Speaking to journalists at the IFA electronics show in Berlin, Ichiro Takagi, deputy president of Sony’s Personal Imaging and Sound Division confirmed that Sony is ‘very much interested’ in the Micro Four Thirds system.
Although we understand that Sony has no plans to join the Four Thirds consortium alongside Olympus and Panasonic, Mr Takagi accepts that the emergence of Micro Four Thirds has created a new category in consumer digital imaging, between compact digital cameras and DSLRs. Refusing to be drawn on details of future plans, Mr Takagi told us that for now, Sony is concentrating on adding ‘unique new features’ to its Cybershot and Alpha cameras. When pressed on the issue of whether or not a mirrorless Sony system camera such as the eagerly awaited Samsung NX10 may be in the offing he added ‘if we do it, we will do it much better’.
Later, in an exclusive interview with AP, Yann Salmon-Legagneur, Sony?s Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging (Europe) told us that ?of course? Sony is interested in Micro Four Thirds, but ?not the format itself, but the products that [are] being launched?. Recent Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic have ?moved the industry? he said.
He went on, ?I cannot tell you what will happen in the future, but Sony will probably have a slightly different way of seeing this product?. He concluded ?I will let you imagine what it might be, but as you know, we are an entertainment company, so maybe our vision will be slightly different, you will have to wait and see.?
