The A-mount frustration post! What should Sony do?
The A-mount future slide showed by Sony last yer (the hidden camera was the A77II)
Sony just like every company has a roadmap of products already planned for the coming 1-2 years. And usually only minor changes can happen in between. It’s not an easy task, but my job is to get tidbits about that roadmap. The strange thing that happened this year at Photokina is the following: The same kind of trusted source that told me correctly about the FE lenses like the 16-35mm Zeiss, 90mm macro, QX1, Loxia lenses the 85mm lens (on new roadmap as large aperture prime) also told me there would be updated A-mount lenses at Photokina.
Of course I am surprised to hear this didn’t happen. Now, obviously you can believe the 2-3 sources who shared the A-mount info were simply wrong. And I hope that’s the case. But it’s my believe for now that something must have happened in those last two months. Something that lead Sony to “freeze” the A-mount lens announcement.
Now, fact is, last year Sony said they are fully committed to the A-mount system. Also a Fact is they are pushing E-mount now and they did not mention one single time A-mount during their 1 hour Photokina press conference. And they now mix the A and E-mount stuff under the same “Alpha Lens” brand which is pretty confusing. I think it’s time for Sony to clear things out about the A-mount future. They have two options:
1) Make a clears statement pro A-mount with a proper lens/camera roadmap to really convince us about that.
2) Just confess they will focus on E-mount and maybe offer all A-mount camera owners and E-mount camera in exchange with adapter for free.
You readers tell me if I am right on that. Write down all your frustration in our comment system!!!
UPDATE: I am busy at work and cannot visit Photokina. Those of you that will be there can please ask Sony managers to tell us more about the A-mount future? Thanks!
Note: Here are a couple of pro A-mount statement from Sony:
September 2013: “Rest assured that we will further develop the A-mount system together with the E-mount,” (SAR reader Brad)
October 2013: Sony UK’s Alpha product manager Takahiro Hirata, said: ‘We will not quit A-mount product lines. We will have both product lines.’ (Amateur Photographer).
October 2013: “Sony are still committed to the A-mount system.” (Photographyblog).
November 2013: Kimio Maki is Senior General Manager at Sony’s Digital Imaging: “for A mount we can realize superior image quality with better new technologies” (Dpreview).
One more thing: The BIG Sony January announcement is 100% confirmed.