New D-SLRs from Konica Minolta and Sony

A recent deal is adding more heat to the already hot D-SLR market: Konica Minolta, which already makes two D-SLRs, and Sony, which doesn't have one in its lineup, have struck an agreement to develop digital SLR cameras.

Sony and Konica Minolta say the new cameras will capitalize on the strengths of each company, and will be compatible with the lens-mount system found on the Maxxum 7D and new 5D D-SLRs. This will make these future cameras compatible with the entire line of Konica Minolta SLR lenses.

Konica Minolta says the new cameras will also incorporate its Anti Shake system technology. Found in the Maxxum 7D and 5D D-SLRs, as well as other DiMage digital cameras, this vibration reduction (VR) technology is significant in that it allows the entire system of lenses to take advantage of VR instead of limiting it to several lenses, as Canon and Nikon do with their D-SLR and film SLR systems.

Sony will contribute its expertise in making sensors, image-processing technologies, and lithium ion batteries, as well as its design prowess. Sony has some of the most ergonomic and smartly-designed point-and-shoot cameras on the market. But whether or not that will translate into new D-SLR designs remains to be seen.

Other questions remain as well: With Konica Minolta just announcing the release of its consumer-targeted Maxxum 5D D-SLR, will this new partnership signal the end of Maxxum D-SLRs? On the upside, yet another D-SLR might very well continue to help drive down the cost in the market place, which right now has eight or so D-SLRs under $1,000.

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in ExtremeTech.