I don't think the A9 will sell in great numbers. Undoubtedly a few affluent hobbyists with money to burn will buy it, but they are a relatively small group of photographers.
Desert Gecko wrote:
"Where was Sony then and where is Minolta now?" Minolta is in Sony.
"Nikon is still going strong and I expect it to do so." I beg to differ. Nikon is struggling financially and has dropped several models and planned releases, including an update to its mirrorless line -- a line which it dropped completely. And Sony -- already number two or number one in some countries -- has passed Nikon in the USA in full frame interchangeable lens camera sales.
"Canon is beginning to close the gap?" No, it isn't. It made strides with one sensor only, the sensor in the 5d4. Too early to tell if that's a fluke.
"Where was Sony then and where is Minolta now... (
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I think you're also forgetting the APS-C sensor in the 80D as another example. Yes Canon has fluked their company to be number one for a long time and Amazon has been fluking Canon's 5D4 as the best selling full-frame since September of 2016. Don't you wish you were a fluke :)
Erik_H
Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana
Peterff wrote:
I agree, but if they did it would be the best fit....
Now if Nikon were to buy Sony's camera division...
Peterff
Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.
Erik_H wrote:
Now if Nikon were to buy Sony's camera division...
I doubt they can afford to. Look at the numbers in the annual reports....
Erik_H wrote:
With Sony's announcement of the a9 and it's very impressive spec sheet I can't help but wonder if Nikon and Canon are ever going to respond with a serious mirrorless camera. The a9 looks to be aimed at pro, full frame shooters and I think it could really take a bite out of the DSLR market. While I have no plans to go mirrorless -hell, I still shoot film- I'd like to hear other's thoughts on the issue.
I agree, this could proof for the first time some competition. I know Canon is currently working on a mirror less full frame, but I have my doubts, it will come close to the specs of the Sony, but never less, a lot of photographers will never let go of the DSLR's!
Dalek
Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown
I cannot imagine a better image than the ones I get from my D810. If the camera was upgraded, it would have to have ground-breaking improvements. As far as action shots such as motocross or birds in flight I am TOTALLY satisfied with my current D5 and D500. As far as Nikon glass I have no complaints. If I was starting out today, I would really have to research the new Sony as related to my style of shooting. I am sure it is a good camera but at the price.. compared to a D500.... Hmm. Starting anew Canon would be a more viable contender.
The mirrorless are supposed to be smaller. I do not want smaller as my hands shake a bit due to aging and I like a heavy camera that allows me to settle into the shot. In fact I like putting the extra battery-holding vertical grip on all my cameras.
To all Sony shooter's enjoy your new body as it sounds pretty good.
jethro779 wrote:
At $4500.00 it will never be in my hands. But I am cheap.
This is still less $$$ than the Leica SL 601 TYP which sells for $7,400 body only. Sony still needs to make their menu system more user friendly.
Remember that Minolta (Konica Minolta) is doing quite well. Arguably they make the best high end printers and advanced medical imaging devices. Just in a different part of the "picture" business.
Erik_H wrote:
Now if Nikon were to buy Sony's camera division...
After they borrowed money from Canon.
Erik_H wrote:
With Sony's announcement of the a9 and it's very impressive spec sheet I can't help but wonder if Nikon and Canon are ever going to respond with a serious mirrorless camera. The a9 looks to be aimed at pro, full frame shooters and I think it could really take a bite out of the DSLR market. While I have no plans to go mirrorless -hell, I still shoot film- I'd like to hear other's thoughts on the issue.
Most people when they read the specs don't pay attention to the footnotes. Many of the so called wow features of the A9 have a footnote to them that takes some of that wow away. We will have to wait and see until the camera gets into the hands of many pro shooters to see if the camera can meet those wow features.
CHOLLY
Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!
Desert Gecko wrote:
Specs on the a9 are so good I doubt anyone would care whether it's mirrorless or if it had an archaic, clunky mirror. Sony has taken its full frame mirrorless lineup -- already pro-quality for landscape, studio, and video -- to the next level of pro-grade for sports and virtually any kind of shooting. It will be interesting to see how the next model, the a9R with a larger sensor, measures up. Will Sony be able to maintain these impressive specs even with the additional data generated by a 42-50MP sensor? We'll see.
Specs on the a9 are so good I doubt anyone would c... (
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^^^THIS.
Looking at sales data Sony has already overtaken Nikon in sales of Full Frame cameras and is rapidly gaining on Canon.
Since Sony is one of only a couple of camera manufacturers to turn an actual profit the last couple of years, the whole discussion about them TRYING to play in the big leagues is moot.
Nikon is losing cash AND market position at a record pace. Canon continues it's S.O.P. of offering ONE new feature, slapping on another "I" or "10" and charging 15% more for the SAME OLD TECHNOLOGY.
Eventually Canon consumers wise up, pull the wool from over their eyes and snatch that bag off their heads... EVENTUALLY. And when that day comes they will DEMAND more from their company of choice. They will DEMAND from Canon what SONY HAS BEEN GIVING IT'S CUSTOMERS FOR YEARS and if big "C" doesn't respond... well; it will go the way of the Dodo bird..................
CHOLLY
Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!
Peterff wrote:
Yep, I agree with that also. This is a long game that is being played, probably measured in decades. Sony sensors are definitely excellent, but Canon is beginning to close the gap. Then there is the rest of the system...
Although they don't get much active use I still have two T90 bodies and an AE-1 (with power winder now) in good working order and a few rolls of film for occasional use. Very happy I chose Canon back in 1976! Where was Sony then? Where is Minolta now. Nikon is still going strong and I expect it to do so. Despite all of Sony's excellent stuff they are still the new kid on the block.
Yep, I agree with that also. This is a long game ... (
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Peter, Minolta was one of the top three. And in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, it jockeyed back and forth with canikon for #1, #2, or #3.
Minolta not only made EXCELLENT cameras... so good that Leica partnered with them... but also EXCELLENT glass. Which Leica AGAIN partnered with them to both design, produce, and market. A LOT of prized Leica lenses are the result of that collaboration. Do you know what the "M" in Leica M mount stood for?
When Sony took over Minolta in 2006, they did so, lock, stock, and barrel. They bought patents, designs, manufacturing facilities and the engineers that ran the place. So Minolta actually lives on... through Sony.
CHOLLY
Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!
Peterff wrote:
Different perspective. Sony couldn't build a still camera to save its life until it acquired Minolta. I know what I was saying. Nikon has issues, but it still has a decent postition in the high end of the ILC market, but it hasn't yet addressed the mirrorless market with any credibility which is a weakness. I was being kind. Canon is absolutely closing the gap in more ways than you appear to be aware of. We shall see what happens. We're talking about a decade long transition here at least, and that is a very long time in technology.
Different perspective. Sony couldn't build a stil... (
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Peter, Sony was one of the pioneers of the digital photography industry. Their first still digital was produced back in 1981 and it was revolutionary for the time. In effect, SONY dictated the market and gave film manufacturers the incentive to get into consumer oriented digital photography.
Look it up.
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