Sony Alpha

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Sony Alpha, also rendered Sony α (Greek letter alpha), is a digital SLR camera system introduced on June 5, 2006[1]. It utilizes and expands upon Konica Minolta camera technologies, including the Minolta AF SLR lens mount, whose assets were acquired by Sony after the end of Minolta's camera operations in early 2006. Sony also has an 11.08% ownership stake in Japanese lens manufacturer Tamron,[2] which is known to have partnered Konica Minolta and Sony in the design and manufacturer of many zoom lenses.

Prior to the acquisition by Sony, the α branding had already been used on the Japanese market by Minolta for their AF camera system (marketed as "Dynax" in Europe, and "Maxxum" in North America.) Sony adopted the name "α mount system" for the Minolta AF lens mount which has been retained in their new SLR range.[3]

Sony's entry into the DSLR market dates back to July 2005 where a joint venture with Konica Minolta would have resulted in both companies marketing an updated line of DSLRs to the masses. [4]

Contents

[edit] List of camera bodies

Sony Alpha-350 with 18-70mm lens

The Sony Alpha model system works on the principle that the next model up in the series has additional features to the one below e.g the α330 has the features of the base model α230 but with a tilt-angle LCD and Quick AF Live View; whilst the α380 has the settings and features of the α330 but bumps the resolution to 14.2 Megapixels.

Body Model No. Release date Sensor User Level Availability
APS-C
α100 DSLR-A100 July 2006 CCD Midrange Discontinued
α700 DSLR-A700 September 2007 CMOS Prosumer Discontinued
α200 DSLR-A200 January 2008 CCD Entry level Replaced with α230
α300 DSLR-A300 January 2008 CCD Entry level Replaced with α330
α350 DSLR-A350 January 2008 CCD Entry level Replaced with α380
α230 DSLR-A230 May 2009 CCD Entry level Current (Discontinued in Japan January 2010)
α330 DSLR-A330 May 2009 CCD Entry level Current
α380 DSLR-A380 May 2009 CCD Entry level Current
α450 DSLR-A450 Feb 2010 CMOS Midrange Announced
α500 DSLR-A500 October 2009 CMOS Midrange Current
α550 DSLR-A550 October 2009 CMOS Midrange Current
Full frame
α900 DSLR-A900 September 2008 CMOS Professional Current
α850 DSLR-A850 September 2009 CMOS Professional Current (not available in Japan)
v • d • e
Konica Minolta/Sony α Digital SLR timeline
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
Flagship Full-frame α 900
α 850
Prosumer APS-C KM 7D α 700
Midrange α 550
KM 5D α 100 α 500
α 450
Entry-level α 350 α 380
α 300 α 330
α 200 α 230
Early models Still Video Back SB-90 for Minolta 9000 / Still Video Back SB-70 for Minolta 7000 (1986)
Minolta MS-C1100 (1992) · Minolta RD-175 (1995)

[edit] Lenses and Tele-converters

The α lens mount, originally known as the A-type Bayonet mount was introduced by Minolta in 1985 as the world's first autofocus system. As a result, virtually all Minolta AF lenses are supported on Sony DSLRs, and many Sony lenses should work on Minolta's film and digital SLRs.

During the initial introduction of the α system in 2006, Sony announced 19 lenses and 2 tele-converters, of which the majority are rebranded Konica Minolta lenses. MSRP and month of introduction are included for these lenses, below.

At the 2007 PMA Trade Show, Sony unveiled several new lenses, but has referred to them only in qualitative terms, not providing specific specifications. As a result, these newly announced lenses are not included in this list.

On May 18, 2009 Sony introduced the first α mount lenses to feature their new SAM (Smooth Auto-focus Motor) in-lens auto-focus motor for more lens-specific AF Speed improvements and silent operation. This introduction was made with the new X+30 series camera bodies (α350 + 30 = α380). These new bodies retain an in-body focus motor for backward compatibility with the historic lens collection. In addition, the new bodies utilize HDMI output for display on HDTV sets and feature dual memory card slots for both Sony's proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo chips as well as SDHC media format, while eliminating CompactFlash support. [5]

[edit] Designations

DT "Digital Technology", lenses for APS-C size sensors.
G "G" Series, Sony professional lenses.
ZA "Zeiss Alpha", new lenses manufactured under license from Carl Zeiss capable of autofocus unlike other mounts.
SSM "SuperSonic Motor", in-lens ultrasonic motor used on some Carl Zeiss and G Series lenses.
SAM "Smooth Autofocus Motor", in-lens motor offered on some entry level lenses since 2009.

[edit] Rebranded Konica Minolta Lenses

Lens RRP Release Date
Zoom Lenses
DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 US$650 Aug 06
DT 18-70mm f//3.5-5.6 US$200 Jul 06
DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 US$500 Jul 06
24-105mm f/3.5-4.5 US$470 Nov 06
70-200mm f/2.8 G SSM US$1999 Aug 06
75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 US$230 Jul 06
Prime Lenses
16mm f/2.8 Fisheye US$1000 Oct 06
20mm f/2.8 US$680 Oct 06
28mm f/2.8 US$250 Oct 06
35mm f/1.4 G US$1400 Oct 06
50mm f/1.4 US$350 Jul 06
50mm f/2.8 Macro US$480 Jul 06
100mm f/2.8 Macro US$680 Jul 06
135mm f/2.8 Smooth Transition Focus (STF) US$1200 Oct 06
300mm f/2.8 G SSM US$6000 Sep 06
500mm f/8 Reflex US$700 Oct 06

[edit] Rebranded Tele-converters

Model RRP Release Date
1.4× Tele-converter US$600 Sep 06
2× Tele-converter US$650 Sep 06

[edit] Carl Zeiss lenses

Lens RRP Release Date
Zoom Lenses
Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA US$700 Apr 07
Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm SSM f/2.8 ZA US$1700 Feb 08
Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm SSM f/2.8 ZA US$1800 Feb 09
Prime Lenses
Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA US$1300 Oct 06
Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 ZA US$1400 Oct 06

[edit] Rebranded Tamron Lenses

Lens RRP Release Date
Zoom Lenses
DT 18-250 f/3.5-6.3 US$580
DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6 US$180 Released with SAM Mar 2009
28-75mm f/2.8 SAM US$800 Sep 2009
11-18mm f/4.5-5.6
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

[edit] Sony-designed Lenses

Lens RRP Release Date
Zoom Lenses
DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 US$500
70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G SSM US$800 Apr 2008
70-400 f/4-5.6 G SSM US$1600 Feb 2009
DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM US$200 Mar 2009
Prime Lenses
DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM US$125 Mar 2009
DT 30mm f/2.8 Macro SAM US$175 Mar 2009

[edit] Other accessories

[edit] External flash units

Main article: iISO flash shoe

The hot shoe on Sony DSLRs (carried over from Minolta's Maxxum/Dynax/Alpha and its bridge digital DiMAGE A1/A2/A200 series) is not of the standard design used by all other camera and accessory manufacturers. Adaptors, however, are available.

The first two flash models released by Sony (HVL-F36AM and HVL-F56AM) are, like the first generation of lenses, rebadged models of the Minolta Program Flash 3600HS(D) and the Minolta Program Flash 5600HS(D).

Model Guide number [m] ISO
HVL-F20AM 20 100
HVL-F36AM 36 100
HVL-F42AM 42 100
HVL-F56AM 56 100
HVL-F58AM 58 100

[edit] Vertical control grips

Model Bodies
VG-B30AM α200, α300, α350
VG-B50AM α450, α500, α550
VG-C70AM α700
VG-C90AM α850, α900

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sony (2006-06-05). "Sony enters the D-SLR camera market with innovative technologies to expand the creative possibilities". Press release. http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/digital_cameras/pslr/release/22445.html. Retrieved 2006-08-31. 
  2. ^ Tamron Co., Ltd. (2006-08-04). "Stock Information". Press release. http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/investors/ir/index.html. Retrieved 2006-08-11. 
  3. ^ Sony (2006-04-20). "Sony decides α as new brand for digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras". Press release. http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200604/06-033E/. Retrieved 2006-09-29. 
  4. ^ Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. (2005-07-19). "Konica Minolta and Sony Agree to Jointly Develop Digital SLR Cameras". Press release. http://konicaminolta.com/releases/2005/0719_01_01.html. Retrieved 2007-06-10. "Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc. and Sony Corporation have reached an agreement to jointly develop digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras." 
  5. ^ dpreview.com (2009-05-18). "Sony reveals new A380/330/230 camera bodies with L Lenses with 'SAM' AF technology". Press release. http://www.dpreview.com/news/0905/09051804sonyalphas.asp. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 

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v • d • e
Konica Minolta/Sony α Digital SLR timeline
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
Flagship Full-frame α 900
α 850
Prosumer APS-C KM 7D α 700
Midrange α 550
KM 5D α 100 α 500
α 450
Entry-level α 350 α 380
α 300 α 330
α 200 α 230
Early models Still Video Back SB-90 for Minolta 9000 / Still Video Back SB-70 for Minolta 7000 (1986)
Minolta MS-C1100 (1992) · Minolta RD-175 (1995)
v • d • e
Sony Corporation
Primary businesses
Sony Corporation (electronics & holding of the Sony group) · Sony Music Entertainment (music) · Sony Pictures Entertainment (motion pictures and television) · Sony Computer Entertainment (game) · Sony Financial Holdings (financial services; 60%)
Technologies and brands
α · Betacam · Blu-ray · BRAVIA · CD · Cyber-shot · Dash · DAT · DVD · Handycam · HDCAM/HDCAM-SR · LocationFree · Memory Stick · MiniDisc · MiniDV · mylo · PlayStation · PSP · S/PDIF · SXRD · UMD · VAIO · Video8/Hi8/Digital8 · Walkman · Walkman Phones · XDCAM · Xplōd
Historical products
AIBO · CV-2000 · Betamax · Sony CLIÉ · Discman · JumboTron · Lissa · Mavica · NEWS · Qualia · SRS-17 · TR-55 · Trinitron · U-matic · Watchman · WEGA
Electronics
Sony Corporation · Sony EMCS · Sony Electronics (subsidiary in the US) · Sony Creative Software · Sony Ericsson (50%) · S-LCD (50% minus 1 share) · Sony Mobile Display · Sony Optiarc · Sharp Display Products (7%) · Sony Dash · Aiwa
Music
Motion Pictures
and Television
Game
International networks
Sony Entertainment Television (Asia, India, Latin America, South Africa, Portugal, Russia and Spain) · AXN · AXN Crime · AXN Sci-Fi · Animax · Animax Eastern Europe · Mystery Channel · Channel 8 India
Financial services
Sony Financial Holdings · Sony Life Insurance · Sony Assurance · Sony Bank · Sony Bank Securities
Other businesses
Other assets
Sony Corporation of America (umbrella company in the US) · Other subsidiaries
Joint ventures
Sony Ericsson · Sony/ATV · S-LCD · FeliCa Networks · Vevo · Cellius (49%) · Sharp Display Products (34% by April 2011)
Key personnel
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Alpha"