Nikon at Salon de la Photo 2025: key takeaways

Nikon France’s marketing & comms director Nicolas Gillet sat down with Phototrend to discuss the first year of Nikon+RED, the new Z-mount zooms, and where the system is heading. Here’s the quick gist.

• Four bodies are carrying sales in roughly equal measure: Nikon Z50 II, Nikon Z5 II, Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z8. Each targets a different user tier, which Nikon sees as a healthy spread rather than a single “hit.”
• Nikon is leaning on Nikon School and Nikon Plaza to convert smartphone shooters—hands-on trials, lending campaigns and in-person guidance.
• Nikon Imaging Cloud adds auto firmware updates (no manual downloads), Wi-Fi backup with 30-day unlimited storage, and downloadable creator “Picture Control” recipes—already ~50 looks in France.
• Early feedback is “very positive.” The Nikon ZR with REDCODE + RED Log workflow brings cinema-grade image flexibility at an aggressive price, with the argument that RAW will become as routine as 4K did.
• Highlights noted by Nikon: a large, bright, high-res rear display; internal 32-bit float audio; and a digital hot-shoe path for deeper audio rigs.
• Z-mount’s short flange and wide throat make adapting PL and other mounts straightforward—useful for filmmakers with existing glass (even classic Nikon AIS).
• Lighter, more compact, now internal zoom (better sealing, stable balance on gimbals), with faster/quieter AF motors—see the new NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II.
• New coatings including mesoamorph to tame flare/ghosting; 77 mm filters (cheaper/more common); 11-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh.
• Nikon Zf now comes in silver; Nikon won’t pre-announce successors (e.g., to Zfc) while focusing launches like ZR and the fresh Z5 II.
• Nikon welcomes a broader optical park: native NIKKOR Z, third-party entries (e.g., Tamron, Laowa, Viltrox; Sigma on APS-C), plus extensive adapting thanks to Z’s geometry. Result: the Z system “likely offers the largest number of potentially usable optics.”