- Sony α
Sony α (Greek letter alpha) is a
digital SLR camera system introduced onJune 5 ,2006 [cite press release
title = Sony enters the D-SLR camera market with innovative technologies to expand the creative possibilities
publisher =Sony
date =2006-06-05
url = http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/digital_cameras/pslr/release/22445.html
accessdate = 2006-08-31 ] . It utilizes and expands uponKonica Minolta camera technologies, including theMinolta AF SLR lens mount, whose assets were acquired bySony after the end of Minolta's camera operations in early 2006. Sony also has an 11.08% ownership stake inJapan ese lens manufacturerTamron , [cite press release
title = Stock Information
publisher = Tamron Co., Ltd.
date= 2006-08-04
url = http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/investors/ir/index.html
accessdate = 2006-08-11 ] 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.) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta#Autofocus_SLRs] Sony adopted the name "α mount system" for the Minolta AF lens mount which has been retained in their new SLR range. [cite press release
title = Sony decides α as new brand for digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras
publisher =Sony
date =2006-04-20
url = http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200604/06-033E/
accessdate = 2006-09-29 ]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. [cite press release
title = Konica Minolta and Sony Agree to Jointly Develop Digital SLR Cameras
publisher = Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
date =2005-07-19
url = http://konicaminolta.com/releases/2005/0719_01_01.html
accessdate = 2007-06-10
quote = "Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc. and Sony Corporation have reached an agreement to jointly develop digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras." ]Camera Bodies
Rebranded Tele-converters
Other accessories
External flash units
The
hot shoe on Sony DSLRs (carried over from Minolta's Maxxum/Dynax and its bridge digital DiMAGE A1/A2/A200 series) is not of the standard design used by other camera 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 Minolta design.
HVL-F36AM and HVL-F56AM flashes are rebadged
Minolta Program 3600HS and 5600HS.Vertical control grips
References
External links
Previews
* [http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dslr_a100-review/ DCRP First Look: Sony Alpha DSLR-A100] , Jeff Keller, June 5, 2006, Digital Camera Resource Page
* [http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA100/AA100A.HTM Sony DSLR-A100 Overview] , Shawn Barnett and Stephanie Boozer, 06/05/2006, The Imaging Resource
* [http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/alpha100.html Sony DSLR-A100 First Look] , 6/5/2006, Steve's Digicam
* [http://www.dpreview.com/news/0709/07090601sonydslra700.asp Sony Alpha A700 Preview] , Sept 2007, Phil Askey, Digital Photography ReviewReviews
* [http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2008/06/12/sony-alpha-350-a-creative-review/ Sony Alpha 350 Review] , David Kilpatrick, Photoclubalpha
* [http://www.alphamountworld.com/reviews/sony-a300-review Sony A300 Review] , May 2008, Alpha Mount World
* [http://www.neocamera.com/review_sony_alpha_a200_more.html Sony Alpha A200 Full-Review] , April 2008, Neocamera, Cybernium
* [http://www.alphamountworld.com/reviews/sony-alpha-a700-review Sony Alpha A700 Review] , January 2008, Alpha Mount World
* [http://www.neocamera.com/review_sony_alpha_a700_more.html Sony Alpha A700 Full-Review] , November 2007, Neocamera, Cybernium
* [http://neocamera.com/review_sony_alpha_a100_more.html Sony Alpha A100 Full-Review] , March 2007, Neocamera, Cybernium
* [http://www.slrtoday.com/articles/35/1/Review-The-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100/Page1.html Review: The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100] , September 2006, SLR Today
* [http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra100/ Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Review] , July 2006, Phil Askey, Digital Photography Review
* [http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSLRA700/ Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 In-Depth Review] , Phil Askey and Simon Joinson, Digital Photography Review
* [http://www.alphamountworld.com/reviews/sony-a200-review/ Sony A200 Review] , February 2008, Sony's A200 DSLR, closest in lineage to the A100 reviewed
* [http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/4724/camera-test-sony-alpha-700.html Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Review] , December 2007, Dan Richards, Popular Photography
* [http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/5234/camera-test-sony-alpha-350.html Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Review] , April 2008, Michael J. McNamara, Popular Photography
* [http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/5450/sony-alpha-200-camera-test.html Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Review] , August 2008, Philip Ryan, Popular PhotographyUser Sites
* [http://www.sonyalphagallery.blogspot.com/ Sony Alpha gallery blog] A Photoblog for images taken with the Sony Alpha range
* [http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=DSLRA700®ion_id=1 Sony Alpha 700 Support] Official Sony e-Support site for Alpha 700
* [http://www.alpha-foto.at/ Sony Alpha Series] , Sony DSLR photos and story's - Sony Alpha Images only.
* [http://sonyalpha.info/sony-alpha-dslr-a300-and-dslr-a350-manual/ Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350 Manual] Download Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350 Manual
* [http://www.dyxum.com/ Dyxum.com] , forums and user reviews for Sony Alpha and Konica Minolta dSLRs, inc a Lens database
* [http://www.alphamountworld.com AlphaMountWorld.com] Sony DSLR Reviews, Photography and alpha platform news including Konica Minolta
* [http://photoclubalpha.com/ Photoclub Alpha] Started in 1966 as the Minolta Club, it's now a website with a friendly discussion forum and optional quarterly magazine
* [http://flickr.com/groups/sony_alpha/ Flickr] Sony alpha Group on Flickr
* [http://Dynaxdigital.com/ Dynaxdigital] Forum for all Alpha and Konica Minolta DSLR's
* [http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/alphausers/ alphausers.com (formerly a100group)] , A Discussion Forum for all Sony D-SLR Alpha Cameras - past, present and future.
* [http://sonyalpha.info/ Sony Alpha DSLR Information Hub] , Press Releases Reviews Sample Photos Price Checks Best Deal
* [http://www.shootalpha.com/ Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 User Support forum] , Dedicated a100 resource.
* [http://alphamagic.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/mounting-manual-lenses-on-the-sony-a700/ Alphamagic] Mounting a Manual Lens on the Sony Alpha 700.
* [http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/note-on-sony-alpha-700-firmware-update-to-version-30/ Olympus/Zuiko] Upgrading Sony Alpha 700 firmware to Version 3.0
* [http://www.sonystyle.ca/html/multimedia/AMC/A700_microsite_html/spec/specifications.html Sony Alpha 700 Full Specifications] from sonysite.ca
* [http://alphamagic.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/digital-slr-crop-factor/ Digital Crop Factor] About Lens Multiplication Factors and Apparent Focal Length Increase
* [http://www.sonolta.com/ Sonolta.com] , Sony DSLR sample photos and working reviews...100's of Sony images.
* [http://alfaklub.pl/forum Alfaklub] Polish Discussion Forum for all Sony D-SLR Alpha and all Konica Minolta / Minolta Cameras.
* [http://sony.alpha.free.fr Sony alpha club] French Discussion Forum for all Sony D-SLR Alpha cameras.
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