Minolta departs from camera making
While browsing, I found that Minolta has sold its camera business and technology to Sony. So, Minolta lenses will be used in Sony cameras in the future. They also will get the benefit of Minolta's anti shake technology, which is pretty well regarded.
I was set to buy a Minolta 5D when I went to town the next time, except that Aperture supports the Minolta 7D, no mention of the 5D. I suppose it would also support that too, but..
This is big, at least in a small way. It is not just nothing. While Canon has like 50% of the digital market, and Nikon say 30 or 35, leaving say 15% for everyone else, Pentax, Olympus, Minolta, and the other makers, still Minolta brought something good to anti shake, to useful and friendly ergonomics, and to lenses. I hope Sony takes advantage of the technology, but they really haven't made but high end consumer models, in cameras. I do not remember any Sony SLR, or digital SLR, with changeable lenses. Of course, now they will have a family of good lenses which were developed for film cameras. The cameras will be branded Sony, but some of the folks who made them apparently will be still making cameras, so Sony should have some new things coming along, according to the reports.
I was set to buy a Minolta 5D when I went to town the next time, except that Aperture supports the Minolta 7D, no mention of the 5D. I suppose it would also support that too, but..
This is big, at least in a small way. It is not just nothing. While Canon has like 50% of the digital market, and Nikon say 30 or 35, leaving say 15% for everyone else, Pentax, Olympus, Minolta, and the other makers, still Minolta brought something good to anti shake, to useful and friendly ergonomics, and to lenses. I hope Sony takes advantage of the technology, but they really haven't made but high end consumer models, in cameras. I do not remember any Sony SLR, or digital SLR, with changeable lenses. Of course, now they will have a family of good lenses which were developed for film cameras. The cameras will be branded Sony, but some of the folks who made them apparently will be still making cameras, so Sony should have some new things coming along, according to the reports.
Comments
At least Sony knows what to do with their experience and intellectual capacity. Here's to hoping Sony soon becomes a serious contender to the two biggies.
It will all be interesting to see how it plays out.
I bought a Canon 20D, but it disappeared from my house. So I was going to replace it with a Minolta, as I liked the reviews of the anti shake feature. Now I am pondering the best move. I always get attracted to the little companies that make good stuff.
Well, Sony let the products roll out. Bring on an SLR.
That would be "we will include features that do nothing but increase complexity" Sony? "We heart proprietary storage formats" Sony? "Half our stuff breaks in six months" Sony? "We have so many models of so many things sometimes even we forget what some of them are for" Sony?
Plus, Sony consumer has to be one of the most horrifying companies I have ever had to deal with in my life.
Did I mention that I'm not a huge fan of Sony?
I'm looking to get a Canon 20D to replace my 300D that went for a walk out of my apartment, along with my PowerBook.
Originally posted by addabox
Meh.
That would be "we will include features that do nothing but increase complexity" Sony? "We heart proprietary storage formats" Sony? "Half our stuff breaks in six months" Sony? "We have so many models of so many things sometimes even we forget what some of them are for" Sony?
Plus, Sony consumer has to be one of the most horrifying companies I have ever had to deal with in my life.
Did I mention that I'm not a huge fan of Sony?
It sounds like you like Sony, eh? Well, they got the goods from Minolta, so I hope they do something worthwhile with them.
I am wondering how many 7Ds are in the pipeline.
For wgauvin, are you waiting for the next shift, before you get a 20D? Nikon has the 10 MP camera now, and one would think that Canon will come out with one. So who knows where prices will be on the Canon 20D in another 8 months.
Originally posted by NordicMan
For wgauvin, are you waiting for the next shift, before you get a 20D? Nikon has the 10 MP camera now, and one would think that Canon will come out with one. So who knows where prices will be on the Canon 20D in another 8 months.
I didn't know about the 10MP Nikon, I'm sure Canon will be updating the 20D soon, it's been a while (Aug 2004 was when it was released) so it might be time a for a revamp. I could wait, since I'm going to wait for replacing my PB.
Originally posted by wgauvin
I didn't know about the 10MP Nikon, I'm sure Canon will be updating the 20D soon, it's been a while (Aug 2004 was when it was released) so it might be time a for a revamp. I could wait, since I'm going to wait for replacing my PB.
You're waiting on replacing your PowerBook, hmm, waiting for the next cpu to come after the Yonah?
Originally posted by NordicMan
You're waiting on replacing your PowerBook, hmm, waiting for the next cpu to come after the Yonah?
Yeah, and waiting to get the money. I'm waiting on the MBP revision, because by then there would be more native apps and apple's first gen products don't seem to go too well.
They do seem to be a little less feverish in the prosumer space (ala their camcorders), so maybe the Minolta injection will lead to some nice cameras.
That being said, I still have grave misgivings about their quality control, having had (or having had to deal with) a whole bunch of "die after six months" Sony stuff. And I do mean a bunch, like "are these guys even trying?" a bunch.
However, that experience has meant that I haven't had as much hands on with Sony for the last couple of years: perhaps this has been addressed?
Originally posted by OldCodger73
With Minolta bowing out one wonders how viable Olympus is in the DSLR market.
Confirmed! Apple buys Olympus digital imaging and releases a slew of new products!
Originally posted by addabox
Confirmed! Apple buys Olympus digital imaging and releases a slew of new products!
What?
About Sony, I could not say much about their quality control. I have but a couple of things that they have made. It just happened that they bought Minolta's camera business. I was talking with a friend here tonight who is a photographer, and her understanding was what mine is, that Minolta's people will continue to make the goods, but they will have a Sony name on them. And, if you have a Minolta, repairs can be had, and there will be support.
We will see what happens. I may yet buy a Minolta 7D, or 5D. A friend of mine has a whole collection of lenses he is not using, as he has switched to Canon, to a 20D.
Good luck with your Olympus/Apple camera.
I'd give it a few years before we see if Sony actually increases the market share they've gain by buying Konika's camera business. The entry level DSLR has other players like Olypums and a few others, the Sony market share could come at the expense of those.
Anyway, if you're going to spend money on a DSLR, it's worth while actually investigating what you're buying, and not just buy based on brand name. Once you start investing in lenses, it becomes more expensive to swap brands. It's the reason why I bought my Canon 300D, love it, lost it now looking for at staying with Canon because I still have a few lenses. Now if Canon would only announce an upgrade/replacement for the 20D I'd be really happy.
Originally posted by wgauvin
I'm not questioning Sony's quality or service, I just think the likes of Canon and Nikon are going to have to step up a bit more and create even better for value DSLR's. I read for the moment they're looking at the lower end of the DSLR market (competing with the likes of the Canon 350D, 20D and perhaps the 5D).
nyway, if you're going to spend money on a DSLR, it's worth while actually investigating what you're buying, and not just buy based on brand name."
"Once you start investing in lenses, it becomes more expensive to swap brands."
"It's the reason why I bought my Canon 300D, love it, lost it(sorry to hear that) now looking for at staying with Canon because I still have a few lenses. Now if Canon would only announce an upgrade/replacement for the 20D I'd be really happy.
It certainly is worthwhile, I entirely agree.
Since what lenses(Canon) I have are gone, I have no real investment, other than some older Pentax lenses.
One camera that I like the reviews on, and am thinking about, is the Nikon D200. Take a look at the '3 kings' feature. About half the page down. Admittedly, this is an unabashedly favourable review, there are a few out there. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d200.htm
Also, I hope Pentax is doing ok as I love my istDS.
Originally posted by trick fall
Wow, there's something kind of sad about that. I've never been a big Sony fan and having to deal with them at work for professional gear I can say that they seem to be a horribly run company. My instinct tells me that they are just so big that no one actually knows what is going on.
Also, I hope Pentax is doing ok as I love my istDS.
Yes, it certainly is sad to see a company that has offered worthwhile products go away. And I was not crazy at all about hearing that Sony bought the remainder. It does sound like the Minolta people who made the cameras will still be doing so, and that those people who have Minoltas will be able to have them supported. What further development will happen will have to be seen, it will depend upon Sony.
I am sad to see film dying, it is easier for companies to keep making digital cameras that get by. That one ad with the daughter who gets a film camera from her parents and is wondering how she can make a telephone call with it is a mark of the times. Of course, there is advance in digital cameras, so that is good. At least there are a few companies left that make different sizes of film, like J&C Photography.
To keep options alive, the buying public must keep buying them. We know about those things in the Macintosh world.
Originally posted by OldCodger73
With Minolta bowing out one wonders how viable Olympus is in the DSLR market.
Latest offerings from Olympus
http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?...rticle_id=1705
Originally posted by NordicMan
....... It does sound like the Minolta people who made the cameras will still be doing so, and that those people who have Minoltas will be able to have them supported. What further development will happen will have to be seen, it will depend upon Sony. ...........
Sony's not exactly a "let's let them keep doing what they do in splendid isolation" sort of company.
I think it's one of their problems: their glory years convinced them that they know best about everything, and now that the competitive landscape has changed they don't learn very well.
I look for them to "Sony-fy" the remnants of Minolta's camera division in short order, and I would guess the resulting products will have more bells and whistles, cost more, and be less reliable.
I want to see one of these Nikon D200s.
Apple's Aperture supports the Minolta D7, no word about the D5. The thing with Minolta that a number of pros like is the anti shake technology, which is in the body, not in the lens. That is what attracted me, as a person may not always have a tripod handy, or just wish to shoot a picture, and that anti shake works. I like the lens oriented stabiliser of the Canon lenses, and they have it on their binoculars, too. But the Minolta body anti shake is different, and a number of pros like it better. It would be better for my hands, I know.
That is part of why I started this thread, to mourn, in a way the passing of a product line that has had some good innovation in it. That and the fact I was hoping that someone would know enough to tell whether the 5D is supported by Aperture, which I have not asked until now, as I got wrapped in to the other things. Anyone know? Aperture will scarcely have time to mature before the minolta cameras go the way of the Great Auk, or any other such species.
You guys may be very right about Sony, I would not argue it. I just hope that Sony does something decent with what they have.