Sony wowed the world again recently with the release of their SLT A-33 & SLT A-55. Sitting in the Alpha DSLR line, these 2 cameras are like no other. Cheap, Light weight, Compact & packed with good specs. Some of you not familiar with Sony Alpha might get a shock when you look at the specs from these 2 hybrids. The Frames Per Second (FPS) itself already fascinates me, the SLT A-33 gets a 7 fps while the turbocharged SLT A-55 gets a whopping 10 fps! Do read up more on these 2 cameras on Sony’s site if you are keen to find out more.
Now, back to the story and over to the Canon & Nikon Camp. Market speculations had suggested that the 2 big boys of DSLR may be up to something up their sleeves having seen Sony’s success on these “hybrid” entry-level cameras. After reading up on many sites and rumour-sites, I gathered some speculated specs for the fun of it and who knows, it might be just what we are going to expect soon.
Line Up –
I reckon Canon’s version will be along the Rebel/Kiss/T/XXXD line while Nikon may have it on a new number system but still along the line of the older DXX series.
Megapixel –
Should be around the range of 15.1-18mp
ISO Sensitivity –
Should be around 80-12,800 if not, expandable to 25,600.
Frames Per Second –
Between 9-12 fps.
Focusing & Metering –
Expect 21 AF Points with 19 virtual points and maybe 64 zone metering. Maybe they will even throw in fast focus detection (think auto face focus) like in-camera panning too. In short, it’s like “Super Al Focus” in Canon’s language.
Customs Functions –
Canon & Nikon are very good at this. Maybe they will throw in 60+ Useless Customs Functions or more! Please bear in mind, if you can adjust the LCD screen brightness – that is considered One Custom Functions – lolz.
Price –
Canon & Nikon are pretty good at this too. Purposely priced and sell it lower than what Sony is offering on a model-to-model basis. Even a SGD$100 lower price point will hit Sony badly. (Knowing “Price-sensitive” & “Brand Concious” Singaporeans.)
I shall stop here. Like many who suggested, Canon & Nikon may just push out a lower spec-ed mini “1D /D3” in a light package (and probably cute), small size & cheap camera out before they loses their biggest market share here(Consumer/ Beginners) to *Sony.
Let’s wait and see what Canon & Nikon will roll out next. They fight, We Watch.
As consumers, we will be the ultimate winner.
Background
*Sony has always pulls off stunts like releasing a few entry-levels models at the same time while the compeition usually releases 1 or 2, but segmented to different categories of users.
Sony shocked the world last year when they release A230, A330, A380, A550 (Sony claims A5XX series as “mid-range” but it is advanced beginner for those who knew) all at about the same time. Basically all are entry level DSLRs but priced according to specs – more specs, more expensive and at about the same time, Canon had a mid-life EOS500D & a fairly new EOS1000D and Nikon was soldiering on D5000 and pending release of D3000.
2010 saw the release of A290, A390, A33 & A55 at almost the same time again – it is almost like pulling off the same stunt all over again but with more substance this time with the A33 & A55.
For more information on Sony’s DSLR – you may wish to read up here.
Actually, it’s more like Sony and Nikon trying to kill off Canon. Remember, Nikon is Sony’s biggest sensor customer. Nikon and Sony don’t sell in the same market using the same sensor – see the more expensive D90 vs. the A500 (same sensor), or the A900/850 vs. the D3X (same sensor) etc.
Nikon has nothing to gain by hurting sony. If anything, it’s Canon that should worry – their cameras are woefully under-specced at the price premium they demand. Just compare a 550D to an A55 – no contest, there is no area the 550D can compete in.
Pudding, super agree. Canon is badly under-specced. The 60D itself is a flop. 🙂