Saturday Shout: Can Sony Compete in the DSLR Market?

April 22, 2006 | Mark Goldstein | Saturday Shout | Comment |

Saturday ShoutEarlier this week Sony unveiled the new brand name for their up-coming DSLR camera range, which will be launched in the Summer of 2006. Dubbed “Alpha”, the name continues the tradition inherited from Konica Minolta, whose DSLRs were called the same thing in Japan for over 20 years before the company’s decision to pull out of the camera market. The new Sony Alpha DSLRS will be based on the existing Alpha / Maxxum / Dynax lens mount, which is good news for current Konica Minolta DSLR owners. But how much of an impact do you think Sony will have on the wider DSLR market, where Canon and Nikon retain the lion’s share? Can Sony make a bigger impression than Konica Minolta ever did, and challenge the major players, or will they be competing with the likes of Pentax and Samsung instead? Who do you think Sony’s first DSLR will be aimed at - will it be en entry-level model, prosumer or professional? Shout out now…