I don’t know if the info I got here is correct but an anonymous source sent me the sales figures for the A99:

Sales figures for a99:
-europe with russia 12773 /10.jan 2013  – 10.mar 2013/
-usa 16071 /same period/
-asia /39407 /same period
-rest of the world 5269 /same period/

I can’t evaluate if those numbers are actually a good or a bad sign. Anyway, at leats in US SOny launched a new action to push A99 sales. You get a free vertical grip and free flash with the camera purchase at Amazon too (Click here) and at Samys (Click here). The body only sells for less than $2600 at [shoplink 17727 ebay]BigValue (Click here)[/shoplink].

I have been told that the new Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai in person pushed to change the E and A mount roadmap. As you know most of the cameras due for a 2013 release like the cheap FF-SLT and so on have been dropped from the roadmap to focus on a more “innovative” 2014 release. As I told you both the A and E-mount development will continue.

A couple of trusted sources confirmed the next camera to come is likely to be the NEX-7 successor. It is coming within a couple of months.

Personal note on the roadmap: Sony is still discussing with the partners like Hasselblad and Zeiss the future 4 years strategy. I will keep you updated as soon as something 99% definitive has been decided.

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Sony announced a Press conference for April 7th at 2:30pm Las Vegas local time (PST). They will certainly announce the new Camcorders. The NEX-7n has been delayed and so no new regular E or A mount cameras should be announced. There may be some new E-mount lens and the Hasselblad Lunar.

Here are some rumors about what may be coming soon:
– Full Frame Sony NXcam.
– The Three wonderful Zeiss primes for the E-mount
– The Hasselbald Lunar
– The 55-210mm Lens update.

Stay tuned on SAR to follow all the latest news! let’s hope Sony suprises us with something unexpected!

Sony could soon update the current E-mount 55-210mm zoom lens. The lens is no more listed and sold by Amazon and apparently Hong Kong dealers said that the updated version is coming soon (Source: Dpreview Forum).

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The image on top shows you the great Zeiss 16-80mm A-mount zoom. And quite many NEX owners would be happy to see an E-mount version of it. And you know what? A source told us that we may see a new 16-70mm Zeiss E-mount lens coming within the the year! Finally we will have a high quality zoom. I only hope it’s not too big….

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Sony US officially launched a new A99 super deal. But instead of lowering the price of the A99 body they simply give you the vertical grip and the external flash for free! That’s a total instant rebate of $930. I checked around and you can find the deal available at Samys (Click here). Still not listed at Amazon US (Click here to see all A99 bundles). Don’t forget you can have a 6% back in rewards at Amazon and Bhphoto.

Like you I would have preferred to see a price drop on the body only but that deal is a first step into the right direction…

According to multiple sources from different US stores Sony will launch a new A99 superkit deal with a very(!) considerable saving. This will be the first time Sony answers the aggressive price reduction from Canon and Nikon DSLR. Currently we have plenty of “cheap” FF:
– The Canon 6D sells for $1,770 on Amazon (Click here).
– The Nikon D600 sells for $1,996 on Amazon (Click here).
– The Nikon D800 sells for $2,796 on Amazon (Click here).
– The Canon 5D MarkIII sells for $2,996 on Amazon (Click here).

Something had to be done to make the A99 more competitive. Of course the A99 is radically different camera. But this isn’t simply enough to make it a hotseller. I never saw the A99 within the top 100 of the most sold DSLR camera rankings at Amazon (Click here to see the list). So let’s see tomorrow if Sony US new offer will be good enough! As longs as I know there is no plan yet to lower the price in other countries too. But there have been some smaller price drops in EU stores during the last week and that may be the reason why they will not offer a bigger deal in Europe (see price at Amazon DE).

P.S.: Don’t forget that Gary Friedmann released his new A99 book: http://friedmanarchives.com/alpha99/