The rise and fall(?) of minolta

[ricohflex]

Honestly, I am not very confident of Sony and hence the future health of minolta mounts...

Any opinion on this?

Sony will make an SLR with a mount that does NOT accept the older konicaminolta lenses. (Unless it was legally enforced in the Sony sale agreement with konicaminolta for the camera making business)

But of course.

Sony has been protectionist-oriented ever since the 1970s when they were too trusting to share Beta format secrets. Later JVC came out with VHS.

Everyone acknowledges that VHS is inferior technically to Beta. But VHS had momentum of user-base and it killed Beta.

So after the Beta VHS lesson, Sony never forgot it. Protecting their product/invention from copying/exploitation by others is now ingrained in their corporate soul.

Sony sometimes overdoes it. Like in USA they secretly put something in the music CD Roms. They got roasted for doing it.

 

[GENO]

Sony will make an SLR with a mount that does NOT accept the older konicaminolta lenses.

But of course.

Sony has been protectionist-oriented ever since the 1970s when they were too trusting to share Beta format secrets with other Jap brand manufacturers and what happened was JVC came out with VHS.

Everyone acknowledges that VHS is inferior technically to Beta.

So after the Beta VHS lesson, Sony never forgot it. Protecting their product/invention from copying/exploitation by others is now ingrained in their corporate soul.

Sony sometimes overdoes it. Like in USA they secretly put something in the music CD Roms. They got roasted for doing it.

If sony comes out a NEW MOUNT, it is good bye minolta..
:cry: :cry:

 

[zcf]

Sony will make an SLR with a mount that does NOT accept the older konicaminolta lenses. (Unless it was legally enforced in the Sony sale agreement with konicaminolta for the camera making business)

I wonder how you become so sure, are you an insider??? :dunno: While Sony still using KM factory to manufacture their new DSLR and Lens (which Sony hold 49%, which KM 51% share of the factory).

And Sony will lose a lot of sale if they come out with a new DSLR which don't support old lens, who will want to buy it, if they really do that, they really have no sense in makeing money.

But we all shall see more info in PMR as rumour say Sony will have a new prototype DSLR for show.

 

[mouselim]

sigh...sigh...sigh.

Now I wonder if I should carry on to put my faith in minolta/sony cameras...but I so love the 5D....

toss a coin...head i proceed...otherwise i turn tail and run :cry:

 

[Agetan]

well, 5D will last you at least few more years.. so why worry?

aren't 6MP is big enough for most application?

Personally, I don't care if Sony didn't bring a good camera this time round. But see how it goes in 1 year time... if Sony can't make it... I will switch to another brand... don't know which one yet..

Hence I will selling off all my lenses.. heheeh.. stay tune if that day arrive.

Hart

 

[idor]

heheh... i still use the hi matic that my daddy passed down to me.... excellent camera.... the leather casing is still intact.... :thumbsup:

 

[zcf]

Seen someone posted the nytimes link at dpreview:
They're Out of Film

Those alliances, like Sony's deal with Konica Minolta, give electronics companies access to a full range of established lens systems and other accessories. James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics, said his company expected interchangeable lens cameras to maintain a strong position in the market.
"It is key for Sony to be in this market at this time," Mr. Neal said. "Consumers are really interested in moving up the ladder in terms of quality and performance to digital S.L.R.'s. If we just stopped at point-and-shoots, we would not have met all the needs of consumers."
Mr. Neal said Sony was counting on sales to owners of Minolta lenses. (Konica, a maker of film, photocopiers and mini photo labs, merged with Minolta about two years ago.)

I still don't see in anyway or hints point that

Sony will make an SLR with a mount that does NOT accept the older konicaminolta lenses.

:think:

 

[Zann Tiang]

And Sony will lose a lot of sale if they come out with a new DSLR which don't support old lens, who will want to buy it, if they really do that, they really have no sense in makeing money.

they did it with memory sticks duo~~~
and the different type of batteries for different models of cameras~

 

[Zann Tiang]

back on a serious note:

since sony is taking over KM's photo business, they are unlikely to produce their own mount.
with zeiss coming in with KM ready mount lenses, m42 lenses, m42 converter to KM mount~

imho, i do not think KM users needa worry excessively.

 

[ricohflex]

Heard rumor that the WHOLE KonicaMinolta is closing shop.

The WHOLE company is going to be let go.(edited)

I mean EVERYTHING and not just the camera division.

 

[zcf]

Heard rumor that the WHOLE KonicaMinolta is closing shop.

The WHOLE company is going to be flushed down the toilet.

I mean EVERYTHING and not just the camera division.

now where do you find your rumour again? Got any reference please :dunno: ?

 

[GENO]

Heard rumor that the WHOLE KonicaMinolta is closing shop.

The WHOLE company is going to be flushed down the toilet.

I mean EVERYTHING and not just the camera division.

And they are giving out all their stocks in the store...

lets line up (at the toilet there) ....what u need... hee hee

1)Geno --- 135 STF , 17-35 G , 85 D , 100 F2..:lovegrin:

 

[tokrot]

Sony will make an SLR with a mount that does NOT accept the older konicaminolta lenses. (Unless it was legally enforced in the Sony sale agreement with konicaminolta for the camera making business)

But of course.

Sony has been protectionist-oriented ever since the 1970s when they were too trusting to share Beta format secrets. Later JVC came out with VHS.

Everyone acknowledges that VHS is inferior technically to Beta. But VHS had momentum of user-base and it killed Beta.

So after the Beta VHS lesson, Sony never forgot it. Protecting their product/invention from copying/exploitation by others is now ingrained in their corporate soul.

Sony sometimes overdoes it. Like in USA they secretly put something in the music CD Roms. They got roasted for doing it.

Heard rumor that the WHOLE KonicaMinolta is closing shop.

The WHOLE company is going to be flushed down the toilet.

I mean EVERYTHING and not just the camera division.

Bogus News.... :bsmilie: :bsmilie: What nonsense!@##$!

 

[jonoq]

No matter, no regret in getting Minolta, I wun say that I am a pro in shooting but Minolta's camera provided me years of fun from film to digital SLR... They provide great and stable camera, it just that their marketing division is weak that why failed to capture the market share...

Let say what some guy say is truth that Sony is not going to product Minolta mount len or body (based on Minolta technology)..and that 1 day if I decide to upgrade from 7D...Sony will not be in my consider list

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

Heard rumor that the WHOLE KonicaMinolta is closing shop.

The WHOLE company is going to be flushed down the toilet.

I mean EVERYTHING and not just the camera division.

i believe their business like laser printers and all-in-one machines are still doing fine.

p.s. you have something against konica minolta? :bsmilie:

 

[ricohflex]

Actually I like Minolta and Konica. (But as separate companies)

Frankly I do not like KonicaMinolta.

Just a rumor I heard. Heard the Noritsu machines in labs will not be handled by Konica anymore.
And no more Konica paper or films.

(edit) Just checked their website. Looks like they are around globally for other products, so maybe rumor of whole company affected is unfounded.

Maybe you can chat with the people in shops like Ruby or Cathay.
They may know more.

( edit) Erhm, .... knowing Sony.
They will honour the agreement and make a Digital SLR with a mount that is compatible with the KM mount lenses.
Compatible does not mean 100% functional.
It means, well....compatible. Like you can mount but some serious features will be missing.

And no more CF card or SD card for the cam.
Sony usually means .............Memory Stick.

 

[TME]

It's common knowledge that the entire photographic equipment and materials unit will be hived off to Sony... so it's not surprising that things like their minilabs, paper, film as well as other ancillary stuff are going to go the way of the dodo...

It does not make sense for Sony to buy the A mount and then cripple it or make it not 100% compatible with the lenses of a user base of a few million... the whole point of buying the A mount is to leapfrog the developmental and marketing building stage of the photography business... it allows them to concentrate on their products instead of diverting resources to build up their market share... if Sony wants to tweak the A mount, they will do it only after they have successfully transited into the photography business and only when they are one of the big players in the market...

Sony will mean memory sticks.... but in case u haven't been reading enough... all Sony prosumers also offer CF capability... the F-828 suffered severely in sales due to a memory stick only option... they learnt their lesson - that the memory stick is not popular and will never be... and since then every high end camera they produced has both memory stick and CF...

 

[tokrot]

Actually I like Minolta and Konica. (But as separate companies)

Frankly I do not like KonicaMinolta.

Just a rumor I heard. Heard the Noritsu machines in labs will not be handled by Konica anymore.
And no more Konica paper or films.

(edit) Just checked their website. Looks like they are around globally for other products, so maybe rumor of whole company affected is unfounded.

Maybe you can chat with the people in shops like Ruby or Cathay.
They may know more.

( edit) Erhm, .... knowing Sony.
They will honour the agreement and make a Digital SLR with a mount that is compatible with the KM mount lenses.
Compatible does not mean 100% functional.
It means, well....compatible. Like you can mount but some serious features will be missing.

And no more CF card or SD card for the cam.
Sony usually means .............Memory Stick.

That's not true. KM has already sell the license/technology to sony. Licensing meaning the giving permission for technology to make and produce. It is ridiculous to say it is only compatible. Moreover, Sony's Prosumer cameras do have CF card slot for usage. eg F828 & DSC-R1..Please get your facts right too. Do not post nonsense.. :nono:

 

[tokrot]

the F-828 suffered severely in sales due to a memory stick only option...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/page4.asp

 

[TME]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/page4.asp

Apologies, but probably other digicams...