Nikon Z-mount

Nikon Z-mount
TypeBayonet
Inner diameter55 mm
Tabs4
Flange16 mm
Connectors11 electrical pins
Introduced2018
Nikon Z 6 showing wide-diameter lens mount and full-frame sensor

Nikon Z-mount (stylised as ) is an interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its mirrorless digital cameras. In late 2018, Nikon released two cameras that use this mount, the full-frame Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z6. In late 2019 Nikon announced their first Z-mount camera with an APS-C sensor, the Nikon Z50. In July 2020 the entry-level full-frame Z5 was introduced. In October 2020, Nikon announced the Nikon Z6II and Nikon Z7II, which succeed the Z6 and Z7, respectively. The APS-C lineup was expanded in July 2021, with the introduction of the retro styled Nikon Zfc, and in October 2021, Nikon unveiled the Nikon Z9, which effectively succeeds the brand's flagship D6 DSLR.[1] The APS-C lineup was further expanded with the Nikon Z30, announced at the end of June 2022.[2] The Nikon Z6III was announced in June 2024.[3] In November 2024, Nikon announced the Z50II, the first APS-C camera to use the Expeed 7 processor introduced with the Z9.[4]

Nikon SLR cameras, both film and digital, have used the Nikon F-mount with its 44 mm diameter since 1959. The Z-mount has a 55 mm diameter. The FTZ lens adapter allows many F-mount lenses to be used on Z-mount cameras.[5] The FTZ allows AF-S, AF-P and AF-I lenses to autofocus on Z-mount cameras. The older screw-drive AF and AF-D lenses will not autofocus with the FTZ adapter, but they do retain metering and Exif data. Z-mount cameras support metering as well as in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with manual focus lenses.

The 55 mm throat diameter of the Nikon Z-mount makes it the largest full-frame lens mount.[6][7] It is much larger than the F-mount and the E-mount used by Sony mirrorless cameras[8] but only slightly larger than the 54 mm of both the Canon EF and RF mounts. It is also slightly larger than the 51.6 mm diameter full-frame mirrorless Leica L-Mount.[9] The Z-mount has also a very short flange distance of 16 mm,[10] which is shorter than all mentioned lens mounts. This flange distance allows for numerous lenses of nearly all other current and previous mounts to be mounted to Z-mount with an adapter.

The Z-mount 58 mm f/0.95 S Noct lens reintroduced the Noct brand historically used by Nikon for lenses with ultra-fast maximum apertures.[11][12]

Nikon published a roadmap outlining which lenses are forthcoming when the Z-mount system was initially announced.[13] The roadmap has been updated multiple times.[14] As of October 2024 the current version of the roadmap indicates a 35 mm S-line lens left to be released (besides the 35/1.4 lens released in 2024).[15][16] On October 30, 2024, Nikon announced that it is developing a video-centric, standard zoom lens with power zoom, the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ.[17][18]

  1. ^ "The Nikon Z 9: Unstoppable Performance, Revolutionary Innovation" (Press release). Nikon Inc. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ "The first step to next-level video content: the Nikon Z 30 is made for creators" (Press release). Nikon Inc. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. ^ "IMPRESSIVELY VERSATILE, CAPABLE AND POWERFUL: THE NEW NIKON Z6III OUTPERFORMS EXPECTATIONS, SETTING THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR ITS CLASS". Nikon. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ^ クリエイティブ志向を強めたニコンDXミラーレス「Z50II」
  5. ^ "Full coverage: Nikon Z7 and Z6 full-frame mirrorless cameras". DP Review. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Nikon strikes back at Sony with first full-frame mirrorless cameras". The Verge. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Nikon Unveils Z7 and Z6 Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras, New Z-Mount Lenses + Adapter". Photo District News. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Nikon Z Mount is Huge! Diameter 55mm Vs. Sony FE 46.1mm: Allow Medium Format and Better Lenses: Sony Alpha Full Frame E-mount Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review".
  9. ^ "The L-Mount Alliance: a strategic cooperation between Leica Camera, Panasonic and Sigma | Headquarters News". Panasonic Newsroom Global. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Nikon's 58 mm f/0.95 'Z-Noct' lens shows why it created the Z-Mount". Engadget. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Nikon's 58mm f/0.95 'Z-Noct' lens shows why it created the Z-Mount". Engadget. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  12. ^ "This is the Nikon 58mm f/0.95 Noct 'Ultimate' Lens". PetaPixel. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  13. ^ Keller, Jeff (23 August 2018). "Nikon's three-year lens roadmap includes 58mm F0.95 Noct". dpreview. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Nikon Z mirrorless roadmap archive". Nikon Rumors. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  15. ^ Cox, Spencer (15 October 2024). "Nikon Z Lens Roadmap". Photography Life. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Nikon is developing the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S super-telephoto prime lens with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter for the Nikon Z mount system". Nikon. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Nikon is developing the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ, a standard zoom lens for the Nikon Z mount system". Nikon. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  18. ^ Schneider, Jaron (29 October 2024). "Nikon's First-Ever Full-Frame Video Lens Is the Nikkor Z 28-135mm f/4 Power Zoom". PetaPixel. Retrieved 15 November 2024.