"but I completely fail to see how something like this falls in a "narrow requirement" when trying to decide on VERY expensive equipment for a VERY specific purpose."
You do realize the Sony cameras aren't sold as astro cameras that are often mono with filter wheels and active coolers, yes?
If you were
"buying VERY expensive equipment for a VERY specific purpose"
wouldn't it make the most sense to buy the equipment built and sold for such VERY specific purpose?
People wonder why so many flocked to Canon after Nikon's infamous star eater problems, it had a big effect back then and it should have a big effect now with Sony.
Remind me of the actual numbers of people you quantify as "so many," or are you just randomly guessing to make your point?
The best way to ensure a fix is quickly implemented is to make sure Sony's bottom line is affected. You think they give a rats **** about such a niche community? We encompass but a fraction of the consumer photography base. But you raise hell on the internet, whip up a storm, and make sure everyone knows about this and people WILL reconsider buying those products even if astrophotography is not their main purpose for buying them.
Your statement is self-defeating.
This "beating of a dead horse" is trying to inflate a thread on CN.
If you really want to "whip up a storm" and "make sure EVERYONE KNOWS,"
create a viral youtube video or have a youtube channel with 1 million followers and say something about it.
If Sony doesn't care about a small niche, then it probably has business intelligence reasons behind "not caring."
Ergo there will be no economic harm done if you convince everyone on CN not to buy a Sony....
Anyways, the purchase of Nikons and every Sony-sensor based astro camera goes straight into Sony's pockets anyways.....
Why? Why let it go? Why not make this the single biggest issue in the astrophotography community so we can FORCE Sony to make positive changes for us?
Well, that would make since if you were trying to get S&T and Astronomy magazine and astroleague and others involved....Maybe a CN article on the matter.
But just adding a post to a thread on CN fits my point of beating a dead horse.
My point is not that one should drop the matter.
My point is that if the approach I mentioned is putting me off,
when as a Sony owner I'd like to see the issue disappear,
then I don't think it's the best approach.....
I've off and on considered switching to Sony, but I won't spend a nickle on their products when they are selling something that openly and knowingly produces reduced quality results because of poor software. The day will come when it's fixed and perhaps that day I'll consider switching again, but certainly not today. Until then I'll keep trudging along with my perfectly good D800E.
This statement sounds kind of foolish considering the sensor inside your D800E is made and sold to Nikon by Sony. Your purchase and mentioning just reinforces Sony's continued success, not downfall.
Additionally, people refusing to buy Sony just means you won't have access to the features the cameras do offer that no other cameras can accomplish as far as realtime lowlight low noise images and video...Your loss.....