The Associated Press, one of the world’s largest and most respected news agencies, has just announced an exclusive partnership with Sony Imaging. From now on, Sony will become the exclusive provider of cameras for AP news photographers worldwide.
The association was unveiled this morning, and is being hailed as “the largest deployment of cameras in AP history.”
In a short video announcing the news, AP Deputy Managing Director of Visual and Digital Journalism Derl McCrudden described several general benefits of using a single brand. As he points out, this is the first time that AP is “equipping our photographers and video journalists with a kit from the same manufacturer.” Before this, all AP staff photographers used one brand (Canon, according to our research) and all videographers another.
“[This move] the way we can operate will change immensely, “says McCrudden.” The quality of our videos will increase, the quality of our photos will increase, our teams will be able to share the kit: memory cards, batteries, lenses. This is a game changer for AP and it will give us more flexibility in the future. “
After Mr. McCrudden’s comments, AP Director of Photography David Ake explained how the change to mirrorless will impact photojournalists taking the AP badge.
“What really excited me about the switch to mirrorless cameras is that we can now work in completely silent mode. We can really become flies on the wall without the annoying shutter sound interrupting the scene, ”says Ake. “This is a huge leap forward in photojournalism.”
In terms of specific equipment, Ake tells him DPReview that most photographers will be outfitted with a Sony a9 II, with a select few scoring with a Sony a7R IV:
The vast majority of still image photographers will get a Mark II. We’ll get some a7R IV for the cameramen, and a pair for some of our entertainment shooters who do a lot of portraits. But the standard kit will be an a9 Mark II.
This news will undoubtedly be received with moans from the Nikon and Canon camps and applause from the faithful of Sony. Despite the success of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, including Sony a9 cameras aimed at sports shooters and photojournalists, most photojournalists have kept up with what they know, shooting at Nikon and Canon.
This announcement may not change overnight, but it gives Sony a photojournalistic legitimacy that has so far eluded the brand.
