The rise and fall(?) of minolta

[Kool]

This article says it all. Didn't know the minolta hi-matic was selected to go into space!

http://www.photoxels.com/history_minolta.html

[eow]

and it also the first to introduce the Auto-focus system...sigh

[hazmee]

There's a saying, "There's no point being creative or original with your work if you're not able to sell it.." (I think). Some marketing ad I saw that at Alan Photo SLCC which makes me go hmmmm.

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by hazmee There's a saying, "There's no point being creative or original with your work if you're not able to sell it.." (I think). Some marketing ad I saw that at Alan Photo SLCC which makes me go hmmmm.

so what are you implying?

[satay16]

has km totally ceased production on its lenses and dynax digi cams? if so, does it mean that prices of these things will drop drastically?

[Drudkh]

KM didn't say it cease its production, they only ceased the business in this area and sold to Sony a less than 50% portion.

[user111]

Originally Posted by Drudkh so what are you implying?

one implication is that minolta didnt do a good job at marketing

[hazmee]

Originally Posted by user111 one implication is that minolta didnt do a good job at marketing

Spot on. I love Minolta cameras and I feel they're the most innovative companies around. I still have some of their old X-series manual lenses and slr. I just felt that their marketing wasnt that good and its part of the reason of their demise.

Back in the 80s during those film days, Nikon and Minolta were household names among those 'old-timers'. I used to listen to them brag about their equipment and how it helped them with their photography to capture those priceless moments. Now digital has changed much in the way people live. I just felt Minolta were a bit too slow to catch up with the rest. (In marketing terms of course)

Anyway, OT a bit: what's so great about Canon consumer SLR bodies and how did they manage to sell so well? Something to think about.

My 2 cents worth.

Cheers!

[synapseman]

Originally Posted by user111 one implication is that minolta didnt do a good job at marketing

I totally agree. Just look at Canon's aggressive marketing strategy. They're everywhere! Minolta has produced some really fine cameras in the past like the X-700 and Dynax 7. IIRC, Minolta SLRs could do multi-dimensional predictive focusing when the other makes could only do predictive focusing only in one direction, at a constant speed. I somehow think they took too long to enter the DSLR market.

Their service and support doesn't seem to care as much either. Sometimes, it's really frustrating being loyal to a brand who doesn't seem to care about its users.

[GENO]

2 WORDS.... no money..haha

[leeshock]

Originally Posted by GENO 2 WORDS.... no money..haha

Check out the following threads. It seems that during the 1990s there is a suit from Honeywell - that Minolta had used the AF technology in their cameras. MInolta lost the case and had to pay USD100s of millions. Check out the links.

I also read somewhere that due to this, Minolta lost funding to do their marketing - resulting in where they are today. On hindsight, they would still be at the top if they have the money and good marketing skills. Another contributing factor is of course Minolta entered the digital era too late.

http://www.rkmc.com/Honeywell_v_Mino...ted_Result.htm
Honeywell v. Minolta
Related Links


Represented Honeywell in a patent infringement case against Minolta involving patents on autofocus cameras. After a five-month trial, the jury awarded Honeywell $96.3 million. The case subsequently settled for $127.5 million. Additional litigation against other autofocus camera manufacturers resulted in total settlements of approximately $500 million.

http://www.zaxis.com/successStories/...lvMinolta.aspx
Honeywell, Inc. v. Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Synopsis
When Minolta introduced the Maxxum auto-focus camera line, it revolutionized the SLR camera industry with the first fully automatic camera. When Honeywell looked at the Maxxum camera’s auto-focus technology, it looked rather familiar. So familiar, in fact, that Honeywell filed a patent infringement lawsuit.

Because of the complexity of the case, state-of-the-art technology was needed to aid the jury in understanding the technical and legal issues. Hired by Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi to represent Honeywell, Z-Axis produced extensive computer animations, photographs, videos and documents to be used in conjunction with numerous physical models built by Honeywell’s engineers.

This was the first trial ever to use touch screen technology to present its exhibits. Z-Axis’ proprietary touch screen system enabled the trial team to assess all of its exhibits stored on videodisc at the touch of a finger. The visual tutorials and exhibits assisted Honeywell’s attorneys and experts explain their case for infringement to the jury.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...55C0A966958260
Minolta Move by Honeywell

REUTERS
Published: June 15, 1990

LEAD: Honeywell Inc. filed a complaint today with the International Trade Commission seeking to ban the import of Minolta cameras, saying the Japanese company uses autofocus technology developed by Honeywell.

Honeywell Inc. filed a complaint today with the International Trade Commission seeking to ban the import of Minolta cameras, saying the Japanese company uses autofocus technology developed by Honeywell.

The petition seeks a ban on importing Minolta cameras, including the successful Maxxum series, until Minolta agrees to licensing by Honeywell. The Minneapolis-based company also seeks payment of royalties from the Japanese camera maker.

''We would like to settle this case and to be compensated fairly for use of our technology,'' said Christofer J. Steffen, Honeywell's chief financial officer.

The Minolta Corporation, the American unit of the Japanese company, said Honeywell's petition contained the same charges that have been the subject of litigation for more than three years.

''We believe the Honeywell patent claims in question are invalid and unenforceable,'' Minolta said, adding that Minolta of Japan was involved in ''pioneering efforts'' in developing autofocus cameras, along with several other companies.

Minolta also accused Honeywell of violating a 1988 agreement that the patent dispute be resolved in a Federal court in New Jersey.

[ricohflex]

Fun to read but some inaccuracies.
How can a "history" miss out the fabulous XD7.
No mention of XK ?
Nothing on the VFC lens?
No mention of Himatic 7s II ?

Leica R3, R4, R5 made by Minolta ? !!!!
Rubbish!!!
The frame and metering electronics were contributed by Minolta.
Whole Camera by Leica.

[Kool]

Minolta is also the first to come up with body integral anti-shake mechanism in dslr--7D

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by Kool Minolta is also the first to come up with body integral anti-shake mechanism in dslr--7D

sekali somebody just come up & say... hmm i find this ASs looks so familiar... den start suing game again...

[medallion]

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt sekali somebody just come up & say... hmm i find this ASs looks so familiar... den start suing game again...

Dog eat dog world lor...liddat de...haiz.

[peterblaise]

Why the "Minolta" HiMatic in space?

As an afterthought, John Glenn wanted to take some souvenier photos from space - what were they thinking not to include photography in the original plans? Anyway, he saw the Ansco (oldest photo company in the US) camera built by Minolta at a local drug store, simple enough to operate, so NASA modified it to work with his gloves on. History.

White Minolta 800si also went into space later, and Minolta also built a special "space meter" for NASA later.

How the might have fallen - the original photo enthusiasm died off with the original Minolta people - geniuses in my book. The "managers" from recent Minolta BUSINESS history, and surprisingly even from Konica, an older photo company than Kodak even, couldn't understand all this "photo" stuff - so no marketing! Ouch!

No enthusiasm from the top brass = dead or dying division!

Click!

Love and hugs,

Peter Blaise
Minolta Photographer
http://www.peterblaisephotography.com/

[GENO]

Originally Posted by peterblaise Why the "Minolta" HiMatic in space? As an afterthought, John Glenn wanted to take some souvenier photos from space - what were they thinking not to include photography in the original plans? Anyway, he saw the Ansco (oldest photo company in the US) camera built by Minolta at a local drug store, simple enough to operate, so NASA modified it to work with his gloves on. History. White Minolta 800si also went into space later, and Minolta also built a special "space meter" for NASA later. How the might have fallen - the original photo enthusiasm died off with the original Minolta people - geniuses in my book. The "managers" from recent Minolta BUSINESS history, and surprisingly even from Konica, an older photo company than Kodak even, couldn't understand all this "photo" stuff - so no marketing! Ouch! No enthusiasm from the top brass = dead or dying division! Click! Love and hugs, Peter Blaise Minolta Photographer http://www.peterblaisephotography.com/

sorry, is it the 8000si or 800si ??? should be the 8000si white right?

[peterblaise]

Neither - it's the 8700i or 8000i- see http://www.jwhubbers.nl/mug/af-bodies.html

A special edition all-white 8000i was made, together with a white zoom lens and white 5200i flash; all three sold together as an outfit.

Janusz "Frankie" Franczak (frankie@atcom.net.pl) wrote:

As I know, pearl version of Dynax 8000i was produced between 1989 and 1991 (I thing, that was 1991, but I'm not sure). There was made amount 20000 pcs of "pearl "kits. (The "i" series was introduced in 1988, and when I was in Vienna in December 1992, I saw this camera in shop)


Hoyin Lee, Hong Kong (leehoyin@hutchcity.com) wrote on 13 April 2001:

That special edition 8000i (Alpha-8700i in Japan), sold with a white 5200i flash and a white AF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, was released in December 1990 to commemorate the use of a similar Minolta model by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) journalist Toyohiro Akiyama in the Russian space station Mir.
Akiyama, who stayed in Mir for eight days in December 1990, became the first journalist and the first Japanese to go into space. Minolta supplied him with a package of specially produced photographic equipment that included an all-white a-8700i, a 3200i flash unit, and three AF lenses: a 24-50mm f/4, a 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and a 100-300 f/4.5-5.6. When Akiyama returned to Earth, his Minolta equipment was left behind for use by the Russian crew who remained in the space station. (Source: Chotoku Tanaka, ed., Space Camera (Tokyo: World Photo Press, 1998), p.143)
As I remember, some time in the early 1990s, Minolta ran a magazine ad that featured this photo of cosmonaut Akiyama floating in Mir holding a bulky all-white Minolta camera. http://www.jwhubbers.nl/mug/akiyama_space_minolta.jpg

;-)

My memory ...

Click!

Love and hugs,

Peter Blaise
Minolta Photographer
http://www.peterblaisephotography.com/

[GENO]

Originally Posted by peterblaise Neither - it's the 8700i or 8000i- see http://www.jwhubbers.nl/mug/af-bodies.html A special edition all-white 8000i was made, together with a white zoom lens and white 5200i flash; all three sold together as an outfit. Janusz "Frankie" Franczak (frankie@atcom.net.pl) wrote: As I know, pearl version of Dynax 8000i was produced between 1989 and 1991 (I thing, that was 1991, but I'm not sure). There was made amount 20000 pcs of "pearl "kits. (The "i" series was introduced in 1988, and when I was in Vienna in December 1992, I saw this camera in shop) Hoyin Lee, Hong Kong (leehoyin@hutchcity.com) wrote on 13 April 2001: That special edition 8000i (Alpha-8700i in Japan), sold with a white 5200i flash and a white AF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, was released in December 1990 to commemorate the use of a similar Minolta model by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) journalist Toyohiro Akiyama in the Russian space station Mir. Akiyama, who stayed in Mir for eight days in December 1990, became the first journalist and the first Japanese to go into space. Minolta supplied him with a package of specially produced photographic equipment that included an all-white a-8700i, a 3200i flash unit, and three AF lenses: a 24-50mm f/4, a 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and a 100-300 f/4.5-5.6. When Akiyama returned to Earth, his Minolta equipment was left behind for use by the Russian crew who remained in the space station. (Source: Chotoku Tanaka, ed., Space Camera (Tokyo: World Photo Press, 1998), p.143) As I remember, some time in the early 1990s, Minolta ran a magazine ad that featured this photo of cosmonaut Akiyama floating in Mir holding a bulky all-white Minolta camera. http://www.jwhubbers.nl/mug/akiyama_space_minolta.jpg ;-) My memory ... Click! Love and hugs, Peter Blaise Minolta Photographer http://www.peterblaisephotography.com/

OPPS, it a 8000i white body, haha...there's no 8000si anyway???

cheers..

[mouselim]

So....anymore incentive to purchase a minolta dslr? I'm a die-hard minolta fan too (owning dynax 7 and 800si and a200) and was considering purchasing D5 when the news came.

Honestly, I am not very confident of Sony and hence the future health of minolta mounts...

Any opinion on this?