This quote was recently posted in the news;
“Our new alpha cameras (Sony 230, 330, and 380), lenses and accessories make it easier for new users to get the great photos they expect without the steep learning curve that DSLRs have traditionally required,” said Kristen Elder, senior manager for the alpha business at Sony Electronics Inc. “By overcoming the obstacles, we’ve made it much easier for newcomers to take great pictures with DSLRs.”
Last Thursday, Kristen Elder flew up from Sony’s headquarters in San Diego, CA. She wanted to personally show me and Brian something exciting. Brian and I knew it had something to do with the new Alphas coming out. But all we knew was that it was Sony’s new camera; the details were still unclear.
We had NO IDEA what we were in for. But let me back up…
Over a year ago, Brian and I were at the Sony Headquarters. We were talking with some of the head people about ways to change camera technology so that women can grasp it with more ease. Brian and I had ideas that had never been done before in a camera–things that had to do with getting rid of numbers and using sliding scales so numbers no longer scared women off. The Sony team was super kind and listened to every thing we said. I even asked, in joking–but half serious, if they could make a brown and pink Me Ra Koh camera someday. Why does it always have to be black? Right ladies?!
Well on Thursday, Kristen started her presentation of the new Alphas, and I about fell out of my chair.
The new Sony Alpha DSLR-330 is going to come in a beautiful, pristine, Dark Copper Brown color with an option to have a PINK interface! Yes, BROWN and PINK !!!
Can you picture me falling out of my chair b/c I seriously felt like I was going to faint! To see more images of this beauty, CLICK HERE!
That is not even the half of it!
Sony also heard the ideas Brian and I had about making camera technology more intuitive for women, and well, they went WAY BEYOND our ideas and blew them out of the water. They came up with ideas that are so amazing, I was speechless!
Here is one of many examples! The numbers and fractions often intimidate women and get in the way. Couldn’t there be another way to communicate the same principles of aperture/fstops and shutter speed without having to deal with fractions? Yes! Yes! Yes! And, Sony has DONE IT!!! They have created sliding scales for aperture and shutter speed! You don’t even need to know the fstops or shutter speed settings if you don’t want to! You can just look at the sliding scale. Watch this display change color. Can you guess which color is my favorite? 🙂
The top sliding scale is for Shutter Speed. The one below it is for aperture (blurriness in your background). If you go to the left, the background becomes more blurry (see how they made the mountain gray behind the person to symbolize blur?). The more you go to the right, the mountain is in more detail (your fstop is getting higher and higher). Ladies, if you don’t want to look at the numbers, for the first time in the history of camera technology, you can now own a DSLR camera and not have to worry with numbers!
So ladies, you can make the interface PINK on your Copper Brown CAMERA!! The interface is so pretty! As soon as I have the Copper Brown camera, I’ll shoot some images so you can see the brown and pink for yourself!
That’s not all!
At lunch, before Kristen showed us her good news, I brought up the lens issue again. Brian and I know that women want the low fstop lens to create the blurry backgrounds. But to have a lens that goes low in fstop means that you often have to spend $600-$1500. I asked Kristen if Sony would be open to making a more affordable lens with a low fstop. She just smiled and said, “Wait and see Me Ra. Your going to really be happy with what I show you.”
Well ladies and gents! Sony has DONE IT!!! Since our first meetings over a year ago, they have created two lenses with low fstops! One is a fixed 50mm that will go down to 1.8! The other is a MACRO! For all of you who love getting beautiful, buttery, blurred background shots, you are going to love these two lenses! And instead of being $600 and up, both lenses will be SIGNIFICANTLY less! AND, if you own the Sony Alpha 300 or 350, these lenses will work with them!
Brian and I are always bouncing the flash off the walls behind us or above us. We never fire the flash straight at someone. You guessed it! Sony has made a LIGHTWEIGHT flash that can pop onto the camera and bounce off the ceiling!
Instead of costing hundreds of dollars, the HVL-F20AM flash is going to be $130! These price points are going to blow their competitors out of the water!
The new Sony Alphas will still have the beautiful, tiltable Live View on the back,
and they have also added a spot for SD cards! Now you have dual memory slots! (how about it Ziv! :))
But seriously, aside from all the bells and whistles…
The tears came.
Brian and I left the meeting on Thursday, and for the rest of the night tears kept filling my eyes. I couldn’t stop thinking of all the women who have come to our photography workshops over the last few years. I thought of all the women who emailed us what they want in a dream camera. All the women who are so incredibly creative but feel intimidated by the technology. Or even the women who feel like the color black for every DSLR camera makes them feel as if this is a hobby or profession for men, not them.
Ladies, we shared your ideas and our ideas of a dream camera for women. We shared our dreams. And Sony not only listened, they acted! Maybe they were already planning on doing these ideas before we talked with them. Who knows, the amazing
part is that they did it!
Sony has changed camera technology so moms could capture the great photos of their kids without the steep learning curve, as Kristen stated so well. They changed camera technology for YOU! Do you know how huge that is? There isn’t a camera maker who has cared so much about women before to change the camera technology. And they did it! The “official” press will have their say on Sony’s new cameras. But ladies, Brian and I met with them a number of times. And I can tell you firsthand, they care about women. They care about moms.
And here’s the amazing part. We are a part of it all! We are a part of changing history!
The Sony Alpha DSLR-330 camera is the one that will come in Copper Brown w/the Pink Interface. You can start pre-ordering this week for a Fall delivery. I told Kristen that I’m calling it the Me Ra Koh camera! 🙂 And seriously, I’m buying a few of these because this is the camera that defied all tradition and changed history! This is the camera that Pascaline will hold someday. And she will know that history shifted and women were validated when this camera hit the market. For no other reason, women will want this camera!
Basically Sony is saying, no more steep learning curve. Women don’t have to prove they are good photographers by knowing all the fractions and fstops. They believe you are good, and you deserve technology that is intuitive to how you think.
What master art will we create women? How will our images change the world, now that we have technology that is made for us?
I know Sony is excited to hear what you think. If you have a minute, please post a comment. You can even thank Kristen for taking a stand on women creating a camera that isn’t the color black! (love you Kristen!)
Sony has done something incredibly brave. Some may praise them, others in the industry may criticize them.
What do you say?
so will these new lens’ be compatible if you have a sony a350? i am geeked because the two lens’ you mentioned are EXACTLY what I am looking for – only I can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars. this IS exciting!!!!!
This is so exciting! I purchased a used Nikon DSLR to take pictures of my son and have spent the better part of six months just “pushing buttons” to try and figure out all the settings (despite the manual, books, and blogs).
A camera like this could have saved me many, many hours of frustration and a lot of missed shots. Now I know what I’ll be saving up for next!
It’s really good news about the new lens and flash. But I’d like to think that the pictorial representation of aperture and shutter speed wasn’t aimed just at women.
ME RA!!! WOW!!
I’M SPEECHLESS….
THAT-IS-SO-STINKING-COOL!!!!
Thats like having a signature guitar or drum kit!! You are such a rockstar!!!
I’m proud of you! So proud!
Now I have to go re-read this post! And tell everyone to read it!!
OH!!! Me Ra!!! This is so freaking cool!!!
I have spent the last 9 months working and pushing like crazy to figure out my Canon (which now that I can make it do what I want) is so rewarding! However I have lots of friends who bought their Canons and don’t use them outside of auto mode because they don’t have the time or will to spend learning their cameras. Sony’s sliding scales are AMAZING!!! I was telling my husband about them and he agrees! 🙂 These will change photography! Good job SONY! We love ya!
This is so cool! Yea for Sony:)
This is wonderful!
The ways people learn are as varied as people themselves and it’s so nice to see a huge company taking that into consideration. And to go face to face with “traditional” ways! That’s the way our culture evolves, right?
I’m a pretty smart girl, but you put numbers in front of me and I immediately start counting on my fingers and toes! And forget about fractions… 🙂
This new interface, I believe, will be perfect for visual learners (like myself!) I can’t wait to see it in action!!
And the new lenses and flashes? So excited!!!
That is so COOL! I LOVE the sliding scale what a great idea.
AMAZING!!! that is so incredible Me Ra!!! I’m so happy for you and Brian! You are a pioneer! omg.. sooo huge!
Absolutly INCREDIBLE! MeRa- You are the most giving and generous woman i know… and you just keep giving and helping and creating… and i just dont know what the world would be without you! Congrats on your “MeRa Koh Camera!” hah =) Truly Amazing!
I think the new interface is fabulous for all beginners, whether they be men or women. It seems that Sony has gone quite a way toward making it more accessible for a lot of people–maybe even seniors and kids will find this more intuitive. It’ll be fun to see what comes next!
I don’t think it is just women who are intimidated when they pick up a camera for the first time, so I am glad for anyone who gets the chance to give it a shot, even the men out there!
I am standing and applauding you, MeRa & Brian. For your courage, your belief in a better way and wanting to inspire others. I also applaud Sony for taking the leap of faith with you to create something accessible and beautiful.
I just tweeted this and asked others to Retweet. (Included a custom tinyURL to sing the praises of you and Sony) Feel free to use it!
xoxo
HUGE HUGS!
WOW WOW WOW! I am all about the pink so WOW! =)
Thank you for being such an advocate for us!! I also appreciate Sony for hearing women’s concerns and doing something for us. SO awesome!
I need to check one of those babies out!
i agree with jane about the representation of aperture and shutter speed…saying it’s just for women makes me feel like the camera has been dumbed down for women. i would rather think that sony has realized that some PEOPLE are more right brained and some are more left brained, and have designed a camera with that in mind. but that aside the camera sounds very cool and in the future i will definitely direct people who ask me for recommendations toward sony in addition to nikon and canon. if i wasn’t already so heavily invested in nikon stuff i’d be looking seriously at a sony!
Wow..that is so cool and not at all surprising that they listened to you and your amazing ideas. The sliding scale is so cool. Even for those who know what shutter speed and aperture are..the visual is so extremely helpful. I do think that so many people buy DSLR’s only to never take them off the green box, and these enhancements that Sony has made are going to be so helpful to many people.
I tried out on of your sonys at the workshop last year and was so impressed, that I suggested the camera to a few friends who got them rather than a Canon or Nikon.
I just think it is so great that Karen and her team are doing something that the big guys are not doing. They are finding out what women want and need and actually creating products to fit the user. That alone makes me want to sell my Nikon gear and go Sony!
I’m so glad you are all celebrating with us! Isn’t Sony amazing!
JaneB and Emily, you are totally right! You have to excuse me and Brian.
Brian and I have such a BIG heart for women and the hundreds we come in contact with who want a more intuitive, visual interface. So when Sony does something this HUGE, we are celebrating women. But Sony has totally made this camera for visual learners whether they are men, women, teenagers, you name it.
I’m sure Sony hopes all visual learners will gain from this new camera technology.
If any of you have the previous Alphas, you will totally be able to use these new lenses on them! Isn’t that exciting!
Very exciting! I think this will be a great camera for all beginners, male or female.
Oh my goodness! Soooo cool! It’s amazing to talk and have people actually listen! Amazing! Love it. Love the color, the flash is awesome! Love , love , love!!!!
great news! big time…. 🙂 i applaud people/companies that innovate. i think i’m really an inventor at heart. 🙂 so, for that, i give sony 2 thumbs up. also, i couldn’t think of a better representative than you, for the market they are going for. sharon and i were talking about you both this weekend, and just how much we admire you guys….you’ve got great stuff to give, and you do. awesome!
congratulations! we’re celebrating with you.
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now, but since I use Google Reader I never realized your color scheme. I am also a pink/brown obsessed girl! They were my wedding colors and then became my business colors. What a cool thing to have a brown camera, it’s gorgeous! I wish I had known about this before I encouraged my mom to buy a Rebel. She would love the sliders. 🙂
Me ra koh… I am a big fan of yours, but I don’t think this really advances photo tech more that a few millimeters. I also disagree that women are intrinsically intimidated by numbers and or tech. That is not my experience. I do believe that the root beer colored camera is a nice look… I have a Casio PnS the same color. I’m pleased that Sony is interested in the aesthetics and user interface, and agree this’ll sell lots of entry level cameras. Sony has the brains and muscle to push Nikon and Canon to the limit for the good of the industry… I think they’ll do it, but not with designer colors and entry level stuff.
This is soooo Cool!!! I want one of these soooo bad!!! I will have to go and update my “Wishlist” on the Sony site and e-mail it to my husband! I MUST have one of these cameras!!!
Love the sliding scales for f stop and shutter speed!
Yay!!! Oh, I am so thrilled that their offering of great beginner equipment is growing. How amazing that you’ve been able to have such an influence. That’s so awesome!!
Do you know when those lenses will be coming out? I’m so excited!!!
I love how Sony continues to innovate its already-amazing camera offerings. It’s also wonderful how they’re making cameras and lens more intuitive, as well as more affordable for those who are new to photography It’s a wonderful thing when a camera company LISTENS to its users. Sony is great at doing that (i.e. its online forum and galleries and online courses). And I’m looking forward in particular to seeing their A380, which I think is the upgrade from the A350?
I’m speechless! GREAT work! I love, love, love the interface!
I will always be a Canon girl. But I LOVE what you and Sony are doing to change history. I’m now waiting for Canon to ‘follow’ Sony and come out with a colored camera!
I like the sliding scales, too. My problem is that in the sunlight I can BARELY see my exposure compensation scale (or whatever it’s called), and so I’ll take a whole series of shots without realizing that I’m overexposed. I need to better train myself but it would be so nice if it was easier to read the scale in my eyepiece.
I like the brown! It’s pretty!!
ummmmmm, this is AMAZING! Oh my goodness!!! wowowowow! I totally bet you almost fell out of your chair – crazyness!
I hope everything is ok with your spiderbite – were all worried about you here 🙁
The screen with the sliding scale really is genius! I’ve been comparing the Canon 5D and the Nikon 700 trying to decide which of those to purchase. Which of the Sony models compares to these camera bodies? Are the lenses you talked about compatable with pro glass?
This a really awesome, you guys!! And to think that you were such a big part of this!! Wow!! I’m so excited for you!
I think the sliders are such a brilliant concept for visual learners. Sony is so smart to really take a look at their market so closely like this and actually RESPOND to it.
I am anxious to see what the feedback is when the word gets around about this. I think there will be a crowd of photographers that will not be accepting of such a change that actually encourages beginners, helps them learn more easily and that caters to a different style of learning that is outside the “old school” format. And that is really kind of sad and not terribly surprising. (aka “Grumpies” for anyone who has read Dane Sanders book. ha!)
Great job, MeRa, Brian, Sony and Kristen for making some changes!
I’d be seriously considering a Sony if I wasn’t so invested in Nikon already.
That is incredible!
I bought my first Nikon DSLR camera a couple months ago and I WISH I would have known about this camera! I also wish those lenses where compatible with my D40!!:)
Sony will be my next camera choice for sure! Amazing!
very awesome stuff!!!!!!!!!!!
So proud of you two. CONGRATS!!
This is just awesome. I so want one now.
Me Ra,
This is super cool! I’ve been watching your site over the years and have always wanted to do a workshop and learn to take great pics but don’t have the equipment. Watch out, family! I know what I’m saving my pennies for this year! YEAAAHHH! 🙂
the sliders, what a neat visual tool. as a woman who likes black and numbers (and dirt and bugs and cars, but flowers too!), i love my nikon but i have had the hardest time getting my husband interested in taking photos (ie ME in them!) because of the numbers dancing all over my camera. he’s just now starting to pick it up and play with it, and if we had a display like sony’s new one, i think he would have been a lot more eager to try out my camera. i think it will be great for anyone who’s not in the mindset to look at a screen and translate the numbers into perfect photography settings. not to mention the price point on those lenses, awesome. way to go sony and me ra.
I have to say that I love my cannon, but I am going to get a Sony! They have blown me away and I WILL be getting this camera and the lenses — yes, the lenses!!!
Wow, very exciting news! Thank you Me Ra, Brian, Kristen and Sony for stepping out of the box on this one. I wish I could buy a camera for all of my friends who love photography but are intimidated by the learning curve. And it just makes sense to me to make a camera that is more user friendly and with the brown and pink color option because at least in the circles of people I know most of the picture takers/family historians are the moms. The ones that want to take great pictures for their scrapbooks. The fact that Sony now has affordable lenses with low f-stops is wooooonderful!
OMG I think I’m in love! As a busy Mom (you know what I’m talkin’ about!) Shutter speed is the one thing I struggle to understand with the decimals AND fractions. Sheesh! I just don’t have the time to do more than I am to learn and study this. Sony, what a dream!
This is WAY too exciting!!!!!! I love it 🙂
I’m LOVING this…and may just have to trade in my Canon for a SONY!!!! And I’m loving the inexpensive low f-stop lenses. For me this is just a hobby…but have been finding that I feel stuck because I’m unable to fork over the crazy amounts of money for the lenses that I want.
This is so exciting!!! I can’t wait to dump my Canon and upgrade to the new Sony! Wonderful work you guys!!!!
my husband and I are wedding and portrait photographers and we shoot SOLEY Sony cameras (the A700) and though we get grief from the elietist cannon/nikon pros, we get nothing but raves from our clients, and afterall, thats what matters!!!!
I said from the beginning that Sony would blaze a new trail for photographers and here they are proving me right!!!
way to go Sony! (we’ll try to make you proud.)
Wow, amazing, holy cow I am so excited but my husband won’t be!! He will hate Sony forever becasue I HAVE to buy this camera…LOL This is so amazing, YEAH!!!!
Color = cool!
That is so cool, and to be a part of it is awesome! You guys do some incredible things in your lives. I just found out about DSLR’s last year, and I’m saving up to buy one. I’ve been trying to learn online about them, but it gets overwhelming. Figured I’d wait to get the camera first and then try and figure it all out. Looks like I’ll be saving for the new cool Sony, and I want to thank you guys for helping me decide that. 🙂
The new camera looks very impressive, but what is even MORE impressive is the price. The camera AND the lenses are very affordable.
I’ve invested in Canon–camera and lenses, but that won’t stop me from purchasing one of these Sony’s. It’s important to have a second camera, right?
Congrats to you Me Ra, Brian and Sony!!
Well, I disagree with the assumption that women are scared of numbers. We’re intelligent, competent, and able to heal big hurts in a single hug… so this is not something about which we should be intimidated. Let’s not sell ourselves short, ladies!!! 🙂
But I do think that having a more intuitive sliding scale is a great idea, as is the idea of AFFORDABLE ACCESSORIES!!! Thanks, Sony, for making a reasonably priced flash and lens option–that’s awesome! I plan to recommend that to friends who have asked what kind of camera I have, since I think this would be the ideal starter into DSLR.
Way to go, Sony! I’m delighted. 😀
Oops, I also meant to say what I just noted another poster said beautifully: this is a great camera for PEOPLE whose brains work differently, regardless of gender. I think it would be ideal to new photographers, global/holistic thinkers, grandparents, etc.
I applaud Sony for thinking outside the box and being willing to push the envelope. Hopefully this will put some awesome pressure on the big shots to follow suit with creative options and reasonable pricing! Nice job!!!
WOW!! This is absolutely amazing! I wish this had come out before I bought my Nikon – would have been nice to really check this beauty out and increase my options.
Oh well – who says you can’t use more than one kind of camera?! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this great information – and for YOUR part in this awesome new avenue in photography!
MeRa and Brian! I’m so proud of your efforts to GO FULL FORCE, and ASK, and DO what you believe in! This is truly unbelievable work that you and Sony have accomplished! I’m sad that I’ve already invested so much in that ‘other’ brand…but I have people asking me all the time…what camera should I buy? Now I have the answer for them!
And I so which I could get the brown camera (that’s sooo my color)…although, I’d have a baby blue interface ;).
congratulations again to you all…always going above and beyond! Love it!
Shocking to suggest that women just aren’t able to get numbers.
Great idea & definitely a need in the market place, but I honestly hope that Sony doesn’t try to market this to “stupid” women. Understand, I’m not suggesting that this isn’t a great product with a viable spot in the industry but I can’t help but feel offended at the idea that only men get the numbers. We’re really not that dense upstairs.
Traci Smith
WOW! what a brilliant learning camera!!! i wish these were around a year ago, i’m still trying to figure out how to shoot manual on my a350 (those darn numbers do indeed confuse me!), the sliding scale would be such an incredible blessing. can’t wait to see these hit the stores! thank you, me ra and brian for helping make taking photos easier not only for women, but for everyone.
That sliding scale is pretty awesome!! And brown, how cute is that.
Kudos to you and Brian and Kristen.
This is so exciting!! I love the features and I really love the color… Something fun and different. I can’t wait to buy one. I’ve been researching cameras, thinking about a Canon, but now I’m switching to the NEW Sony!
Thanks for keeping us informed on the latest and greatest Me Ra and Brian. You are the BEST!!!
What a thrill to be part of such history-making innovation!! Kudos to you, Me Ra and Brian, for leading the change and to SONY for being so open and ready to try an untread path! Love the color too!
Simply put, for those who don’t enjoy using manual settings, the slider seems like the perfect solution. Bravo Sony, for reminding us there IS more than one way to do things. As for the brown Me Ra Koh Camera…hands down one of the COOLEST things I’ve seen in my life!!
Only one thing comes to mind when I see this…I’m buying a Sony…thank you! 🙂
Hey MeRa,
Congratulations on helping change photography! I am so very happy for you and your accomplishments! So glad I ran into you at that wedding show 😉 !
Namaste!
EXCELLENT. Finally, Sony ships with an SD interface. Wow. We’ll get it, and test with the Eye-Fi Card. I’m sure it’ll work flawlessly, but I want to get my hands on one.
Brian, can we borrow one? 🙂
Wow, holy moly! It makes me wish I didn’t a $1k camera alerady so I would have an excuse to buy this one!
Omigosh!! That is absolutely incredible that they built a camera right to what you would want. Really amazing – congratulations on being part of something so huge!!
[…] if you didn’t see yesterday’s post about the new Sony camera (our colors–pink and brown!), you MUST read it! It’s pretty amazing […]
My first and only digital camera is a Sony Cybershot that we got way back in 2003. I have friends who are photog moms and when they see my photos they swear I have a fancy DSLR. As much as I love my cybershot I think I may have found a new love. That camera rocks!
Wow that is awesome. You guys are amazing and so is Sony!
No freaking stinking way!!!! I WANT this camera!!!!!!!!!! I am a Canon Xti owner….and I LOVE my Canon. Only have had it for a year…and now I WANT a new DSLR so that I can get the super sweet looking brown and pink alpha….AND a lens with a loxer fstop that wont cost me an arm and a leg! I am SO glad that Sony had the wisdon to listen to you guys. I just wish I could get the camera. 🙁
Maybe you could talk to Sony about taking trade-ins!
[…] reading the review of the new Alpha series of DSLR’s by Me Ra Koh , I am incline to agree with her that SONY has now produced a entry level DSLR for the ladies. SONY […]
canon have had sliders for aperture (at least) for a while now.
just sent this link to a friend looking at buying an entry level DSLR camera…..
oh….and here’s my response to @edwilson
[…] three days off with sharing my passion for photographing our kids. I walked them through the new Sony Alpha 330 (the camera I can’t say enough about!) and also taught on my philosophy of…(you know […]
WONDEFUL!! I am shopping for a new camera. Where can one go to preorder???
OHH! I like the trade in option…
Love the influence that you have on Sony and THEY LISTENED!
AWESOME
Hello dude This is very nice posting LOL. Do u like watch worldcup 2010 ? I love america . How about you friend ? Regards admin of computerhistoryclub.org
I purchase an a330 a little over a month ago and I’m not too happy with the fact that it does not have recording capabilities. I’m very much interested in trading for another camera with recording capabilities. Regardless of brand.
Email heloise101084@yahoo.com if interested.
Me Ra: I was “that girl” with one of the first digital cameras (Sony). I can remember taking pics of my little boy on one of the many rides at the Florida State Fair and people literally hanging over my shoulder because they were so intrigued by it. Looking back, I’ve always owned a Sony cybershots but never their DSLR (I was given a Cannon as a gift). You have made me want to switch back!! Thank you for reminding me how wonderful Sony cameras are!
So, does anybody has it? How do you feel about this camera?
I would still go for high-end Canon probably, but damn, this Sony looks perfect!
Aleks