Photokina 2016: Hands-on with Sony a99 II

Sigma 50mm F/1.4 EX DG HSM: sharper at large apertures. If you require very sharp centers at F/1.4-2.8, the Sigma is your lens, it's stunningly sharp in the centers at F/1.4.
Of course it also benefits from the five axis IBS, as does a 90mm Tamron.

http://www.kurtmunger.com/sigma_50mm_f_1_4_hsmid174.html

Why do you care? Do you own Sony A Mount, I bet not. Besides between Sony, Tamron and Sigma I can get any lens that I can both afford and want. Many of those Tamron and Sigma primes test out better than the Canikon/Sony counterparts and are cheaper. Only those unaffordable (for me) long fast tele primes are lacking.

Well, if primes are your thing, here are 45 of them (excluding Sigma, Tamron, etc.)! What particular prime lens are you desperately looking for that is not on this list?

Sony
-------
Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8
20mm f/2.8
Zeiss 24mm f/2 ZA SSM
28mm f/2.8
Macro DT 30mm f/2.8 SAM
35mm f/1.4 G
DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM
50mm f/1.4
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZA SSM
DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM
Macro 50mm f/2.8
Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZA
85mm f/2.8 SAM
Macro 100mm f/2.8
Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 ZA
STF 135mm f/2.8 [T4.5]
300mm f/2.8 G SSM
300mm f/2.8 G SSM II
500mm f/4 G SSM
Reflex 500mm f/8

Minolta
-----------
Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8
20mm f/2.8
24mm f/2.8
28mm f/2
28mm f/2.8
35mm f/1.2
35mm f/1.4 G
35mm f/2
50mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.7
Macro 50mm f/2.8
Macro 50mm f/3.5
85mm f/1.4 G
100mm f/2
Macro 100mm f/2.8
Soft Focus 100mm f/2.8
135mm f/2.8
STF 135mm f/2.8 [T4.5]
200mm f/2.8 G
Macro 200mm f/4 G
300mm f/2.8 G
300mm f/4 G
400mm f/4.5 G
Reflex 500mm f/8
600mm f/4 G

Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM was announced late 2012, became available in the first quarter 2013. It features SSM – SuperSonic Motor, Sony’s version of a ring-type ultrasonic motor used for extremely fast and silent AF operations.
The Zeiss 135 1.8 uses an older screw type AF motor.
However, that does not mean the optical qualities of the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* is not excellent, but it does mean it was released back in 2006.

Very Wrong

Even if they have, who cares.

Nothing wrong with cameras that aren't huge sellers.

Don't forget that A Lenses have been around much longer and you do not throw a fantastic piece of glass away. You keep getting the best out of it year after year after year. What about Minolta? I have a few G lenses as well and I am still using them today.

If they do plan on making a new mount for a smaller body size (whether it be APS-C or full frame), they better do it soon because they'll keep losing market share. If they had focused on a larger sensor mirrorless instead of the 1" sensor back then, I think they'd be a much stronger position now. The 1" has its place though...I just think they have waited too long to bring out a large sensor mirrorless ILC.

But you get Sony Zeiss 135mm f1.8

Hmmm, this is not very attractive :(
Thanks!

@Sandy b- You are saying that your D810 and it's 3 year old exspeed 4 processor with 51 AF points with chew up the A99ii with its state-of-the-art Bionz X and 399 AF points? Are you sure you want to make that wager?

Sony has never had a camera that could track moving targets as well as a Nikon.

You said D810 and A99ii. Do you want to withdraw your last statement?

If it can out track a Nikon pro AF, which the 810 has, it will be a first. It sure isn't all about the points. Canon has more and still trails Nikon in tracking AF.

So you are saying you really have no idea? Of course it will be a "first." Sony is all about "first." It won't be the last...

Between both of them, they still make 55 lenses for the A mount.

But you have to admit that there are no innovations in this camera. All innovations go into the E-mount cameras, and it's only a matter of time until Sony abandons the A mount.

@Narretz: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/kimio-maki-confirms-sony-will-continue-create-new-camera-systems-mount/
Sorry to disappoint you. Happy Trolling! :)

"But you have to admit that there are no innovations in this camera"

Why open your mouth at all?

"Who cares about the outdated stuff anyway :)."

Apparently you do, because for example that Sigma 150mm on your owners list, is still produced for the A mount too.

@leonche64 great question you posed to Narretz. She needs to understand that it's ok to be ignorant, just don't make so easy for people to detect ;)

@TrojMacReady
I must admit, that lens is gold :D. I've switched through many optics, owned and borrowed, but the Sigma 150 is just too good to let it go :), specially when there are no alternatives, yet.

Sorry buddy, you do not get to redefine the language. By your definition there can never be an innovation. Sensors are evolutionary tech. The DSLRs came before the SLTs, the SLTs came before the mirrorless line. The first generation of the A7 line did not have in-body stabilization, and APSC e-mount line still does not have it. This is the 29th DSLR/SLT to have that feature. The A99 introduced the new hotshoe. This is smaller that the Canon 6D, making it the smallest FF DSLR type on the market. A new hybrid focusing system is introduced in this camera, one technically impossible in the A7 series. It has the the highest frame rate of any high megapixel DSLR type camera. It uses a battery grip that is now backwards compatible across three models. It introduces a new menu system into the Sony ecology. The A-mount and E-mount are companion product lines, not competition. Innovation happens on both sides of the line and are not entirely mutually exclusive.

@leonche64
I wouldn't say the A99II is smaller than 6D. It's similar in size, but still heavier.

wow, bot bad as a hula dancer. All A-mount.

BTW. ttran88, are sure you are a hula dancer as you you said so?

SLTs losing 1/3 EV due to the semitransparent mirror. Not good but not much either. Definitely not 30%!

its a minimal loss of less then 1/3 a stop which would not be noticed by the photographer but allows the retiring of the flicking mirror, vibration and many other issues to make the A99 series the fastest and best way of using long throw telecentric lenses

The a77 lost about 30% of the light corresponding to half a stop (log(base2)0.7)
See the second graph in this link (45 degree angle)
http://www.sonyuserforum.de/forum/showpost.php?p=1270217&postcount=206

It's positioned under a 60 degree angle, but the results are similar.

What about NO slamming mirror, combined with electronic first shutter curtain, resulting in absolutely NO loss of sharpness when using the camera handheld with moderate shutter speeds? Try a telephoto lens, and there is a difference that matters. Try macro, and this will matter even more! Also check out what this light loss means for real world work - can hardly be perceived, even at very high ISO!

1/3 of a stop is the difference between f1.4 and f1.6. It is compensated for in the algorithm, so it has almost zero noticeable difference in the resulting photo. Just another false flag waved by the uniformed and ill-intentioned.

Keep in mind that this is also the only FF DSLR style camera that uses BSI sensor that catches noticeably more light than the conventional sensors, so this compensates.
The actual photo-sites most likely get similar amount of light as your good old Canikon DSLR, where circuitry on top of the photo-sites block a lot of the light as well!

An then you have the advantage of no slapping mirror, that does not add shock and vibration, moving dust inside, takes time to get out of the way to get a shot, blocks your OVF, etc.

+1 for jonas ar,

@kadardr, FujLiver...
Only 1/3 stop? hummm. Do you ever looked DPR lab test results at least? further more your guys has no ideal about (log(base2)0.7) anyway as far as I can see.

@Magnar W;
>>> "What about NO slamming mirror"?

I have different cameras, the EM5 has the worst blur picture caused by shutterstock which has no mirror, my EM5.2 is better...

BTW, my "slamming mirror" camera is better than EM5 and even EM5.2 in this regards.

Do not "think" too much, you need to own cameras and often you'll find your "think" is wrong.

That's a bit of a fallacy, because no one suggested that shutters can't introduce vibration either. Both moving mirrors and shutters do. But a camera like the A7RII for example, can get rid of both. Even without the use of its full electronic shutter mode, the damping is pretty well controlled (especially compared to the older Sony shutters). The A99II seems to have inherited both its sensor and shutter, but there are conflicting reports whether it also has a full electronic shutter mode.

Mike FL: Read what I wrote - slamming mirror and EFSC! Also, as a professional I have been working with telephoto lenses and done macro work for tens of years, I have used telscopes for astrophotography, and I can for sure tell you that there is a VISUAL difference! This matters! This is not about overthinking or doing armchair photography.

There is much more than 5% difference in noise performance when you view higher ISO (especially low light) on dpreview studio scene. You have the tools to do comparisons, the traditional dslr of nikon has always had a good advantage in noise performance.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison/fullscreen?attr18=lowlight&attr13_0=sony_slta77ii&attr13_1=nikon_d7100&attr13_2=canon_eos70d&attr13_3=canon_eos7dii&attr15_0=raw&attr15_1=raw&attr15_2=raw&attr15_3=raw&attr16_0=3200&attr16_1=6400&attr16_2=6400&attr16_3=6400&normalization=full&widget=1&x=-0.6015383735559876&y=-0.8408412757766883

hilarious. Sony's camera and sensor division are very profitable. The rest of the company is also in the black standalone now.
Sony show they are loyal to A mount users
Sony's new A mount lenses are terrific and are fairly priced compared to the Canon/Nikon competition

what do you mean fairly priced? They're worse performers at a higher price.

Bunk comment. Sony has recently updated its 16-35/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8 and 70-400/5.6 all with fast and silent AF.

I use IBIS at 400mm and its works amazingly. I get far more keepers than with Nikon or Canon at this focal length.

I have my doubt's whether IBIS alone could produce critically sharp images @ shutter speeds 1/60 or 1/30 @400mm . At the very least sony could let user decide whether to use the OIS of a lens or not (Sigmas 150-500 and 50-500 have OIS, but they can't be enabled on sony cameras)

I have to ask what might be a very very stupid question but.. why exactly would you shoot at 1/60 or 1/30 at 400mm in the first place? I don't shoot wildlife/sports so pardon my ignorance.

How many great lenses do you need? Zeiss 2/24, 1.4/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/135, and that not counting zoom lenses. BTW, all Minolta G lenses still work, and don't even try to tell me that they are not good enough :)

No third party lenses? That's completely false.

Sigma and Tamron still make A-mount lenses

Tons of incredible Sigma and Tamron aount lenses.

Don't spread bs.

I cannot see why Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 16-35 and 24-70 need updating, honestly :)
Speaking of prices...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Sony-Vario-Sonnar-16-35mm-F2-8-ZA-SSM-Carl-Zeiss-Lens-/291870180402?hash=item43f4d18432:g:eFIAAOSwanRXhFF6

oooh, i said here Sony will do them, with fast auto focus. So sorry, i didn't knew they did it in this year, yes, now they have 16-35/2.8 and 24-70/2.8 for A mount. Just today morning I tested them at shop here with old A99 and they really work fine (even with old A99 and A77ii!), auto focus is absolutely fine, definitely faster then my Canon 16-35/2.8 (i think, for it Canon updated this lens and increase focus speed and image quality few days ago, which was also not slaw before). This is very good news and makes new Sony A99ii the great system camera, far better then 5D4 (and faaaar better then my 5Dm3 with just middle image quality and funny DR!). Also, Sony set the price for new 16-35/2.8 for A mount same as Canon's 16-35/2.8. Just he is little heavier then lens by Canon, but the second version of 16-35/2.8 by Canon also heavier then the first version. Thank you for important information about new lenses by Sony.

@ HFML:
"isn't the 12fps only available in a mode, freezing the AF at the first frame?"

No, it allows AF+AE with 12fps, as demonstrated with examples during the presentation.

You mean Sony copied old dog Canon's pellicle mirror from 20 years ago if you want to be pedantic and learned some old tricks.

Sounds like you need to run Canon R&D, show me your patents and I'll contact my friends at Canon where I worked up until a few years a go.

Nigel Tafferham Lol..Translucent & Pelicle mirror were used by Canon since 1965.

'Nobwainzplease' is a TROLL of the flaming kind. Just ignore the muppet!

"parts bin special" but also claim they are wasting resources?

Can't be both.

Noflashplease user congrats -for the biggest dumb comment of the month

I just checked to see if the scores of folks saying they will guy this and/or the scores of people saying this camera was going to single handedly put Canon out of business were right in their prediction, and it STILL hasn't broken into the Top 100! Where are all you buyers all of a sudden???

In 100th as of now, the A58 is no longer represented and is replaced by the original Canon 7D. Not the 7D mark 2, the original 7D. So Canon is selling more 7 year old and discontinued 7D's than Sony is selling A99-II's at the pinnacle of its interest. Hmmmmm.

What a surprise.

Canon's sales can be misleading because they frequently deliver on time and without backorders.

A99-II appears to be DOA. Why? Because DSLR/SLT shoppers aren't interested in an ultra video centric camera dressed in stills camera clothes. Those buyers want ultra stills capable cameras, but don't mind getting a little easy to use video as a bonus feature. I guess Sony wasn't paying attention when Canon's 1Dc died. :))

How does sales number make Canon cameras better? People buy interchangeable lens cameras based on brand name and due to lenses they already own.

This camera is still way better than 5D IV or anything Canon made recently.

Doesnt matter if it sells 1 or a million, it STILL superior to the higher priced Canon 5D IV and nothing will change that. Some people just prefer to pay more for less. Its an odd world we live in.

Sounds like the Sony fans don't think that profits from camera sales matter. Maybe they're right. Maybe when it comes to A-mount bodies Sony is the one company in the industry that can afford to operate like a charity. :))

My god you Canon people are annoying.

Another update. I checked again and still no A99-II in the Top 100. I even gave it the benefit of the doubt, I picked DSLR's only and got rid of mirrorless;

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-DSLR-Cameras/zgbs/electronics/3017941/ref=zg_bs_nav_e_4_12556502011#1

At time of posting this, the 5D-IV is in third position, the 80D is 6th and the 5D-III is in 7th. Where all of you that said this is the end of Canikon? The final nail in Canon's coffin? The M5 is still in the Top 100 (they listed it as a DSLR) so folks ARE pre-ordering it in numbers. So much for it not selling because of no 4k. Where are all you no 4k = no one will buy it folks?

And since they listed the M5 as a DSLR, I looked in case they listed the A99-II as a mirrorless;

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Mirrorless-Cameras/zgbs/electronics/3109924011/ref=zg_bs_nav_e_5_3017941

Nope, still not in the Top 100.

Where are the huge sales that would make Canikon shake in their boots?

Annoyingly accurate in accessing Sony's dilemma with the A99-II. I agree. :))

No Donnie, annoying because you think giving a live play by play of pre-orders in the comments is anything other than being a fanboi.

I'd rather deal with Apple fanbois than you guys.

Gee, do you think that the a99ii isn't available for pre-order through Amazon might be the reason it hasn't cracked the top 100 sales yet?

@Quisquis - now you know how the 4k mob sound like to the rest of us. Instead of just one person posting (as in me here), imagine a half dozen posting under every comment. And still it doesn't affect Canon sales!

@contadorfan - then Amazon took it down. Just after pre-orders opened I did click the link and it was live.

@Interestingness: Are you really arguing "I'm just sinking to the level of people I find irritating"?

@contadorfan

Just checked Amazon. It's back up and active and has STILL not popped into the Top 100. Top 100 folks. I checked all three of my links - ILC, DSLR and mirrorless. Nothing. Look at some of the ruffians that are in the 70's and 80's, and this can't outsell some of those?

FWIW, the Canon M5 is moivng up quite a bit from where it was yesterday and closer to where it was a few days ago. What was that a lot of posters were saying last week that without 4K it wouldn't sell? Hello, anyone?

Just got back in from the gym and checked - SOMEONE has to be pre-ordering this, right?

Still hasn't cracked the Top 100 on any of those three lists. Over on SAR they even have a whole 'story' of how Amazon is taking pre-orders for it to get the momentum going. I see the M5 is still up there getting pre-ordered. The Fuji XT2 seems to be selling VERY well. Canon 5D-IV still selling VERY well. Canon 5D-III still selling VERY well.

The A99-II? Not so much.

@Interestingness, just checked it for you, Sony A99II #12 on Amazon (DSLR)

It's so quiet now. What's next: only this week, next week it's gone, these short interval Amazon "statistics" need to be monitored over a longer period to be telling!

Yeah, which begs the question why "Interestingness"
bothers sharing them in the first place. Never mind the fact that I could care less how well the bestselling McDonalds food sells and how those profits benefit the quality and thus the consumer.... *shrug*

It is because the other day they were out trying to down talk the features that they clearly did not understand. Once it was pointed out that they were tech deficient, they became auctioneers, as if that proved anything. All it shows is desperation to win an argument by changing the discussion. You don't own Canon, it does not matter how many they sell, your bank does not benefit. It does not matter if you don't buy Sony cameras, you simply do not benefit from the tech that other people do. Go shoot whatever you want. he industry is talking about this camera, regardless of your whining and moaning.

@ObelixCMM

#12? Well, I'm stunned it made it up that far. I just checked right now and on all ILC's it's down to 87th as I post this, and on DSLR's it's down to 40th already in just a day and a half of sales. What DSLR's are selling more on that list? Well, used Canon XTI's are at 33rd. So there is a larger market for used XTI's than orders for the new Sony. Again, this is the camera that will singlehandedly put Canikon out of business?

Gotta love the hype-machine that is Sony too. Over on SAR there is a post on Amazon Sales Ranking welcoming A-mount back. It shows 18th. So on Thurs is was 12th, Friday down to 18th, and now Saturday down to 40th.

Over on Fuji Rumours? Just a post saying ordering is available on the XT2 via Amazon, and that camera is selling VERY well!

FWIW, in DSLR's on that list, the 5D-IV is still at 5th, 5D-III is 6th and the 80D is 7th. And those are camera's people are buying and taking delivery of, not pre-orders with an easy-out cancel clause.

@TrojMacReady

I share these sales 'statistics' to simply point out how the A99-II is totally inconsequential in the big picture. How many folks here were going on about how this will kill Canikon, it's the final nail in Canon's coffin, this will have 5D users switching over, this is the 5D-IV Canon should have built, since Canon crippled 4K in the 5D-IV and this has 4K people will buy it in droves, etc...

Since the 5D-IV was available for pre-order, it's been a top seller at Amazon and has consistently sold at the top of the listings. So for about the last month the 5D-IV has been selling strong. According to @ObelixCMM, the A99-II came out of the gates at 12th on Thursday afternoon, and here just a day and a half later it's already down to 40th. How much more will it fall by tomorrow?

My posting this nonsense was just to show how much more nonsense all the noise makers are about this hurting Canikon is. It won't even be noticed as a blip on the radar to Canikon.

@TrojMacReady

And by the way, the 5D-III has been a constant top seller all across the board (feel free to check Amazon, B&H, Adorama, etc...) since it came out years ago. THAT is statistically relevant. I would even wager going back to the 5D-ii and original 5D will show similar results. So 10 years of very strong sales for the 5D lineup vs a one day pre-order blip for the A99-II and who knows relatively speaking how few Sony A99's were sold in the last 4 years.

"I share these sales 'statistics' to simply point out how the A99-II is totally inconsequential in the big picture. "

I'm not sure you know what "big picture" means... wait and see how the other manufacturers respond in their ongoing lineup development to find out if it's inconsequential or not.

So basically, you're pointing to information over a long period from the same source in relation to the 5DmkIII and compare that to A) a camera that isn't too relevant here because it's not part of the topic (A99) and B) a single/double data point for the a99II.

And that data point proved to be "inconsequential in the big picture", within hours. Never mind the fact that even if Amazon is the largest Sony seller in the US (one could argue, that B&H has a thing to say about that for higher end cameras at least), the US isn't exactly the world market that Sony operates in. Asia is probably far more important to them by now, not in the least because it's a far larger camera market and one less traditional too.

Canon EF lens can not be adopted (shorter flange distance 44mm), theoretically Nikon could be adapted. Nikon flange is 46.5mm from sensor and A mount is 44.5mm, so if somebody would build 2mm adapter it could work.
Edit; Quick search on Google returned few F to A adapters

Sony's E-mount cameras have a shorter flange distance, which allows room for an adapter between the lens and the body. There are adapters available for almost every brand of lens. The ability to use Canon lenses on Sony A7-series bodies has helped Sony to grow a large lead in the mirrorless camera market.

@ihkjacky, it fixed 9 out 11 points on that list
Spot metering is linked to AF point
XAVC-S 4K video
4K video recording to SD card
FF and crop 4K video
S-log 3
Focus peaking
Zebras
Fully articulated screen
4K HDMI out
We will have to wait to see how AF tracking works with new dual AF system

Remember back when Canon announced the 5DR? The week before it started shipping, Sony announced the A7Rii. And now a month after the 5Diiii announcement, Sony releases this beast. Sony is clearly trying to get up in Canon's personal space. Trolling taken to the outer limits!

@Sdaniella, Not sure what you are talking about. Are you aware that the view in the EVF is taken directly off the sensor? So everything you stated about that is just wrong and weird. Are you aware focus peaking is a manual focusing tool? Some lenses are built to be focused manually. Are you aware Zebras are useful when looking through the viewfinder in situations where one can not use an LCD screen? Touchscreen is easy to implement on a simple barn door hinge design like Canon uses. It is impractical on current muti-axis, fully articulating LCDs that Sony uses. What was your point in all this?

Well Sony purchased minolta and that is where they go their start in the SLR market so their pedigree goes back further than 10 years. Believe that is why they have the odd flash shoe and while I am not sure if it is still true, I know bodies were compatible with Minolta lenses in the past.

Tamron just released 15-30 f2.8, 35 f1.8, 45 f1.8, 85mm f1.8, new 90mm macro, and new 150-600mm G2 plus they already had 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm USM version all in A-mount! What lack of lens!

But A7 is smaller and more modular. Horses for courses, of course.

a99ii form factor is o.k., if you don't mind holding a brick... the sensor cross-point fusion can be achieved with a new laea5 adapter, waiting to see what sony does there.

How is the A99II a Brick??

Did people shrink??

No, cameras shrunk. Point of reference has changed.

Brick implies something square and uncomfortable to hold where Sony DSLT cameras don't have straight line on them and great grip, A7 series would fit better in to the brick description

To me brick means big and heavy.

The A99 ii HAS shrunk compared to its predecessor. In most cases, to balance quality, heavy glass a stable platform, with a decent grip, suitable for an average person of a certain ethnicity and gender is preferable.
A good example is my Olympus E-P5, with a smallish (holding the built-in WiFi antenna) grip, that is perfectly fine for a pancake, or dwarfish type Micro-Four-Third lenses, but try a larger and heavier legacy Four-Thirds zoom lens, like the Olympus Digital Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 ED SWD, for example, and a more substantially bodied and bigger gripped OMD E-M1 is much preferable:

http://www.campacasa.eu/photo/em1/20131123_143228_2326c.jpg

You're doing it wrong @clyde!

The lines from the faithful are Sony don't or ever did overheat, the firmware wasn't needed because they never overheated, Canon lenses focus BETTER adapted to Sony's than they do natively on Canon bodies, the batteries are fine, just throw an extra 8 of them in a jacket pocket, the improved grip takes care of the balancing the bigger lenses, or is it the A7 was never designed for bigger lenses? So hard to keep track of the excuse of the day anymore.

Way to go, You're doing it all right @clyde!

The form factor alone makes the A99II vastly superior in handling to a A7 series camera and the the PDAF sensor fusion with the ones, on sensor, is also beyond what could be achieved on an A7 series.

Clyde, when I say almost no none will care, I mean the media, that for the most part will give the A99II a fraction of the talk than if it was a Nikon or Canon. Look how much fuss on the Canon 5D MkVI like it's the second coming of Christ. The camera was ridiculous yesterday, now put it side by side w/the A99II & looks even more absurd. Imagine the real hype if the A99II WAS the new 5D MkIV!

Personally, I think of the A-Mount (specially when it became SLT) as the best in-class gear, most advanced & best design, even though some say they're ugly as sin. They're generations ahead of everyone else & the A99II proves it again.

I'm happy Sony revived the A-Mount & keeps it going for a while longer. But their heart isn't in it anymore & even if a couple more bodies come out, the truth is the system is dead in the long run.. a shame. Sony could have turned the A-Mount into their Pro grade photo gear (along with better support which they badly lack) while still keeping the E-mount as it is.

You got it back to front, this is exactly the camera they needed and I don't want an A7RIII even with the same specs in a tiny body. I would be using a camera like this with 500 f/4, 150-600 as much as I'd be using ti for landscape etc. This will handle so much better and get much better battery, has better ergonomics.

thx1138, fully agree with you!

If you already own the lens in A-mount, stick with it, as it's very unlikely that you'll be seeing very many new released Tamron and Sigma lenses in A-mount. Pentax has taken over the third place in DSLR sales and Sony's SLT bodies are distant 4th.

The new Sigma 500 f/4 will come in A mount and makes the Sony 500 look like the sick joke it is at that price. Sales will evaporate assuming they even sell many. Sigma is lighter, cheaper has better mfd and the mtf charts indicate this will be as good as any other on the market.

LOL! I was a Minolta and Sondy user for over a decade. I love my A99 — second favorite camera of all. My switch to Nikon was the best decision I've made. At the time of the switch, Sony was doing absolutely nothing for A-mount. Albeit, I long for a taste of the A99II, it's just not going to happen. A) I'm totally invested in Nikon, and B) A-mount glass is ridiculously limited and expensive. $3200 for a flagship A-mount camera? Overpriced just like my A900 was.

shadowfax123, can you define limited? I seriously want to know so I understand what I am missing out on.

First if you mention someone like Mike Johnston, please put a link so we do not have to google who the hell is this nobody... and it was not very obvious even after the google search..
This line only, can give us a clear idea where Mike belong and obviously where he spends his time:
"I've seen more lens lineups that make more sense in cardboard trays on tables at swap meets."

The funny thing about most e-mount shooters is that with all of these older lens from A-mount it was wonderful to adapt them to there A7's bodies and shoot great photos with them!
Now that A-mount has the A99m2 that is clearly better than anything they have they are quick to put down all of those so called old in inferior A-mount lens! I just think most of them are butt hurt they didn't get the rumored A9 in e-mount.