While the Sony US website is still doing a big mess by NOT displaying the A6000 and A7r we have at least some other good news to report. Sony is growing fast in the US market as you can see from those charts. Here is the full official Sony press text:

SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics – an overall leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer – is experiencing record growth in sales of mirrorless cameras, a rapidly expanding segment of the interchangeable lens camera (ILC) business.

According to The NPD Group, overall mirrorless camera revenue has grown 16.5%  over the past 12 months, with DSLR sales declining approximately 15% over the same period.  During this time, Sony has experienced a robust 66% boost in their company’s mirrorless camera sales, strengthening their dominant position as the #1 overall mirrorless brand, a position they have held for 4 consecutive years.

“Growth in the mirrorless segment shows this new technology and form factor are resonating with consumers,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, The NPD Group. “Going forward, mirrorless will continue to command a greater share of the interchangeable lens camera category.”

On top of the sales momentum, InfoTrends’ customer surveys demonstrate how strong innovation in the mirrorless space is continuing to attract a younger and more photo active ILC customer.  The latest data shows that over 61% of first time ILC buyers are under the age of 35, up from 54% approximately two years ago.  Key motivating factors for their photography include travel and family.

“First time buyers in today’s ILC market will play an integral part in future growth of the segment, especially considering the increasingly younger customers that are buying into new systems,” said Ed Lee, group director of the Consumer and Professional Imaging group at InfoTrends.

This news comes on the heels of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) decision to recognize “Mirrorless” as the official term for interchangeable lens cameras that do not include a mirror mechanism.

“This information shines a spotlight on where the mirrorless market has been, where it is today, and the bright future it presents,” said Neal Manowitz, director of the still image business at Sony Electronics.  “Our business continues to thrive based on strong innovation and the unique value propositions we are delivering with products like the a7 series and the a6000.  Their impressive imaging credentials allow photo enthusiasts, hobbyist and professionals to capture content in ways they never before thought possible.”

Source: Prnewswire.com

Sony 28mm F2 Lens Review

Your instagram-photos at a museum, sold for 90k$ each, without your consent (TheNakedCamera).
Using a Hoodman with A7 Mk ii (SonyAlphaForum).
Zeiss Batis 25mm and 85mm hands-on, plus FE 28mm f/2 comparison (Steve Huff).
Unveiled: Sony NXCAM Camcorder HXR-NX100 (BH Explora).

Brian: “The photographic artist, Carol Roullard, will be one of the featured artists at the HUD Gallery in Ventura, California. All her images were taken with a Sony A77 camera mounted on a microscope. She will display three large, 24” by 36” aluminum prints and several smaller pieces of her Micro-Crystal fine art photography. Her images are unique recordings of the minute crystals she grows and illuminates with polarized light. After years of experimentation, Ms. Roullard found that the Sony cameras were the best interchangeable lens cameras for recording high-resolution images of minute crystals. She has co-authored four Sony camera books and is currently working on her fifth book on the Sony a7 II camera. Examples of her work can be seen by visiting her web site www.CarolRoullardArt.com.
The show starts on Friday, June 5th with the show reception from 6-10pm and runs through the end of the month. For those who will be in Southern California during June, the HUD Gallery is at 1793 East Main Street Ventura, California 93001.  Check out their website for more information: http://www.dabart.me/the-hud/”

Sony Store US (Click here) is still a full mess: The A6000 and the A7r disappeared from the site. The A77II and A3000 listed but with preorder option deactivated. It may be that they are completely redoing the site before the next product announcement in mid June.

And most of the orders you placed to buy the $199 A7r got canceled. One of our readers just got this from Sony:

Dear Mxxxx,
We have canceled your order/item(s) due to item unavailability.
On occasion, popular items sell out before we can fulfill all orders. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience.

But some of the SAR readers were damn lucky and got the A7r for $199. Here is a screenshot from one of our readers:

[shoplink 35908 ebay][/shoplink]
Image courtesy: DC.watch.

Kai tested the new Mitakon ZY Optics 85mm f/1.2 and compared it versus the Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens:

The E-mount Mitakon 85mm f/1.2 lens can be ordered at BHphoto too (Click here) and [shoplink 35908 ebay]Asian eBays sellers[/shoplink].