What Sony manager “X” says about A and E-mount future…

[SAF Admin]

From SAR

 

 

A person I highly trust talked to a major Sony manager (I cannot unveil his name). Now as usual the info spilled out by such “managers” have to be taken with a grain of salt too. They often “hide” or sometimes even really don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in the near future. But the info he shared was the following:

1) Many FE lenses have a larger Filter size because it’s more practical for video usage. And Sony wants to make lenses that can suite well both kind of customers: Stills and Video photographers

2) A High End E-mount FF (rumored to be named “A9″) is indeed on the roadmap for a 2015 release. But he doesn’t think it will be announced from here to March. Before the A9 Sony will announce the price and release of the new FE lenses.

3) In the Sony managers region (can’t name it but it’s big) 80% of the interchangeable cameras they sell are E-mount and only 20% A-mount. Most A-mount cameras sold are A99’s.

4) According to him Zeiss, Sigma, Tamron and other third-party lens makers have more interest in making lenses for the E than for the A-mount system. Mainly because the E-system has little to offer while there are plenty of A-mount lenses around.

5) A-mount sales are just enough to cover initial development costs. While the money is coming from E-mount.

6) There will be new and “updated” A-mount lenses that will mainly focus on improving the lens usefulness in video.

I repeat it. Take that info with a grain of salt. But this is the kind of info that the manager (and likely other too) are spreading around when talking with customers and business partners.

 

Your opinion?

[klepper]

Damn.  Yeah, A-mount is dead,  Much to my and thousands of others chargin. Once the money dries up or becomes less profitable, that's the sign.  Big corporations don't have "loyalty" to loosing money.  Just like how we KNOW the 100+ year old SLR technology is super dead, in 20 years, you think SLT will still be around? Mirrorless is the way of the future I suppose.  Guess it's time to get that LA-EA4 to hold me over. Now give me a A7S-II with ISBS, Dual memory cards, and GPS and I'll shut up about A-mount Sony. And hurry up with the A7000 too. 

[bourguignon93]

if this is true, my alpha will remain as long as possible and I'm going to change "home"!
the Ax is not ergonomic. 77 is already at the limit ...

[Vivek]

 

Your opinion?

 

A-mount is as popular as this site.

[Guest PenGun]

 Right! The SLR exists because it provided a direct view of the film plane, sensor now. The modern Live view of the sensor output is even more useful and as it's nearly as good already the SLR is pretty well doomed.

 

 Jusr progress folks.

[1/8000]

I hope the A mount stays around for awhile. I just bought my first A mount body and 2 lenses. I like it, so I'm about to sell my Nikon 16-85(which I never use)to have the funds to get the Tokina 11-16 in Sony A mount. And I wanna get a couple more lenses for it.

[rob_sk]

I think Sony will bring out successor to the A99 within the year. The A99 and A77ii are both good cameras and with the recent SSM II lens upgrades they should have a new body to go with the lenses.

 

 

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[Pawose]

On the long term, SLT might be dead and mirrorless is the future.

But A mount is still the better mount. As long as size is not really critical A mount is better. Especially for high focal length and larger aperture. BTW: Good lenses are rather big and heavy. Always. E mount, too. Saving 100g on the body doesn't make that much sense and holding a a7 is less comfortable for me than a a57 or a77 for example. So mirrorless A mount but body in DSLR size is very good option. Long life A mount!

[Snexhype]

Hi everybody,

 

If Sigma & Co bring more Lenses for E-mount on the market- the E-mount camaras will  become more interesting for the user - it will boost the process that has already begun- the changing of the ratio between DSLR and the mirrorless. Maybe the prices for native E-mount lenses will become more realistic too- let's hope and see....and make nice pictures:-)

 

So- keep on shooting

[Si1966]

If the A mount is slowly but surely going to be phased out I do not see that as a problem it will mean moving to the A7 or A9 series with Sony's lastest adapter.

 

Si

[BlackCat]

if A-Mount is not still dead, it is in deep coma.

 

May be, there will be one camera again, just right to schedule a slow death, that will not be painless for those who have spent a lot of money in those lenses.

 

Olympus for first and then Sony have anticipated the future.

Canon and Nikon are in very serious delay and perhaps have definitely lost the train.

What is NOW their great strength: an immense park of objectives, risks becoming their halter.

The question is: will they built a mirroless maintaining their current mount? so nullifying the advantages of a compact system.

Or will they re-design all of their lenses in order to adapt them at the new size? thus displeasing millions of fans who will find themselves having to rebuild their equipment.

[rob_sk]

Sony will bring out a replacement to the a99 this year. With the recent 70-200 F 2.8 SSM 2 and the refresh of recent lens for moisture. The next A Mount should be awesome.

 

 

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[benmao]

 

 

...With the recent 70-200 F 2.8 SSM 2 ...

Why cannot Sony bring such fast zoom lenses for E-mount? It's a pitty.

[rob_sk]

Size, they will keep their zooms to F4 and most of the filter sizes to 72 mm. Any of their Sony / Zeiss lens will be made for both video and photographic work.

 

 

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