4 new alpha bodies ready to rush

[synapseman]

Well, the person did come across as inflammatory (or at least bitter), even though I also agree with the point about Sony's prices are somewhat on the high side. (In a user focus group discussion by Sony, I even told them point blank that it's "ridiculous").

People will have different perceptions about the other brands. Maybe they are ignorant. Maybe they are insecure, threatened by the new kid on the block. It's just like how some people will ask? Tag Heuer? Hamilton? Simi lai eh? Never hear before! Rolek is best! Yup, they may have their points, but those who know, will know what's good for them.

To each his own, eh?

But seriously, Sony, I hope you're watching this thread. At the moment, I'm getting by by using 2nd hand 3rd party brand lenses. I can't see how you can conquer the mass market by charging niche market prices, even for the lower end consumer-grade lenses!

 

[Zenten]

Well, the person did come across as inflammatory (or at least bitter), even though I also agree with the point about Sony's prices are somewhat on the high side. (In a user focus group discussion by Sony, I even told them point blank that it's "ridiculous").

People will have different perceptions about the other brands. Maybe they are ignorant. Maybe they are insecure, threatened by the new kid on the block. It's just like how some people will ask? Tag Heuer? Hamilton? Simi lai eh? Never hear before! Rolek is best! Yup, they may have their points, but those who know, will know what's good for them.

To each his own, eh?

But seriously, Sony, I hope you're watching this thread. At the moment, I'm getting by by using 2nd hand 3rd party brand lenses. I can't see how you can conquer the mass market by charging niche market prices, even for the lower end consumer-grade lenses!

Maybe Sony needs to master the Art of making lenses ............. cheaply.

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

actually there lies the fun, im sure minolta owners have it the difficult way to find lens, but i treat it as an adventure...with a nice reward at the end :bsmilie:

 

[TME]

can we get back to the topic at hand and not get hijacked into discussing the relative merits of each system...

I look at the different brands with about 4 categories... Consumer, Prosumer, Semi-professional, Professional.

The problem (if u can call it that) is actually SONY... their cameras don't fit neatly into the categories established by Canon and Nikon due to their market share... of course there is no fixed boundary between categories of DSLRs... but with the oneupmanship that all brands play, the game evolves so that my latest is just a bit better than your previous...

So we see the 40D & A700 better than the D80 and so we can expect a D90 at PMA2008 I guess...

And because of the way the market is structured, I am guessing that SONY is pushing out a very low entry DSLR to match the 400D (perhaps even named A100 again), but I think the A200 will be an improvement over the A100 and slot into the consumer range with the A700 taking the prosumer slot, A900 taking the semi-professional and the flagship (whatever they call it) the professional slot.

I think SONY is trying to create a new category of DSLRs and will have 5 positions in their DSLR product line... that a 4-body line-up is rumoured means that SONY is very serious in shaking up the industry... I expect that they will set new benchmarks for feature set and useability in each category they define (So like SONY)...

Ok, so much for my deconstructing SONY's marketing strategies... hahaha... so much fun speculating aimlessly...;p

Canon
400D
40D
5D
1D

Nikon
D40X
D80
D300
D3

Sony
A100?
A200
A700
A900
A1000? (Flagship)

 

[synapseman]

actually there lies the fun, im sure minolta owners have it the difficult way to find lens, but i treat it as an adventure...with a nice reward at the end :bsmilie:

Haha. That's true! Except for my 18-70mm kit, and another Tamron 17-50mm, all of my lenses were purchased 2nd hand here @ CS! I know I just missed out on a Cosina/Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, but I'm sure it'll pop up again one day!

 

[GENO]

can we get back to the topic at hand and not get hijacked into discussing the relative merits of each system...

I look at the different brands with about 4 categories... Consumer, Prosumer, Semi-professional, Professional.

The problem (if u can call it that) is actually SONY... their cameras don't fit neatly into the categories established by Canon and Nikon due to their market share... of course there is no fixed boundary between categories of DSLRs... but with the oneupmanship that all brands play, the game evolves so that my latest is just a bit better than your previous...

So we see the 40D & A700 better than the D80 and so we can expect a D90 at PMA2008 I guess...

And because of the way the market is structured, I am guessing that SONY is pushing out a very low entry DSLR to match the 400D (perhaps even named A100 again), but I think the A200 will be an improvement over the A100 and slot into the consumer range with the A700 taking the prosumer slot, A900 taking the semi-professional and the flagship (whatever they call it) the professional slot.

I think SONY is trying to create a new category of DSLRs and will have 5 positions in their DSLR product line... that a 4-body line-up is rumoured means that SONY is very serious in shaking up the industry... I expect that they will set new benchmarks for feature set and useability in each category they define (So like SONY)...

Ok, so much for my deconstructing SONY's marketing strategies... hahaha... so much fun speculating aimlessly...;p

Canon
400D
40D
5D
1D

Nikon
D40X
D80
D300
D3

Sony
A100?
A200
A700
A900
A1000? (Flagship)

I dont think they are gona call their flagship @1000, sounds kinda choppy..maybe just a single digit number @1 etc..

 

[GENO]

no matter how good or cheap or free bodies sony gives, its pointless

who in the right mind will pay 4.5k for a 70-200 no vr, no is, no anything lens when u can grab a nikon and canon (the much more established and pro) 70-200 at half the price? even the small 50mm lens by sony is so much more expensive. if wanna argue abt quality and performance, nikon and canon are time-tested and they are so much cheaper, wat basis does sony has to charge so ex? there is simply no basis.

theres no point in sony cam stuffs. well, if u are rich then, kudos to u :thumbsup:

I have to agree with you that if i am a starter user to SLR camera, Sony is not gona be on my list as the prices in sg is much greater then other countries. 4.5k is a lot more to pay too but i always dont agree with the WORD PRO as if the user is PRO, he dont need to bother WHICH brand he have on his hands to make the pics right.

I am not rich too..just own a few minolta lenses and i am very happy with them so far.:lovegrin:

 

[satay16]

Haha. That's true! Except for my 18-70mm kit, and another Tamron 17-50mm, all of my lenses were purchased 2nd hand here @ CS! I know I just missed out on a Cosina/Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, but I'm sure it'll pop up again one day!

and that 900 bucks 17-35G:cry:. i think i almost got an infraction for being so rude that time:bsmilie:. like "wtf!!!! i posted a mile long in the wtb thread and someone place a wts thread and i missed it?! nooooooo.........." haha. but now CZ lens performance is excellent, so my search for it dropped too.

 

[TuTu_CaR]

I guess the 4 models will be

1) A400 (Dynax 4 series)
2) A500 (Dynax 5 series)
2) A900 (Dynax 9 series)
3) Alpha ??? (Mothership)

Now, when is the estimated date of launch?? I need to stack some cash away from my CFO liao.

;p

 

[xiao-Koh]

same here,still waiting for the news

 

[Clockunder]

no matter how good or cheap or free bodies sony gives, its pointless

who in the right mind will pay 4.5k for a 70-200 no vr, no is, no anything lens when u can grab a nikon and canon (the much more established and pro) 70-200 at half the price? even the small 50mm lens by sony is so much more expensive. if wanna argue abt quality and performance, nikon and canon are time-tested and they are so much cheaper, wat basis does sony has to charge so ex? there is simply no basis.

theres no point in sony cam stuffs. well, if u are rich then, kudos to u :thumbsup:

I also tend to agree with kcuf2 too on the point that Sony lenses are priced so high such that there is no price advantage over another system without image stabiliser on the body.

Sony was the first DSLR I considered when I first thought of upgrading from a prosumer camera because Sony (then KM) had Super Steady Shot which I thought would save me some money from buying the "expensive" IS/VR lenses.

Then when Sony announced the new lenses and their prices, I practically gave up getting a Sony DSLR already considering that the noise level of the A100 was higher than competition and there is no price advantage over other systems since the prices of Sony Lenses (without any IS/VR) + body is not cheaper than a comparable Canon or Nikon body with IS/VR lenses.

On top of that, the range and availability of Sony or KM lenses are not as wide as Nikon and Canon. I looked at Sigma lenses too and also found that there are many more lenses with EF/EFS or F mounts than A-mount.

Many newbies only look at the price and features of the camera body + kit lens only without considering other factors because they still don't know what they need.

For me, I know that I won't be considering a Sony DSLR system until it's more competitive. As far as I'm concerned, I even consider the Olympus system ahead of a Sony system due to the factors above even though I don't like the 4/3 smaller sensor concept.

(p.s. I'm not even talking about the CZ lenses which are aimed at the professionals or serious hobbyists or those willing to spend so much for lenses. Both Canon and Nikon are now starting to come out with affordable IS/VR lenses for the casual hobbyists on the EFS/DX format and this makes Sony look more like a niche market player aiming at the professionals, rich and willing. May be that is Sony's aim in the first place and it has never been their business strategy to gain market share quickly in the casual hobbyist market. This may explain why Sony DSLR system do not appeal to me so far.).

 

[rapier84]

The A200 has arrived..
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08010701sonydslra200.asp

 

[Edlet]

Many newbies only look at the price and features of the camera body + kit lens only without considering other factors because they still don't know what they need.

Sony look more like a niche market player aiming at the professionals, rich and willing. May be that is Sony's aim in the first place and it has never been their business strategy to gain market share quickly in the casual hobbyist market. This may explain why Sony DSLR system do not appeal to me so far.).

Err, actually looking at the price from DPreview, US$700? with Kit lens. :bigeyes:
It looks like Sony is dying to get into the casual hobbyist market.

 

[tsan81]

The A200 has arrived..
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08010701sonydslra200.asp

One down
Three more bodies to go....

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

One down
Three more bodies to go....

U sound like an undertaker... :bsmilie:

 

[raincool2005]

I have to agree with you that if i am a starter user to SLR camera, Sony is not gona be on my list as the prices in sg is much greater then other countries. 4.5k is a lot more to pay too but i always dont agree with the WORD PRO as if the user is PRO, he dont need to bother WHICH brand he have on his hands to make the pics right.

I am not rich too..just own a few minolta lenses and i am very happy with them so far.:lovegrin:

ahem.. your tat "few minolta lenses" cost more than 10k in market value liao. :bsmilie:

 

[Clem_C]

no matter how good or cheap or free bodies sony gives, its pointless

who in the right mind will pay 4.5k for a 70-200 no vr, no is, no anything lens when u can grab a nikon and canon (the much more established and pro) 70-200 at half the price? even the small 50mm lens by sony is so much more expensive. if wanna argue abt quality and performance, nikon and canon are time-tested and they are so much cheaper, wat basis does sony has to charge so ex? there is simply no basis.

theres no point in sony cam stuffs. well, if u are rich then, kudos to u :thumbsup:

"no matter how good or cheap or free bodies kit the continental car gives, its pointless

who in the right mind will pay 200 over k for a continental cars when u can grab a Toyota and Honda (much more reliable and less prone to breakdown) at half the price? even the small Mercedes C-Class is so much more expensive. if wanna argue abt quality and performance, Toyota and Honda are time-tested and they are so much cheaper, wat basis does Mercedes has to charge so ex? there is simply no basis.

theres no point in continental cars. well, if u are poor then, doesn’t mean the grapes have to be sour to u :thumbsup:"

Wahaha, before you guys get all ruffle up, it’s just a joke. We get arguments like these times and times again. Well, kudos to you indeed for using Nikon, Canon, Olympus or whatever system. Be happy with what you use. Any camera is a great tool if you use it wisely, but I don’t really think there’s a need to make such sweeping statements.

There’re qualities unique to each system. Sony has their auto focus CZ lenses. Although expensive, they are a class by themselves. And yes, they are “continental”. Use them before?

I’ve Tamron 17-50mm f2.8, 10 year old 90mm Macro and 10-20mm Sigma all Image stabilized. I’ve some old Minolta 24,35,50 85,135,200mm primes also Image stabilized. Hmm… I wander how much they would cost if I would get them in VR or IS version.

 

[jasahchun]

I dont think they are gona call their flagship @1000, sounds kinda choppy..maybe just a single digit number @1 etc..

A10 will sound better right? ;p

 

[Autumnite]

"no matter how good or cheap or free bodies kit the continental car gives, its pointless

who in the right mind will pay 200 over k for a continental cars when u can grab a Toyota and Honda (much more reliable and less prone to breakdown) at half the price? even the small Mercedes C-Class is so much more expensive. if wanna argue abt quality and performance, Toyota and Honda are time-tested and they are so much cheaper, wat basis does Mercedes has to charge so ex? there is simply no basis.

theres no point in continental cars. well, if u are poor then, doesn’t mean the grapes have to be sour to u :thumbsup:"

Wahaha, before you guys get all ruffle up, it’s just a joke. We get arguments like these times and times again. Well, kudos to you indeed for using Nikon, Canon, Olympus or whatever system. Be happy with what you use. Any camera is a great tool if you use it wisely, but I don’t really think there’s a need to make such sweeping statements.

There’re qualities unique to each system. Sony has their auto focus CZ lenses. Although expensive, they are a class by themselves. And yes, they are “continental”. Use them before?

I’ve Tamron 17-50mm f2.8, 10 year old 90mm Macro and 10-20mm Sigma all Image stabilized. I’ve some old Minolta 24,35,50 85,135,200mm primes also Image stabilized. Hmm… I wander how much they would cost if I would get them in VR or IS version.

the images captured by my CZ 85mm is :thumbsup: Much cheaper if u get from Hong Kong... about S$1700 compared to the Canon 85mm F1.2 which is about S$2.8K? The CZ is tact sharp and much faster than the Canon.

 

[eow]

the images captured by my CZ 85mm is :thumbsup: Much cheaper if u get from Hong Kong... about S$1700 compared to the Canon 85mm F1.2 which is about S$2.8K? The CZ is tact sharp and much faster than the Canon.

serious? thought the 85mm f1.2 got usm?