Nikon has just registered a new camera overseas that could be the Nikon Z7S or Nikon Z6S – refreshed versions of the existing Z7 and Z6 cameras with key new upgrades, including dual memory card slots, dual processors and 4K 60p video.
We had heard rumors of the Nikon Z7 (opens in new tab)S and Nikon Z6 (opens in new tab)S dating back to early July, when we first learned about the Nikon Z5 (opens in new tab). At that point we weren't sure whether the rumor mill was getting confused with details about the Z5 (and, as our camera rumors (opens in new tab) page will attest, there is no shortage of speculation about new Nikons).
• Which should you buy: Nikon Z6 vs Z7 (opens in new tab)
However, Japanese super sleuth Nokishita (opens in new tab) recently spotted an FCC certification for an unreleased Nikon camera with the product number N1932 (which had previously appeared via a Russian registration agency). The limited information (via machine translation) lends credence to the rumors:
"Nikon's unpublished digital camera "N1932" has passed FCC certification. Equipped with Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.2. If the orientation of the antenna is the same as Z7 etc., the width of the main body is around 140.6 mm, the height is 68.5 mm or more (EVF part etc. are not included), the thickness is 36.6 mm or more (grip part and lens part etc. are included)."
Those dimensions are broadly similar to those of the Z6 and Z7, and the matching antenna also signposts matching technology. All things considered, it does seem likely that this new camera is indeed the rumored S version of either body.
If you've never heard of S cameras from Nikon, they are generally mid-life cycle refreshes of existing products that add a limited number of new features – such as the Nikon D4S (opens in new tab), which added additional computational power and 60fps to its video capabilities.
Likewise here, the rumored specs for the Z7S / Z6S (courtesy of Nikon Rumors (opens in new tab)) are that it will feature dual Expeed processors, dual memory card slots, 4K 60p video, the improved Nikon EN-EL15c battery (seen in the Z5), and an optional vertical grip with controls. Everything else about the camera, such as the sensor, is expected to be the same, with a posited October announcement.
If true, it's a smart idea from Nikon – rather than replacing its existing full-frame mirrorless cameras wholesale in order to keep up with the Joneses (well, the Canons), producing refreshed versions featuring dual card slots and 4K 60p enables it to keep current without producing completely new cameras. Let's see what happens, come October…
Read more:
Nikon Z7 review (opens in new tab)
Nikon Z6 review (opens in new tab)
Nikon Z50 review (opens in new tab)
The best Nikon camera (opens in new tab): including Nikon DSLRs, Nikon Z and Coolpix compacts
