DSLR-A330, A330L, and A330Y

[fastson]

Looks like a refresh. I hope they have improved on the sensors. A low noise 14MP 380 would be nice, with LV.

[Hawk]

I hope that a700 will be still available for some time after these new models will hit the market. If they'll be any smaller and more plastick than current series there is no way I'd buy one. Or maybe my bussiness will run well enough to get me a900 next year

[Greg Beetham]

I just happend to pick up a copy of Photographic Trader off the news stand (it's a local thing, full of camera gear of all ages and description for sale) and in the centre there is a full page ad for a store sale, announcing, MASSIVE SONY CLEARANCE!!! things in the list include A700 long lens kit, A200 single lens kit, A200 twin lens kit, A350 body and a bunch of lenses and grips plus accessories so I don't know what too read into that at this stage.
Greg

[bfitzgerald]

I just happend to pick up a copy of Photographic Trader off the news stand (it's a local thing, full of camera gear of all ages and description for sale) and in the centre there is a full page ad for a store sale, announcing, MASSIVE SONY CLEARANCE!!! things in the list include A700 long lens kit, A200 single lens kit, A200 twin lens kit, A350 body and a bunch of lenses and grips plus accessories so I don't know what too read into that at this stage.
Greg

Obviously Sony are having a big inventory clear out, they want the older models out of the way, and the new ones in place, ditto with the "I assume" quieter lenses

They probably feel they want their new "consumer friendly" cameras on the market asap. We can judge them by their sales figures, but I suspect being priced well is going to be far more a factor.

[Greg Beetham]

Yes Barry, for sure the A200 - A350 seem too be on the hit list, but I wasn't expecting the A700 to go on special along with them...maybe something cooking there too...
btw there is also a special running at Sony here on the A900 till September, a $500 cash back thingy, so even the A900 doesn't appear to be safe...either.
Greg

[bfitzgerald]

Well the A700 is older than the A200-350.

Not that it's really old, because we have got so used to short upgrade cycles with digital cameras..simply the norm. I was reading a post I think by DK, on another forum , that said the A700 would be good for 3/4 years of cycle life. Well in the real world it of course would be, my old 5d does the job still. But back on planet camera division, no company would dare let a model sit out there for that length of time, it would die sales wise.

I find the entire modern camera thing somewhat tiresome regarding updated models, but it won't stop companies slapping them out. BTW, at this moment in time, I think there is a serious need for something higher than these new newbie models, but lower than the A700. Something that isn't baby orientated with hand holding stuff etc True there are some deals on the A700 about, I was thinking something a bit lighter myself. I still to this day don't see the logic in 3 entry models, esp 2 live view ones, when there should only be 1. Worse, sony restricted the market for the A300 in the UK, and it was not even easy to get one if you wanted to! I don't get the point of making a model, then trying to stop in going on sale!

But then I don't really get what direction Sony are heading in, I don't like it one bit though. These new models are about as anti Minolta as you can possibly get. I really hope sony are not trying to just mimic Canikon, it's sure to fail.

[peterottaway]

Barry I think it's just Sony using the parts bin to cover as many possible markets at once.

But hopefully it means that the in the enthusiast market that there may be two models to cover the range that the A700 has to cover. As an example you could take the present A700 and put it in a GPV body with a similar sensor to the Nikon D90/D5000,add the focus adjustment as on the A900 and call it the Sony A400. From a marketing point of view this would need to also provide Live View and Video functions to keep the Canikon fan boys posing as reviewers from getting a cheap headline.

You could then put in the A700 replacement at a higher price point but still below the price of the Canon 50D and expected Nikon D400. This could be a 15MP and 6fps plus camera tucking in at just below pro spec. A lot of you may that this just so much fluff as there would not be that much real world difference between 12MP and 15MP and how many photographers would notice the difference between 4.5 fps and 6 fps - but it would say we can do anything Canon/Nikon can do. For less of your dollars and in a comfortably sized and weighted camera body.

Only work of course if Sony has learnt from the A700 IQ problems.

[Greg Beetham]

If Sony are trying to capture the gen Y market with re-styled yuppie cams, I'd be surprised if that strategy will work, I could be wrong but I just don't see them as DSLR types, those gadget freaks will want something connected so you can do texting with it, talk into, do email, take movies for sending to U-tube...have a gps built in and maybe even play Mp3's, and if it comes with a subscription to some rude/nude screensavers THEN they might be onto somthing IMHO.
Greg

ps. Barry, I saw your reply before I posted,
Yes the A700 is probably due soon for some sort of upgrade (the never ending, gradually compressing, get the jump on the opposition if possible, program), but the A700 is their only proper "serious" APS-C camera at the moment (sorry Baz, the A200 and the other models are pretty much entry level compared to the A700, and yes the A500 is long overdue, but it looks like were getting some yuppie cams istead), so imho one would think they would want to replace it with something similar, too appeal to the likes of you and me, but I'm just wondering how much they, (Sony) think the traditional market ie. 'us old world camera users' is worth pursuing, and/or if they don't mind or care if we don't conform to what Sony wants in a DSLR customer...so I'll be really interested in just what they come up with in the way of features in the new cam that replaces the A700...then we will know where we are headed I think...and talk about mimicking, do you remember seeing a silhouette of the A700 shape when it first came out, I don't know about you but I thought it look more like a Nikon style than a Minolta one, with it's flat top deck..I still do actually, I realize there is probably not a lot you can do with style, after all they all have similar components inside, but even so, in the past Nikon's usually looked like Nikon's, and Canon's were pretty much immediately recognizable as Canon's, and Minolta's were always distinctive as well, it's one thing that Minolta always did well was style... now the only Sony that is unmistakable instantly as a Sony is the A900 I reckon, the others you have too see the name too be sure...

[Birma]

I could have been tempted by a partner-friendly 380 with video, but I think I will save my money for the A700 upgrade, or just more glass. If there are very good deals (<£400) on A700s as they get replaced, then I will have a tricky decision between glass and an A700.

[alphaomega]

I must admit that from what I can glance from the details in DK's article on the new Sony A230/330/380 I am decidedly "underwhelmed". There is nothing for me in that offering. Same sensors but smaller bodies perhaps with Sony's own memory stick to save space. I will wait for a replacement for my A700. If Sony still harbours the objective of becoming No. 2 they need to replace the A700. They will not get anywhere near becoming No. 2 with a bunch of intro cameras and the A900 with a gaping hole in the middle. They need an A730 with a 16 Mp+ APS-C sensor that can do high ISOs with lower noise than the current A700 v.4 and a few other improvements/additions as well to compete with the Canon 50D and whatever Nikon can produce to replace their D300. I must admit I am indifferent to Video but I would like a movable LV screen as well but not at the cost of an inferior OVF with tunnel vision. If Sony do not come up with the goods within 6-9 months I may just purchase another A700 to last me until I no longer intend to take photographs. I just could not face having to get rid of all my Sony gear and start afresh with Canon or Nikon.

[Javelin]

I don't think these cameras offer anything for current DSL users at all. these are definatly for newest users. maybe not all of them though we still haven't gotten concrete specs on them

[stroberaver]

It seems to get worse with every nugget of information that is uncovered about these cameras. Just been reading DK's article "new Alphas have HDMI output" and I'm not liking it at all.

Besides the obvious ergonomic/aesthetic issues (as Barry says, if there was one thing Sony really did not need to change, it was the grip. The A2/3/7/900 grip is perfect. Everyone at my camera club that has had a go with my A700 immediately remarked how comfortable it was to hold compared to their Canikons), the suggestions of different batteries and memory cards will be very disappointing if true. Obviously it doesn't affect first time buyers which is what these cameras are aimed at, but what about someone with a 700 or 900 who wants a smaller, entry level body as a back up? Now they'll have to have two different batteries, two different chargers, two different types of memory cards? Retarded. Especially when Sony currently have it so right with the entire range sharing batteries and compact flash.

And those hand-holding display screens with gauges and sliders depicting what does what - well I appreciate Sony are going after the entry level market here, but these certainly are not cameras for me. I'm no expert, but I'll never buy a nannying camera like that - I just want the settings displayed, clearly and effectively. Much like the current range does already.

I'm just struggling to understand the need for (or the focus upon) three bodies like this when there seems to be an obvious gap for an A500-type body and the A700 will probably need replacing soon to keep up with the Joneses.

[bfitzgerald]

Stroberaver, we do of course speculate on some things. I would be amazed if sony did change the battery, that would be odd, no obvious reason to either. With the memory format, we know MS is there, I cannot see a CF slot, but it is possible they have an SD one too. We shall just have to wait and see. I don't have a problem with a MS slot, "as long" as they have an SD one. Being honest, they should stick to CF, but I can see some reasons to have SD (aka most compact users are using it)

I think what I fear most is a return to the bad old days of heavily cut down cameras. I have vivid memories of my local camera dealer trying to sell me a Dynax 3000i camera, throwing leaflets at me etc (should have kept them!) I turned my nose up at that one, and remember thinking..ok I am a novice..but this is so limited, I will quickly tire of it..P mode only was not my idea of being creative! I just didn't see what the point was..not that you expect top dog features in low end bodies, but there are limits. I would never buy any kind of SLR or bridge without at least PAM modes. And don't start me off on those expansion cards minolta shoved out! I never liked that concept..glad the dumped it.

Not that I suggest these models are super cut down, they probably won't be, but still..its a worry that makers will turn them into something even more basic as time goes by.

On the easy to see and learning stuff, well I can see some point to that, depends how useful it really is. That display won't be, they have 2 one for shutter speed, rather simplistic really. The aperture one is also of limited use..as DOF is so influenced with distance to subject/focal length etc..it's almost going to be misleading in many cases. I would find it patronizing myself, but that's my own personal take. I am more traditional, I think a well written manual (sony don't have one!), a decent quick start guide..and a nicely laid out ergonomic camera with good controls..makes it a lot easier in the end for the user. Hand holding only works so much, the user is going to have to have some kind of interest in learning to use the camera, and getting to grips with the basic stuff.

We already have something many call "idiot mode" or full auto..do you need more than this?? Users who are not prepared to put some time into learning about the craft (and we are all still learning), probably shouldn't be looking to buy an SLR in the ist place! I am no DSLR snob, I don't care much about looking good with my cameras, but I would want to avoid baby hand holding models..like the plague. I wanted to from day 1, and I do to this day

[Javelin]

don't forget many users who will buy these cameras will only pull them out of a drawer 4-5 times a year. you guys may learn a new photography tid bit but your cameras are allways working. theirs not so much so they likely will need to be reminded what everything does when the camera comes out. SLo theres no saying that all 3 of these new camera have all these new ideas in them.

[KevinBarrett]

After a week or so of looking at these new cameras, I'm starting to feel very encouraged about the Sony Alpha line-up. Thje way to secure the future for an SLR system is to make your lower-end cameras highly accessable. With the a230-a380, Sony is doing just that. Minolta did this with Maxxum 3 and Maxxum 5 and others, and guess what? The A mount secured me early on with a film 5 and now I shoot an a700 with six lenses and two flash guns.

This move also makes room for the "a500" model series that everyone is screaming for, but what is more encouraging than that is that Sony has retooled their model numbers to make room for their intended growth between the segments. This is, at the same time, somewhat awkward because their nomenclature now isn't as clear as it once was, and certainly not as clear as Canon and Nikon.