Just read this in Popular Photography

[clinton_abe]

I just got the December 2005 issue of Popular Photography, and in it

they had an article written by Herbert Keppler, titled "THE COMING

DSLR EXPLOSION". Keppler writes about the different players in this

segment.

 

He writes this about the Sony/KonicaMinolta DSLRs. "Nobody is quite

sure what Sony will contribute to its DSLR joint development

agreement with partner Konica Minolta, which is technologically very

advanced. The two companies have announced they would use the

present Konica Minolta Maxxum lensmount and Anti-Shake technology.

But Sony has its own CMOS technology, which is considered superior

in many ways and much less expensive than the CCD technology Konica

Minolta is using in its imaging system. My suggestion: Sony should

contribute CMOS technology, plus marketing know-how and many dollars

and euros for advertising. Thanks to Minolta's vast financial losses

years ago, caused by a protracted lawsuit brought by Honeywell for

patent violation and monies sunk in overforecasting Advanced Photo

System (APS) sales, the company has been starved for sufficient

advertising and promotion of its uniquely featured digital cameras.

Sony should feed it."

 

Later in the article, Keppler talks about full-frame DSLRs. He

writes, "Pentax could make a full-frame SLR but won't, while Konica

Minolta couldn't-if it wants to use its Anti-Shake system. The

interior moving sensor simply can't be made to travel over the

greater distance required to cover the 35mm frame area."

 

Here's a suggestion of how Sony/KM could work around the problem. In

the same issue, in the 'JUST OUT' section, Pop Photo shows the new

Leica D-LUX 2. It is a 10MP camera that shoots in 16:9 format, so

the pictures can be shown on a HDTV. However, by flipping a switch

it can also shoot in the 4:3 aspect ratio at 7MP, and in the 3:2

aspect ratio at 6MP. Maybe Sony/KM can come out with a dual-format

DSLR. You could shoot full-frame without Anti-Shake, or if you want

switch it to an APS-C sized sensor with Anti-Shake. If they came out

with a 14-16MP full-frame sensor, it would become a 7-8MP APS-C

sized sensor. It could be done.

 

I've lived this long without AS, so I wouldn't be giving up much.

With today's advacement in noise-reduction, you probably would have

a very good picture taken at the smaller sensor size.

[peterblaise]

.

 

Earlier in this thread: "... a full-frame SLR ... Konica Minolta couldn't-if it wants to use its Anti-Shake system. The interior moving sensor simply can't be made to travel over the greater distance required to cover the 35mm frame area ..."

 

Peter Blaise responds: All due respect to Herbert Kepler, perhaps the world's most read Minolta Photographer (he uses a lot of Minolta gear and is a chief editor/editorialist/journalist of "Popular Photography and Imaging" magazine), but Minolta had NO PROBLEM transitioning form the Minolta DiMage 5 and 7-series cameras without AS Anti Shake to the Minolta DiMage A-series cameras with the SAME SIZE SENSOR as the earlier models, and yet adding AS ANTI SHAKE.

 

So, were the Dimage 7-lenses lenses just overbuilt from day one knowing they would add AS Anti Shake at a later time? I don't think so.

 

I see NO PROBLEM using the sensor-moving AS Anti Shake system in a full frame sensor.

 

Light fall of and vignetting?

 

Either it won't be there, or it will and we'll just accept it as we always have, or the camera or we can "compensate" in software -- in camera or later.

 

Anyway, since the AS Anti Shake in the Minolta DiMage A-series is such a success using the same physical system as the non-AS Anti Shake Minolta DiMage 5 and 7-series cameras, I have high hopes for Minolta full frame AS Anti Shake.

 

I think full frame AS Anti Shake has been discussed all over the many Minolta discussion groups IN THEORY ... but in practice?

 

Only from the Mind of Minolta! ;-)

 

Click!

 

Love and hugs,

 

Peter Blaise peterblaisephotography.com http://www.peterblaisephotography.com/

 

PS - Minolta may never release a full 35mm frame DSLR anyway because of Sony supply or because of market satisfaction with the APS sensor. Who knows?

 

PPS - The dual mode image size is a great idea if people are apprehensive of vignetting, but I think it may be a non-starter for other reasons, such as software vignetting compensation.

[phil_derosier]

I have not read that article just yet. However, I feel that the A/S approach is paticularly well suited to photojournalism work -- like weddings -- where sharpness in small to medium images is preferred over large filesizes. In the case of KM, their APS-C offering with anti shake is without compromise.

 

Single platform camera strategies have never really worked. A judicious photographer desiring only small to medium sized prints would do well to have the 7D front and center in his arsenal of equipment. Beyond that, Hassy or Mamiya would be my choice, rather than the upscale Canons.