Sony market share in Japan (slowly getting closer to Nikon and Canon!)

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The Japanese website BCNranking displayed the latest data about the Japanese camera market. There are a couple of interesting points:

Most sold cameras with interchangeable lenses (May 2011):
The first two position are held by the two entry level cameras from Nikon and Canon. The best placed Sony camera is the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] on Pos. 7 with 5.3% volume share. In Japan NEX cameras are more popular than the Sony SLT and DSRL cameras. Take into consideration that in Japan one third of all sold system cameras are mirrorless!

Mirrorless Market Share (January to May 2011):
Olympus volume share is 37.95% of the whole mirrorless camera. Right behind you find Sony (32.02%) and than Panasonic (30.03%). The year 2010 ended with following shares Panasonic (38.7%), Sony (32.2%), Olympus (29.1%). As you see Sony didn’t gain any market share. I guess one of the main reason could be the lack of new NEX lenses :(

Market share for all interchangeable cameras:
If you count the all interchangeable cameras (Mirrorless and DSLR) than Canon leads with 29.3%, followed by Nikon (27.4%), Sony (15.0%), Olympus (12.7%) and Panasonic (9.7%). Canon and Nikon both loosed market share during the last months. Sony made small steps forward but I guess the upcoming new A77 A65 and NEX-7 can give them a new sales boost.

You can’t have those detailed sales details in other countries. The only very unreliable and partial measurement for non japanese countries are the Amazon TOP sold camera rankings:
Amazon US rankings (Click here)
Amazon DE rankings (Click here)
Amazon UK rankings (Click here)
Amazon FR rankings (Click here)
Amazon IT rankings (Click here)

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(SR2) A Nex Pro with A-mount???

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Sometimes I get rumors from new sources that are very difficult to “believe”. I hope my trusted sources can confirm or deny the following rumor:

“The “nex pro” will indeed use the A-mount. Sony is marketing towards professionals who want it as a main camera and even as a 2nd camera. It may also have the standard Sony SLR/TLR shoe mount.”

It’s not the first time I get rumors about an A-mount NEX camera. To me that doesn’t make sense at all. And for you? I hope the new soruce that sent me this is not offended by the low rumor rating but I wasn’t able to confirm it with my trusted sources. Anyway, I hope you are right because I like the other rumors you sent me too!!! :) Thanks!

 

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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POLL: Should Sony re-establish the “Rokkor” brand on Sony lenses?

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[shoplink 7518 ebay][/shoplink] Some “higher forces” asked me to publsih this poll to ask the community if they would like Sony to re introduce the “Rokkor” brand on future lenses. This would help to get away from those boring names like “SAL-30M28” or “DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM Lens” and anchor the future lenses on a glorious past. You can read a bit of history at Camerapedia, Alphatracks, and Minolta.rokkor.de.

You can still get [shoplink 7518 ebay]Rokkor lenses on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and use them on your NEX cameras!

You are considering to buy...

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P.S.: Don’t ask me who those “higher forces” are :)

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(SR4) Nikon D4 uses a new Sony sensor!

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A couple of days ago I asked my sources if the future Nikon FF cameras will still use Sony sensors. They gave me all the same answer…YES! The upcoming new D4 will indeed use a new Sony sensor which will be “tweaked” by Nikon engineers. The same sensor will be used by the future Sony FF translucent camera that will be announced in 2012! I am not sure yet about the D4 sensor specs, I know for certain that Sony developed two sensors (probably a 24MPX and a 36MPX FF sensor). The current Nikon D3X ([shoplink 7512]Click here ot see that camera[/shoplink]) has a Sony 24 megapixel sensor which is "almost" the same as the one used for the Sony A900 ([shoplink 3032 ebay]Click here ot see that camera[/shoplink]). I hope to learn more about the new FF Sony sensors soon!

One more thing: I am working on new NEX-7 and A77 rumors. Stay tuned this week. There will be some cool news!!!

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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(SR4) Two sources confirm the launch of the NEX-7 in late August (same A77 sensor)

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This is not a new rumor but just a confirmation! Some of you (and me too) were worried that the NEX-7 announcement might would have been delayed for a very long time. Todaye my sources confirmed the NEX-7 will be announced along the A77 in late August.  SO we don’t have to wait that much! The only reliable info I have about the camera is that it will use the same amazing 24 Megapixel sensor of the A77. There were also rumors about the NEX-7 having a [shoplink 6005 ebay]Minolta Dimage A2 look (Click here to see that camera on eBay)[/shoplink]. But I have no confirmation about that.

One more thing: I am still in touch with some A77 and full frame camera testers. Should get some more exciting news soon!

Stay tuned on SAR!
Andrea

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Ricoh buys Pentax!!!

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That’s almost unbelievable! A company with a minimal camera division like Ricoh just bought the Pentax imaging division from Hoya! You can read the full press release here: hoya.co.jp (pdf file!). As you know both Ricoh and Pentax are currently using Sony sensors. By merging the two camera division the Ricoh-Pentax will probably become much stronger and this means more competition for Sony (In the DSLR segment Pentax is currently on 4th place right behind Sony). Ricoh is quite an innovative camera maker (see the interesting althaugh not perfect [shoplink 7499 ebay]GXR modular system[/shoplink]) and Pentax is well know for their “photographer oriented” camera design. Those are two characteristics Sony should learn from!

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(SR4) Ultrawide G lens (SR2) Possible Zeiss lens roadmap

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[shoplink 7489 ebay][/shoplink] Pictured on top: The [shoplink 7489 ebay]Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6[/shoplink]. There will be a similar zoom for fullframe within 2011.

It’s very difficult for me to get reliable info about the upcoming lenses. This because the recent Earthquake in Japan changed the plan of all camera manufactors (Sony and Zeiss). As I already told you the 500mm f/4.0 G lens has been delayed and I have to check what of the orgiginal 4-5 planed Fullframe lenses will be announced within 2011. But there is one small reliable info I can share with you today. Sony should release a premium ultrawide G fullframe zoom within end 2011. I have been told it is “along the lines of the [shoplink 7489 ebay]11-18[/shoplink] but much higher quality, and not DT” Check the 11-18 Sont DT lens at [shopcountry 7489].

One more rumor (SR2)
I ask my sources if they know something about that Zeiss lens roadmap I got from a new source:
14mm Distagon f/2.8
28mm Distagon f/2
35mm Distagon f/1.4
200mm ApoSonnar f/2

Would love this to be true!!! If you know more about the lens roadmap feel free to drop me a text at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar (it’s anonymous!)

The current Zeiss fullframe lenses are the:
– SAL-1635Z 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* (Check those direct search links for price and specs: [shopcountry 7490])
– SAL-24F20Z Sony Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM (Price and specs: [shopcountry 7497])
– SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* (Price and specs: [shopcountry 7491])
– SAL-85F14Z Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* (Price and specs: [shopcountry 7492])
– SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* (Price and specs: [shopcountry 7493])

I would buy the....

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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