Nikon once again updated its Z lens roadmap, and we now know of a total of nine Z-mount lenses that will be released in the coming years. These range from two compact primes (a 28mm f/2.8 and 40mm f/2) to high-end 400mm and 600mm super-telephotos. Here’s a first look at the new lenses you can expect to see.
Table of Contents
The Updated Nikon Z Lens Roadmap
The following is the latest version of the Nikon Z lens roadmap, announced on June 28, 2021. It’s still current as of late July 2021:
Even though this is officially the newest version of the roadmap, a few new bits of information have been released about some of the unannounced lenses. As of late July 2021, these are the other additional details we know:
- The unannounced 28mm lens above is optically identical to the retro-themed 28mm f/2.8 SE that was announced alongside the Nikon Zfc. The difference is that the unannounced variation of the 28mm f/2.8 lens will simply have a standard appearance/design, rather than a retro styling. It will ship before the end of 2021.
- The 40mm prime lens above will be a 40mm f/2 compact prime lens – not quite a pancake lens, but close. It will ship before the end of 2021.
- The 18-140mm DX lens at the bottom of this chart will be an 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 DX.
The roadmap has changed a bit over the years. For example, here’s how it looked in late 2019:
As you can see, in recent years, Nikon added another 85mm prime to the roadmap (likely an 85mm f/1.2 S) as well as two super-telephoto primes – 400mm and 600mm. While the official specifications remain unknown, these supertelephotos are probably going to be exotic Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 S and Z 600mm f/4 S lenses that are specifically designed for sports and wildlife photographers. With the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters already out, Nikon will finally have a nice set of super-telephoto glass, which is very exciting! Most likely, one or both of them will be announced alongside the upcoming Nikon Z9 in the fall of 2021.
In total, every Nikon Z lens we know about is as follows. Lenses that have not yet been formally announced are marked in bold:
- 14-24mm f/2.8 S
- 14-30mm f/4 S
- 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 DX VR
- 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 DX VR
- 20mm f/1.8 S
- 24mm f/1.8 S
- 24-50mm f/4-6.3
- 24-70mm f/2.8 S
- 24-70mm f/4 S
- 24-105mm S
- 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
- 28mm f/2.8 SE
- 28mm f/2.8 (not yet shipping)
- 35mm f/1.8 S
- 40mm f/2 (not yet shipping)
- 50mm f/2.8 macro lens
- 50mm f/1.2 S
- 50mm f/1.8 S
- 50-250mm f/4.5-5.6 DX VR
- 58mm f/0.95 S
- 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
- 85mm S (likely f/1.2)
- 85mm f/1.8 S
- 100-400mm S
- 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens
- 200-600mm (non-S lineup)
- 400mm S (likely f/2.8)
- 600mm S (likely f/4)
- 1.4x Teleconverter
- 2.0x Teleconverter
We don’t officially know the maximum aperture values of some of these lenses, including the 400mm and 600mm primes, but we can roughly tell what they are going to be based on their previous designs. Hopefully, Nikon will release more information on the other lenses soon.
When Are These Lenses Coming Out?
The new roadmap doesn’t list any date projections for when the unannounced Z lenses will go on sale, although Nikon has said that both compact lenses (the 28mm f/2.8 and 40mm f/2) will be available before the end of 2021. Aside from those, it is hard to predict what specific lenses will be announced in 2021 versus 2022 for a number of reasons. First, Nikon has released some surprises that were not previously on the roadmap (1.4x and 2x teleconverters, as well as the Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 zoom). And second, given the current economic conditions and COVID-19, it might push new releases further into the future.
However, given the recent developmental announcement of the Nikon Z9, it is likely that either the 400mm f/2.8, the 600mm f/4, or both, will be released relatively soon. Nikon has said the pro-level Z9 is scheduled to be available in 2021, and it seems unlikely that Nikon would offer such a camera without at least one native super-telephoto prime. It will likely be October or November of 2021 when the Z9 and any associated lenses start shipping.
This graphic is also worth keeping in mind:
While it’s a bit outdated – Nikon has since announced both macro lenses as well as the development of the 28mm and 40mm lenses – it’s still useful for judging the shapes and sizes of the future optics. There’s also the quote at the bottom of the graphic that says Nikon will have 27 lenses by the end of 2022. That leaves no room for surprises beyond the lenses on this roadmap.
However, in a separate interview, Nikon implied that they want to release at least ten more lenses before March of 2022. That would cover not just all the lenses in the current roadmap, but also one extra lens! While the extra lens could be F-mount rather than Z-mount for all we know, let’s still hope this is the case rather than needing to wait until the end of 2022.
Analyzing the Future Lenses
A lot of Nikon’s upcoming lens lineup looks very interesting. The high-end 400mm and 600mm S-line primes seem like they could be very impressive, especially if they are lighter and sharper than their F-mount counterparts. If they couple well with both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, especially when it comes to autofocus, it could be very exciting. Imagine being able to take sharp, properly focused images at 1200mm f/8 – it could be a game-changer!
It’s also nice to see the two compact prime lenses on their way for the Z system. The Z cameras are great for travel photography already, and a pair of lightweight primes (the 28mm f/2.8 and 40mm f/2) will make that all the more true. I wish Nikon had prioritized their release instead of some of the other, heavier lenses so far, but at least these should both be shipping before the end of 2021.
The 100-400mm also seems interesting to me. The biggest gap in the entire Z lens lineup is the lack of a lightweight telephoto zoom. Most likely, the 100-400mm will still be too heavy to be ideal, but at least it’s something. In the meantime, many photographers who normally would not consider a superzoom are stuck with the Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 as their only option. (Though, as our review showed, the 24-200mm does punch above its weight.)
We also will be seeing another supertelephoto Z lens – the 200-600mm – which very well could win fans for wildlife and sports photography. Seeing as though it’s not an “S” series lens, chances are good that it will mimic something like the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 VR, a well-regarded budget supertelephoto lens.
What Nikon really needs to push to its Z lens roadmap is a sharp and lightweight 70-200mm f/4 S. Nikon, please, make this a surprise announcement – it should have been on the priority list a long time ago, but especially now that the Z system is otherwise starting to look so complete.
Nikon Z Lenses Announced So Far
The list below keeps track of all the Nikon Z-mount lenses that have been announced so far, in order from least to most recent:
2018
- Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S (our review)
2019
- Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 S
- Nikon Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 DX (our review)
- Nikon Z 50-250mm f/4.5-5.6 DX (our review)
2020
- Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S (our review)
- Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S (our review)
- Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR (our review)
- Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 (our review)
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S
- Nikon Z 1.4x Teleconverter
- Nikon Z 2x Teleconverter
2021
- Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
- Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens
- Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 (development announcement)
- Nikon Z 40mm f/2 (development announcement)
- Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE (same optics as 28mm f/2.8)
- Nikon Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 (development announcement)
If you want to find out more about the Nikon Z lenses, see Nikon Z Mirrorless Lenses page at Nikon USA.
Nikon Z Cameras
All the lenses above are Nikon Z mirrorless only, meaning they will not fit on any Nikon DSLR regardless of the adapter you use. At the moment, these are the only seven cameras which can mount Nikon Z lenses:
- Nikon Z50 (our review)
- Nikon Zfc
- Nikon Z5 (our review)
- Nikon Z6 (our review)
- Nikon Z6 II (our review)
- Nikon Z7 (our review)
- Nikon Z7 II (our review)
Of these, the Nikon Z50 and Zfc are the only cameras so far with a DX sensor, while the other five have a larger FX camera sensor. However, all of Nikon’s Z lenses fit on all of these cameras, DX or not. If you use one of Nikon’s DX lenses on an FX camera, your photos will be automatically cropped to fit the DX area. See more at Nikon DX vs FX.
Nikon has also revealed an upcoming Nikon Z9 camera that will sit at the top of the company’s lineup, but few details are known about its specifications yet.
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It is interesting that there is no mention of a 300 2.8 Z lens on the road map. With Nikon’s new excellent 1.4x and 2x Z teleconverters this would be a very versatile lens with less weight and bulk than the 400 2.8, not to mention less expensive.
Just got the Z105 macro…very little time to play with it but loving it so far. Each of the Z lenses that I have purchased have been excellent investments for me.
Glad you’re liking it! We can’t wait to review it soon at Photography Life.
“What Nikon really needs to push to its Z lens roadmap is a sharp and lightweight 70-200mm f/4 S.” I so agree! The 14-30mm f/4 S and the 24/70 f/4 S are wonderful lenses. Until Nikon releases a 70-200 f/4 S I’ll continue using the F-mount AF-P 70-300mm.
Please don’t write off the 24-200Z, it’s actually a pretty good lens. Yes, it has a slow aperture and has some difficulties keeping pace with AF tracking but the image quality is really good – not like older superzoom designs. Acuity and sharpness are not far behind the 70-200Z. Bokeh might be a different story but that’s a matter of taste to some extend.
It’s the best superzoom we’ve ever tested at Photography Life, but it’s not really at the level of the 70-200mm. That’s not much of a complaint considering that the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 is the single sharpest zoom lens on the market right now, at least that we’ve tested.
My wishlist: a 70-300mm to complete the f/4 trinity; a 15 +/-1mm fast lens.
85mm/1.2 is still pending…. and nothing about a 35mm/1.2…. :(
They’ll probably make a 35mm f/1.2 eventually, but this roadmap should last until at least March of 2022, so I’d be very surprised to see it before then.
Still no word about the 100-400 which is the most important lens for me. As I started investing in the Z system, I was sure, Nikon will release some telephoto zooms (besides the 70-200). If there is no Z-mount telephoto available until autumn I will switch to Canon, because I don’t want to be limited by the release timeline of Nikon. This would be a hard cut for me after 23 years of using Nikon. But I don’t want to wait until next year for my most used range of focal lengths. And to buy an F mount version is no option. I have no FTZ adapter and I don’t want to invest in a “dead” mount.
The 100-400 will most likely be out some time in 2021, but whether it comes out next month or at the end of the year is anyone’s guess. There was a rumor it would be among the lenses announced yesterday, but apparently not. It baffles me, too.
Was really hoping to see the 200-600 out by the end of July but doesnt look like thats going to happen. Will wait to see what this weeks announcement contains, if nothing regarding this lens I will order the Canon 100-500 along with a canon eos r6.
400 and 600 lenses are way past my pay grade so may be time for a change.
Been using Nikon for about 10yrs but having my doubts about their future.
Nikon said they want to release 12 lenses before March of 2022 ( nikonrumors.com/2021/…nths.aspx/ ) although of course it’s no guarantee they’ll do so. Still, I’d wait at least a bit longer for the 200-600 if I were you. It’s probably one of Nikon’s priorities given that there is a lack of lenses longer than 200mm so far.
The 200-600 must be internally zooming. The Sony’s zoom is internal. It is a great lens, all for $2000.
I have the 200-500 and I love it. However, the 200-500’s “zoom throw” is all of 180 degrees. I intend to be one of the first to get a Z9 (through NPS). It makes no sense whatsoever, to produce a second-class 200-600 and expect pros to attach it to the flagship Z9.
Internally zooming Nikon! I don’t care if I pay more than what the other company charges for its 200-600. Internallly zooming 200-600 Nikon!