Has the Canon 6D Mark II DSLR been discontinued? It seems a simple enough question, but as is often the case with cameras being officially killed off, the answer is more complicated than it should be.
Japanese photography blog AsobiNet reports today that the Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR camera is listed as “out of production” at major Japanese retailer, Map Camera. Camera Kitamura also says the camera is no longer in production. The 6D Mark II remains available at Bic Camera and is nearly sold out at Yodobashi Camera.
The 6D Mark II was released in 2017, and the 26-megapixel full-frame DSLR proved popular among customers despite some disappointment concerning dynamic range and high ISO performance.
DSLRs are a dying breed for companies with mirrorless camera systems, like Canon. The company said years ago that it would no longer develop a flagship DSLR camera.
While photographers are still waiting for the oft-rumored Canon EOS R1, it is clear that Canon took all its eggs out of the DSLR basket a long time ago. The company’s last new DSLR was the Canon EOS Rebel T8i in February 2020, just one month after the EOS-1D X Mark III landed. As it turns out, what was described as Canon’s “latest ‘Rebel’ DSLR” at the time will almost certainly be its last DSLR period.
As for the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, it seems that, if the end has not yet arrived for the venerable DSLR, it is quickly approaching.
For its part, Canon USA tells PetaPixel a slightly different story than the one circulating at Japanese retailers.
“Currently the EOS 6D Mark II is available in the United States for purchase via the Canon website,” Canon explains over email.
Although that is not a particularly strong endorsement of the 6D II’s survival — or a strong rebuke of the claim that it is no longer being manufactured — the camera remains available from Adorama and B&H for $1,399.
Further, despite what one Canon rumors website has said, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II has not been discontinued. That would be outrageous and shocking given that the R6 Mark II mirrorless camera was announced in late 2022 and is one of Canon’s premiere mirrorless cameras.