Nikon rumors 2024
The Nikon rumors have, of late, all come to fruition – which only gives further credence to the old "where there's smoke, there's fire" adage.
Longstanding reports about everything from the Nikon Z6 III to Z8, Z9 and Zf all came to pass – and now that Nikon owns Red, all eyes are on every sliver of information that might affect not just the mirrorless world but the world of cinema cameras as well.
So, with the Z lineup now comprising everything from entry-level to professional to prestige retro cameras (and the slightly more garish special edition Nikon Z fc Heralbony), what are the latest Nikon rumors as 2024 hits its second half? Nikon has two registered yet unreleased cameras on the docket for this year, so let's see what they could be…
Nikon Coolpix P1000 II
It may be hard to believe, but this is the camera rumor I'm most excited about! But why am I so excited about a humble bridge camera? Well, I'm a huge fan of the original Nikon P1000 for one simple reason: the utterly absurd 24-3000mm focal range.
Yes, there are compromises in terms of the smaller image sensor with lower pixel count and reduced ISO sensitivity. But fact that I have an all-in-one camera with an impossible superzoom range just makes this an incredible tool.
So what can we expect from the Nikon P1000 II, or possibly the Nikon P1100? Well, if the "new" Panasonic FZ80D and FZ82D bridge cameras are anything to go by, it may be more of the same as opposed to anything revolutionary.
I would be truly astonished if Nikon can improve on that 3000mm maximum reach, but if it does then this could be the best bridge camera ever made when it arrives later this year.
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Nikon Z50 II
The original Nikon Z50 isn't a camera I see out in the wild all that often, and the Nikon Z fc – which is, essentially, the same camera in a much cooler retro body – was a lot more popular.
However, I've always felt it was a camera that deserved more credit than it got – so I was happy to hear rumblings that a successor is coming before the end of the year. My question is, what shape will it take?
If the Z50 II is just another ho-hum, entry-level APS-C camera then I'm not sure it will find an audience (although Nikon admitted that entry-level users are underserved, so it certainly sees a gap in its lineup). However, given the market's rampant appetite for vlogging cameras right now, perhaps the Z50 II could reposition itself along the lines of Sony's ZV range.
And of course, if we're getting a Z50 II, I have to wonder if a rebodied Z fc II is also on the way…
Nikon Z7 III
There has been so much noise about the Nikon Z7 III that it's difficult to separate genuine information from wishful thinking. The launch of the Z6 III has forced rumors about the new Z7 to kick into overdrive, with some whispers insisting that the camera isn't coming any time soon and others insisting that it's imminent – and even positing specifications.
Having heard all the rumors, here's what I think: the original Z7 launched in 2018 and the Z7 II arrived in 2020 – and each saw the simultaneous launch of the Z6 and Z6 II respectively. Whatever we make of the fact that the Z6 III has broken this synchronous cycle, it has still been four years since the Z7 II – so it is due an update sooner than later.
Expect a traditional resolution of 45.7MP, but perhaps a partially stacked sensor a la the Z6 III. It is likely that 8K will remain the domain of the Z8 and Z9, so we're probably still looking at 4K video (or 6K at best), but the bump in image stabilization seen in other bodies is sure to appear here – so you can look forward to 8 stops of compensation.
Nikon Z5 II
The original Nikon Z5 was launched back in 2020, so is very much due an update. And with Nikon's recent admission it has "underserved" first-time camera buyers, it will be interesting to see what changes it makes to its entry-level full-frame camera.
The Nikon Z5 II will likely retain the key features of its predecessor; a standard CMOS image sensor in the 24MP range and a 5-stop in-body image stabilization system (rather than a BSI sensor and the updated 8-stop IBIS, to keep costs down) and 4K 30p video.
I was always confused (if grateful) that an entry-level camera had dual card slots. While there might be raised eyebrows if Nikon downgraded the mark II by removing a slot, it would no doubt minimize the price and size – both key factors, given the competing bodies from Sony and Canon.
"Yellow" Red camera
In case you haven't heard, Nikon has acquired Red – the cinema camera powerhouse that is a pretty big player in Hollywood and filmmaking in general.
What does this mean for the future – will Nikon leverage its new cinema stronghold to launch a line of Nikon cinema cameras, the way Canon and Sony do? Will it start adding the Nikon branding to Red products? Will it start releasing Red cameras with the Z mount, rather than the Canon RF mount that has just been offered?
So far there has been very little said officially. The new, Nikon-appointed, CEO has confirmed that Red will continue to produce cameras with the RF mount, and added that he would like to launch models with a Z mount in the future.
The first real, tangible crossover has materialized in the form of Red LUTs for Nikon cameras – a gentle start, for sure, but it's only a matter of time before more substantial specs start coming across.
Nikon Z90
Said to be the mirrorless equivalent of the venerable Nikon D500, this is the designated "APS-C flagship" of Nikon's Z series cameras – and is set to be a direct competitor to the Canon EOS R7.
Taking advantage of the 1.5x crop factor's amplification of focal length, the Nikon Z90 is reportedly built around a 33MP DX sensor capable of oversampled 4K 60p video (as well as FullHD at either 120p or 180p) and 15fps burst shooting.
Other supposed specs include 6 stops of in-body image stabilization, a 3.2-inch tilt-only touchscreen, and a hybrid memory card combo with one CFexpress B and one SD slot.
This is a camera that Nikon desperately needs in its lineup, so I would expect this – or something similar to it – to come to market sooner than later. That said, recently this rumor has started doing the rounds…
Nikon Z80
If you believe that the Z90 might be a real thing, does that make you more or less inclined to believe that the Nikon Z80 might also be on the cards? Either way, I've heard what feel like highly sketchy rumors about a Z80 – which would, purportedly, replace a potential Nikon Z50 II.
This camera would supposedly have more in common with the new Nikon Z6 III and Zf, potentially suggesting a more conventional APS-C resolution of 24MP. Could we also get a similar partially stacked image sensor?
What little information is currently swirling about this camera feels pretty dubious, but hey – Nikon certainly needs to do something with its APS-C line of Z cameras, so all bets are off.
Nikon Z4
Take plenty of salt with this long-in-the-tooth scuttlebutt, as advised by Nikon Rumors. The site reports that this is an EVF-free camera along the lines of the Sony A7C – "think Z50 but with an FX-format sensor". It is said to be smaller (63 x 129 x 96mm) and lighter (565g) than the Nikon Z5, and may even be an "iCamera" with all-new interface and potentially apps. However, as Nikon's recent re-strategizing has seen the company move away from entry-level mirrorless, this one might be a relic of past concepts.
Nikon 1000fps 4K camera
Frames per second hadn't been Nikon's forte up until the release of the Z9, but the change looks set to continue with the advent of an astonishing new 4K sensor that can capture up to 1000fps – all while delivering what Nikon calls "the world's highest levels of sensor performance".
"This new stacked CMOS image sensor uses a fine-pitch wafer level wire connection technology consistent with the 2.7 um pixel size," Nikon told us. "Also, it has a total pixel count of approximately 17.8 megapixels that realizes 4K × 4K high-resolution imaging of 1,000 frames per second and 110-dB high dynamic range (HDR) characteristics. This is one of the widest dynamic ranges in the industry."
The caveats are that this is a one-inch sensor, and is likely to be intended for industry rather than consumer use. However, with Nikon working on such bleeding-edge technology, it could open some very interesting doors for its consumer cameras going forward.
The Nikon verdict
What we think: Nikon has struck gold with the Z8 and Z9 pro cameras, and the Zf and Zf c retro cameras – and it knows it. With the company working hard to claw back market share, we wouldn't be surprised to see more of a focus on these areas in particular. The Z6 III feels like the next big release.
More camera rumors: Canon rumors • Sony rumors • Olympus rumors • Fuji rumors • Panasonic rumors • Sigma rumors • Hasselblad rumors • Leica rumors • Ricoh & Pentax rumors • GoPro rumors
