I think you nailed the Sony business strategy, from their marketing standpoint it’s probably a very clear and good business plan. I’m sure they know their client’s wants/needs better than us.
The bottom line is, if you’re in the A700 - 900 user group, why should you care about the other one.
I'm not so sure they do. I happen to know that Sony does market research and it is pretty extensive at that. However, what the market research does not take into account is the word of mouth sales Sony achieved through Minolta users and.... older Sony Cybershot users (think 828 and R1 types) recommendations.
Many of them are starting to look away and recommend other cameras from 1,000.00 and under this year for the first time ever. I can't ever recall doing so before (and its been a long standing admiration of Sony camera equipment for me... since 2002).
All those "sales reps" account for something, and do have an impact on Sony's success last year. I'm willing to bet that the reports for marketshare are down for Sony this year on Alpha. We will know soon. I think the A200/300/350 carried Sony quite far last year but this years offerings are stale in comparison.
Toru Katsumoto used to run Handycam, he is the big guy in charge here of Alpha overall.
What I feared to happen with Sony Alpha is happening, same as it happened to the once glorious and interesting Cybershot division that is now a spread of lack luster flashy complicated cameras.
If Sony sells a gangload of the new Alphas, Ill retract my part about it being a bad business decision, but I will never retract my feelings on these cameras. These are the first cameras from Sony that I've not been interested in yet, ever (unless you include all the cybershots since the R-1 was shelved as well).
Carl
