Yep I'm inclined too agree that Amazon statistics might be a bit sus to draw conclusions from....in that case it probably fits into this thread quite well.
Greg

Not bad for a camera that was so difficult to obtain in the States and even here in the UK, if Sony has made a mistake it was underestimating the uptake of the A-580, just maybe when the launch for the A-7** comes they will have stocks to fulfil the demand, If the promises are kept I’m sure it will be in big demand.
Regards
Richard

Amazon is a big seller so whilst it's not unreasonable to get some indication from them sales wise their updating can sometimes be a bit off so I wouldn't bet my life on their sales as models can jump up and down a bit but you should at least get an idea of what's going on.

I'm sure Nikon will do well with the D7000 quirks and all it seems the right model for the market and let's not forget that they'll be updating the D5000 and D300s as they're effectively outdated v their new entry and D7000 models. Canon has a few things they can do as well 5d MkII could get an update it's getting a tad old ish 550d could get a work over end of the year. The DSLR areas could be pretty competitive this year.

If the A580 does well on sales and it seems to be pretty decent if the indicators are right it might be a last hope to get Sony to actually support OVF models in the future. A few lines in a press release would work wonders for those who are currently wavering on this.

except that Amazon themselves don't seem to be selling that model (this is not unusual - they don't seem big on stcoking Alphas themselves) & there is only 1 Marketplace seller with it & they are charging a premium - that's bound to have an effect on sales.


I think that the current rumour is 1000D & 550D replaced in the Spring with 5D MkIII in the Autumn.

Not to mention that the 580 is 'crippled' compared to the 55. There's no GPS on the 580, something rumored to be there pre-release, but not in the actual model. I would forgo my next big lens purchase and instead buy the 580 if it had GPS.

Dusty

walking around all the camera stores in Melbourne , Alpha's are getting very thin on display, most store only have the A33/55, a few have some left over A500/A390 .
No one has any idea when/if the A560/580 will land in Australia and hardly anyone has lenses, except for Michaels, and they are starting to run out of models, They had a good price (for Australia) on 16-80Z lens, but are out of stock and are not sure if they can get any new stock.

Sony Australia seem to have unloaded all their stock of VG for the A5xx at Gray's Online (for $79.00 great price if you have a A5xx), since the VG also fit the A560/580, this indicates we may not see those models in Australia.

I understand Sony push with the NEX and A33/55, I know a some people who have then and just lovem, But it would have been nice if a company the size of Sony could have worked both ends of the market, they have the tech to compete with Can/Nik they just don't have the will.

I just think it's Sony's business model that's the problem, they seem to rely heavily on Sony Style email advertising to 'members' who have bought and registered a camera previously and those customers pre-ordering the next model so they have a good idea of how many to make of what model. The world of SLR's has always operated quite differently to that, people who intend to spend that sort of money traditionally go and see and talk to 'knowledgaeble' people in the camera store, handle various makes and models, take on board what those whose business it is to 'know' about camers and what they say about them. And now of course there is the internet and those who search all over looking for the best price on the model they have decided on. So Sony's idea of having a captive market through their Sony Style brick and mortar with limited actual stock on hand no expensive experts and e-shoping being the main game is not going to work too well when everyone can easily get a better price elsewhere. I guess they figure they save on having to employ lots of expensive reps who could represent them and promote their products face to face and stimulate some interest and confidence in the Sony line.
The problem for Sony there also is their reps would get asked lots of awkard questions about the Sony DSLR 'system' and where and when certain accessory items might appear. The bottom line is, if you want to be a credible alternative you have to have a more or less complete system and/or show that you intend to make it so, not a patchwork of seemingly unrelated models, missing models and accessories, unavailable stock, for extended periods etc. and a corporate mentality that seems to operate by remote control and seemingly not really interested in photography itself, but just enough though to flog a new model for this months sales figures.
Greg

But Sony don't see them selves has a "credible alternative" in the can/nik DSLR market, they are pushing models that are sit a bit to the left and right of the "normal" DSLR market.
They are growing new markets, in which Can/Nik don't compete in (for now), Why make Trad. DSLR and go head to head with Can/Nik when you don't have too.

It may not be what we want but has stated before by others, no matter what we think of the new models and Sony's direction, the new models have more then enough features and image quality to make 99% of camera users happy. has long has Sony keep improving on the unique features, I sure they can produce a fixed mirror camera that can go head to head with Can/Nik high end models. They only have 2 real areas that need a lot of engineering work, the EVF and mirror induced errors. either of which are not impossible to fix. the rest of the "things" that make up a high end SLR Sony already can do. (Sony should also consider adding electronic aperture blade control to the A mount. either reuse the pins that Minolta added for the power zoom lenses or adding extra pins to the current mount)

Yes I agree Sony 'could' make a killing with a good SLT, but what I'm saying is, if Sony had good marketing, distribution and representation they probably wouldn't have needed to retreat into a fringe area in the first place.
And besides how are they doing marketing the SLT anyway?
Probably the only people out in the general population who know about it are those who watch the camera industry closely. And even so there are still people looking for one but unable to find one....?
What does that tell you? Sony can't even supply the people who DO know about their new camera. Boy you sure have to be determined if you want to buy a Sony camera, SLT or DSLR.
Greg

Greg, the point of the SLT is that no-one really needs to know about how it works. The average buyer of it has possibly used an electronic finder camera only, in recent years, and maybe even one lacking an eye level choice. They are shown two cameras one of which appears to be extremely fast, light, silent, to shoot movies really well, and to have a finder which INSIDE ANY STORE blows away the optical finder of the opposition.

So the A55/33 models fly off the shelves, they sell themselves. The buyers probably have no idea what SLT or SLR might mean.

David

"Nikon to launch a pro mirrorless system (with Sony sensors?"
The latest in rumours today, it has been mentioned before but if they do, it would not surprise me.
Richard

[quote="Lonnie Utah"]^^ Agreed. The advantage that sony has over Canon and Nikon is that they are an electronics company, not a camera company. They have much greater resources to pull upon, ..../quote]
ehem, Nikon is "only" a camera company, but Canon IS a huge electronic company.

Yep.
Adorama (or B&H) that used to be the "photography people" are now the electronic people and there are no regrets about that.

Previsualisation don't need EVF or OVF, just need creativity and imagination. If you wanna go classic, get a view camera and shoot like AA