In the wake of the a9 III’s launch at the end of last year, Sony appears to have discontinued its predecessor, the a9 II.
As reported by Japanese photo blog Asobinet, major Japanese camera retailers have listed the a9 II as discontinued. While retailer information is not always an accurate bellwether, Sony itself no longer lists the a9 II on its product list for Alpha camera bodies, which is as good of an indication as can be reasonably expected.
Sony’s official camera product list in Japan doesn’t exclusively include the newest camera models, either, so that wouldn’t explain the absence of the a9 II. Some cameras replaced with new versions are still listed, including the Sony a7R IV (released in 2019 and replaced by the a7R V in 2022) and Sony a7 III (released in 2018 and supplanted by the a7 IV in 2021).
However, unlike the a7R and a7 series cameras, the a9 is exclusively marketed toward professionals. Yes, many pros shoot on the a7R-series cameras, but the a9 has always been primarily the tool of choice for professional photojournalists and sports photographers. Sony could reasonably believe it makes more sense to focus on the newest pro camera rather than dedicate resources to an outdated model that is less likely to have significant market appeal.
On the other hand, an a7R IV or a7 III is attractive to enthusiasts looking to save money. For a professional who demands the ultimate speed and autofocus performance, spending more money for the a9 III generally makes sense, especially given that it features a breakthrough global shutter image sensor that is fantastic for sports and action photography.
That said, the a9 II is currently available for $4,500, a $1,500 savings compared to the Sony a9 III. That’s a darn good deal for a great camera, and it will be a bit of a shame if the a9 II is discontinued in North America, even if all older cameras must eventually be taken out of production. For now, the a9 II remains in stock at numerous retailers in the U.S., including B&H and Adorama.
Sony’s American operations are closed today following the Fourth of July holiday, so the company has no comment on the matter. This story will be updated should Sony provide an official statement about the a9 II’s status in the United States next week.
Image credits: Sony