Konica-Minolta getting out of the camera business

[gooseberry]

Interesting bit of news.... Sony DSLRs in future.

http://konicaminolta.com/releases/2006/0119_03_01.html

[huynhie]

That's pretty bad news for the Minolta brand.

[nito]

That is shocking news. Who would want a sony SLR?

[huynhie]

That is shocking news. Who would want a sony SLR?

The same people that buy Sony digicams and there are plenty out there.

[Nnnnsic]

That's a shame.

I liked KM.

Mind you, an 84 million dollar AU loss for cameras in the past year is pretty bad.

[nito]

huynhie, sony doesnt make outstanding PS. They have flash catchy adverts.

[huynhie]

Nito

where in my post did I say that Sony makes outstanding camera?

[MCWB]

At the very worst, if Sony wants products out there ASAP, surely they can just re-badge KM DSLRs? I think this is the only sensible outcome from the whole Sony-KM marriage, anything else would have killed KM or been a non-success for Sony.

KM was losing money, and with all the entrants into the DSLR game this year, it was going to have to play price wars with money it didn't have. The logical thing to happen was to have Sony, who can play such games, buy ouy KM. Interesting move by Sony, I think they're going to have to get a D200/20D/30D-level camera with AS out soon though if they want to make some $.

[nito]

Nito

where in my post did I say that Sony makes outstanding camera?

huynhie, no where, only stating my opinion.

[marcotrov]

I began my photographic journey with Minolta XD7 and X700. It is sad to see them go.
cheers
marco

[johndec]

Sad news indeed. My first SLR was a Konica, over 20 years ago. It was a cheapie MF job with a 50mm f1.8 lens, but I took some great pics with it.

RIP.

[huynhie]

This is probably the best thing to happen to KM if Sony continue to keep the mount.

Nito I agree with you about Sony's PS cameras but consumers out there do not always buys the best product there is.

[Nnnnsic]

One of the problems here is that neither Pentax, Olympus, nor KM can really penetrate a market dominated by Nikon and Canon, with Fuji also taking out probably more than those 3.

It's a sad issue that competing with the big two is essentially impossible as they literally dominate the market.

[birddog114]

I'm not surprised at all!

[NeoN]

I began my photographic journey, with a Minolta SRT 101 more than 30 years now, and have taken a lifetime of memories with it,and still use it.
May you rest in peace MINOLTA and thanks for
the memories.
NeoN.

[Steffen]

I echo the sentiments re Minolta. Farewell! The Konica brand name never really rang a bell with me (for photographics, anyway).

Now, Sony is a funny corporation. Their sheer financial and R&D power makes them bleeding-edge innovative a many areas. How many DSLRs use Sony sensors nowadays?

On the other hand, they seem to be at odds with more traditional engineering values (to phrase it vaguely). How come a corporation many times the size of Nikon cannot whip up a top-notch lens manufacture? How come they have yet to produce an amplifier or speaker that doesn't make you want to reach for the flame thrower?

Cheers
Steffen.

[gooseberry]

It's a sad issue that competing with the big two is essentially impossible as they literally dominate the market.

Yep, and with volume growth in DSLRs slowing drastically this year (predictions of only 30% volume growth in 2006, compared to over 100% in 2004), all the new entrants this year (Sony, Samsung) and smaller players are going to have a hard time fighting amongst themselves for the scraps of market share left over from what Canon and Nikon command. Canon and Nikon can be in a position to price their lower end even lower just to keep their market share.

[Collingwood]

Sad to see Minolta go.
I always felt they came up with some great bodies but their lens range, pricing and pro services are what stopped them really dishing it with the likes of Nikon and Canon.
They lost their way completely when digital stepped in and now they are basically gone.
I love my Nikon's but at the same time, it's sad to see any of the old rivals disappear from existence.

[Stebsy]

I was initially disappointed as I have been a loyal Minolta (film & Digital)supporter but now I am actually quite excited as sony have said they will be keeping Minoltas 'A' mount and metering system etc and using their sensors. Sony have put alot of time and money into developing sensors for Nikon & Pentax. So we should be getting 10Mp + DSLR's branded 'Alpha' in the near future. As Sony have said they want to get 35% market share of DSLR's so they should be reasonably priced aswell.