20 Sony Alpha DSLR Lenses

Sony have released some more details about their Alpha DSLR camera, which is scheduled for launch this summer, including the news that over 20 new lenses will be launched in the first year.

“We believe an SLR camera should be a part of a larger culture, encompassing the entire product line of lenses and accessories, and not just the camera body itself. To successfully create this culture, it’s not enough to offer a body and two or three lens options, which is why, starting this summer, we will launch more than 20 new lens models over the course of a year. Combined with the over 16 million compatible lenses that have been sold to date, we are bringing our entire camera culture toward an ever-expanding future for our customers.”

Website: Read the Full Article

Website: Digit.no

Published: Friday, May 12, 2006

Reader Comments

1. To be successful I believe it will all boil down to the sensor that Sony will use.
   
   The sensor must be far ahead of anything on the market to establish a foothold.
   
   20 new lenes just means more ways to spend our money, without the sensor who would spend their money?
   
   A great sensor would mean most of us would be willing to spend our money.
   
   Money is the bottom line and it depends on the sensor. Of course, there are many other issues to consider but without a top senor all is null & void, IMHO.

   Nicholas at 12:38pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

2. Very well said !
   
   I have Minolta lenses already awaiting for this camera .
   
   I hope it will have "SteadyShot" and a very low noise high, high ISO and top quallity sensor .
   
   Anf fot "that" I have some money stached .

   Mauro Zeltzer at 01:20pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

3. Yes, it will have to be technically excellent. I don't think Sony's going to have a problem with the sensor.
   
   But I think the bigger threat is that there's a well-regarded brand available to the non-photographic masses now, with technology unavailable in other brands (anti-shake).
   
   It is also nice that Minolta's engineers can now let it "all hang out" a little bit and we can have a line which I think will be a serious challenger to the Canon/Nikon duopoly - at least in the amateur market where the real money is for these companies.
   
   Though I shoot Canon, I think some competition is a good thing.

   Jason at 01:48pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

4. Hold on a mite. Presumably Sony has taken the excellent Minolta design and crippled it with the over-priced Memory Stick format, in a stroke cutting out potential buyers. Who wants to throw away their memory card inevestment just to stock up on Sony's more expensive but otherwise identical equivalent? Nobody, except Sony owners perhaps.

   Johnead at 03:51pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

5. i hope sony will learn from panasonic and not put sony where it is. PANASONIC removed their name to put LUMIX only.they will have to have a better approach to the real camera shops. they should hire rep from koniminolta...photokina should bring a more serious camera to show they going at it for real.i wish them luck. guy

   guy villeneuve at 05:18pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

6. sony has a big job ahead when you see the serious of PANASONIC it is an interesting race they have to rush...vacation time...they say 20 new lenses this has to be seen to beleive. PANASONIC did not announce really but only one.it reminds me when i started in photography the battle was ZEISS LEICA now it will be different with PANASONIC SONY...

   guy villeneuve at 05:23pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

7. Why would I hire the rep from KM? They're the ones who pulled out! I'm guessing the camera will be dual-slot compatible like their 828 and R1. That way the Sony faithful and the SLR brand converts stay happy.

   Reg at 09:10pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

8. Hmmm, my Sony DSC R1 accepts both compact flash and memorystick. I suspect the alpha will be the same.
   
   Sony produces the sensors for Nikon. They're not bad. The 10mb sensor on my R1 is also pretty good.

   golfzilla at 09:12pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

9. The camera/sensor and lens will obviously be basically carry-overs from KonicaMinolta. So there wont be too many real surprises. As well as 6Mp they will put out a version with a new sensor - likely to be the 10Mp one in the R1.
   Sony is too proud to put any other name on what is going to be their flagship camera range! Panasonic name is too deeply known for domestic appliance and needed a seperate name to be taken seriously.

   Mark at 09:17pm on Friday, May 12, 2006

10. Wow, 20 lenses would be nice. I thought Sony will take a long time to get entrenched in the dslr market because its the lenses that matter more than the camera, and sony had not spoken much about lenses earlier. Obviously they have done their home work.

    Arun at 02:59am on Saturday, May 13, 2006

11. Easy enough to hit the floor running when you've bought all the technology!
    It's what changes Sony makes to the KM products that will tell if they are serious about taking on Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax.

    Mark at 03:34am on Saturday, May 13, 2006

12. I'm starting to wonder who HP and Casio buy their sensors from. Sony is a BIG player in the sensor market.

    golfzilla at 03:49am on Saturday, May 13, 2006

13. There were hints to the effect that Sony is going to use their newly announced super fast CMOS sensor in the alpha dslr. That could be a decisive factor for many would-be buyers...

    Rob at 03:54am on Saturday, May 13, 2006

14. I have to say I'm excited by the apparent commitment to the camera system as well as the bodies, but I agree with others who say Sony must bring out a market beating sensor. I have to say that the illustration of the Alpha looks almost the same as my KM 5D. They will be panned by the press if they just re-badge the 5D and 7D.

    Chris Sheppard at 06:45pm on Sunday, May 14, 2006

15. You are right-on Chris! The 5D has some good features but also weak points, Sony will need alot of improvements, or it will be the begining of the end. First impressions are lasting!

    nick in japan at 07:04am on Monday, May 15, 2006

16. I see there is no manufacturer's name on the lens in the picture above. Could we at last see Zeiss AF lens designs in a DSLR (I exclude the Contax N for obvious reasons)?
    
    I think that would be the one thing that could make the brand take off - the first camera will probably be an upgrade from the R1 chip - still 10M but with lower noise and perhaps better dynamic range. They then leave themselves the opportnity to launch a top end version next year.

    Andrew at 08:34am on Monday, May 15, 2006

17. A minor point, but have you noticed it has a Minolta flash mount? It confirms that Sony are going to carry on just about every aspect of the old Minolta system.
    
    This one looks like a low/mid-range model, with the various shooting modes on a dial, and of similar size to the 5D. That's a 18-70 DT (APS-C only) kit lens on it.

    Colin at 04:01pm on Monday, May 15, 2006

18. So, who will buy the Sony offering?
    
    Pros are already committed to either Canon or Nikon. Not only do they own the gear, they understand how to get good results from it.
    
    Changing from Nikon to Canon (or vice versa) is a huge deal for a pro. Why would they do it to a system with an uncertain feature.
    
    So, if it's not a pro camera, then who is it for? Prosumers who want to move up typically buy based on the opinions of either pros or serious amateurs, and they're already using Canon or Nikon. Plus, if you choose the same system as your serious friend, you may be able to borrow a nice lens now and then.
    
    I guess I don't see the market being there for Sony.
    
    I think Canon and Nikon are far more worried about each other than about Sony.

    Eric at 07:44pm on Monday, May 15, 2006

19. IMHO, I think the target is not the folks that are happy with their camera systems, but, the vast amount of potential younger folks that want a camera system that will give pro-level results. "Something new" is also a real factor, being able to have something new is a way of life, for car, and, camera owners.
    I agree with you on your thoughts, being a Sony fan, I kinda want them to come up with something great, kinda a family loyalty , I guess. Competition will force Canon and Nikon to keep the $ dedicated to R&D;too.

    nick in japan at 09:28pm on Monday, May 15, 2006

20. 16 million lenses sold worldwide (A mount), that is the main and a very strong target Sony plans to hit.
    Reading the newest specifications about the new alpha A100 on the offical Sony site simply puts a smile on your face.

    Ludwig at 08:07pm on Tuesday, June 06, 2006

21. I totally disagree with the first comment. How can someone say that lenses are just another way for Sony to make profit.
    
    Dear Nicholas, if you don't consider lenses as the best investment for a DSLR so you don't understand nothing to photography, buy a bridge...
    (however how the noise is exploited, if you have a 5.6 lenses at 35mm don't expect to take a good photo...) (moreover, Sony as the largest sensor retailer worldwide would probably give us something that worth it)

    Ben at 10:49pm on Tuesday, June 06, 2006

22. 1. Alpha is a purely Minolta design, even small features was keeped from original Minolta camera.
    
    2. Sony added its name and money for promotion on the market and Stamina technology, probably some body design features.
    
    3. I believe that 20 lenses you are talking about will be cosmetically changed Minolta range, which is good.
    
    4. We used Minolta IS on Minolta prototype - it is perfect and will run with every lens ! That makes difference with Canon and Nikon.
    
    Sony is going serious on this market but will not invent bycicle, they will use Minolta design, experience and R&D;.
    
    Minolta made a great camera but had no money to launch it on the market, unfortunately they loose, but not collapsed, Sony buy everything including people. Good luck them !!!

    Ilya at 09:52am on Monday, June 19, 2006

23. Ilya, you gotta remember that the sensor is Sony, that means the image is going to be different from the Minolta. From the images I have compared between Minolta and Nikon, there is a BIG difference. So we can only wait for the detailed test comparisons, and user feedback to really know what this Alpha is gonna do!

    nick in japan at 11:25am on Monday, June 19, 2006