Nikon Z-mount


Nikon Z-mount is an interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its mirrorless digital cameras. It was first used in 2018.
The 55 mm throat diameter of the Nikon Z-mount makes it the largest full-frame lens mount. It is much larger than the older Nikon F-mount and than the E-mount used by Sony mirrorless cameras 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. The Z-mount has also a very short flange distance of 16 mm, which is shorter than all mentioned lens mounts. This flange distance, along with the large throat diameter, allows for numerous lenses of nearly all other current and previous mounts to be used with an appropriate lens mount adapter on a Z-mount camera.

Z-mount cameras

Introduction of the cameras

In late 2018, Nikon released the first two cameras that use this mount, the full-frame Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z6, both using the then topoftheline Expeed6 image processor. In late 2019 Nikon announced their first Z-mount camera with an APS-C sensor, the Nikon Z50, also using the Expeed6. 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 succeeded the brand's flagship D6 DSLR. It was the first to use the Expeed7 processor. The APS-C lineup was further expanded with the Nikon Z30, announced at the end of June 2022. The Nikon Z6III was announced in June 2024. In November 2024, Nikon announced the Z50II as a major upgrade of the Z50; it became the first APS-C camera to use the Expeed 7 processor introduced with the Z9. In April 2025, Nikon announced the Z5II as a major upgrade for its lowest class full-frame line of cameras. In September 2025, Nikon announced the first camera of its "Z Cinema" line, the ZR, co-designed with RED. The ZR is the first Nikon camera that offers the 12-bit R3D NE raw video codec internally.

Camera overview

; Notes

Red cinema cameras

In 2024, Red Digital Cinema was acquired by Nikon. In 2025, the first two cinema cameras using the Z-mount, the V-RAPTOR and the KOMODO-X were released. On 9 September 2025, Red released the V‑RAPTOR XE, also offering a Z-mount version besides the RF-mount variant.

Camera gallery

Z-mount lenses

With the introduction of the Z-mount, Nikon began designing and releasing a new set of lens for that mount. It published a roadmap outlining forthcoming lenses when the Z-mount system was initially announced. The roadmap has been updated multiple times. As of February 2025, all lenses in the last version of the roadmap from September 2023 were released. Several lenses which were not indicated on the roadmap were released as well. On October 30, 2024, Nikon announced that it is developing a video-centric, standard zoom lens with power zoom, the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm PZ. On February 13, 2025, the details of the lens were released, alongside the announcement of the first two RED Digital Cinema cinema cameras with Z-mounts, the V-Raptor and Komodo-X.
In 2018, Nikon announced the development of the Z-mount 58 mm S Noct lens, reintroducing the Noct brand historically used by Nikon for lenses with ultra-fast maximum apertures. The lens was released in October 2019.

Lens designations

Nikon uses a new designation system for their Z-mount lenses. The older F-mount Nikkor designations are no longer used, though they overlap in some areas. Nikon also introduced the S-Line branding for especially high-performance lenses, which is akin to Canon's L designation or Sony's "G-Master" branding.
  • S-Line — High-end lenses. Not associated with any particular function, but S-Line lenses often have additional controls or a multi-function display.
  • DX — Lens only covers the DX image circle. FX cameras will switch to DX crop mode.
  • MC — Macro lenses with 1:1 magnification.
  • PF — Phase Fresnel. Replaces several lens elements with one PF element, reducing the size and weight of a lens.
  • PZ — Power zoom. Motorized zoom function to be used with controls on lens, camera, remote or app.
  • SE — "Special Edition" lenses with exterior design matching the Nikon Zf and Zfc cameras, resembling a design from the classic Nikkor lenses released around the same time as the Nikon FM2 film SLR camera.
  • TC — Switchable teleconverter built into the lens.
  • VR — Vibration Reduction. Uses a moving optical group to reduce the photographic effects of camera shake.

    Prime lenses

  • Nikkor Z 20 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 26 mm
  • Nikkor Z 28 mm
  • Nikkor Z 28 mm SE
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 40 mm
  • Nikkor Z 40 mm SE
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm S
  • Nikkor Z MC 50 mm
  • Nikkor Z 58 mm S Noct
  • Nikkor Z 85 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 85 mm S
  • Nikkor Z MC 105 mm VR S
  • Nikkor Z 85 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 135 mm S Plena
  • Nikkor Z 400 mm TC VR S
    Integrated 1.4x teleconverter provides 560 mm
  • Nikkor Z 400 mm VR S
  • Nikkor Z 600 mm TC VR S
    Integrated 1.4x teleconverter provides 840 mm
  • Nikkor Z 600 mm VR S PF
  • Nikkor Z 800 mm VR S PF

    Zoom lenses

  • Nikkor Z 14–24 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 14–30 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 17–28 mm
  • Nikkor Z 24–50 mm
  • Nikkor Z 24–70 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–70 mm S II
  • Nikkor Z 24–70 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–105 mm
  • Nikkor Z 24–120 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–200 mm VR
  • Nikkor Z 28–75 mm
  • Nikkor Z 28–135 mm PZ
  • Nikkor Z 28–400 mm VR
  • Nikkor Z 70–180 mm
  • Nikkor Z 70–200 mm VR S
  • Nikkor Z 100–400 mm VR S
  • Nikkor Z 180–600 mm VR

    DX lenses

  • Nikkor Z DX 12–28 mm PZ VR
  • Nikkor Z DX 16–50 mm VR
  • Nikkor Z DX 16–50 mm VR
  • Nikkor Z DX 16–50 mm VR SL
  • Nikkor Z DX 18–140 mm VR
  • Nikkor Z DX 24 mm
  • Nikkor Z DX MC 35 mm
  • Nikkor Z DX 50–250 mm VR

    Lens lines

The Nikkor Z line-up has several distinct lines of lenses, which are designed with similar handling and optical characteristics.
LineLensesDescription
Holy Trinity
  • Nikkor Z 14–24 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–70 mm S II
  • Nikkor Z 70–200 mm VR S
Professional S-Line zooms
Economical Trinity
  • Nikkor Z 17–28 mm
  • Nikkor Z 28–75 mm
  • Nikkor Z 70–180 mm
    		• These are adapted Tamron designs offering less wide angle, less reach and no VR, but at a substantially lower cost. Due to this trade-off, they are not part of the S-line.
    Lightweight Trinity
  • Nikkor Z 14–30 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–70 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24–120 mm S
    		• A series of S-Line zoom lenses covering the ultra-wide to tele range.
    Compact Primes
  • Nikkor Z DX 24 mm
  • Nikkor Z 26 mm
  • Nikkor Z 28 mm SE
  • Nikkor Z 28 mm
  • Nikkor Z 40 mm
  • Nikkor Z 40 mm SE
    		• Emphasizing smaller size and portability
    Ultra-fast Primes
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 85 mm S
    		• The line of ultra-fast primes feature almost identical size and weight and all have the same 82mm filter size.
    Fast Primes
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm
    		• The line of fast primes are designed for hybrid shooters; these lenses have characteristic rendering instead of perfect aberration control as implemented in the S-line lenses.
    Superior Primes
  • Nikkor Z 20 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 24 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 35 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 50 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 85 mm S
  • Nikkor Z 135 mm S Plena
    		• The line of primes are known for superior image quality
    Premium Super-Telephoto
  • Nikkor Z 400 mm TC VR S
  • Nikkor Z 400 mm VR S
  • Nikkor Z 600 mm TC VR S
  • Nikkor Z 600 mm VR S PF
  • Nikkor Z 800 mm VR S PF
    		• All of these lenses have the same control scheme and the same set of lens control buttons.

    Teleconverters

    The following Nikon teleconverters are available for use with Z-mount lenses:
    • Nikon Z TC-1.4x
    • Nikon Z TC-2.0x
    The Nikon teleconverters are only compatible with select Nikon Z lenses. They cannot be used in conjunction with the FTZ adapter. Z-mount teleconverters cannot be mounted on top of each other.
    The following lenses are compatible with the Nikon teleconverters:
    • Nikkor Z 70–180 mm
    • Nikkor Z 70–200 mm VR S
    • Nikkor Z 100–400 mm VR S
    • Nikkor Z 180–600 mm VR
    • Nikkor Z 400 mm TC VR S
    • Nikkor Z 400 mm VR S
    • Nikkor Z 600 mm TC VR S
    • Nikkor Z 600 mm VR S
    • Nikkor Z 800 mm VR S

      Lens gallery

    Nikon Z-mount adapters

    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 II lens adapter allows many F-mount lenses to be used on Z-mount cameras. 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. All Z-mount cameras support metering with manual focus lenses, along with all full-frame Z-mount cameras also providing in-body image stabilization on them.
    Mount adapters provided by Nikon to support F-mount lenses on their mirrorless cameras are:
    • Nikon FTZ: The FTZ supports F-mount lenses on Z-mount cameras, and provides an integrated tripod foot. Metering, IBIS and Exif metadata are supported with any F-mount lens, including manual lenses, while autofocus is only supported with AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses. Variable autofocus speed for video shooting is only supported with AF-P and select AF-S lenses. The FTZ adds 30.5 mm to the length of the attached lens, which is the difference in flange distance between the Nikon F-mount and the Z-mount. This model was discontinued by Nikon in late 2021, after the introduction of the FTZ II.
    • Nikon FTZ II: Same performance as the FTZ, but without the integrated tripod foot. This allows for easier vertical shooting with the Z9.
    Mount adapters provided by Nikon to support PL-mount lenses on their RED Z cameras are as follows. Note that they cannot be used with Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.
    • RED Z to PL Adapter Pack: Enables the use of PL-mount lenses on Z-mount RED Digital Cinema cameras.
    • RED Z to PL with Electronic ND Adapter Pack: Integrates an electronic ND feature.
    Nikon specifies F-mount lens compatibility as in the following table. F-mount teleconverters can be used on compatible lenses, but the Z-mount teleconverters may not be used in conjunction with the FTZ. For details on the lens types, refer to Nikon F-mount.