Sony’s much-anticipated A7 II camera is coming to the US next month

It won’t be long before you’ll be able to get your hands on Sony’s recently-announced A7 II full-frame mirrorless camera: the electronics company announced today that it will arrive in the US on December 9th starting at $1699. That price will get you just the camera body itself, but Sony is also offering a kit with a 28-70 f3.5-5.6 OSS lens for $1999. Sony says that eager customers can place preorders for the new camera starting today, though the orders won’t actually ship until December 9th.

Sony unveiled the A7 II camera earlier this month, offering an impressive follow-up to last year’s A7 model. Now, the Japanese company has finally revealed when the device will launch in the U.S. and how much it will cost. A7 II pre-sales kick off today, but the device won’t actually ship until Dec. 9. You can pick up Sony’s new camera for as little as $1,699, though that only covers the body. A full kit will run roughly $2,000. The A7 II is the first full-frame camera to offer 5-axis image stabilization, which should make it even easier to fire off stable video and photos. The new camera also offer improved auto-focus that’s 30 percent quicker, though it still packs the same 24.3-megapixel sensor. From a design perspective, the A7 II is also a step up from last year’s model with a revamped look and improved ergonomics. Sony employed more magnesium alloy, especially up front. There’s also a redesigned grip that’s easier to hold and an updatedshutter button placement. The redesign adds a bit of depth to the camera as well, and Sony is offering a new grip and lens carrying case for the A7 II as a result.