Digitalrev attacked Sony’s A6300 and A6500 strategy:

This is a depressingly short-sighted approach from Sony (might I add, even for Sony standards), since the A6300 was only announced in February and shipped in March. Instead of launching an A6300/A6500 hybrid as a more complete product at Photokina for example, Sony released a good, but not perfect A6300 in February.

Well I have to play the devils (Sony’s) adovcate to balance the story:

1. The A6500 does NOT replace the A6300 and costs $400 more which is really a lot more $$$
2. The current A6300 did not get any price drop. If you paid $1,000 for your camera and are happy with it you shouldn’t feel screwed at all.

The real weakness with the Sony APS-C E-mount system are the lenses. Sony cannot expect A6xxx camera owners to buy FE lenses only! They are bigger, have not the “right” focal length and you pay more for it than you should (more glass in use in FF lenses).

And Dpreview posted an article about “what’s changed, and what still needs to change”. They have a couple of complains and imrpovements suggestions. The touchscreen is too laggy and one more annoying thing is:

the a6500’s battery life rating has actually decreased compared to the a6300 by over 10%. It goes without saying that’s a change in the opposite direction than we would like.

Preorders (Start on October 10 at 11am NYC time):
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

Watch from minute 4.20 to hear them talk about the Sony A99II. At minute 9:20 they interview Sigma CEO once again confirms they will make FE lenses. At minute 15:00 they talk about the electronic variable ND filter for Sony. Anyway, if you find them watch it in full!

Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.