Man, Sony had better come with some KILLER FIRMWARE UPDATE!

[bakubo]

01af there is no doubt in my mind users who buy at the A700 level, are concerned about IQ, and the impact of NR raw must have influenced sales, it's not just about forum nerds, folks do research things as well.

I know and have met plenty of people with A700 level cameras (40D, 50D, D200, D300) and even people with much higher level models (and much more expensive) that know little about their cameras and nothing about firmware. A whole lot of people think that if they buy an expensive camera that their photos will be better than a cheap camera. I have seen it so many times. Back in film days too. I used to see lots of people with a Nikon F5 and expensive lenses or a Canon EOS-1s with expensive lenses who knew almost nothing about their camera and always used it in program mode. Of course, I don't know what percentage of A700 level and higher camera owners are like this, but I think it is not insignificant.

[Mike]

A whole lot of people think that if they buy an expensive camera that their photos will be better than a cheap camera.

I think everyone who buys an expensive camera thinks that, or they would have bought the cheap one!

Mike

Edit - Looking at this post, I thought it might be interpreted as being rude ... It wasn't meant that way, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you.

[KevinBarrett]

My dream firmware update for the a700/a900 is nothing too fancy:

User definable Auto ISO range
MLU and Remote Commander as independently selectable drive modes, can be combined with each other and/or bracketing drive modes
Custom button on body and vertical grip may be assigned to different functions

[bakubo]

A whole lot of people think that if they buy an expensive camera that their photos will be better than a cheap camera.

I think everyone who buys an expensive camera thinks that, or they would have bought the cheap one!

Yeah, most think it, but often they find their photos are no better at all or even worse. Especially those who go from a digicam to a high end DSLR. You find them complaining everyday on the forums about the terrible photos from their new DSLR compared to the digicam they had before and usually have no desire to actually learn how to use it. Also, there is another class of buyers, not such a small class, who think a high end DSLR is a piece of jewelry and a status symbol. It defines them and, so, must have the right look (some nebulous, ill-defined "pro" look, usually) and show the world what a with-it person they are. All, in IMHO, of course.

I don't mind that these people spend their money on high end gear even if they have no interest in actually doing much more than fondle it and be seen with it because they help sales, help pay for R&D, and maybe help fuel innovation. A downside is that sometimes in the internet age their clamoring for certain faddish doo-dads may cause companies to waste resources that may have been better spent on getting the basics right and also just fixing bugs and design mistakes.

Edit - Looking at this post, I thought it might be interpreted as being rude ... It wasn't meant that way, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you.

Don't worry. I got your meaning!

[PhotoTraveler]

Actually, your assumption isn't really anything.

A200/A300/A330 all shared the same Ref ID on the board, but different part numbers, same for the A230/A330/A330 and now the same for the A900/A850.

The Ref ID or what ever Sony considers that is the same, and most likely because they use the same service manuals. But the part numbers for each model are different (and prices).

Both being AM-015 just means they are "basically" the same camera, and in time probably will share service manuals. Doesn't mean they are the same board. The rest of the story basically says they aren't.

If all this rumors about A850 with a single Bionz is true, that means Sony improved a couple of thing there: a powerful Bionz (not the same as the one on the A700 or A900) and a more efficient post processing, Noise reduction included.

The 850 and 900 use the same main pcb part number. So the rumours are mostly wrong.
Yet the 850 is to be slower down to 3fps. That may stem from deeper processing like better JPEG, NR and/or DRO; or may simply mean physically weaker mirror assy unable to flap so fast...

In fact, the 850 may turn out being a 'firmware update with hardware downgrade' for the 900...

[pakodominguez]

Actually, your assumption isn't really anything.

A200/A300/A330 all shared the same Ref ID on the board, but different part numbers, same for the A230/A330/A330 and now the same for the A900/A850.

The Ref ID or what ever Sony considers that is the same, and most likely because they use the same service manuals. But the part numbers for each model are different (and prices).

Both being AM-015 just means they are "basically" the same camera, and in time probably will share service manuals. Doesn't mean they are the same board. The rest of the story basically says they aren't.

The 850 and 900 use the same main pcb part number. So the rumours are mostly wrong.
Yet the 850 is to be slower down to 3fps. That may stem from deeper processing like better JPEG, NR and/or DRO; or may simply mean physically weaker mirror assy unable to flap so fast...

In fact, the 850 may turn out being a 'firmware update with hardware downgrade' for the 900...

Agoabasta assumption or my assumption?

I know a team of good devellopers/programmers helps reducing costs in hardware -optimisation, such a word!

Regards