Yasuyuki Nagata at Dpreview: New 600mm lens is designed to be used on faster cameras than the Sony A9!

Dpreview interviewed Yasuyuki Nagata from Sony. Here are a couple of interesting tidbits:

• Sony 400mm f/2.8 sales were more than two times higher than estimated
• 70% of the 400mm GM owners are professionals
• Unlike the 400mm GM the new 600mm GM is targeted at high-end amateurs (Photographers that shoot birds, wildlife, aircraft). 70-80% of them shoot wildlife
• The new 200-600mm is G because there are some compromises, for example in the materials, or the body. We didn’t use magnesium-alloy, or the [newer XD linear autofocus] actuator.
• The 600mm GM to be compatible with cameras that are faster than the A9
• What kind of camera do A9 owners want as next? Nagata says: “They always request more speed, less weight, greater usability“
• Sony plans new lenses on both on the telephoto side and the wide-angle side

Dpreviews clear take away from this is that the A9II release is not far away:

The a9 is a seriously powerful camera, capable of communicating with compatible lenses at a rate of sixty times per second, but at some point it will be replaced by something even more powerful, with a higher sensor resolution, and capable of even greater performance. A lens like the G Master 600mm F4, with its twin high-speed ‘extreme dynamic (XD)’ linear focus motors, has to be designed with this kind of development in mind.

I told you folks, the A9II is close…and if the rumors we get are right it will be announced in late summer/early autumn!

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.