New Nikon Z Lens Roadmap Revealed

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A new version of the Nikon Z lens roadmap has been revealed, featuring several upcoming lenses for the mirrorless Z mount system that should excite Nikon shooters. By 2025, they have promised the lineup will extend to over 50 Z lenses, meaning another 18 or so lenses will be launched in the next couple of years.

Note: If you are unfamiliar with the names and terminology used by Nikon to describe their Nikkor Z lenses, I recommend you also read our previous article entitled Nikon and Nikkor Lens Terminology and Abbreviations. You can also check out a complete list of all Nikon Z lenses and their specifications here.

Latest Nikon Z Lens Roadmap

The most recent update to the roadmap added a 24mm compact DX prime lens, a compact 26mm FX prime lens, and a 12-28mm DX zoom lens. There’s also an additional 85mm S-Line lens on the roadmap from the previous 2019 roadmap. It would make sense for this to be an f/1.2 lens since there is already a Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S, and I don’t believe they would bother with an f/1.4 lens.

While the inclusion of the 200-600mm lens on the roadmap will please many, photographers should note that this is not a “professional” S-Line lens. The lens’s aperture hasn’t been confirmed, but I guess it would be to compete directly with the Sony 200-600mm lens and deliver a variable aperture of f/5.6-6.3.

Unreleased Lenses on Nikon Roadmap

To summarize, these are the upcoming, as-yet-unreleased lenses on the roadmap:

  • Nikkor Z 12-28mm DX
  • Nikkor Z 24mm DX
  • Nikkor 26mm FX (now launched)
  • Nikkor 85mm S FX (now launched)
  • Nikkor 200-600mm VR FX (probably f/5.6-6.3)
  • Nikkor 600mm f/4 VR FX (now launched)

Nikon was slow at getting started with their mirrorless system, but with the launch of the Z9 and this impressive roadmap, I think it’s fair to say that those that stayed with Nikon will be feeling much better about this.

What’s Still Missing From The Z Lens Roadmap?

I’m surprised there isn’t a 300mm f/2.8 VR on the roadmap. Usually, 300mm prime lenses are announced in tandem with 400mm lenses, but now we’ve seen the launch of two different 400mm prime lenses, a 600mm and an 800mm prime. Sony has announced its 300mm f/2.8, where is Nikon’s?

Aside from that, I think Nikon has a great lineup of “regular” lenses. All that is missing are “specialist” lenses, such as fisheye lenses and tilt-shift lenses. With a promised expansion to over 50 lenses by 2025, I think it’s safe to assume that we will also get those lenses in the coming couple of years.

Previous Roadmaps

The Z lens roadmap has changed over the years. Some lenses have remained on the roadmap for several iterations, and some have had specifications modified. For example, the 24-105mm S lens finally arrived as a 24-120mm S.

September 2022

December 2021

nikon lens roadmap december 2021
 (Image credit: Nikon)

October 2021

June 2021

October 2020

October 2019

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Dan Carr

Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. His editorial work has been featured in publications all over the world, and his commercial clients include brands such as Nike, Apple, Adobe and Red Bull.

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