If you attempt to indicate mime type by adding an extension onto your request, but you are also using matrix parameters then the framework fails to detect the mime type.
This is due to setURLMediaTypeFromPath in BaseResource including any matrix parameters when attempting to parse the mime type. This issue is exacerbated when your matrix parameters contain "."
eg.
http://sif-server.com/requests/StudentPersonals/31b056ae-8178-4348-97c2-43be3ea52c95.json;zoneId=urn:com.sif-provider:school:1234
would try and parse
sif-provider:school:1234 as the Mime Type