Sony, Konica Minolta to develop new range of digital SLRs

By Steve Malone

Posted on 20 Jul 2005 at 10:41

Consumer electronics giant Sony is teaming up with Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, one of the biggest names in photography, to develop a new generation of digital cameras. The companies plan to pool their expertise to create a new range of high-end digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras.

Konica Minolta will bring to the table its autofocus and auto-exposure technologies developed as the Dynax lens mount system, known as Maxxum in North America, which connects the camera body to the lens. As well as other key mechanical electronics technologies, Konica Minolta also introduced a CCD shift-type body-integral Anti-Shake technology.

Sony, for its part, is contributing a wide range of electronic technologies and devices essential for digital imaging equipment, such as CCD and CMOS imaging sensors, image processing technologies and lithium ion batteries. The company also brings its legendary expertise in designing consumer friendly products. The company already has a range of well known cameras on the market ranging from the Sony's 'Handycam' video cameras, and 'Cybershot' digital still cameras.

'We are excited to co-develop new products with Konica Minolta's advanced camera technologies represented by its "Maxxum/Dynax series" and our digital audio visual technologies,' commented Yutaka Nakagawa, Sony's Executive VP and Personal Audio Visual Network Company President. 'Sony will further strengthen its digital imaging business through creating new market opportunities with the digital SLR camera field.'

The companies quote research that says that 2.5 million digital SLR cameras were sold in 2004 which is expected to rise to 3.6 million units in 2005.

The move towards developing an upmarket range of SLR cameras with a proven leader in the field is probably a smart one for Sony. While the market for digital video and still cameras has boomed over the past decade, the mass market may well be moving to the mobile phone business over the coming years. Falling prices, particularly of digital still cameras, means that Sony will be looking for new product lines with greater margins.

For Konica Minolta, collaborating with a company like Sony who, despite recent financial problems, has an enviable track record in developing new mass consumer products, presents the chance to bring its products to a wider market.