Good news from Sony: “The effect of the floods wasn’t as bad as we estimated three weeks go”
If you are on the waiting list for a new A77 or NEX-7 camera than we have some good news folks! Bloomberg reports: “After floods in Thailand halted image-sensor output at factories in the country, production will be shifted to a plant in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, in the beginning of next year, spokesman Hiroshi Okubo said. The effect of the floods “wasn’t as bad” as the company estimated three weeks ago, Yoshioka said.”
I hope this is not only a too optimistic statement to assure the markets and shareholders. Anyway I have been told that Sony will soon release a new press release. Let’s hope they can now give us a more precise idea of when the new cameras will be in Stock. My latest info I got days ago said that the A77 will be back in Stock in January and the NEX-7 will start worldwide shipment in February.
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P.S.: I made a quick shop checks and it looks like our UK readers are the luckiest guys out there. They have the A77 body in Stock at Warehouseexpress (Click here) and the 16-50 kit version in Stock at Jessops (Click here). And there are also two refurbished A77 bodies in Stock at Cameracenter on eBay UK (Click here).

hansen
6 months ago |today i got my sony a77 with the 16-50 2.8. yeaahhhh!!!
it’s an awesome camaera and lens. I like!!!! The sharpness of the pictures is amazing.
Ollder
6 months ago |Where in earth? (Or are you on earth?
)
SonyA77
6 months ago |They are in stock various places in the UK.
hansen
6 months ago |Austria!
On a web shop (redcoon) they got some in stock. I ordered the camera before they get them.
Ollder
6 months ago |Wow, that’s promising. I’m in Europe (Finland) too.
Enjoy your new camera
Guido
6 months ago |“Sony will soon release a new press release”. We hear that since many weeks from Sony. Everytime when I ask about a delivery date for the NEX-7 they point me to the press pages on their website and say “We will soon release a press release”. What exactly is “soon” for Sony? 2 months? 3 months?
Shipment start in February for the NEX-7? Some trustworthy people like Michael Reichman claim to have already a production model of the NEX-7 and not a pre-production model. Shipping start in 2 or 3 months makes not really sense for me.
Barbarous Waytel
6 months ago |Michael Reichman has a review camera given to him by Sony, just like they give it all other reviewers. That doesn’t mean Sony has the camera ready for retail stores as a mass product.
pancanikonpus
6 months ago |never thrust it until you get your camera
lol…
E
6 months ago |What’s the difference for potential customers? Since the beginning of this sad history Nex-7 will be shipped in February. But well, for me it’s a good way to be forced to patience and wait for the new Fuji and decide which one I prefer.
Massimo
6 months ago |I preorder my nex-7 here in spain, my customer, wich is really a trusteable one, told me the camera will arrive around 10th December, now I really don’t know what to do.
Another thing I think it’s that it’s a little bit dangerous for Sony waiting “so much” because in this time others company can show new products and could be a potential lost. Just hope to have more news soon!
Barbarous Waytel
6 months ago |The sensors were built in Japan, not in Thailand. The sony sensor related factory in Thailand was just for packaging the sensors. I don’t think that was ever a big issue.
Ollder
6 months ago |Would really need more precise information, as my vendor still has couple of A77 body only and 18-55 kits in stock. But I have ordered and waiting for 16-50 kit.
NOW, I could be satisfied with body only (and my old Minolta lenses) if I knew the kit to be waited for several months – but still wanting the 16-50 too, and it will be much more expensive purchased separately, I think.
So I dare not to change my order for body only if the kit comes quickly and not willing to wait endlessly seeing last bodies disappearing, neither. What a dilemma!
You’re doing good work, Andrea. I hope you get some better information soon.
SonyA77
6 months ago |Is this the same guy that said the Sony factory was in full production when it was actually under water?
Nico
6 months ago |I bought mine two weeks ago on darty.com (for french guys). I checked if it’s always on stock and it’s ok!!! so GOOOOOOO!!!
http://www.darty.com/nav/achat/image_son/photo_numerique/appareil_photo_reflex/sony_slt_a77.html#ectrans=1
A77 is an amazing camera!
Phyoshin
6 months ago |http://s3.craigupload.com/uploads/11_26_2011/img_20111126_00.07.39.4402160.jpg
Jean-Michel
6 months ago |This announce just to get better financial health on the Stock Market, but anyway, the best is that the production is coming back !
JonasM
6 months ago |Exactly.
JonasM
6 months ago |I’m laughing.
I’m sorry, but don’t take this Sony statement at face value. It’s given to build trust with investors that’s all. Living in Thailand I can say that the main factory was absolutely KILLED. Tsunami and quake in Japan, then prolonged flooding in Thailand = not as bad as we thought!?
The Q4 financial report will tell a very different story. 2011 will be the worst year in Sony’s history.
Gorn
6 months ago |“Living in Thailand I can say that the main factory was absolutely KILLED.”
I’m laughing as well.
Are we supposed to believe that just because you may be living in Thailand you know what the Sony factory and machines inside even look like?
In that case I’d rather believe the Sony statement…
Pretty sure all you have seen is the one picture of the Sony building we all saw…
Almazar80
6 months ago |It looks like that there the region affected by the flooding will see some significat drop in employment opportunities as manufacturing is shifted into other regions. I don’t know why people have to gloat over events that cause lose of life and property (as some people here do). Why just not hope for the best, for the country, for the people, for the company?
thoots
6 months ago |Good grief. Once again, the news is about apples, and you report it as oranges. I believe the one main factory we have been worried about is the Alpha assembly factory. “Image sensors” would be produced in some other factory, as would be “microprocessors,” which you previously reported about.
So, yes, it’s generally good that any factory producing “image sensors” might be getting back online. But, that may or may not be useful for our “needs,” as it means absolutely NOTHING in regards to resuming full production of Sony Alpha cameras.
sgts
6 months ago |not a bad site the cardiff ebay shop – although 999 was the original start price non refurbished body only.
might be the only photo store that doesnt sell a nex with that goddam irritating zoom lens that isnt the 16mm pancake – so plus marks for someone that finally, finally sells the new nex’s with the 16mm
Aydin
6 months ago |I couldn’t wait for the nex7 ANYLONGER.. i went out there today and bought the t3i..
buzd
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