When a company (Sony) that has never made SLR cameras, and is
struggling to make money out of its digital camera range, takes over a
DSLR product line from a well respected and highly experienced company
(Konica Minolta) that has completely failed to make it pay, what do
you expect the result will be?  Realistically?

Which Minolta products?

As with so many companies consolidating their market positions in the face
of sophisticated electronics in the digital market, as with Pentax/Samsung
for example Minolta is no exception.

Sony have a way of turning their hands to most things and been very
successful doing so. So I see no reason to believe that they wouldn't be
daft to buy up the rights to Minolta without a serious commitment to the
marketplace they are entering. They have the R&D and the money to develop
products, albeit perhaps mass consumer market to semi-pro levels and
continue the marque to a better market penetration.

The Sony Erricson phones are a prime example of how they developed that
market and with Minolta as a flagship brad they will do well. It is a
stronger following in the US than in Europe and as their main market is US
and Japan I doubt that whatever happens here will matter as long as those
markets hold up.

Collaboration and assimilations is the name of the game as the stakes and
the costs rise as the market matures into digital. Consumers demand a
greater level of technology whilst the price drops through the floor.
Today's top model is yesterdays has been and only those with the clout can
face up to that new regime.

Duncan