It’s July, I’ve just written my semi-annual review of 2026 cameras, and in the process, one thing became clear to me: neither Nikon nor Fujifilm have released a new camera this year (the Instax mini Evo Cinema instant camera doesn’t count).
So while I’ve personally tested notable models from other manufacturers in recent months, such as the Sony A7R VI and Canon EOS R6 Mark III mirrorless cameras, as well as the premium compacts Ricoh GR IV and Panasonic Lumix L10, we’ve yet to see new Z- or X-mount bodies.
I’m sure the question on many camera fans’ lips is this: can we expect new Nikon and Fujifilm cameras later this year?
I’ve reviewed every major camera release in recent years, attended countless events, and studied the timeline and cadence of previous releases to form an idea of what might happen next.
I’ve considered which bodies might need an update and what direction each brand has been heading in recently. So let’s see what could happen next for the silent camera makers of 2026, Nikon and Fujifilm.
Nik-none?
Nikon’s last camera body was the September 2025 Nikon Zr, which was its first co-branded film camera with RED. It packed super impressive video specs, many of which were taken from the magnificent Z6 III, in a particularly small body with an epic 4-inch touchscreen and stellar audio features.
For a true viewfinder mirrorless hybrid, we have to go back even further – more than a year, in fact, to the Nikon Z5 II in May 2025. This was a decent update to Nikon’s affordable Z5, delivering a number of performance improvements to redefine what entry-level full-frame models can do and taking our 2025 Camera of the Year award.
Currently, the Nikon camera range includes the Nikon Z30, Z fc and Z50 II APS-C bodies, and the Z5 II, Z6 III, Z f, Z7 II, Z8 and Z9 full frame bodies, as well as the ZR cine body.
The most rumored Nikon cameras are the Nikon Z9 II (the Z9 is over four years old) and the newer film camera bodies; potentially a larger, premium option with pro-grade connectivity that could sit above the ZR, plus an even more affordable version with an APS-C sensor.
We could get a new Z f series model; both retro-style bodies have been around for a while. Personally, I would like to see a Nikon Z f style camera, but as a compact camera version with a fast aperture fixed lens.
Insiders believe it’s unlikely we’ll see another Z7 camera; the Z6 III (and obviously the Z5 II) is too recent to be replaced, while the Z8 has aged well and is still going strong today. CoolPix compact cameras have apparently disappeared: other than updating their old 125x zoom bridge camera with the CoolPix P1100, we haven’t seen a truly new CoolPix in several years.
For me, having been introduced by Nikon at IBC 2025 in Amsterdam last September around the launch of the ZR, it was clear that Nikon has its head in cine camera equipment, so a high-end cine body following the ZR is very plausible, although I don’t know what it would be called.
It is also very likely that a new Nikon cinema camera with an APS-C sensor will appear. In theory, it would effectively make a direct successor to the Z30 redundant, although it would cost significantly more than a potential Z30 II. That would be a shame: the Z30 is Nikon’s cheapest mirrorless camera, and Nikon has otherwise largely ignored truly affordable cameras for entry-level photographers.
Is Fujifilm’s next-generation processor on the way?
As for Fujifilm cameras, the X-T30 III was their most recent X-mount release, in October 2025, following the elegant
Those launches meant that virtually all current X-mount models are equipped with Fujifilm’s latest X-Processor 5 chip, in addition to the X-Pro series, with a range of 26MP and 40MP options.
I wouldn’t trust an X-Pro 4 until the next generation of processor is available, if at all, and typically each new processor comes with the latest high-end XT model, the most recent of which was the
It’s no surprise then that the X-T6 is the most rumored Fujifilm camera, expected to launch in September, when Fujifilm usually hosts its
I’ve written about the upgrades I expect in an X-T6, especially improved autofocus performance and an all-new processor, but otherwise it’s hard to see where Fujifilm can improve the
Elsewhere in the range, the premium compact X100VI continues to sell well, so I’d be very surprised if a seventh-generation model arrives this year; a new processor should also come first.
Getting out of the new gear and into photography, it’s worth noting that Fujifilm recently shared its new ‘Look Up’ campaign (see below), encouraging people to look up from their screens and connect with the world around them, saying:
‘Our cameras bring you back to the moment, giving you control over how you see, how you feel and how you remember. They allow you to turn emotions into images: a fundamental force that doesn’t tell you what to think, but helps you stay focused and present.’
Are you a Nikon or Fujifilm photographer? Which camera would you like to see next and what upgrades would benefit your photography the most? Give your opinion in the comments.
Look
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