Sony Kills the a33 at infancy!

Philippos · 04-03-2011, 02:31 PM

Just after seven months from it's release Sony killed production of the a33.
Sales were poor compared to the a55, but that's probably because the a55 costs only about $100 more.

There is talk whether the model was killed as a result of restructuring after the effects of the Japan 2011 disaster, or because the FUD talk about the overheating sensor actually hurt the camera sales.

Another, more probable suggestion is that the forthcoming release of the a77 at the $1K targeted point, will drive the a55 prices further down, making the a33 being non viable financially, especially as Sony plans to send all enthousiast to their NEX camera line.

Armanius · 04-03-2011, 02:51 PM

The A33 really didn't make much sense being priced only $100 cheaper than the A55. However, I know a number of people that ended up with the A33, because the A55 was/is so hard to find (like the Panasonic GH2).

glanglois · 04-03-2011, 04:14 PM

Sony doesn't exactly excel at product line management. Rather clumsy, I think, That's too bad as they're a big force and alliances with Pentax would help both.

ewalk · 04-03-2011, 04:16 PM

Could we move this to the "Other Camera" forum? I'm not too sure how this relates to Pentax news/rumors.

Erik · 04-04-2011, 02:21 AM - **1 Like**

They also killed off the NEX-3 after eight months or something, and they keep introducing almost identical, really boring, crippled low-end DSLRs while almost completely ignoring the high-end APS-C segment. The NEX system apparently has great image quality and is small and pretty but is hampered by a terrible user interface and a miniscule line of huge, uninspired lenses. I have no idea what Sony is doing exactly, but it clearly has some real trouble focusing on what markets it wants to be in, and what products will get them there. I'm really glad I'm not in the Alpha system.

creampuff · 04-04-2011, 03:30 AM

Imo Sony has lost the plot as far as DSLRs are concerned.
After the initial marketing flurry surrounding the NEX cameras, there is heavy price discounting because the cameras aren't moving quickly at retail.

**Digitalis** · 04-04-2011, 03:40 AM

I knew a sales rep from minolta who refused to work under sony's banner because she knew sony all too well, and knew that sony wouldn't continue minolta's track record of producing innovative and ergonomically well designed cameras.

I regret never buying a 7D when I had the chance - I loved all the external controls it had, and the 17-35mm f/2.8 lens it came with wasn't half bad either.

**boriscleto** · 04-04-2011, 03:45 AM

Thread hi-jack time. Has anyone ever been to a mall that has both an Apple store and a Sony store? Every time I've ever been to one the Apple store was packed and at the Sony store the employees outnumbered the customers by a healthy margin. End thread hi-jack.

Erik · 04-04-2011, 03:53 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I regret never buying a 7D when I had the chance - I loved all the external controls it had, and the 17-35mm f/2.8 lens it came with wasn't half bad either.

You still have the chance by all means. I see 5D and 7D bodies going for peanuts these days.

**Digitalis** · 04-04-2011, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by Erik

You still have the chance by all means. I see 5D and 7D bodies going for peanuts these days.

but it's hard to get one that is relatively unused - the used 7D's often suffer from a similar problem to BGLOD that the nikon D70s suffered from at the end of it's life.

Jasvox · 04-04-2011, 05:26 AM

The A33 has been replaced by the forthcoming A35 and should be out in a couple of months. The A55 will also soon be replaced by the A77, a major upgrade, which is due out by end of the year.

Jason

Aegon · 04-04-2011, 08:21 AM

I thought the NEX system was going to take off with some great lenses, great APS-C sensors, and continued improvement of the interface in successor models.

Boy was I wrong! Sony hasn't done much of anything with the E mount.

I saw someone here call the NEX a "removable lens camera", which is apt considering that you can remove the lens, but you can't replace it with another. There are no others.

Sony also cut corners by omitting a back lens cap with their NEX system. I suppose they already knew that nobody would be taking their lens off.

This just goes to show how quick Sony can create and abandon camera plans.

Urkeldaedalus · 04-04-2011, 08:33 AM

One Sony body dies, three more must be on the way

lithos · 04-04-2011, 08:42 AM

I still have NFI what the hell Sony's strategy is. Is it "Try to saturate the market like Canon, but be much more boring about it?"

Jasvox · 04-05-2011, 01:05 AM

Sony boring compared to Canon? I disagree with that statement. When was the last time Canon broke new ground on anything? Another "rebel" just released...

The NEX system isn't going anywhere and if you poke around on the internet, you can find lots of recent news about E mount lenses and third party makers with plans to release soon. The NEX system, like all Sony systems is continually improving...unlike Pentax who releases something and no chance of anything new or improved for another 18 months. I think perspective is needed when making statements like Sony flooding the market or releasing tons of new things...at least they are bringing and attempting what other camera makers aren't. I dont own anything from Sony, but I've got to hand it to them when it comes to pushing some bounds and improving upon older models. If that is wrong of them, I guess it just goes to show that we dont want new innovations and like it that way.

Jason

04-03-2011, 02:31 PM	#1
Philippos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Volos - Greece Posts: 178	Sony Kills the a33 at infancy! Just after seven months from it's release Sony killed production of the a33. Sales were poor compared to the a55, but that's probably because the a55 costs only about $100 more. There is talk whether the model was killed as a result of restructuring after the effects of the Japan 2011 disaster, or because the FUD talk about the overheating sensor actually hurt the camera sales. Another, more probable suggestion is that the forthcoming release of the a77 at the $1K targeted point, will drive the a55 prices further down, making the a33 being non viable financially, especially as Sony plans to send all enthousiast to their NEX camera line.

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04-03-2011, 02:51 PM	#2
Armanius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 112	The A33 really didn't make much sense being priced only $100 cheaper than the A55. However, I know a number of people that ended up with the A33, because the A55 was/is so hard to find (like the Panasonic GH2).

04-03-2011, 04:14 PM	#3
glanglois Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, Wis., USA Posts: 1,506	Sony doesn't exactly excel at product line management. Rather clumsy, I think, That's too bad as they're a big force and alliances with Pentax would help both.

04-03-2011, 04:16 PM	#4
ewalk Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 316	Could we move this to the "Other Camera" forum? I'm not too sure how this relates to Pentax news/rumors.

04-04-2011, 02:21 AM - 1 Like	#5
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	They also killed off the NEX-3 after eight months or something, and they keep introducing almost identical, really boring, crippled low-end DSLRs while almost completely ignoring the high-end APS-C segment. The NEX system apparently has great image quality and is small and pretty but is hampered by a terrible user interface and a miniscule line of huge, uninspired lenses. I have no idea what Sony is doing exactly, but it clearly has some real trouble focusing on what markets it wants to be in, and what products will get them there. I'm really glad I'm not in the Alpha system.

04-04-2011, 03:30 AM	#6
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Imo Sony has lost the plot as far as DSLRs are concerned. After the initial marketing flurry surrounding the NEX cameras, there is heavy price discounting because the cameras aren't moving quickly at retail.

04-04-2011, 03:40 AM	#7
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I knew a sales rep from minolta who refused to work under sony's banner because she knew sony all too well, and knew that sony wouldn't continue minolta's track record of producing innovative and ergonomically well designed cameras. I regret never buying a 7D when I had the chance - I loved all the external controls it had, and the 17-35mm f/2.8 lens it came with wasn't half bad either.

04-04-2011, 03:45 AM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Thread hi-jack time. Has anyone ever been to a mall that has both an Apple store and a Sony store? Every time I've ever been to one the Apple store was packed and at the Sony store the employees outnumbered the customers by a healthy margin. End thread hi-jack.

04-04-2011, 03:53 AM	#9
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by Digitalis I regret never buying a 7D when I had the chance - I loved all the external controls it had, and the 17-35mm f/2.8 lens it came with wasn't half bad either. You still have the chance by all means. I see 5D and 7D bodies going for peanuts these days.

04-04-2011, 04:54 AM	#10
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Erik You still have the chance by all means. I see 5D and 7D bodies going for peanuts these days. but it's hard to get one that is relatively unused - the used 7D's often suffer from a similar problem to BGLOD that the nikon D70s suffered from at the end of it's life.

04-04-2011, 05:26 AM	#11
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	The A33 has been replaced by the forthcoming A35 and should be out in a couple of months. The A55 will also soon be replaced by the A77, a major upgrade, which is due out by end of the year. Jason

04-04-2011, 08:21 AM	#12
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	I thought the NEX system was going to take off with some great lenses, great APS-C sensors, and continued improvement of the interface in successor models. Boy was I wrong! Sony hasn't done much of anything with the E mount. I saw someone here call the NEX a "removable lens camera", which is apt considering that you can remove the lens, but you can't replace it with another. There are no others. Sony also cut corners by omitting a back lens cap with their NEX system. I suppose they already knew that nobody would be taking their lens off. This just goes to show how quick Sony can create and abandon camera plans.

04-04-2011, 08:33 AM	#13
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	One Sony body dies, three more must be on the way

04-04-2011, 08:42 AM	#14
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	I still have NFI what the hell Sony's strategy is. Is it "Try to saturate the market like Canon, but be much more boring about it?"

04-05-2011, 01:05 AM	#15
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Sony boring compared to Canon? I disagree with that statement. When was the last time Canon broke new ground on anything? Another "rebel" just released... The NEX system isn't going anywhere and if you poke around on the internet, you can find lots of recent news about E mount lenses and third party makers with plans to release soon. The NEX system, like all Sony systems is continually improving...unlike Pentax who releases something and no chance of anything new or improved for another 18 months. I think perspective is needed when making statements like Sony flooding the market or releasing tons of new things...at least they are bringing and attempting what other camera makers aren't. I dont own anything from Sony, but I've got to hand it to them when it comes to pushing some bounds and improving upon older models. If that is wrong of them, I guess it just goes to show that we dont want new innovations and like it that way. Jason