Official Sony US price drop: $500 off on the Sony A99! And free grip too!

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Sony US officially discounted the A99! You can get the camera with a free(!) grip for $2299 at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Sony Store (Click bere). Same price but no free grip at Sony Canada (Click here).

The real hotseller of the moment are the NEX-3n with kit lens for the $299 at Amazon (Click here), NEX-6 with kit lens for $599 at Amazon (Click here) and the HX50 for $303 at Amazon (Click here). The general Amazon ranking can be seen here.

Reminder: The A7-A7r up to $650 savings are still running at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Sony Store (Click bere).

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(SR5) name of the A77 successor is “A77II”. In Store this Summer.

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Image on top shows the silhoutte of the current Sony A77.

The following rumor has been shared by trusted sources:

The next A-mount camera to be released by Sony is the new “A77II”. Announcement in late Spring and in Store this Summer. The new A77II is trimmed for speed and that will be also the main selling point of this camera. The AF will be even faster than the world’s fastest AF camera that has been just released by Sony, the A6000. I am working as good as I can to get the camera specs but the chances are also very high that this will use a much improved SLT tech. Cannot confirm yet if the mirror can be locked up like we saw on a 2013 Sony patent.

Anyway, the important thing we know now is that after over one year of no A-mount camera announcement (last was the A58 in February) we will finally get a new A-mount camera! And trust me, more will come soon after the A77 successor announcement ;)

Special note to sources: In these weeks I am getting lot of info from anonymous sources too. I wanted to thank them all and as usual I ask them to be patient. I always try to double or triple check rumors before to post them on SAR. Sometimes this takes weeks. Thanks!

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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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One more Sony A6000 AF test…

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On top you can watch a new short Sony a6000 AF speed test. Again, pretty impressive!

Sony A6000 preorder list with US and Europe links:
Sony A6000 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama, BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here). In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, WexUK.
Silver A6000 at WexUK (Click here).
Sony A6000 with lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama, BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here), Sony Canada (Click here), WexUK (Click here).
Silver A6000 with lens at WexUK (Click here).
Sony 70-200mm FE at Amazon (CLick here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here). In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT

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Sony’s A7 and A7r cameras are not “completely” dust and moisture resistant?

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A couple of SAR readers noticed that Sony and online stores selling the A7 and A7r cameras completely removed the part of the product description that said the cameras are weather sealed. Just check these links in USA and Europe: at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS and Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.

This is just pure speculation but it’s possible that the light leak issue discovered on the A7-A7r cameras also affects the dust and moisture protection. And that could be the reason why they “quietly” removed any reference about the A7-A7r having a weather sealed body. But as I said, there is nothing official yet. And if there is really a problem with the weather sealing it would be better for Sony to admit the issue and work on a solution instead of trying to hide it.

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Joe sent us this:

Sad to say that I can confirm that the a7R does exhibit light leak around the lens mount. This was reported on Sony’s Community site. To test it, put the body cap on, use either ISO25,6000 or ISO16,000 and take a 20-30″ exposure. Shine a flashlight/phone LED light around the lens mount. The image will show the leak at the 9 o’ clock position.
Here’s how mine look like at ISO16,000 and 30″ exposure:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/–exlz648TZ8/Uv3-kqaopuI/AAAAAAAAXzI/0ERlfxv_u74/w888-h593-no/a7R+Light+Leak+ISO16%252C000+at+30sec.jpg
Original thread:
http://community.sony.com/t5/Alpha-NEX-Cameras/A7-A7R-Light-leaks/td-p/254835

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Next A7 and A7r news and test roundup!

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Chile – from Patagonia to Valparaiso – 2014 (1080p version) from Hacky on Vimeo.

A journey from Chilean Patagonia across the land of Volcanos to Valparaiso captured with the Sony A7R (3D-Kraft).
A7r video review by SonyAlphaLab on Youtube.
Zeiss 35mm FE image smaples at Optyczne.
One Journey, Two Cameras: The Sony A7r and the Leica M Monochrom (PetaPixel).
Plenty of Canon lenses tested on the A7r at Mobile01.
A7r RAW and JPEG noise test at AlphaNumerique.
Sony A7r – Again! Sony FE 28-70mm and Minolta 70-210mm lenses (Soundimagesplus).
A7r review at Digital-photography-school.

George: “Here is the best price you will ever see for a sony a7 – complete with a bonus vertical grip! Approx. AUD$1000 less if bought on retail prices…http://www.firstdutyfree.com.au/category/technology/tax-free-digital-slr-cameras/45088-sony-ilce7kb-single-lens-ilc-camera-black. Hope u can let readers know,especially if they are travelling overseas. And don’t forget to ask for the bonus vertical grip as well…“

Bruce: “I’m a long-time reader and a fan of your site. I thought you might be interested in a couple of posts I made today. Last week I was stuck in a snowstorm in West Virginia and shot some footage and stills with my a7r. I used a Sony-Zeiss 55/1.8, an Olympus Zuiko 28/2, a Leica 90/2 and a Contax 135/2.8. See them on my tumblr page: http://behyer.tumblr.com“

Specs and Store Links in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Store Links in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.

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Sony sells it’s old historical Tokyo Headquarter!

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Image source: Wikimedia

Engagdet reports that Sony is now selling their own Tokyo Headquarter too! Sony estimates it will earn 15 billion yen ($146.5 million) though the sale of the historical building. Engadget also writes:

Locals have blasted the potential move, however, arguing that the company’s “birthplace,” where founders Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka worked on the Walkman and Trinitron TV, should be exempt from its restructuring efforts

This is all part of a world wide restructuring program. And as I told you before the Digital Imaging business is one of the Sony’s key businesses they want to focus on. So, at least we don’t have to worry about the A and E-mount system future. What has to be seen is how long it will take for Sony to get rid off all other unprofitable businesses to get back to financial growth.

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