the A7V is coming soon for sure…just not like this imagined image on top :)

I wish you all a happy new year! And I’m sure we’ll still have an exciting time here on SAR in 2025. In fact, I think it will be even more exciting than 2024 ;)

I don’t expect any new Alpha gear to be announced that day. But as always, I hope I’m wrong. But even if nothing comes that day, I’m sure the Sony A7V will be announced very soon!

A couple of readers from different European countries have brought to my attention that their national Sony stores have labeled some older Sony cameras as “new”. I have no idea why Sony did this, probably a formatting error on the Sony Europe pages?

According to PetaPixel Sony had a solid year in 2024:

It was a clean sweep for Sony in PetaPixel‘s 2024 Awards. The Sony a9 III (announced near the end of 2023 and therefore not relevant to Sony’s 2024 grade) won Camera of the Year, the 85mm f/1.4 GM II won Prime Lens of the Year, and the 28-70mm f/2 GM our Zoom Lens of the Year. That’s worthy of praise and a high mark for the year.

Some of Sony’s releases were a bit uninspiring, like the 24-50mm f/2.8 G and the new APS-C kit zoom lens, which drag the average down ever-so-slightly. However, that aside, Sony had an impressive 2024, and Sony fans have a lot to look forward to as we turn the page to 2025.

Personally, I would rate Sony a little lower. In my opinion, Sony has done an almost perfect job with the lenses, apart from the fact that we are still missing some nice telephoto lenses. But when it comes to cameras, we should have gotten more. An RX1rIII successor would have been a real hit if it had been announced in 2024. Don’t you agree?

Shotkit asked 1,000 Photographers What Camera They Use in 2024, And here are the findings:

1. Nikon is the most popular camera brand used by professional photographers. 31% of professionals use Nikon, closely followed by Canon (28%) and Sony (20%).
2. Canon is the most popular camera brand used by amateur photographers. 27% of amateurs use Canon, closely followed by Nikon (25%) and Sony (16%).
3. The Sony a7III is the most popular camera used by professional photographers. 7% of pros use the Sony a7III mirrorless camera, with the Canon R6 mirrorless camera and Nikon D750 DSLR camera coming in joint 2nd and 3rd.
4. The Alpha a7III and the Nikon D850 are the most popular cameras used by amateur photographers. One is a mirrorless camera and the other is a DSLR.
5. Professional photographers like to use the Sony a7III for their personal photography pursuits too. The Fujifilm X-T3 and Nikon D850 are also popular choices.

I’m not surprised that the Sony A7III is such a popular camera. In fact for just over $1,000 you can get this camera with a kit lens. That’s hard to beat! The Sony A7III was announced nearly 7 years ago but still consistently stays in the top 10 of thew Amazon ranking. This is a the ranking right (keeps changing every hour):

Best Sellers from Amazon:

1. Sony Alpha ZV-E10 with kit lens
2. Canon EOS R50 Lens Kit
3. Canon EOS R100 Lens Kit
4. Sony Alpha a6400
5. Canon EOS R6 Mark II
6. Sony a7 III  with 28-70mm Lens
7. Canon EOS R100 Lens Kit
8. Sony Alpha 7 IV
9. Canon EOS R8
10. Sony Alpha ZV-E10

I think the Sony A7III production will continue even after the hopefully soon announcement of the Sony A7V ;)

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Full data can be found on Shotkit.

These software offers will soon expire:

• save up to 50% on Topaz AI software bundles (Click here).
• 50% Off ON1 Photo RAW
• Save 25% on DxO software bundle (Click here).

A couple of hot deals still going on:

• Prime members save 25% on all new Nextorage CFexpress Type A and SD cards sold on Amazon US (Click here)
• $400 off on the Sony A7IV at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama.
• $400 off on the Sony A7rV at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama.
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for $699 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama
• Tamron 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8 for $1,699 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama
• Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III for $1199 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama
• $87 off on the Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 FE lens at Amazon, BHphoto.