james_frater

Looks like all the big boys are showing higher end camera's. Just looked at the Olympus one.

 

Sony has to release something at PMA just to keep up not only with Nikon and Canon, but the rest.

Well they are ugly looking, time will tell, I think if this is true, then they have saved themselves. Because I was gonna pull out if I was not impressed.

 

Time will still tell

Somehow I am not feeling confident. There has not been even a tiny bit of information leaking.

 

Well if Sony read forums on the web like some people say they do. I hope they read this.

 

"If there is no significate DSLR news out of PMA. I am selling up and moving most likely to Nikon, maybe Canon. But I am really liking the Nikon D80."

Firstly, I do not think a full frame Sony will be out anytime soon, as I do not think a full frame Nikon will be out anytime soon either.

 

It simply would not be cost effective for Sony to bring out a full frame sensor, not at this time. Let Canon and Nikon for now rule the Pro market (Sony has to get a foothold, and a expensive Pro level camera would not be used by most of us, and certainly not by pro's on mass)

 

Sony should bring out 2 models, an update on the A100 (A200) 10mp, with updated features and more serious build, that fills the more serious amature market, and the 2nd release, a more serious contender to battle it out with the Nikon D200, and probably the next update for the Canon 30D. For the Serious enthusiest to Semi Pro user. Quality build, 12-14mp, grip, etc, etc, etc.

 

Fill those markets first. Give people more serious options.

 

Give me a 7D with updated electronics and MP's in the 12-14mp range, you would have a winner.

I am glad I bought up when people thought the brand and camera was dead. (Even though I am currently thinking of moving to another brand) I picked up great prices on lenses before the Alpha came out.

 

I have just seen 2 Auctions on ebay in Australia, both were selling the 7D battery grip. One went for $395, the other at $425 Aus dollars. I bought mine just over a year ago on ebay, for $80 using buy it now, with plenty of others in stock at the time all cheap. But now going for really high prices.

Nah for me, 10mp would give me what I require. Will wait for PMA to see if Sony comes out with something better.

I love my 7D, but it is outdated, the MP is too low now. Even with good lenses there is still too much limitation.

 

The thing is, I am now at a point where I am printing stuff out A4, A3 and larger. A4 is fine, A3 is also okay, but larger prints I am not being wow'd.

 

I do not think the A100 is worth upgrading from the 7D. Personally I think the make of the 7D is simply better, (of course the A100 has better electronics) but that is just about it. I love the 7D body, dials, and buttons. The A100 looks like a toy for begginers, just like the 5D did. (Thats not saying they are crap camera's in my view, far from it)

 

If Sony wants to keep me they have to come out with a 7D type camera with 10mp plus and some new bells and whistles. Otherwise what is the point.

 

Sony now has to wow the more serious photographer, not the entry level to minor enthusiest.

I think though, you put one those those Nikon or Canon lenses worth a few thosand dollars on. The image quality will change. I do not think KM and Sony has high quality lenses that can match those on Nikon or Canon. There is simply more choice with Canon and Nikon.

 

I will wait for PMA, if the news is good I will happily stick with Sony.

I feel that Nikon, Canon are going in the right direction.

 

"Only from the minds of Minolta" If that was only so these days.....

 

Just look at the lenses, Flashes, acessories for Nikon and Canon. One only has to look at the prices and reviews to see that nikon, Canon lenses are top shelf,(albeit you have to pay the money for it)

 

Thats not to say that Minolta does not have quality glass, but on a whole, the others simply are better.

 

It is not about having the latest model. Because I cannot afford the biggest and best, and by the time I buy for example (Nikon D80), the D90 will most likely be in the works with more MP, etc.

 

But that is just it, Nikon and Canon keep coming out with newer models, better models. KM then Sony are not doing that in the Digital SLR market.

 

Yes lenses are important, But so to is the digital body aspect. I went from a positive, defending Sony person. To being dis-illusioned one.

 

I love my KM gear. But I want a Sony DLR, that makes me feel Sony is serious about camera's. BUT even then, the lenses from the other makers are just so plentiful and from all reviews, better.

 

Maybe that is why pro's use Canon and Nikon, and hardly any Minolta, Pentax and Olympus anymore.

Actually, thanks for that, I did not realise (PMA) was so close. I will wait a bit longer. If they cannot reveal something to the world at the show, then I think I am out, and will switch.

 

If Sony cannot soon show to the world their plans and some better gear than the current stuff. Then I am afraid they can count me out of any of their future plans.

 

It has been long enough. One camera based on a KM 5D model, re-bagged KM lenses, flashes, is not enough anymore. The time for waiting is over. PMA will be my deadline. Otherwise I am switching and will get on with life with another brand.

 

I believe I have held in and defended Sony long enough, time for them to give back more. IMHO

My issue is not so much the lenses, etc, its the camera body, and the future.

 

Film cameras for example are different, not so much the body, but lenses and film made the difference. Not so with digital, I feel the 7D model is great, but I want more. And the A100 does not do it for me.

 

I play chess, and the trainers and greats of the game say, "play with tournament size peices and board as you would in a tournament" thus I use correct size chess peices, and it feels good playing with them.

 

I an questioning that what I have is just not enough anymore in the digital photography world.

Over the years I have collected a nice selection of Minolta Gear, which I love

using. Currently I use a KM 7D and a KM Dimage A2, with flashes, lenses, etc.

 

The 7D with grip fills my hands and makes me feel like a photographer with

confidence.

 

BUT, I am getting a bit itchy for something more, I need a future with

expansion, and I do not think Sony can offer that.

 

I have been looking and liking the Nikon D80, SB600 flashgun, and a couple of

Nikon lenses.

 

I am looking at selling all my Minolta SLR and DSLR gear, which would give me

enough for the conversion to another system, at the moment that would be

Nikon, but who knows maybe Canon.

 

Basically the way I feel now, even if Sony comes out with something bigger and

better, I just cannot seem to take what they have on offer seriously anymore.

I do not feel like a proud photographer if I walk around wearing a Sony A100.

I do not see Sony taking me to a serious level of photography, even as an

enthusiest.

 

I thought the move to Sony would be positive. But within weeks of the A100

being released, both Nikon and Canon came out with models with 10mp sensors,

with the Nikon D80 leading that 10mp market in that price range, and Pentax,

Olympus are now hitting the market with more serious offerings. Sony just does

not seem to be the benchmark, like Minolta had been over the years with

innovation in the camera market.

 

I am just wondering if anyone can offer me anything in the way that would make

me stay with Minolta and Sony.

 

To me Canon and Nikon have serious camera's and even more serious lenses for

photographers. Sony has a mish mash of KM stock and a bunch of items still

waiting to be released.

 

Why stay, why wait, maybe something from Sony this year sometime???

 

When I can get what I want and feel good moving to another brand right now.

I do agree with some other comments on here about the lense used. On these test camera's, especially the Sony and even the old KM Camera's, test were usually done with the stock standard lense, where as I did notice on occasions, the Canon's and sometimes Nikon's had a better quality lense, rather than a stock one on there's. This made me realise at one time when KM 7D did a test with say 28-70 2.8 lens and the results were great, I knew the camera was capable of better than tested results from other reviewers using only the standard lense.

 

But it does appear the A100 is doing great results with the standard stock lense.

I just bought "Practical Photography" magazine today, version which comes from the UK. And it reviewed the Nikon D80, Pentax K100D, Sony A100, and Panasonic DLSR. Making references to even the Canon 400D. They stated that the image quality coming from the Sony A100 was far ahead of that of its main competitors, which I just listed. Yes they bagged a few aspects of the build of the A100, but image quality (which is the end produce that cameras are used for, gets plenty of rave reviews.)

I do not think Minolta and Konica Minolta ever had a big impact on the true pro market, maybe years ago with the models in the 9 range 9xi, 9000, Maxxum 9, etc.

 

I do not think anyone other than Canon and Nikon will make true pro camera's.

 

That does not mean that Sony will not come out with a camera so high spec that it matches and even surpases the features of a pro camera, even though the build quality may not be such.

 

And that in many cases makes a pro camera, being able to drop a nuke on it and have is survive. That is usually the mark of a pro camera, the build and not the features.

With the standard lens that would have come with it, that is part of your issue. You may also have poor picture taking technique which may lead to camera shake.

 

Nothing wrong with the camera body, more likely as mentioned before, the lens, and maybe too much camera movement when you take the picture.

 

And a standard cheap 70-300 will more than likely give you crap results if you hand hold it anyway.

 

Really need a bit more info to give you suggestions on your issues, (what is the lens you are having problems with.)

Releasing a Pro may not be their main thing, does not mean that the A200 will not be something that will Rival the Canon 5D.

 

Who knows, the next will be better than the A100, so even that I am excited.

This Sony battery fiasco has thrown them for a loop, it is costing them a fortune, and now more and more batteries appear to be affected. Not just from Dell's, but now their Vaio's. I think the amount of expendable cash Sony had avialable is drying up. Maybe less Money to spend on what they wanted to with their camera's right now.

Pro is in the eye of the beholder. I know many professioal photographers using the Canon 20D for their wedding photography for example.

 

The 7D has the build and features that is more than enough for a professional, and have seen professionals using it.

 

To be a professional does not mean you need a top of the line Canon, Nikon digital SLR.

 

I hear for example many a wedding photographer saying Fuji Finepix S3 Pro DSLR takes some, if not the best digital images on the planet. And that is not a camera that costs a fortune.

Well if anyone had any sense, and I for one posted when the takeover happened. The Minolta stuff was going for Fire Sale prices, people were jumping ship left, right and centre. I did not sell, I bought, bought, bought.

 

I picked up at least $800 Aussie Dollars worth of Lenses when people began to offload, which now in total are selling for 4 to 5 times that amount.

 

A 7D Grip, which I bought for A$99, is going for A$399-$499.

 

Seems like people know all this Minolta gear is worth something again cause if fits the current and future Sony DSLR.

 

Maybe you are Disillusioned cause you missed the salvage boat that went out to pick up the sinking Minolta gear, which is now worth treasure.

 

I am sorry to say, at the moment Sony does not need the chance. you just missed it.

As for cost, well no more than 300-400 Aussie dollars, which is about $300 US dollars or 161 pounds

Okay,

 

It has to be able to hold my 7D with battery grip, and my assortment of lenses, some heavy some not.

 

I am not into macro or low down shots, so mainly taking shots using a timer or my electronic cable release to just minimize the camera shake.

 

I have only ever used a 2 and 3 way pan head, and I am thinking that a ball head would be also okay, but very expensive when holding the weight of my camera specifications.

I am looking for a tripod for my 7D with Grip, the ones I have are smaller and

I am pretty sure are not on the safe side for holding the weight, even though

when I rattle it around it does not fall, etc.

 

Interested to hear whaty other peope use or suggest.

 

Another question, on many tripod specifications, it might say load capacity

5kg, maximum weight 15kg, as an example.

 

I assume the 5kg is stable safe use limit, and 15kg is getting to a load that

make it unstable?

I do not know about anyone else, but I rarely, if at all using the focal length markings on a lense. I look through the viewfinder and if it is what I want I shoot it.

Before you put the card in, press the eject lever fully in, and it should click back into place and remain in.

 

Have you had the camera long?

 

Did you know you have to press the lever back in before placing your card back in.

 

If you have done that and it still pops out, then the machanism is faulty and you will have to get it fixed.