A100 out of stock in most UK Stores, does this spells discontinue in the near future?

I've been searching far and wide for a A100 but all seems to be out of stock in the UK apart from the more expensive stores. I'd also noticed that during the summer the price of A100K was dropped to £350 in many places, after this sudden price drop there was no stock. Is this spelling out a replacement soon ? ?

(p.s I don't want to buy a A100 and just realised that its getting replaced )

I'm guessing the name is going to change as well. Since the A100 was the first Sony DSLR it gets badged with that, 100 as in 1. Just like Alpha means new, or one in Japanese.

I believe it will be called the A500 when it is updated, but we don't know for sure. Since it is a 5d incarnation, it only makes sense it will be called the A500 next. When?

Good question too. I'm sure Sony will want the A700 in the limelight for a while, so it will be doubtful for them to get the A500 out before xmas, although they just might eek it out. Anything can happen.

Carl
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A700 Preview here: http://www.carlgarrardphotography.com/-/carlgarrardphotography/article.asp?ID=2564

Dam Sony keeping everything in secrecy!

Roland Wong said:

Dam Sony keeping everything in secrecy!

Click to expand...

In fact, Sony has been quite clear that the A100 will be available at least until this Christmas. They certainly would not want to be without a camera in this price segment during the holiday season. They will introduce an upgrade to the A100 sometime next year. But there is a good chance they will emulate Canon and still keep the A100 around for the most price sensitive buyers. You may still be able to buy it next Christmas and maybe even the Christmas after that.
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David Jacobson
http://www.pbase.com/dnjake

I hope not, I've only just got my a100. It's great. It seems to take really professional looking pictures without really trying. I will have to post some soon.

Gareth.

dnjake said:

In fact, Sony has been quite clear that the A100 will be available at
least until this Christmas. They certainly would not want to be
without a camera in this price segment during the holiday season.
They will introduce an upgrade to the A100 sometime next year. But
there is a good chance they will emulate Canon and still keep the
A100 around for the most price sensitive buyers. You may still be
able to buy it next Christmas and maybe even the Christmas after that.

Click to expand...

HELLO! your theory or doesn't really explain the sudden "out of stock" around the Uk and I believe US as well. This is not just for a few days but for months. I do know that Sony has said they are keeping the A100 and it would be stupid if they discontinued and if they were to replace the A100, they would had introduced it with A700. It just all doesn't make sense. What is with the "out of stock? ?" What is it for and Why the sudden discounted price before the stock was trapped ? ?

Maybe they are just geared up for building the bigger bodies at the moment. Once initial demand wears off, they'll be able to switch to making the A100 again.

Chances are, the A700 might become a little scarce at or around the A900 release date too.

and here is an old post of mine from a couple of months back giving you the reason I think this is correct.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=24052052

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G. Lassman

Well, they already emailed me to tell me all about the amazing A100 upgrade, the A700...

Roland Wong said:

What is with the "out of stock?

Click to expand...

It COULD be that the sales of the camera were far, far greater than they ever imagined, and with them trying to get the A700 out there now in sufficient numbers, that they were kind of caught with their pants down. It may be wishful thinking, BUT it could be true, and is likely. It seems the demand for the A700 is incredible.

Roland Wong said:

?" What is it for and Why the sudden discounted price before the
stock was trapped ? ?

Click to expand...

We really do NOT know what the cost of making the camera is. Maybe now that they have gotten back their "cost of developing" the A100 (again a supposition on my part), they can sell, sell, sell to the lower market, and generate a real interest in getting an update by going to the A700. It would be a fairly small investment to buy the A100, and many, many are very pleased with it. Once people see that it does take fine pictures... in spite of all the negative reports of terrible noise and flash problems... and with the word out that the new camera addresses a lot of these concerns, many will result in increased sales of A700's.

Do you follow my logic? The A100 would be a great camera to buy the partner who isn't really into photography, and the A700 would be the one that the "experienced" camera user would much rather have.

It would generate a lot of influx of new users.... theoretically. )

But, you are right, the A100 needs to be much more available. I am assuming it will be just temporary. Too many folk are MUCH to impatient on this forum, really!

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Gil
Sardis, BC
Canada

Really? A quick look at warehousexpress.com didn't say anything about out of stock.

Cecco