DailyTech - Sony D-SLR Brand Shifting

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Gadgets Sony D-SLR Brand Shifting
Brandon Hill (Blog) - April 20, 2006 11:25 PM

8 comment(s) - last by Zoomer.. on Apr 22 at 2:30 AM

Sony's D-SLR efforts will relaunch under the Alpha brand name

We reported back in January that Konica-Minolta was exiting the camera business and would transfer its digital SLR business to Sony. As a part of the agreement which became effective on March 31st of this year, Sony took possession of all Konica-Minolta D-SLR assets including the right to produce cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lenses. Milota previously sold cameras in Japan and Hong Kong under the Alpha brand, but not in the US and Europe.

Sony announced yesterday that its new brand name for D-SLR cameras will be Alpha. The Alpha line will be compatible with existing Maxxum and Dynax lenses and build upon the quality and performance users came to expect from Konica-Minolta products. “We are expanding our product portfolio to build upon our leadership position in the digital imaging business. Our approach to D- SLR camera design and engineering will allow us to offer a new high-performance system for today’s digital camera users, as well as welcome the millions of Konica-Minolta owners who have Maxxum interchangeable lenses that are currently in the market," said James Neal, Sony director of D-SLR camera design and engineering.

Thankfully for existing Konica-Minolta camera owners, Sony is continuing support and repair duties for both film and digital products.

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Alpha?

By GoatMonkey on 4/21/2006 8:24:15 AM , Rating: 2

Isn't there potential for trademark problems with the Alpha name? I don't remember which company purchased DEC Alpha processors years ago, (HP?, Intel?).

RE: Alpha?

By TomZ on 4/21/2006 9:21:27 AM , Rating: 2

Looking at the registered U.S. trademarks, I don't see any companies that have Alpha (by itself) as a registered trademark. Maybe that word is too basic to trademark on its own.

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RE: Alpha?

By vhato on 4/21/2006 10:53:14 PM , Rating: 2

HP/Compaq acquired DEC before there merger. If anybody owns the name, its HP/Compaq.

I own several Sony Camera's now. They have a chance to do something great, but Sony's past shows them screwing this up.

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Still Competition

By TomZ on 4/21/2006 8:57:17 AM , Rating: 2

Canon and Nikon both have really good digital SLRs. It will be interesting to see what Sony can do in this market.

RE: Still Competition

By GoatMonkey on 4/21/2006 10:02:48 AM , Rating: 1

I'm sure they'll force you to use their crappy memory. Then they'll probably force you to use only their lenses.

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RE: Still Competition

By Zoomer on 4/22/2006 2:30:57 AM , Rating: 2

Did you even glance at the top?

They already said dynax mounts will be used. And the f828 already uses CF on top of memory stick pro. So the likelihood of CF being used is good.

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Thankfully?

By Trippytiger on 4/21/2006 12:52:13 AM , Rating: 2

From some of the horror stories I've heard about Sony's customer support, I'm not sure KM owners should be thankful that Sony has picked up support and repair duties.

That said, I suppose it might be better than nothing, and it's nice to know that there will be more DSLR's that the Minolta lense my dad and I have will work with.

RE; to the article

By Staples on 4/21/2006 1:31:45 AM , Rating: 2

Interesting to see what will become of this. I wonder if Sony will have Carl Zeiss make lens for this camera or continue to do it with their new property.