The future of alpha line?

Just to be clear, I am also not losing sleep over it and Sony is not to be blamed for my white hair... Moreover, I just ordered Tamron 180mm macro lens with alpha mount - I am not going to stop enjoying the present because of some speculations about the future...

I started the thread to share some concern, but also to open a discussion about what we can learn about the alpha mount from the new cameras, not necessary in the negative way. After all, we just see what Sony engineers were working on in the last year or so, therefore we maybe can learn what to expect from the A7xx and other future cameras. And maybe not...

If the alpha line gets discontinued, I'll be a happy camper. I'll buy up 3-4 bodies and wait for a couple of years for the lenses to drop in value.
Then I'll buy all the G and CZ lenses that I can currently only dream about!

Maybe the A7XX has been delayed as they may wanted to perfect a few features that they have used in NEX (Like video) and release a better DSLR instead of just increasing the megapixels and a few other features like the Nikon D300S did.

@ civisant I DONT WANT VIDEO guess you know what i think which comes first

I'm personally not that optimistic and the reason is not only because Sony produced NEX and a new mount. I'm worried about three things:

a) Sony's priorities in general: Low-end bodies, Point and Shoot and NEX. Sony is unfortunately primarily a consumer electronics company and not a camera manufacturer. Otherwise there would have been an upgrade for all camera bodies that would at least allow for better manual lenses control (a700 doesn't need it).
b) The decision to choose the E mount instead of the alpha for their camcorder. Is it only size considerations in this case or there is a whole turn to the E mount from the company and we will be left out?
c) The discontinuation of the a900 without a replacement. I can accept that what happened with the a700 was a mistake, there was a global financial crisis, they had to include video, new competitive products forced them to upgrade features, etc. But how about the a900? It seems that sony does not learn from its mistakes.

For the time being I have stopped investing in lenses or a new camera. I am spending on studio equipment, filter systems, etc. that can be used by any camera model. I'm not ready to jump ship because I am relatively satisfied with my a700, but I wouldn't mind a full frame sometime in the next 12 months and the d700 looks very sweet.

PMacinSeattle wrote: mrggt - my guess is that the NEX cameras have been kicking around inside Sony for a long long time and its not so much that the NEXs have delayed the Alpha's but more likely the other way around.

I actually think Sony has given-up on an entire line of products that was supposed to be released along with the introduction of SAM lenses. IMHO, things on the market changed faster than Sony has planned and that's the reason their releases were quite anarchic, confusing with evident holes and behind competition on some aspects.

Now, i don't know what will happen with a-mount DSLR in the near future (Sony focus at low end DSLR market in the past may hit them badly in the future) but i'm quite confident than DSLR cameras (middle to high end class and not necessarily all current brands ) will be with us much longer than NEX ones (or 4/3 micro for that matter).

Sure, in short term, these new cameras will do great on the market but honestly i don't see them last for too long; gadgets needs come and go and it is only a question of when new "revolutionary" system will start to appear (modular system for example)

Edited by Kiklop - 11 May 2010 at 17:33

The NEX and the DSLR lines are pointed at different markets, and as such I don't see one replacing the other.