Nikon Discontinues The D6

credits: Nikon

It’s officially the end of an era: Nikon Japan has now listed the D6 flagship DSLR as discontinued, closing the book on 26 years of pro-level DSLR development. According to Nikon Rumors, while the D6 is done at Nikon HQ, there are still some units available through retailers like B&H and Nikon USA’s store—but once those are gone, that’s it. After that, anyone wanting a new one will have to hit the used market.

The D6 was announced back in late 2019 and hit shelves in early 2020, bringing what Nikon called its most powerful autofocus system to date. It held that title until the Z9 mirrorless flagship arrived in 2021, which pretty much overshadowed the D6 entirely. In hindsight, a lot of people felt the D6 already looked a bit behind the curve when it launched—coming out just as Nikon was starting to shift hard into mirrorless.

That said, it’s kind of amazing the D6 lasted on shelves until now, especially given how fast the industry has moved on. Nikon’s DSLR legacy is nothing short of legendary, though. From the game-changing D1 in 1999 to the iconic D3 that brought full-frame to Nikon DSLRs, the series has left a huge mark on digital photography. And while the D6 might not be remembered as Nikon’s most exciting flagship, its DNA definitely helped shape the Z9 (and by extension the Z8), which has been a huge part of Nikon’s resurgence.