The new A6400 Firmware is available here: sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-6000-series/ilce-6400/. It adds real-time Eye AF for animals.

Dpreview interviewed Yasuyuki Nagata from Sony. Here are a couple of interesting tidbits:

• Sony 400mm f/2.8 sales were more than two times higher than estimated
• 70% of the 400mm GM owners are professionals
• Unlike the 400mm GM the new 600mm GM is targeted at high-end amateurs (Photographers that shoot birds, wildlife, aircraft). 70-80% of them shoot wildlife
• The new 200-600mm is G because there are some compromises, for example in the materials, or the body. We didn’t use magnesium-alloy, or the [newer XD linear autofocus] actuator.
• The 600mm GM to be compatible with cameras that are faster than the A9
• What kind of camera do A9 owners want as next? Nagata says: “They always request more speed, less weight, greater usability“
• Sony plans new lenses on both on the telephoto side and the wide-angle side

Dpreviews clear take away from this is that the A9II release is not far away:

The a9 is a seriously powerful camera, capable of communicating with compatible lenses at a rate of sixty times per second, but at some point it will be replaced by something even more powerful, with a higher sensor resolution, and capable of even greater performance. A lens like the G Master 600mm F4, with its twin high-speed ‘extreme dynamic (XD)’ linear focus motors, has to be designed with this kind of development in mind.

I told you folks, the A9II is close…and if the rumors we get are right it will be announced in late summer/early autumn!

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

Official press text:
200-600mm press text on SAR. 600mm press text on SAR.

Official product pages:
600mm FE on Sony US. 200-600mm FE on Sony US.

Press coverage:
Hands-on with the 200-600mm and 600mm lensses by Dpreview.
200-600mm Image samples by Dpreview.
600mm Image samples by Dpreview.
600mm review so far by CameraLabs
200-600mm review so far by CameraLabs.
600mm hands-on photos by Photographyblog.
200-600mm image samples by Photographyblog.
200-600mm hands-on photos by Photographyblog.
600mm image samples by Photographyblog.
Sony 600 mm f4 GM y 200-600 mm f5.6-6.3: prueba de campo (Photolari)
Will Burrard-Lucas made his 200-600mm images available for download on Dropbox.
200-600mm Image samples on Sony.net.
600mm Image samples on Sony.net.

Videos:

POLL:

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SEL600F40GM
SEL200600G

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

Sony Announces New FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS Super-telephoto Zoom Lens

SAN DIEGO — June 11, 2019 — Sony Electronics Inc. today announced another new lens for their expanding full-frame FE lens lineup, the new FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS super-telephoto zoom lens (model SEL200600G).

Sony’s furthest reaching E-mount zoom, the new G Lens™ series model utilizes many of the company’s most advanced lens design technologies to ensure excellent image quality, high-performance autofocus (AF) and outstanding control. When paired with any of the latest, fastest E-mount camera bodies, it will reliably track and accurately capture all types of moving subjects, including birds, wildlife, athletes in motion and much more.

“We will continue to innovate and expand upon our E-mount lens lineup, which now features 33 full-frame models and 51 lenses in total. The new 200-600mm super-telephoto zoom lens gives Sony’s camera users yet another powerful tool to realize their vision,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging and Professional Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “For wildlife or bird photographers, sports photography enthusiasts and many others, it offers a new level of creative freedom, striking the ultimate balance between performance and portability.”

Key Features – New FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS super-telephoto zoom lens

Extended reach with built-in stabilization

• Versatile tele-zoom range from 200mm telephoto to 600mm super-telephoto
• Compatible with Sony’s E-mount 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, extending the reach to a maximum of 840mm at F9 or 1200mm at F13 with outstanding image quality and AF performance
• Built-in optical stabilization with three different mode settings, enabling images that are sharp and in-focus at extended super-telephoto focal lengths

High resolution and corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the entire zoom range

• Five extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements and an aspherical element, arranged in a new optical design that minimizes chromatic aberration
• 11-blade circular aperture mechanism that ensures beautiful bokeh
• Coated with Sony’s original Nano AR coating to suppress unwanted reflections, glare or ghosting in images

Fast, precise and quiet autofocus[i]

• Equipped with Sony’s Direct Drive SSM (DDSSM) focusing system, which has the power and precision needed to drive the lens mechanism for remarkably fast, accurate focusing
• Advanced focus system for exceptionally quiet operation, avoiding any unwanted noise that can disrupt an unpredictable subject like a resting bird or other forms of wildlife

Internal zoom mechanism for reliable and stable handheld shooting

• Overall lens length does not change while zooming, maintaining consistent balance and distance between the front of the lens and desired shooting subject
• A fixed-length structure – internal zoom mechanism – retains high resistance to dust and moisture[ii] in order to deal with difficult outdoor conditions
• Quick zoom operation with light zoom ring torque

Refined control and reliability for use in the field

• Focus ring featuring Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus control
• Three customizable focus-hold buttons, plus a Focus Range Limiter
• Dust and moisture resistant design[ii] and fluorine coating on the front element to resist dirt and fingerprints

Pricing and Availability

The FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS will ship in August 2019 for approximately $2,000 US and $2,600 CA. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

1. When the NEX series, ILCE-3000/3500, ILCE-5000/5100, ILCE-7/7R/7S, is attached, the autofocus function is limited. For details, please visit our support site.

https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/cscs/lens_body/?area=gwt&lang=en&mdl=SEL200600G&cat=3

2. Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof