Nikon has officially discontinued the D6 DSLR, marking the end of its flagship DSLR line.Â
Introduced in 2020, the D6 was designed for professional photographers, particularly in sports and photojournalism. It featured a 20.8 MP full frame CMOS sensor, EXPEED 6 processor, and a 105-point all cross-type autofocus system. The camera supported continuous shooting at 14 frames per second and offered 4K UHD video recording at 30 fps.
The discontinuation of the D6 aligns with the industry's shift towards mirrorless technology. Nikon has been expanding its Z series mirrorless lineup, which offers features like in-body image stabilization and advanced autofocus capabilities.
For professionals invested in Nikon's DSLR system, the D6 represented the culmination of decades of DSLR development. Its discontinuation marks the end of an era for Nikon's professional DSLR cameras.
The D6's predecessors, such as the D5, D4, and D3, were renowned for their durability, speed, and image quality. These cameras were staples in the hands of professional photographers covering major sporting events, news assignments, and wildlife expeditions. The robust build and reliable performance of these DSLRs made them the go-to choice for professionals who needed equipment that could withstand challenging conditions.
The D6 continued this legacy, offering improved autofocus capabilities and faster image processing. However, the rise of mirrorless cameras, with their lighter bodies and advanced features, has shifted the market dynamics. Nikon's focus on developing its Z series mirrorless cameras reflects this change in consumer preferences and technological advancements.
While the D6 remains available through some retailers, its discontinuation continues to signify a broader industry trend away from traditional DSLRs. As mirrorless technology continues to evolve, manufacturers are investing more in these systems, offering photographers new tools that combine high performance with greater portability.
The end of the D6's production is a significant moment in Nikon's history, marking the transition from its long-standing DSLR dominance to a new era centered around mirrorless innovation.
This only shocks me because I didn't realize they had not already discontinued it. I just assumed it was still for sale on the store because they were running off inventory. This is the end of Nikon F mount. 65 years of glory, finally put to rest. That said, I will still be mostly shooting Nikon F on FTZ for a while yet.
I didn't get good AF results using that method. When I bought the Z lenses, my autofocus performance on the Z9 improved greatly.
I haven't had any major issue with most pro level Nikon F lenses. Third party stuff like Sigma I have found hit or miss. However, I did find early Nikon Z was TERRIBLE in studio portrait settings regardless of lens. It would miss eyes constantly and focus on eyebrows and lose track of subjects constantly. But Z8 is great and my hit rate for stuff like birds in flight is great so hard to criticize it.
Personally, I just can't justify paying 2-3x the price glass, that while slightly better, really doesn't make much difference in terms of end result for me.
If someone handed me $50,000 in BH gift cards tomorrow and said I had to spend it on Photo gear, that I have to keep forever then I'd go buy a full Nikon Z kit, but in the meantime Nikon F is amazing. I can get top quality glass in mint condition for super cheap.
I stayed with F & took the money to upgrade my lighting modifiers. Made a bigger difference than going to a Z platform.
100% agree. There are just so many ways you can better invest that money.
Seriously, I did. Picked up a couple Broncolor Paras. 222 & 133. Within the first year, Broncolor used one of my photos in their recent Para Brochure. Word got around and I got busier compared to the year before.
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I bought a D6 last year because the Z9 doesn't fire a flash beam when you are using flash in dark situations. For me, the Z9 is unusable for event photography in clubs. I don't like having to carry around 2 different systems, but I find it necessary. It's also a shame that the Z9 wasn't a mirrorless D6 and was instead more like a souped up Z6.
R.I.P. Nikon D5 Mark II
Supplanted by superior tech long ago. Surprised it lasted this long.
The Z9 has only been in market for 4 years. I'd say "long ago" is a bit of a stretch. The D6 itself is only 5 years old and still to this date is very competitive as a pro tier camera.
It may not have all the new mirrorless features but it does have benefits over Z9/Z8 such as wildly longer battery duration.
Nikon F is absolutely a dead platform and being replaced, but I think its hard to make the case that it was "supplanted by superior tech long ago" given that it is currently competitive with best in class cameras, to this day.
The feedback of the D6 shutter is a huge advantage over the Z9 in many shooting situations -noisy, party with flashing lights for example. Concerts with changing lighitng is another situation where the vibration of the shutter is preferable to the more subtle shutter indications of the Z9.
I must be NUTS Really, I Just SOLD 90% of my Canon Gear. I just Purchased a USED NIKON D500 on EBAY. Shutter Count 195 shots only. I Had used CANON for the last 5 years. Before using Canon I used THE Dinosaur DSLR K7 K5 K5 II and the K3 from PENTAX. I located most of my Lens from the Asian market DHL keep it simple. i THINK WE ARE GETTING TO SPOILED FROM THE NEW TECHNOLOGY NOW.. I use to drive a stick shift car in Los Angeles Traffic, What came next was the AUDI came out with the Tiptronic Transmission was nothing but Problems. Yikes.. DID I DO WRONG TO GO INTO THE NIKON WORLD??? WITH THE D500 DSLR??? NO I WILL STILL BUY THE D850 AS WELL JUST ME I TRY NOT TO SPOIL MY SELF TOO MUCH ... ONCE IN A WHILE IS OKAY
John Joulakian