is certainly not as robust, and it has worse weather sealing, too.
Well, it doesnt FEEL robust.
You mean weather sealing. Yes, great job. Exterior plastic is horrid.
The only thing that hate more than Sony being stupid when it involves A mount is the image quality from Canon cameras!
LOL
Wrong.
With that logic, so does celery, a blue whale, and the color red.
You’re a fool.
The A77II beats them all, and it’s cheaper, put down the crack pipe Ass-Guru.
No, it doesn’t. It’s a vastly overrated camera.
How can it be over rated. It’s barely a blip on anyone’s radar other than the few who have actually shot with it. I find it under rated.
Agreed completely. I tried all these before I bought the A77II. The Sony is far superior.
SS NX1 beats A77ii ? Good lord, please saves this one
All played well by this troll.
lol
RIIIIIIIGHT. Said someone who knows nothing about the A77II. And clearly hasnt used one.
Guys, go back to work.
I need no more high value mirrorless camera. Don’t put more weight and destroy the concept of A7. What Sony has to do is lunch a lighter weight and user friendly camera. As not much choice of FE lenses means many using third-party lenses. No fast auto focus needed. Actually, no auto focus is needed at all.
For pro who already have experience with a camera that has no stabilizer for years including who using Leica, I would say they might select a no stabilizer camera for lower weight.
Also a budget or first full-frame entry level, nomore fancy stuffs to bring the price higher and make a camera heavier. A basic camera with easy to shot is a brighter way to go.
I agree on the lunch part. I’m getting hungry right about now.
Sony doesn’t have a clear and concise plan. Who is guiding this company? It seems to be going in all directions. Just a lot of good ideas and bad decisions with band-aid solutions.
Clearly, the Sony marketing team either need a good slap, or consist of two 11 year olds and one just this side of 9!
That said, it’s all pretty meaningless and this rush to ‘abandon’ all Sony equipment is completely barking mad. If you use it as an amateur, what you have will almost certainly give fantstic results and probably outlive you. If you’re a pro then there are very few gaps that can’t be happily filled; certainly there are some slightly weaker areas, but the equipment is more than capable and is not going to suddenly disappear like a puff of smoke!
Get a grip, people.
I would slap them so hard.
Then I will smite them and lastly I will plague their whole country with frogs.
It’s how I was raised.
😀
So…………..
What’s goin’ on up there on Mars?
From my perspective, the sky is NOT falling… but I guess time will tell.
They might not have a marketing team. That’s possible too.
Don’t forget the Boils too !
14 bit color or still the same old lousy lossy 11+7 bit for ALL MIRRORLESS CAMERAS ?
When are you going to post your D810/A7R image samples?
https://sonyvnikon.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/test-1-a-simple-imatest-comparison/
WOW! Look at those graph lines.
That means nothing to me.
That is pathetic.
Post some real world images or don’t bother at all.
HEY! Some of us Want lossy 11+7 bit images! Dont impose YOUR beliefs on us.
Your penance; 1 Our Anton and 3 Hail Nikons.
Wait a minute – People are selling all their Sony gear and abandoning the system because of one slide and a canned “say nothing” press release? Seems rational.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH
I’m abandoning my gear (litterally) on the sidewalk. cant take it anymore!!
these comments make me abandon reading SAR comments!
I just opened my window (I live on the 12th floor in NYC) and dumped my camera backpack out. A99, A77II, A700, 70-300, 24-70, 50, 135, and two flashes fell to their deaths in the back alley.
Now I can start fresh with another dying brand – only this time with outdated technology.
I flushed my A7 down the toilet. Good thing it was so small. 135 zeiss is propping my front door open right now.
I just tried flushing an A99…didnt work. But yep, the A7 goes down just fine!
I tried flushing the A99. It ended up taking high quality photos of my asss and it still works. Damn, to bad it’s such a freaking tank.
Did you try flushing it without the lens? And make sure the VG is taken off. Try it that way – should just barely go down. Hope this helps!
I hate to say this, but I actually just considered trying to flush my A99. Just to see…
Ugh…time to switch brands.
Dang it…why didnt I think to do that with my 135. Oh well. Live and learn.
Um…I also flushed my A7 to see if it actually would go – and it did. But I forgot to take my memory card out. It was a Sandisk Ultra III 64gb card. Anyone have any tips to get the card back?
I just put my 500mm and 600mm f4 out on the curb right next to the garbage.
Those would make great artsy trash cans. Just hollow them out!
Don’t get me wrong, I meant their comments saying they will get rid of Sony gear while the report says digital imaging is a stable business. I wish this forum was more informative.
Even sony doesnt care about a-mount. why should sigma?
Sigma doesnt. They’re DONE with A-mount. Everyone is DONE with A-mount, except the few users left who are crying in the wilderness.
Seems the only reason left to shoot a-mount is the legendary zeiss 135mm with AF.
The reason to shoot A-Mount is the SLT technology, which combines the best from DSLR and mirrorless worlds. Unfortunatly, this line seems to be discontinued.
The A-mount is discontinued?
I think that’s probably news to Sony. Someone better tell them before they refresh any more lenses…
I just called Sony and they said the A-mount is indeed discontinued.
So there it is, folks.
I just called Sony and they said FE is discontinued and we’ll have a new ABC mount next month. No adapters will be accepted, but don’t worry- lenses to come.
I just reposted this on a forum known to be frantic over such things. 🙂
Get ready for it! lol!
This is old?
THESE PRETZELS ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!
Hey, I said that.
2.3% financing on all new 1998 Dodge trucks was my idea.
I drive a Dodge!
Ultimate speed over the lens. Hmm… fast primes?
Ultimate sensitivity and resolution. New camera sensor.
4k in camera?
In body stabilization?
?? pretty sure I saw this picture here for like 3-4 times already…
…looks like a very dry season for the admin 🙂
its an invitation for people to fill this message board with crap & tears again and again. thats the most important thing!
exactly
I agree, and I took the bait, many posts recently seem sort of trollish, more clicks I suppose.
That graphic isn’t what pushed me to dump Sony, its been brewing for the last year and a half because of nothing on the A-mount side. The mild lens refreshes and one slightly upgraded body don’t really do anything for me. I still need a real AF that mirrorless can’t match and I shoot full frame. My A99 is getting long in the tooth, I just don’t see a new version ever seeing the light of day. Despite my best efforts the A7/s just isn’t responsive enough for event shooting.
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608025442389396260&pid=15.1&P=0
low paid troll
“I still need a real AF that mirrorless can’t match and I shoot full frame.” – LA-EA4? A7 + LA-EA4 = FF A-mount SLT.
Also, as someone who used to shoot with mirrored cameras (Pentax) and switched to an A6000 – Sony’s “hybrid” AF (which they claim is implemented by adding PDAF sensors to the imaging sensors) works far better than my Pentax PDAF ever did.
When you say “A7/s” – Do you mean you’ve used both an A7 and A7S, or was that an alternate way of saying A7S? The A7S doesn’t have PDAF, the rest of the A7 family does, and the original A7’s first-gen “hybrid” PDAF+CDAF might not be as good as what was put into the a6000 and a7II.
No, it’s not FF A-mount SLT. It’s E-mount mirrorless with a fancy adapter and AF that doesn’t totally suck, that’s all.
yea LA-EA4 is far from an efficient adapter :p… It’s rather HAF ( half automatic, as u have to move the camera to put ur object onto TTL points) Focus system
Depends what you mean by “suck” and what particular E-mount camera you’re referring to.
There is nothing particularly special about the PDAF module in the LA-EA4. It essentially dates back to the A55/A580 and is therefore very susceptible to back focus with large aperture lenses and isn’t very good at subject tracking. The A6000’s AF is faster, tracks better and is more accurate (accuracy comes as standard when AF is sensor based).
However, compared to the A55/57/65/580 etc., the LA-EA2/4 adapters do have the saving grace of micro adjust, which resolves back focus issues to an extent.
The A700 and A900 were far more accurate due to their f2.8 AF sensors in the centre – their genuine successor in AF ability only came in the form of the A77II.
What you have stated above pretty much sums up what a7 users fail to realize. The E-mount system as it is now is just not ready for prime time “fully professional earning money through photography as a primary source of income” type shooting. I’m sorry but it just isn’t.
Putting adapters and huge lenses on a tiny body just does not feel right for every day professional use. That may change in the future if they release a larger body e-mount. I have nothing against the mount or even the mirror less system, its the final product which does not suit heavy work load shooting environment. (looking like a toy does not help either although that is secondary)
A mount is still the most legit sony system and it appears to sadly be fading fast.
“The A7S doesn’t have PDAF, the rest of the A7 family does”
Actually, only the A7 and A7II have on sensor PDAF. The A7R doesn’t.
I have the A7 and A7s, though not for long. The LAEA4 still isn’t as good as the AF in the 5d3. I may keep the A7 to adapt legacy glass, not sure yet.
LA-EA4 is a half-baked product. They’re still using the AF module from the a55 (15 points, 3 cross points). Not even the a99 module (19 points, 11 cross points).
And because of your answer, I’m quite sure you don’t even know that using teleconverters with the adapters isn’t a good match. You loose focus and aperture control.
AF-assist lamp doesn’t work with A-mount lenses mounted via LA-EA adapters.
As soon as you use A-mount lenses via LA-EA adapters, the hybrid AF system doesn’t work. This applies to the a6000.
E-mount isn’t the answer for everything. There are still stuff that only A-mount can do more efficiently.
Here’s a link to some of my gear if you’re interested. http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1344882/0?keyword=trade,a7#12828737
I just let my temper get the better of me. I just got so frustrated with Sony that I threw my A300 to the ground and then stomped on it with my boots on. 🙁
Probably still works.
That will polish out.
No you didn’t.
It would make a better statement if it was done with an a99…just my 2 cents 🙂
Ha! Just a minor scuff. This thing is like Superman’s camera.
Ummm…. so… Sony is going to stop dicking around and wasting resources on things like headphones, blue-tooth speakers, and probably TVs so that they can focus their efforts on things that they do do well like Cameras, Playstation,and Music.
How is that a bad thing?
Where did you get that idea/info? When I read the report, I didnt….
Ah – yes, I guess looking at the Sony report in isolation can be a bit confusing.
There are all sorts of other articles about Sony’s new strategy and management shake-up in various business publications with more detail (and much less confusing) 🙂
Forbes magazine has a good write-up.
If you check their financial statements from last year, Home entertainment is referred to TV, Video, and Audio.
Imaging is its own thing, includes sensors and cameras. So as far as I understand they are still a part of Sony proper.
Audio and Video will also still be a part of Sony Corporation, but they will be in a subsidiary of their own.
Imaging includes cameras and lenses, but not sensors. The sensors are made by Sony Semiconductor, a separate company within the Sony Corporation.
I’ve actually heard conflicting reports though whether cameras are/will fall under ‘video and audio’ (which would be bad and part of the spin-off) or ‘imaging solutions’ (which would be good). I think right now the thought is that it falls in the latter (fingers crossed)
I actually just heard that VIDEO & AUDIO DOES indeed include the Imaging Division. 🙁
This news is ALL over the Polish A-mount forums.
A couple news sources reported that cameras are part of Video & Audio so that may be where it originated.
Other (I think more reputable sources) report that ‘Professional Camera and Video’ is part of the Imaging Division.
To confuse the issue further, Sony stated that ‘Video & Audio’ will be spun off, but didn’t mention ‘Imaging’ specifically… other then when they said both those units are considered ‘stable profit generators’.
Hopefully they’ll make a clearer statement about cameras soon.
Definitely agree that if cameras get lumped with Video & Audio it’s likely bad news. My gut says they’ll keep they’ll keep camera and broadcast as part of Imaging and won’t spin it off. Here hoping…
spin-off doesn’t mean bad. they become just independent like playstation and accountable for their actions.
Definitely good for some units, but maybe not so much for others.
I don’t think the fate of any division is sealed but the message seems clear: ‘be profitable, or be gone’.
If cameras get lumped with headphones, speakers, and blu-ray players they could drag down (the already volatile) camera unit.
if you look at the report, currently mobile and tv are in the volatile part (section 3). I personally think tv would be fine as there are demands for 4k.
digital imaging is in the stable business part (section 2) due to higher profit margin of high-end cameras though the numbers are declining as a whole. this will leave the camera market dedicated to pros and enthusiasts in future. rest of people use their cellphones.
What’s a mirrorless single-lens reflex camera?
Perfect illustration how clueless Sony management is.
a typo or Japanese to English conversion error.
Disappointing news for the a-mount, considering how little work is required to port the tech over…
What is? Where did you see something disappointing?
You’re saying Sony’s failure to mention SLT anywhere in their 2015-2017 strategy is a positive step?
They said “continuing to offer new, high value-added products such as its advanced mirrorless single-lens reflex cameras”
While that is possibly a Japanese to English conversion error – it speaks to the fact that they’re continuing to develop.
A-mount is dead, dead, dead.
Welcome back, troll..
Google Trends
Ouch that’s gotta hurt.
Makes sense given how much new merch. has been released for FE.
Looks about dead even for A mount. Actually, I see a slight spike at the end. Hmm…let’s see how Canon is faring. Oh, look at that! A dip in interest.
hehe 🙂
If Sony wants to keep up interest in A-mount cameras, all they need to do is produce some. I am awaiting a good new a-mount dslr style camera with good features at a price one can pay for such a camera. A99 was a nice gear, but the pricing was awfull. So, where is the successor to it?
2 cameras, one aps-c and one FF is not much to keep interest in the mount up. Despite this, third party lens manufacturers stick to that mount of they do something for Sony and for them, e-mount seems not to exist and I can understand them, since you can use the same lens in one mount sytem only and not make the same one for 3 different ones.
Myself would like a-mount to die, so we can get good lenses at low priced to use with adapters on e-mount boxes.
Now, try to find out what they really want to do and stop publishing copies of your e-cardio test leaflet.
Why keep up interest in A-Mount if no consumer interest exists? This is no chicken and egg debate by the way, consumer interest trumps Sony interest. They already have existing A-mount cameras.
They are actually faring much worse…according to this graph by 2021 interest in Canon will reach zero as pizza consumption slowly replaces the use of Canon DSLR as the primary activity of photographers worldwide.
lmao
Easy to comply with if you have no other choice than e-mount.
Looking forward to seeing the 50MP sensor Sony are cooking up! Don’t think it will be a A7rII. Think they will need to make design changes to the body (XQD rather than SD, USB 3.0 thether…) So think we will be getting an A9.
What does this mean for any future A7s firmware updates?
It clearly means you’re SOL. Look that up if you’re not sure what it means.
Admin, any rumors on upcoming cameras? A7000? Thanks.
No, no rumors. I dont expect Sony to ever make this camera.
Maybe they revive the NEX name and make Nex 8?
Never, nope.
it would be time to know for sure, so I can get rid of the Sony gear if they don’t do anything in that matter. All that keeps me in that system is the hope to see something new in APS-C e-mount, better sensitivity, maybe lower pixel count like a top notch 6 to 10 mpix with similar values as the A7S.
Agree?
The 15-30 Tamron is not crap. Neither is the voigtlander 15mm although a bit overpriced.
What is not overpriced at the moment at new lenses? Our money loses value at the spped of a F1 racing car.
Needs more jpeg.
Don’t post the diagnose of the sickness, try to find a remedy for it. Finding a rumor on this site is like seeking a flea in the fur of my dog.
Zeiss 135mm Apo Sonnar tested on A7r and Nikon D810
https://sonyvnikon.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/zeiss-apo-sonnar-135mm-imatest-on-sony-a7r-and-nikon-d810/
What a surprise, more graphs.
Do you know how to take a proper photo? Still waiting for those real-world comparisons…
wait man, this guy does some thoughtful technical tests and you belittle him? I guess thats what this forum is all about just ranting, fanboyism and wild speculation.
Max thanks for the info, I’m surprised and quite frankly troubled about the difference in sharpness. Next time post on normal forums though it seems you will get no respect here for actual gear tests.
leica s looks great
When will Sony release a QX model with A-mount and SLT mirror? They made the QX1 with E-mount, so why not one with A-mount?
your logic is like of a flea
because A-mount is dead. No one uses A-mount.
The recent announcement of a reorganization has put the corporation – including the camera group – on notice. Keep it real – proven big sellers – or we send you to the Sony smartphone and laptop graveyard. From here on, the action will be in E/FE mount. The A mount base is too small and their resources too thin to squander on two mount systems. The A7 series has found a market niche for Sony. The A6000 may be the last humpless Sony.
I hope Sony release a successor to RX10. Maybe an “RX20″?
APS-C BSI CMOS sensor.
5-axis IBIS
Zeiss 24-200mm f/2.8 fixed lens
Full-sensor readout on video.
Microphone and headphone jack
Fully articulated 3.2” touchscreen.
Full HD and 4K at 24fps, 30fps, and 60fp
Around $1,799.99 USD
Is this possible at all?
24-200 F2.8 for APSC? dream on
I know I’m pushing it. But I think Sony can reduce the length and diameter of the lens because they can use advanced aspherical lenses inside and the lens will be fixed into the body.
Have you ever shot a 200mm f2.8 lens? Aspherics make lenses better, not smaller. You are talking about a lens with a 77mm front element, maybe 82mm. Ignorance of optical and business reality is the forte of a certain Sony forum. But you probably know that.
Sony claims that Adavaced Asphericals lens reduces length and diameter of a lens. Maybe they are lying. Btw, I have used a 400mm f/2.8 on Nikon D750 Full frame.
Wow, you must be a pro!
LOL.
Your claim is still NUTS! Never gonna happen.
I am an amateur. What I was saying is I have used longer focal lenses on Full frame so I know how big they are. Fair enough. My dream camera may never happen. Thanks.
I can live with 50-200mm f/2.8.
1900$ average, are you taking money around by shovels. I await, and I believe many do, a A7000 with IBIS, higher senitivity, better built body and 3 Navy system in a price range lower than 900$ for the body and a few new designed good aps-c lenses, like a correct 16 and 20 mm pancake for example. If you have 2000$ to spend, why do this on an APS-C box, buy a FF right away. I would not spend 2k for a compromise tourist camera like the RX20 you describe, nor would I do for an APS-C. I just like the APS-C format and for what I do it is just what I need, good DOF but not too much and correct image quality at decent prices.
What I just described is a video-optimized camera with a fixed lens. 24-200 f2.8 on APS-C BSI sensor (wishful thinking) won’t be cheap. Plenty of Advanced Asphericals and Direct Drive SSM. 5-axis IBIS and full sensor readout on video. Those won’t be cheap. 1900 USD would be a complete bargain in my opinion.
Admin: could the next APS-C Sony mirrorless be an A7 with a smaller sensor? There seems to be a demand for a better-than-A6000 camera. It seems that such a camera would be a HUGE step over the A6000 and yet would cost Sony very little to produce such a camera vs. a whole new body design. And it would let us use our APS-C lenses on an improved body.
i noticed on the sony uk site for camera’s theres no a mount on the front page ;|. its really quite silly the neglect and half arsed effort they have put in over the years, when few parts bin specials would produce at minium very competative ff bodies, with a decent shot at best in class. how many customers did the lose from not having a d800 competitor, and a d4s competitor….
“advanced mirrorless single-lens reflex camera”
Eh? So which one then? Mirrorless or single-lens reflex…