Sony Alpha: Reviving the Minolta Legacy

The Acquisition That Shaped Sony’s Camera Future

Every time someone picks up a Sony camera today, they’re holding more than just cutting-edge tech. They’re holding the legacy of Minolta, a brand that once defined Japanese photography the way Sony came to define consumer electronics. Its name may have faded, but its spirit still shapes every frame. And the story of how that legacy was nearly lost, only to be reborn inside Sony, remains one of the most overlooked chapters in camera history.

In 2005, Sony was many things: a pioneer in portable music, a titan in entertainment, and the reigning champion of home gaming. But in photography, it still hadn’t earned the same kind of respect. Sony had found success with Cyber-shot compacts, especially among casual users, but its name hadn’t earned respect in professional photography circles. Canon and Nikon still owned that space.

Minolta, on the other hand, had already made history. It was the company behind the first integrated autofocus SLR, the Maxxum 7000 in 1985. Its lenses were sharp, its…