DCI:
Absolutely. Getting back to some of the Alpha line’s retained Konica Minolta technologies, one of the key elements seems to be the adaptation of the anti-blur mechanism, which remains fairly unique within the space and provides stabilization to focal lengths that is typically not made with more conventional optical image stabilization. Internally, what is going on to help the system recognize differences in focal length, and how does it adjust for that?
Mark Weir:
You know, I hadn’t thought about that before. I don’t know how relevant focal length is in the process. To be quite frank, I’m not versed in that. The sensor is not moving and there is no accommodation for focal length based on how the sensor is positioned. Right? So is it necessarily true that the focal length should play into the corrective signal, if the corrective signal is primarily counteracting the motion of the camera? It’s an interesting question.
DCI:
Yeah, the other thing that brings up, kind of an interesting aside, is when you have a stabilization system on a tripod. I’ve found it’s much more effective to turn the image stabilization off when the camera is on a tripod, because then you don’t have to deal with the swaying compensation when you adjust slightly.
Mark Weir:
And you can also turn the stabilization off on this camera.
DCI:
Do you think that would be as necessary as a typical image stabilization system on a tripod?
Mark Weir:
Probably not. I’d have to check.
DCI:
Okay, can you explain a little bit about the static free coating in the dust reduction system?
Mark Weir:
Indium tin oxide, ITO, not the international trade organization. Its purpose is to counter-act the fact that cameras are primarily charged devices. So it’s not just keeping dirt off them, it’s keeping them from attracting dust particles.
DCI:
How much more effective do you expect this to be than a system that may not include that?
Mark Weir:
I don’t have any specific percentages.
DCI:
Moving on to the eye start autofocus, can you disengage that function?
Mark Weir:
Sure, yeah and you might want to, because, remember, it’s not searching out your eye. It’s just a proximity sensor, so any solid object that comes in contact or is in the proximity of it is going to get the lens to begin focusing.
DCI:
And is it mode-reliant? It seems to me like it would be a good plus for continuous auto focus, but for a single shot system it would obviously drain the battery more than you want.
Mark Weir:
Yeah, battery life really isn’t a problem because we’ve put a battery of extraordinarily high energy into this camera.
DCI:
Okay.
Mark Weir:
I understand your point, but again, the purpose is not in continuous shooting, the purpose is in getting off the first shot. I see what you’re saying, but, even in casual shooting where you weren’t ready for anything, it will speed-up your getting that first shot.
DCI:
That makes sense.
Mark Weir:
But again, it’s entirely user selectable.
DCI:
Can you shoot tethered with any software accompanying?
Mark Weir:
Unfortunately not.
DCI:
What sort of RAW converter will be included?
Mark Weir:
Oh, we include the ImageData Converter version 1.1, which we supply with the R1. The RAW file format is different: it’s not SRF2 or SR2 which is used in the R1, but it’s compatible with IDC 1.1, which comes with the R1. It’s the same software and, although we can not officially state it, we are advised that it’s compatible with Adobe Camera RAW.
DCI:
Excellent. How crucial do you think WiFi compatibility is in the entry level SLR space?
Mark Weir:
Put it this way, I can very much see the advantage of direct transfer of images, while shooting, to a waiting assistant with a PC to analyze the images: it would allow the photographer to concentrate on photography. But the relevance of that for the mainstream user, I would say, would have to be less than for the professional.
DCI:
What do you expect to be the greatest impact of this camera and line on the SLR space and the transition of the medium?
Mark Weir:
Well, that’s a good question, because I think it can be answered from a variety of different points of view. I’m just going to pick out a couple of criteria—there are many. I think Sony’s point of view, from the product perspective, is not necessarily entirely the same, as that of other manufacturers. So I think that what Sony will do is not the same as what other camera manufacturers would do. It would bring technologies and capabilities that other manufacturers would not. A perfect case in point is sensor-based image stabilization as opposed to lens-based image stabilization. I don’t think most other camera manufacturers would do that. I think, from the customer standpoint, they will see an alternate choice which may better suit their requirements of an SLR. Certainly we know that there are many Sony advocates who are not buying SLRs today because they don’t have an option to do so. And we believe that this model will be of particular interest to them. The same could be said for Konica Minolta advocates, of which there are many. All you have to do is take a look at Ebay and you can see that there is a very strong trade in Konica Minolta lenses and cameras. But I think that you know that the advantage is always for the consumers.
