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Sony goes with Konica Minolta

dirk

dirk

DPRF-Founder
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Despite the fact that 35mm sensor has a superior performance compared to the smaller counterpart, the market of the latter one in growing. With the recent introduction of Canon D30, Leica just announced their joining to the 4/3 system.

It does increase the pressure to Sony to have Zeiss support for their new system, perhaps they are working together behind the curtain right at the moment. The big question is what size will be for the new sensor ? Will it be similar to R1, 30D, 4/3 or will it be like 5D ?

At the moment the smaller sensor market is a lot bigger than the full frame one, if Sony join this part of the market she will be competing with many companies. I guess Sony would not mind as she is fully capable of doing so.

Sony has not made a 35mm sensor, for her to introduce this system, it would be a big jump for her.

Perhaps she could introduce two systems, both the full frame and the smaller one and this is indeed what Canon is doing now.

As a fan of both Sony R1 and the Leica M system, I can certainly realize the importance of being mirrorless. The importance of the Sony evolution history is that they like to stay mirrorless. From 717,828, to R1, the sensor size increases but none of them have a mirror.The mirror is certainly more important in the full frame than the smaller frame. With a small frame, you would find it less useful than the bigger one. R1 is perfect in wide angles, but it is a bit slow in normal and telephotos. It would be sensible to deduce that Sony could introduce the mirrorless, interchangable lens system with the smaller frame to compete with the others. This system will be superior to others that it is being more stable to mechanical vibrations and has unbeatable performance in wide angles. With interchangable lenses you will also have good performance in telephotos.

For customers who would like to see the mirror, Sony will introduce an SLR with the traditional 35mm sensor size. In this system, Sony will continue to excel in wide angles. From the history we understand that Zeiss provide superior performance in wide angles, no matter the mirror is presented or not.

The reason why Sony should introduce these two systems is because in the digital market, you have to produce waves of products to flood the market, this is how Canon is now playing the game.
 
I think there might be still licensing restruction for AF Zeiss lens with Kyocera besides the Sony p&s & camcorders. Hasselblad could not use AF Zeiss lens for thier H1/H2. What do I know.

Giving the Panasonic 3/4 with Leica lens and the future digital M7 mentioned in December 05 by Leica, there are a lot of options in a smaller outfit, which is a big welcome for event PJ shootings or traveling.

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Futhermore, the Panasonic DMC-L1 has mirrored real time preview, it is a real break thru. How it works in real life will remain to be seen. But the new Leica zoom (with aperture ring) does look very attractive:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022608leica14-50mm.asp

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Yes, if the promise is borne out in reality, this looks as though it will be a very nice camera. The price needs to be right too.
What do you think about the resolution? Do you think the comparatively low pixel count is limiting?
John
 
Herewith aan extract from Panasonic's advertising blurb.

"Panasonic has proudly developed the new Live MOS sensor using its original í Maicoviconâ„¢ technology. The 4/3 type Live MOS sensor with 7.5 million pixels helps capture the beautiful images of a CCD sensor with delicate gradation and a wide dynamic range, whilst suppressing energy consumption as only a CMOS sensor can do. Noise is also minimised thanks to a special processing technology that runs on voltage as low as 5V."

It does look a very nice camera.
DPreview have some comments on it here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022801panasonicdmcl1handson.asp

Cheers,
John
 
Thanks John. Yuuuuuumy. 8 meg is not bad for a carry around camera. If it shoots RAW files and those files are added to the Adobe RAW converter supported camera list, or can be processed in the Lightroom software, they may have an interesting option here.

If the Leica zoom is anything like their latest R zooms it'll be a REALLY nice carry around camera ; -)
 
Hello all, the thing that pleases me most as an E-1 user (sadly it could be a long wait for the replacement to this delightful camera) is the further take-up of the four thirds system. Good news for all. Interesting to note that on some of Sony's new equipment they've dumped Zeiss for Leica - hedging their bets or better terms?
 
According to dpreview, the new panasona dSLR DMC-L1 shares the same mount as the Olympus 4/3. I would assume it can also use the full line of Olympus 4/3 lenses (provided the L1 can control the OM lens aperture). With the Leica zooms, it will be a killer lens lineup.

The preview mentioned it built and feels like a Leica: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022801panasonicdmcl1handson.asp

Hopefully, Sony really has something outstanding (like Zeiss lens) in order to complete in this new dSLR market env.
 
By theory, R1 has features better than the 4/3rd system. It has a a bigger sensor. The fact that R1 is mirrorless allows Zeiss lens to be placed nearer the sensor than 4/3 cameras.
 
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