Nikon 2026: From the Z9II to Cinema Glass – A Complete Breakdown of Matt Irwin’s Predictions

Matt Irwin expects the following NIkon announcement in 2026:

Nikon Z9II (Flagship): Development announcement expected between March and September 2026. Features likely include “XP8” processing and RED technology integration.
Nikon Z500 / Z90: A high-end APS-C flagship with a stacked 26MP sensor aimed at the D500-legacy wildlife/sports market.
Nikon ZRC / Z30R: A professional-grade APS-C cinema camera, effectively an APS-C version of the current full-frame Nikon ZR.
Advanced Cine Body: A dedicated cinema camera positioned between the Red Komodo and the Nikon ZR.

Z Cinema Lenses: A set of 3 to 6 autofocus-capable cinema lenses. The first 2 or 3 are expected by Q2 2026.
70-200mm f/2.8 S Version 2: A redesigned professional workhorse featuring new AF protocols to unlock “hidden” focusing prowess.
100-300mm (or 120-300mm): A high-end “tentpole” lens for sports and wildlife, potentially featuring a built-in teleconverter or Phase Fresnel (PF) technology.
Ultra-Wide Prime: A 14mm or 16mm f/1.8 S-line prime designed for astro, interiors, and gimbal work.
Exotic Primes: Possible development of ultra-fast glass, such as a 50mm f/1.0 with autofocus.

Nikon ZR Major Updates: Version 1.5 expected mid-year and Version 2.0 by late 2026, likely addressing Log video concerns and adding anamorphic desqueeze.
Feature Trickle-down: New UI features (like red histogram lines and timecode improvements) moving across the Expeed 7 camera range.