OT: Sony - just as dumb as Pentax

[bmattock]

Pentax made the world cock their heads quizzically to one side and go "HUH?" when they named their digital SLR camera line the "*ist", which no one knew how to pronounce.

Now Sony, who bought the DSLR line from Konica-Minolta when they exited the business last month, has announce the name for their DSLR line: "a".

Yes, "a". As in alpha, the lower-case first letter of the alphabet.

And the lunatics have truly taken over the asylum.

I blame the artist once again known as "Prince."

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=2771

"The Sony α mount system of cameras, lenses and accessories will integrate advanced electromechanical technologies that are key to D-SLR performance, the versatility of the well-established Maxxum lens mount system, and Sony's renown in imaging devices and technologies. These include CCD and CMOS imaging sensors, as well as other image processing technologies, in addition to overall product miniaturization. People who have already made investments in many of Konica-Minolta's lenses and accessories will be able to take full advantage of Sony's new D-SLR cameras."

I'm thinking of a word that starts with 'a', but I don't think they'd like it, and I'm not allowed to say it here. But it describes my opinion of people who name things using words, letters, and other weird combinations that CAN'T BE PRONOUNCED.

Oh well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[jano]

Well, on the bright side, it'll stick their camera at the top of an alphabetical list. Of course, some people may just tell them to stick it up.. uhm.. I better not finish 😀

Despite the name, I'm looking forward to see what kind of fun stuff Sony will produce now with DSLRs. They are huge in electronics so I'm hoping something innovative. Maybe I'm just too positive today 😛

 

[sbug]

Well, they might be a smidgen better than Pentax because I can pronounce 'a'. *ist, I have no idea. Either way I agree that is is rather dumb.

 

[Pherdinand]

Bill, you are somewhat right, but (as also in the text you quote) it's about an "a mount system". They might have thought about this name just to keep consistency with the minolta af system they took over; and that was called officially A-MOUNT as well, although i know in the US it is "maxxum mount". Also, the maxxum/dynax stuff was always "alpha"in japan.

I also hope for good stuff from Sony. Discontinuing the two great minolta dslrs was a little bit too quick, in my oppinion, but i din't know anythong about the financial background related to this decision. A few more months and I might have bought one, esp now that i have a job again.

 

[captainslack]

"Maxxum" was good enough for them?

Idiots....

 

[titrisol]

you are forgetting the Olympus mu hat came a long time ago...
sold in the US as Stylus

 

[Avotius]

hm....doesnt α stand for alpha, and a stand for....a

im not seeing the confusion here, although I agree that it wasnt the best idea for a name, like Evolt, that sucks, and that pentax thing, yeah, the beggining of the end

 

[cbass]

Marketing objective achieved. Here we are, all of us discussing the new name of a product that's not even for sale yet.

Dumb...or genius? 😕

 

[bmattock]

A number of years ago, when I still lived in Colorado, the city of Avon (small mountain town) held a contest to name a new bridge that they had just built.

The people had had enough of all the nonsense surrounding giving things pretentious names, or names which could not be pronounced (this was when Prince was still calling himself something that cannot be said or printed without a special graphic symbol).

The voted. They called the bridge "Bob."

http://www.custerguide.com/quillen/eqcols/1991A301.htm

We need a little more revolution. Tell Sony to call the danged thing something else. Something PRONOUNCEABLE, spellable, and unique.

And by the way - if their policy wonks were clued in, they'd have figured out that the way to the People's hearts now is to be able to be found on eBoy and Google searches. Unique names do that. The word 'a' does not. Idiots!

That's what I'm going to call it. The Sony Idiot DSLR.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Paul T.]

Yes, this pretentious greek language thing will never catch on. Wh[s ever heard of the iPod nano, after all? ANd the Olypus mju never did much, did it? (Altho of course they renamed it Stylus for the US. Maybe if they'd called it Fred it would have been a success).

 

[jonasv]

It's not "a", it's "alpha". Just pronounce it "alpha"...

 

[bmattock]

Yes, this pretentious greek language thing will never catch on. Wh[s ever heard of the iPod nano, after all? ANd the Olypus mju never did much, did it? (Altho of course they renamed it Stylus for the US. Maybe if they'd called it Fred it would have been a success).

Good points, well taken.

However, if I do a Google search for 'Olympus mju' that's pretty much what I get back. Same for 'iPod nano'. But try a search for 'Sony a'. I don't think this is going to have the result they'd otherwise enjoy if it were called the "Sony Fred."

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

In defense of Roger Nelson, the artist otherwise known as "Prince" and staunch supporter of the deaf. The bizzaro symbol/name was the result of a major rights dispute with Warner Bros. In which even his stage name was being held as Warner property.

On the sony "alpha"- seems like "brand" gurus have stepped in to build recognition for the transition from Minolta to Sony ( I almost wrote "sushi" - I'm already thinking about dinner). When branding firms enter the picture one can always expect major wonkiness.

Something I did notice that I thought was a smart good will move- Sony will be honoring support for the recent crop of Minolta digital SLR gear.

Sony "A" ( or Α ) the camera brand formerly known as Minolta. Will the new line have Zeiss glass? Hmmmm... stay tuned.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

FM3a, P, 5D, R4, F4, OM2, Bessa-R3a, IIa, S3

Aren't all of these "pretentiously" "too long" to pronounce? What's wrong with "alpha"?

You got me with *ist, but "alpha"? Me no get.

 

[Socke]

Bill, Maxxum and Dynax don't sound that much better, especialy in german.

As far as I know, the Minolta mount they'll use is already known as alpha mount in japan.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Personally- I like the name Bob

 

[XAos]

hm....doesnt α stand for alpha, and a stand for....a

A doesn't stand for A. A is A. Or so one greek mathmatician once said. Only he probably said alpha instead of A. Anyway - I think they were trying to be 'cool' and make it unpronouncable, but just as the artist formerly known as prince failed (it's pronounced freak) this too fails, because the greek letter actually is alpha and that rolls off the tongue, pluralizes, possessives, and everything else better than 'asterisk'. But we couldn't expect an artsyfartsy starbucks drinking design major working his first paying job to know that.

 

[bmattock]

FM3a, P, 5D, R4, F4, OM2, Bessa-R3a, IIa, S3

Aren't all of these "pretentiously" "too long" to pronounce? What's wrong with "alpha"?

You got me with *ist, but "alpha"? Me no get.

Any one of those model names can be searched very effectively on eBoy or Google or Camerapedia, et al, with just brand name and model number.

Ford Mustang. Chevy Nova. Nikon FM3a. Olympus XA. Put brackets around them and search, you'll find them quickly.

"Sony a". Sorry, I think that is a terrible name. At least with the Nikon example, I know that it is pronounced EFF-EMM-THREE-AAA (long a). I don't think it is "EFF-EMM-THREE-AH (short a). A Sony 'a'? Is that a Sony "AAA" or a Sony "AH"? Or do I spell it "a" and pronounce it "Alpha"?

Hard to say, and even more importantly these days - hard to search for. Google is the future - embrace it. Google recognition and findability is an essential part of any marketing effort. Their marketing flaks should know that well.

As dumb-sounding as "Maxxum" was, a Google search for just the word "Maxxum" brings back exactly what you think it would.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[XAos]

Personally- I like the name Bob

Sorry - but it somehow seemed appropriate to the thread - as I just watched "Men in Black." Remember the twins?

 

[bmattock]

Personally- I like the name Bob

As I recall, the Bob Club used to meet every year in Avon. I think they got bored of it and went away after a few years, but I could be mistaken. Not being named "Bob," one loses track.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks