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I am curious what this community thinks. I would like this to be a "poll" so we can all easily vote. The questions is simple. In terms of new camera bodies, which camera body will be released first? The A99ii OR the A9 (or equivalent in the FE mount)? I really do not know.. So I am interested in the community's opinion. Regards, David

I am curious what this community thinks. I would like this to be a "poll" so we can all easily vote. The questions is simple. In terms of new camera bodies, which camera body will be released first? The A99ii OR the A9 (or equivalent in the FE mount)? I really do not know.. So I am interested in the community's opinion. Regards, David

Hi all, With the very recent release of both the A6300 APS-C body AND the 3 excellent Sony GM lenses, I feel our wait for the A99 mk2 has been further delayed for a number of reasons. I present a summary below: 1. Sony will want to let the release of the A6300 “stand up” to the review process and be generally acclaimed as a great little camera. 2. It will be accepted as moving the boundary of camera technology forward. 3. The 3 GM lenses will be tested against all competitors and come back with award after award. 4. All the above will take months to play out and Sony does not want another camera announcement to “distract” the focus on these new products. 5. Both Nikon and Canon have just released their new top of the line models and Sony has cleverly “held back”. 6. This gives Sony the opportunity to add or fine-tune features that will exceed the capacity of the opposition products. 7. Sony will use the A99 mk2 as its first serious Professional full size digital camera. I am not saying the original A99 was not a serious camera, but it was the first of its kind in full format and Sony was still learning. Sony’s development of FF sensor technology puts them in the “box” seat to lead the world in digital cameras. 8. The biggest personal issue I see with the release of the A99 mk2 will be its high price. L I understand development costs must be recouped, but based on the release cycle of the A99 and it’s mk2 update, I politely request Sony chooses to amortise this expense over a longer rather than shorter timeframe. Regards, David

Today at SAR we learn that Sony Australia and New Zealand has officially closed all sales of Alpha mount bodies and lenses. This means that I, as a resident of Australia cannot buy any new Alpha mount body or lens when they are released world wide from Sony Australia and New Zealand. I, along with many existing Alpha mount body and lens users are eagerly waiting for the upgraded A99 mk2 expected to be released very late this year or early next year. As I cannot buy this body from Sony Australia directly, I would be forced into buying a "grey" import. The following questions come to mind and I seek answers to these: 1. If I buy the A99 mk2 from a local importer, will Sony Australia honour the manufacturer's guarantee? 2. Or when it needs repair, would I have to return it to the "point of sale" to get it repaired under their guarantee? I understand there is a big difference in not overtly selling Alpha mount equipment and continuing to support the existing Alpha mount user base by maintaining their repair facilities. That is; Sony can still support all Sony equipment including Sony equipment that Sony Australia does not sell in Australia. BUT Will they? Will they have the tooling required? Almost certainly they will not stock the spare parts! So, long delays which ever option is used. I am very disappointed in Sony Australia and New Zealand to taking the short sighted step and politely request they consider their existing Alpha mount user base who have stuck with them for so many years. Thank you, David

Today as SAR we learn that Sony Australia and New Zealand has officially closed all sales of Alpha mount bodies and lenses. This means that I, as a resident of Australia cannot buy any new Alpha mount body or lens when they are released world wide from Sony Australia and New Zealand. I, along with many existing Alpha mount body and lens users are eagerly waiting for the upgraded A99 mk2 expected to be released very late this year or early next year. As I cannot buy this body from Sony Australia directly, I would be forced into buying a "grey" import. The following questions come to mind and I seek answers to these: 1. If I buy the A99 mk2 from a local importer, will Sony Australia honour the manufacturer's guarantee? 2. Or when it needs repair, would I have to return it to the "point of sale" to get it repaired under their guarantee? I understand there is a big difference in not overtly selling Alpha mount equipment and continuing to support the existing Alpha mount user base by maintaining their repair facilities. That is; Sony can still support all Sony equipment including Sony equipment that Sony Australia does not sell in Australia. BUT Will they? Will they have the tooling required? Almost certainly they will not stock the spare parts! So, long delays which ever option is used. I am very disappointed in Sony Australia and New Zealand to taking the short sighted step and politely request they consider their existing Alpha mount user base who have stuck with them for so many years. Thank you, David

Hi all, I believe Sony will not release the A99 Mk2 before January 2016 for the following reasons: 1. Sony has been overwhelmed with success of the A7r Mk2. 2. Sony is pushing the FE lens series. 3. Sony is gaining significant sales of the A7r Mk2 body from Canon users as they move from Canon to Sony with the advantage of not having to sell all their Canon lenses. 4. 3rd party adaptor manufacturers are flocking to make adaptors from other lens manufacturers to the Sony A7r Mk2 mount. 5. Sony is reasonably expecting being nominated 2015 Camera of the Year with the A7r Mk2 from virtually every photographic publisher in the world, why would they bring out another "show stopper"? 6. From a marketing perspective, the A7r Mk2 has created the "wave", by releasing the A99 Mk2 in 2016 it maintains the marketing wave. (Keeps Sony's name on the lips of the photographic world.) 7. Sony has successfully created a light full frame camera of excellent quality and performance, the replacement A99 Mk2 will be significantly heavier than the A7r Mk2. 8. The A99 Mk2 would have to have significantly higher specifications compared to the A7r Mk2 for people to buy it over the A7r Mk2. Will it? 9. If it is better spec'd, by how much could it be? Would it be enough to swing the tide of users to the A99 Mk2? 10. What audience would the A99 Mk2 be focused. Apart from existing A99 and other Alpha lens users? 11. So, in short, regretfully, the market is small (compared to the A7r Mk2), and existing alpha lenses can be mounted to the A7r Mk2 with a Sony adaptor. I am interested in hearing comments from other Alpha mount users. I wish I am wrong, but I believe my logic is sound. My 5 cents, David

By Yves Kubli Crab-eating macaques taking a sunbath in the morning on the Kelimutu volcano in Flores, Indonesia. Sony A99V + SAL-70400G

SAR just posted a rumor about an in A99 successor coming mid September with 4K recording: What do you think?