Model line-up strategy

[bfitzgerald]

I am still a tad puzzled with Sony's line-up so far (esp with regards to the new models)

In the interest of not being simply a moaner , but putting forward some ideas. I have made a line of models similar to Minolta's old one. Here is it.

2 series (think current A230) Affordable newbie camera
3 series newbie live view models
4 series, this is the non stipped down too much, non newbie pandering model, think A200-350 with some enhancements, but priced well
5 series, A100/5d level..slots between the A700 and 4 camera, better build but not semi pro
7 series, KM7d, A700 level. I believe it would not be easy to sell APS semi pro over £1000, not anymore.., well featured
8 series, could be reserved for a more "affordable" full frame model
9 series, current A900/film 9 type spec..FF and strong build well featured pro level

Currently I don't see the point of 3 new user models, as the price of the A380 in Europe places it in direct competition with the D5000 and 500d. I think that is a hard sell at that level. I think one live view model would do for new users, so we could scrub the 2 series, just have the 3. The 4 would be for current A200-350 users with some improvements, 5 is as the A100 was, and would go head to head with Canon's 500d etc.

So 1 (3) series..LV
1 (4) model or maybe 2
1 (5) and 1 (7)

Leaving the 8 or 9 for full frame.

The other "odd thing" is that we have a selection of LV and non LV models, this is IMO not enough to distinguish between prices or models. The current concern is for the A500, as we suspect 2 models. Is this simply an OVF and LV option? Or 2 LV ones with different sensors sharing the same body, both LV. The LV models also currently have compromised viewfinders, putting off OVF based shooters

I don't feel the DSLR market is sustainable for compact type strategies, aka many models sharing identical specs almost. Makers over the years have used many features to seperate models, build, VF size and mag, FPS, top shutter speed, pentamirror v pentaprism, custom functions etc, no of AF points.. fairly long list


I believe a more broad model line up will avoid the problems of overlapping, or hurting potential bargain buyers looking for decent ish, but affordable (A230 - 380 series likey will not satisfy this segment) A500 could be more pricey than folks would like.

so..what do you think?? lol

[David Kilpatrick]

I think everything we had up to the 230/380 series was more a Minolta (or Konica Minolta) than a Sony. Either there will be two ranges - rather than same way Olympus has always had a distinct amateur range and then a differently built enthusiast/pro range - or a single surviving high end model in APS-C and full frame, plus one range which may go to the 500 level but works, looks and feels like the new +30 series.

David

[stevecim]

Yer, I agree. Sony should have covered both ends, 2 models for the low end and 1 model for current 200,300,350 onwers

A230 has a really cheap DSLR well below current prices for 400D, D60. In Australia Nikon was the first to have a sub $1000.00 SLR , Sony should take the lead and have the first sub $500.00 DSLR
then has the second low end model, I would have not bothered with the A330 and used the a380 has the second low end model.

Then a spec'ed up a380 (i.e a390) same 14MP sensor but with some of the features missing for the current 300/350 and body buttons like the 300/350 . It can match the a230,380 style, maybe little bigger with vertical grip.

[David Kilpatrick]

The real pricing for the new range in Britain will lose Sony sales. I've just ordered a 380 with 18-55mm from SimplyElectronics, who are the only suppliers showing stock available and delivery in 3-10 days. It has cost just under £600. Compare that with the last A350 body I bought - £300. The A380 may be a less fully featured camera, but it does have some unique additions to its spec, and I will be comparing the A350 and A380 directly.

I am hoping that the body size of the A380 with 18-55mm means it will fit into the soft chamois case originally made for the Dynax 5. If it does, I will be putting a bundle of soft case plase Dynax Strap Set II on eBaywith a reasonable buy it now price and aiming it at A230-380 owners. If the case is a good fit, it will be a really neat vintage item to use with the Sony. The strap already fits, and can hold six Memory Stick Pro Duo cards in its built-in wallet. I have a few dozen cases, at least, enough to cover the cost of buying the camera.

David

[bfitzgerald]

I might have to look at one of those film 5 cases, I have 2 5's, shortly I hope to have a 3rd one.

Question is, are they any good ??

The new models would want to fall in price fairly quickly, I cannot see big sales at their current levels.

[PhotoTraveler]

I think it won't be too long (like after Sony gets the A500/A550, A700 replacement and A900 replacement out) that the entry level will be more than update, but re-placed/re-concepted. I can definitely see them scrapping all that is 2 and 3 series. And unifying under a 4series. Maybe this will be an EVIL type camera. Sony could definitely make Odds SLRs and Evens EVILs.

The 3 series could be reborn with just a solid basic DSLR. But I doubt it. It won't be long, and making entry level DSLRs just won't make any sense. If LV is what they think such users want. Just save the cost of making a DSLR and make the entry level models EVIL. The A400 could be an EVIL, and then lower models could be similar to the oly E-P1. Have an A310 or such that is such a camera.

Sony has made really made a mess of the model names. Why they jumped over A210, A220, A310, A320, etc is very odd. Doesn't really give them much room for the future. Next round could be A240, A340, A390. But why not have done a X10 jump with this last round. But of course, the roll over for such a line up would mean a A250, A400, A450 I suppose.

I think this goes back to the very real possibility that Sony won't keep the Minolta style name system too long. It might just be till they get the line flushed out, then they do it all over with a new system of names, maybe replace the whole thing with EVILs and a new mount.

[KevinBarrett]

Sony has made really made a mess of the model names. Why they jumped over A210, A220, A310, A320, etc is very odd.

Sony might have a significant investment in commercial aviation... it seems they want you to get links to airliners instead of cameras when you do a google search for one of their new live-view models.

[PhotoTraveler]

A310s and A320s fly every day too.

A330's aren't so popular these days, they fall out of sky in total mystery.

Still, if we start seeing A737, A747, A777 I'll think you are on the right track.

Sony has made really made a mess of the model names. Why they jumped over A210, A220, A310, A320, etc is very odd.

Sony might have a significant investment in commercial aviation... it seems they want you to get links to airliners instead of cameras when you do a google search for one of their new live-view models.

[stroberaver]

I've just ordered a 380 with 18-55mm from SimplyElectronics, who are the only suppliers showing stock available and delivery in 3-10 days

Wow, that's brave. Or have you purchased from them before? My sister asked for advice about buying a lens from them, I read a few web reviews including this 55 page complaint topic at AVforums, and advised her to steer well clear!

[David Kilpatrick]

I purchased the A700 from another similar operation when it was not available in the UK, I was unlucky and got a faulty one but was able to return and get a refund (dealing with Hong Kong). I can't get an A380 from another UK supplier - the price difference is only a few pounds if I could - or from Sony on loan. They do exist, and I really need to get hold of one in the next 10 days. Of course, if they fail to deliver, the order is wasted - I want this camera purely to use and test for a couple of months, after which it will either be sold or kept.

My experience with Hong Kong and Chinese resellers is that they are very honest, I have never been short-changed in any way, either in the financial transaction or in the stated goods offered and delivered. Having said that, I have also had perfectly good experiences with Russian and Ukrainian vendors though the quality of goods has been variable.

David

[caporip]

I've used Digitalrev and Chinaarts on ebay on several occasions and have had no problems with either.

[Mike]

I'm not puzzled, I'm just impatient. I wish I knew what they were going to do so I could decide which body to get. Hate to buy either of my top two choices, a900 or a700 as they may be replaced by better versions or be significantly less in the near future.

Mike

[KevinBarrett]

I'm not puzzled, I'm just impatient. I wish I knew what they were going to do so I could decide which body to get. Hate to buy either of my top two choices, a900 or a700 as they may be replaced by better versions or be significantly less in the near future.

Mike

The a900 is still less than a year old and should have a much longer product cycle than any other camera in the system, a700 included, so don't hesitate if that is the camera you want. The a700 is shortly to begin its third year, the only substantiated rumor of its "replacement" being the a500/550. Sony gave the a700 more extensive weather-sealing than the upmarket a900 that followed (a700 has rubber gaskets inside the memory card door and the vertical grip splash-proofs the battery compartments), and if this is an indication of things to come, you might better pick up an a700 before it is replaced by something less rugged.

*EDIT: I was able to check out a VG-C90AM (a900 vertical grip) today and found that it does have a similar weather-resistant battery compartment to the VG-C70AM (a700 vertical grip), however, it does not extend that protection to the camera body as the a700's grip does.

[bfitzgerald]

IMO Sony should have addressed the A700 and A500 models ist..they could have run the A200-350 for another 6 months or so..but hey, there you go.

A700 is cheap, cheap ish..but it's a bit too dated..and is not probably selling that well. In hindsight the A700 was released at a time that gave it major competition from rivals, it should have bee out 4/5 months before..also the bionz raw thing clearly did hurt sales.
I have no idea what Sony have planned for the A500 series, after the ist lot of entry models was announced, I am rather cautious to say the least. I am losing confidence in Sony's vision, which appears to be exactly the reverse of what I like!

The numbers themselves don't really matter much, or what they models are called, it's what's on offer. Sony have shut out value buyers looking for something decent but affordable, that's a serious error of judgement IMO.
A200 is selling great in the UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/ ... =UTF8&pg=1

The A230 is down in 60th place!

[stevecim]

is that list based on all time sales?

The a200 is a good seller, I know a small camera store out my way sold a stack of units for christmas 2008.
They have now sold off all their a200/a300/a350 stock and are waiting for a shipment of 50 x 230/330s
doesn't sound like much, but they are a small store on the edge of metro Melbourne and sell a lot of Sony kit.



D40, D60 are in the top 5 , they have been around a long time, but it shows there is still a market for low end , low featured DSLR's if the price is right.

Also show hows well the video models are selling.

With the a230 the thing to watch is how fast it moves up the list or down