With the debut of the gorgeous and dear Nikon Z 35mm f/1.2 S, Nikon has launched the final last unreleased lens featured on its ultimate Nikkor Z lens roadmap. Nikon photographers at the moment are heading into the long run with no map — all long term Nikon lenses are slated to be surprises.
Lens roadmaps have lengthy been a vital a part of Nikon’s product advancement and business plan. The corporate continuously shared roadmaps for F-mount DSLR lenses and Nikon Z mirrorless lenses, giving photographers a common sense of what was once within the pipeline. Whilst those roadmaps didn’t at all times come with actual focal lengths and apertures for in-development lenses, they introduced common data and thrilling teases.
On the other hand, within the fall of 2023, Nikon USA Senior Advertising and marketing Supervisor Mark Cruz seemed on a reside Q&A with Adorama to talk about the then-new Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena. Whilst the focal point was once essentially at the Plena, Cruz dropped a bombshell, pronouncing that Nikon would now not be freeing to any extent further lens roadmaps.
“I did need to deal with a query, there was once anyone that requested one thing in regards to the roadmap after the 35, are we going to liberate a brand new roadmap? You recognize what, the aim of the roadmap has met its existence. It’s served its goal, is what I intended,” Cruz stated in 2023. “After that 35 is launched, it’s simply going to be surprises from right here on in. Delightful surprises. No new roadmap.”
The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.2 S unveiled these days is that 35mm lens Cruz referenced — a 35mm S-Line high.
Curiously sufficient, Nikon launched any other 35mm lens final 12 months, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4, which was once by no means on a roadmap. Not one of the lenses Nikon in 2024 had been ever at the corporate’s ultimate lens roadmap, together with the Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, or Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4. Heck, the corporate by no means teased the rest about any PZ video-oriented lens earlier than pronouncing it was once growing a Nikkor Z 28-135mm f/4 Energy Zoom final October.
So, whilst there have been various surprises between September 2023 and these days, as Cruz promised, with the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.2 S-Line high’s arrival later this month, Nikon’s ultimate lens roadmap will in the end be entire. That lone mysterious yellow dot will also be changed with a product shot, and Nikon photographers can sit up for a completely mysterious and sudden long term. Buckle up, Nikon Z shooters; it’s uncharted territory from right here on out.
Symbol credit: Featured symbol created the usage of an asset approved by the use of Depositphotos.