The Future of This Forum

[james_f6]

<p>I expect this forum to grow big time within the next three Months. I have a large circle of Camera Friends. They are all pretty much Canon and Nikon users.<br>

Two have already pre-ordered the A7, one the 24MP and the other the 36MP. One uses a Canon 5D MkII and the other a Canon 7D.<br>

It's not that they are switching system so much, it's that they are buying the body and then using the adapter to use their lenses.<br>

I think soon this forum will be (Sony/Minolta & Nikon/Canon Lenses Forum)<br>

I do expect to see much more postings from the A7 users.<br>

I got my Sony A99 yesterday, the air outside is thick with smoke from the bush fires all over the state, and my nose is running like a waterfall because of that crap in the air. So I have yet to take any images of any significance to post, because feel awful lol. </p>

[starvy]

<p>I am not sure if new products would lead to increased posting any time soon. How do we now that all new buyers of these bodies would end up in photo.net and for that matter only post in this forum?</p>

[paul_de_ley]

<p>Hope you're not living close to the fires James, and if there's lots of soot in the air then I hope none of it damages your family's possessions - including your photo gear.</p>

<p>New contributors to this forum will of course be very welcome, though it'll probably be more of a gradual trickle than an avalanche I suspect - and let's not forget there are plenty of shooters out there with favorite lenses of many other makes and brands :)</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>A couple of years ago I was still doubtful about Sony making a significant dent in the Canikon dominance. But they've surprised me. I know of a camera shop manager who's planning to sell his Nikon gear and switch to Sony.</p>

<p>And Sony has shown a real market savvy grasp of the potential for the one inch sensor with the RX100 and RX10. Meanwhile - even though I own and enjoy the Nikon V1 - Nikon just can't seem to grasp the market. If Nikon had by now issued a CX sensor Coolpix, along with the APS-C sensor Coolpix A, I might have given them more credit for grokking the market. But Sony seems to grok the market for serious compact camera enthusiasts better than Nikon and Canon.</p>

[james_f6]

<p>I was talking to one wedding photographer up the road today who said he was going to buy the A7 and use it solely for his personal use due to its size and features. He uses Canon gear, and up to now only had a cheap canon compact for his non work use.<br>

I then showed him my new A99 I bought yesterday. He has a play around with it in his studio for about 10 minutes and liked it very much. Although not enough to change, he then uploaded the images and had played around with them in Photoshop and was blown away by the quality.<br>

But that said, he loves the A7 and stated he wished Canon had done something.<br>

Yet again I have now said to a third person, all of which have been Canon Fanboys. <br>

Welcome to Sony, and it's all the A7's doing.</p>

[plasma181]

<p>A guy at work had an old Maxxum 7000, the first commercially available auto-focus SLR. It wasn't working, so he gave it to me. I saw one of the batteries was deformed, so I changed them and it worked fine. It came with a 50mm and a 70-210mm zoom. I bought a 4000 AF flash on eBay, ( what you people call "The Auction Site" ), and I was good to go. <br>

Though it's old and used, it works great. The Japanese really knew how to build in those days. I think I'll buy a zoom; maybe the 35-70 or 35-135. </p>

[Robin Smith]

<p>Lots of hearsay here. You may be right. I think you have to reckon that when a new exciting camera is announced everyone and their dog seem to shriek how they will be "selling their Canikon" or they "have already preordered", but on further analysis not all that many actually end up doing so. So... it might or might not lead to an increase in posts on this forum. Many people who will buy the Sony A7s will probably be using all their existing (non Sony) lenses so may be posting on those sites too.</p>

[timb196]

<p>James:<br />Congrats on your a99. It is a beautful camera. The A99 was the first Sony DSLR that actual got me thinking about using JPG!!<br>

The A7 series will have an impact on the market and it will be interesting to see which way.<br>

A few months ago, I had a conversation with a Nat Geo Photog who, like many others, was looking for a way to lighten the load. She had looked at the Nex and eventaully chose some other camera (Lumix? maybe) because she had not yet really gotten into EVF or somesuch.</p>

<p>I believe there is a definite trend to towards smaller and lighter and , if that thesis is true, then one has to believe Sony is in a good spot.</p>

<p>Tim</p>

<p> </p>

[keith reeder]

<blockquote>

<p>A couple of years ago I was still doubtful about Sony making a significant dent in the Canikon dominance</p>

</blockquote>

<p>And indeed Sony hasn't, Lex - not in the <em>DSLR </em>space.</p>

<p>They've done themselves a lot of good by bailing out of that segment entirely in favour of mirrorless/EVF bodies, though - created a nice little niche until the big two start taking it seriously - but I know which two of the three manufacturers mentioned here I'd be looking at if I was looking for a new body for my wildlife/motor sport photography.</p>

<p>Indeed, Pentax would be in there too.</p>

<p>And James, do yourself a favour: keep comments like "Canon fanboys" for DP Review - it's entirely possible to appreciate a manufacturer's offerings without being a "fanboy".</p>

[lex_jenkins]

Yeah,I don't see Sony threatening the dSLR market for sports, wildlife and

a few other types of photography. Not yet anyway. But they've got my

attention now, whereas just a couplafew years ago I was making dismissive

remarks about Sony.

[lintrathen]

<p>Guys....... what a heart-warming thread to read.<br>

I came from a Minolta 101b/Konica TC and Fs1 background and going digital in 08 with the assortment of lenses I had at the time, I went with the A100....... graduating in time to the A350 and now the A700.............<br>

I was impressed with the A100 and two kit lenses right from the start...... reading the user manual on the aircraft back to South Africa and the Game Reserves.<br>

I'm Sony all the way............ but it is still me who takes the photos (smiles).<br>

Regards to all</p>

[mattluther]

<p>Come to think of it when you mention Konica: the A7 range could actually be the first body to which you could fit the old Hexanons via adapter, get the frame full – and finally find out if they were crap or not. I've got a box full of those so I can hardly wait. </p>

[bob_gentile]

<p>"... I came from a Minolta 101b/Konica TC and Fs1 background..."<br>

------------------------<br>

I <em>still</em> shoot with my 101's, 102, and 201. </p>

[rdm]

<p>Well my first thought, in response to this topic and original post, is that not only do I doubt that A7 (NEX) system users would post here, but they are not even supposed to if they wanted to. This is clearly a forum for the SLR system and related accessories. I know that because of the title, and in-case anyone was unsure the description also states: <br>

"About This Forum: For discussion of Minolta, Minolta-Konica, and Sony Alpha SLR cameras and related system accessories."<br>

Now the A7 is clearly not an Alpha SLR, nor part of the SLR system, or even a related system accessories. Tho A7's have adapters available to use the lenses from the SLR system and share some other accessories. It would be like someone posting about Minolta CLE's because they can use the same TTL flash foot and with adapters can use the same lenses as the Minolta SLR system.<br>

But considering the history of this site many A7 user members might post in this forum and the powers that be, would not only ignore the error but might also encourage their posting here.</p>

<blockquote>

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=881998">Mathias Luther</a> , Nov 01, 2013; 10:22 a.m<br>

Come to think of it when you mention Konica: the A7 range could actually be the first body to which you could fit the old Hexanons via adapter, get the frame full – and finally find out if they were crap or not. I've got a box full of those so I can hardly wait.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>A box Full ?? Holey Cow I am jealous of you .. I still shoot with My manual focus Film cameras. With both my Minolta and Konica Hexanon lenses. Mostly B&W film. And I use them on my mirror-less cameras too.<br>

Hey, please let me know if you have any Konica Hexanon lenses that you might want to get rid of... I have a few gaps in my line-up.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=1521203">Bob Gentile</a> <a href="/member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub9.gif" alt="" /></a>, Dec 05, 2013; 03:17 p.m.<br>

"... I came from a Minolta 101b/Konica TC and Fs1 background..."<br /> ------------------------<br /> I <em>still</em> shoot with my 101's, 102, and 201.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>I still shoot with all my Film cameras.. . I Don't have a Minolta 101 tho :(..</p>