In 2026, Nikon had three development announcements and two actual announcements:
- Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 (released: January 2026)
- Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II (released: February 2026)
- Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S (development announcement: May 2026)
- Nikkor Z cinema lenses (development announcement: September 2026)
- Nikon ZR firmware 2.0 (development announcement: September 2026)
Was it so difficult to just release the Z 120-300mm lens this week? The lens has leaked multiple times and is already listed for pre-orders in Europe. Maybe we can still get the official release before the end of September – I already reported on several potential clues.
I’ve been reporting that 2026 will be one of the slowest years for new Nikon product releases for as long as I can remember. Here again is the list of Nikon cameras and lens announcements over the years:
| Year | Cameras | Lenses | Highlights |
| 2026 | 0 | 2 | Focus shifted heavily toward video ecosystem updates & lens refreshes. |
| 2025 | 2 | 4 | Introduced Z5 II & cinema-focused Nikon ZR (co-developed with RED). |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 | Released Z6 III and APS-C Z50 II. |
| 2023 | 2 | 7 | Highlighted by the flagship Z8 and retro-styled Zf. |
| 2022 | 1 | 6 | Added Z30; rapid expansion of Z super-telephoto primes (e.g., 800mm f/6.3). |
| 2021 | 2 | 8 | Unveiled flagship Z9 and retro Z fc. |
| 2020 | 4 | 10 | Z5, Z6 II, Z7 II mirrorless bodies; final flagship DSLR (D6). |
| 2019 | 1 | 6 | First APS-C Z-mount camera (Z50). |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | Launch of full-frame Nikon Z System (Z6 & Z7); final entry DSLR (D3500). |
| 2017 | 2 | 6 | Benchmark high-res DSLR D850; 100th Anniversary milestone. |
| 2016 | 3 | 7 | Flagship D5, pro-level APS-C D500, and D3400. |
| 2015 | 3 | 8 | Prosumer DSLRs (D5500, D7200) & specialized D810A. |
| 2014 | 5 | 9 | D750, D810, D4S, alongside multiple CX lenses for Nikon 1. |
| 2013 | 6 | 10 | Retro Df DSLR, D7100, D5300, and high-density Nikon 1 releases. |
| 2012 | 7 | 11 | High-volume DSLR year (D800/E, D600, D4, D5200, D3200). |
| 2011 | 4 | 9 | Launch of Nikon 1 mirrorless system (V1, J1); D5100. |
| 2010 | 3 | 10 | Benchmark enthusiast DSLRs (D7000, D3100). |
| 2009 | 4 | 8 | High-ISO powerhouse D3S, D300S, D5000, D3000. |
| 2008 | 4 | 7 | First full-frame prosumer DSLR (D700), D3X, and D90 (first DSLR video) |
| 2007 | 3 | 6 | Nikon’s FX full-frame debut (D3) and semi-pro DX benchmark (D300). |
The consensus from multiple sources: almost everything coming from Nikon is delayed
Nikon registered a new N2528 camera in China: we now have a total of three upcoming new cameras
I think it is time for Nikon to announce something, anything
