Sony Photography News and Rumors

DPReview released their interview with Kenji Tanaka from Sony today and you can find a summary below of the key points.

• Sony isn’t strictly defining the a7III, but says consumers and professionals can use it even though it’s their basic camera
• The Sony 400mm is a big deal going into 2018
• Sports photographers are a new segments Sony is seriously targeting in 2018
• The Sony 400mm is very light and doesn’t need a monopod even though most sports photographers are used to using them.
• The 400mm f/2.8 is built for the needs of professionals, which is beyond hobbyists.
• Sony believes that when conditions get too bad photographers will use some type of camera protection on a7/a9 cameras. They internally test their cameras up till a point.
• Professionals are fine with big durable cameras, but hobbyist want something smaller.
• Sony is happy to have Sigma and Tameron making lenses for them now and believe in keeping their mount open.
• Sony thinks that Canon/Nikon will have full frame mirrorless cameras by next year at CP+ so within one year.
• Sony thinks that the 2020 Olympics will be covered by mostly mirrorless cameras.
• They hope many will use Sony, but it will take time.
• Some used a9 at the Olympics this year.
• Still emphasizing support for APS-C and that products are coming.
• Sony finally seems to think that firmware updates is something they should offer…

It’s good to hear that Sony is emphasizing durability going forward because it’s their weakest area beyond menus, but maybe they will fix their menus with a firmware update… It’s interesting that Sony is back peddling a little on their firmware update perspective during this interview. In the past, Sony would always say that working on firmware updates would stall the release of future products, but now they are sounding more receptive to adding features to cameras via firmware updates. Let’s hope this turns out to be true, because this adds a lot of value to Fujifilm and m43 cameras.

via DPReview