p.2 #1 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Not a speculation but a wish. Smallish FX body on the lines of A7cii/cr with IBIS of course. If they could do it in the same form factor as that of Z30, even better!
p.2 #2 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Amol Thorat wrote:
Not a speculation but a wish. Smallish FX body on the lines of A7cii/cr with IBIS of course. If they could do it in the same form factor as that of Z30, even better!
ZR is your answer, slightly taller than A7CR but worth it for screen size gain.
p.2 #3 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
I'd personally love to see a Z600 or Z800, basically a D500-replacement APS-C body. The Z50II is pretty nice feature-wise but lacks in build quality, IBIS, etc.
p.2 #4 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Here's my list of what needs to be Z-ified.
- 104mm f1.4 S
- 200mm f2.0 S
- 300mm f2.8 S
- Full set of PC S lenses starting with an 85mm with same axis tilt and rise.
- Z9II (obviously) with pixel shift, Raw pre-capture, brighter viewfinder(aka Z6III).
p.2 #5 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
bs kite wrote:
.....
However, I wholeheartedly agree with you that the 300 2.8 is a super lens; it is unique ...... and that’s probably regardless of manufacturer. I tested the 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 TC’s with one of the copies/models I’ve had in the past (Nikon, but I believe results would be as outstanding with Sony or Canon 300 2.8’s). The differences in sharpness or resolution between the TC’s was indiscernible to my eyes. 2.8’s are the best. But a 400 2.8 is just too heavy for me. So, yes, the 120-300 2.8 must be sweet, though I have not tried one yet. And the 120-300 2.8 with a built-in TC could become my favorite
p.2 #6 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Outstanding wrote:
ZR is your answer, slightly taller than A7CR but worth it for screen size gain.
From the marketing done for it presume it is rather video centric body than a hybrid like other Z bodies with inferior AF. Wouldn't stop me from taking photos with it but the AF from stills oriented Z cameras has me spoiled.
p.2 #8 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
More a wish list, pretty easy for me.
Shrink the Z8 to a Z7iii. I'm OK giving up frame rate and high end video specs for heat purposes, but adding backlit buttons and the rear screen mechanism would be spectacular. And yeah, I'm somewhat aware of the price / marketing issue without a Z8 update.
Shrink the Z7ii/Z6ii/Z6iii to an A7C form factor (including IBIS). I see the post above about the ZR, but that's lacking an EVF for my preferences. I also shoot a Z30 and miss an EVF quite a bit.
Shrink/lose weight in lens updates, and somewhere else I saw a plea to go back to fewer filter sizes.
p.2 #9 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
NIKON must do a *much* better job on their menus. So, yes, start with a major Z9 firmware update.
Following is just one example of many: This morning I needed to quickly switch from pre-release to normal shooting with just one button press (with my Z8). Nope. Can’t do that. Am I missing something? If so, please tell me how to do this.
My issue is with the parent Nikon corporation, not with NikonUsa . I converse with NikonUsa often, and greatly appreciate their excellent customer phone support; I often thank them for that support.
Back to pre-release - isn't it about time Nikon gave us pre-release with RAW?! How long have we asked for this ?
Nikon menus are much too complex and slow to use. I've been with them exclusively since 1984 and this is my only complaint along the way. Fix your menus Nikon!
p.2 #10 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
How does the AF on the ZR differ from other Z bodies with Expeed 7? I've never heard that there is much of difference before. Perhaps you can clarify and summarize the differences.
Amol Thorat wrote:
From the marketing done for it presume it is rather video centric body than a hybrid like other Z bodies with inferior AF. Wouldn't stop me from taking photos with it but the AF from stills oriented Z cameras has me spoiled.
p.2 #13 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
See this video by Steve Perry of Back Country Gallery, he has a one button work around with no menu scrolling once it is set up. Move up to the 19:45 part of the video for Nikon specific settings.
bs kite wrote:
NIKON must do a *much* better job on their menus. So, yes, start with a major Z9 firmware update.
Following is just one example of many: This morning I needed to quickly switch from pre-release to normal shooting with just one button press (with my Z8). Nope. Can’t do that. Am I missing something? If so, please tell me how to do this. Nikon told me that Menu banks won't do that. I converse with NikonUsa Philadelphia often. I greatly appreciate their excellent customer phone support, and I often thank them for that support. My issue is not with NikonUsa; it is with the parent corporation.
Speaking of pre-release, isn't it about time they created pre-release with RAW?! How long have we asked for this ?
Nikon menus are much too complex and slow to use. I've been with them exclusively since 1984 and this is my only complaint along the way. Fix your menus Nikon!
p.2 #14 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Hope you’ll permit a non Nikon-owning viewpoint here. I shoot Fuji but have been giving Nikon an investigation over the last few days, driven by interest in the excellent-value Z5ii.
For me: Nikon has excellent lenses but many are very big. Nikon has also developed some market-leading manual focus aids. They in fact already have one native Z mount manual focus lens, albeit a very expensive one. I’d be interested in a range of small, fast, manual focus primes, and perhaps that would also be of interest to other enthusiasts. Presently Voigtländer is filling that niche, so I guess it depends how much Nikon wants to try and cut into their sales.
I like the suggestion of an X100 competitor. Call it the Z100, use tech from the ZF body and give it a lens like the 40/2, and it would be an interesting competitor to Sony, Leica, and Fuji. Release a monochrome version for the hip market.
Canon made a splash with their 45/1.2 recently. Perhaps Nikon would like to release a similarly cheap and cheerful fast lens. They could do a 58/1.2 to cash in on their Noct heritage, perhaps, or if they wish to preserve the halo of their 58/0.95, could perhaps try a slightly different focal length.
p.2 #15 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
bernardl wrote:
What I think we will get in the next 6-12 months:
- Z9II..
...
- a longer zoom super tele, probably 200-500mm f4 S TC that will be significantly lighter than the monster Sigma 300-600mm f4
...
Cheers,
Bernard
I'm eagerly awaiting a z9ii with pre-capture RAW mainly for smaller birds, and am also curious that not a lot of replies include an interest in longer zoom super teles outside of Bernard's comment early in this thread. A 200-500 f/4 S TC would be awesome, or even something on par with Sony's 400-800 that seems to be missing in Z without resorting to 1.4 TC on the 180-600 (non-S lens). I'm considering picking up the Sony or Sigma and adapting, but so far my z8 limited to pre-capture JPG isn't super compelling to compromise just yet. Fingers crossed, z9ii pre-capture RAW and super zoom teles (or shorter S zooms with build-in TC).
p.2 #16 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
JBPhotog wrote:
See this video by Steve Perry of Back Country Gallery, he has a one button work around with no menu scrolling once it is set up. Move up to the 19:45 part of the video for Nikon specific settings.
Thanks for posting this JB. I need this explanation by Steve Perry. It will take some time to understand but I will get back here with thoughts.
p.2 #18 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
bs kite wrote:
Thanks for posting this JB. I need this explanation by Steve Perry. It will take some time to understand but I will get back here with thoughts.
Got it JB
I set it exactly as he says. That’ll work, at least until Nikon finally gives us RAW pre-capture. Thanks again .
p.2 #19 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Just a desire on my end would be a 200mm f/2 s line lens. Considering the Z mount may as well shoot for f/1.8 and go for the gusto.
A bigger desire would be a 300mm f/2.8 s lens, may as well shoot for f/2 while we're at it. The F mount VR II version is already awesome but dropping the need for an adapter would be icing on the cake.
p.2 #20 · 2026 Nikon Speculation Thread. What’s the next big thing?
Seems pretty widely agreed that a Z9 II is happening this year.
Also probably the 24-70 won't be the last to get a "II" treatment. But supposedly the new one is nearly parfocal, so I suppose RED and the ZR were heavy on their minds designing it. So the question is whether that's possible with something as long as a 70-200 II or as wide as a 14-24 II.
I think a 200/2 and 300/2.8 are both less likely than a Z version of the 120-300/2.8. They'd probably rather make one very niche lens than two. Now, I for one would buy a 180/2 or 200/2 with a Plena-like bokeh design before I'd buy that zoom, but people who are interested in that FL range for portraits are probably even more niche than people who are interested in it for certain small court sports, so I definitely won't get my hopes up.
Here's my out there thought that I don't think is at all likely: Nikon should do a 28-70/2 now that both Canon and Sony have; I'm not the first to say that. And maybe they will in fact make the the 120-300/2.8. Well, maybe owners of both those lenses would want to fill the gap with a ~70-120, ~85-135, something like that, instead of a 70-200. Talk about a portrait monster, especially if they could make it f/2.
