It’s July, I’m fresh off writing the mid-year review of my 2026 cameras, and in the process something 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 outstanding models from other manufacturers in recent months, such as the Sony A7R VI and Canon EOS R6 Mark III mirrorless cameras, plus the Ricoh GR IV and Panasonic Lumix L10 premium compacts, we’ve yet to see new Z-mount 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 over the past few years, attended countless events, and studied the timeline and cadence of past releases to form a picture of what might happen next.
I’ve considered which bodies might be in need of an upgrade and what direction each brand has been heading in recently. So let’s see what might happen next for 2026’s silent camera makers Nikon and Fujifilm.
Nik-no?
The last Nikon camera body was the September 2025 Nikon Zr, which was its first cinema camera co-branded with RED. It packed super-impressive video specs, many of which were borrowed from the excellent Z6 III, into a particularly small body with an epic 4-inch touchscreen and great audio capabilities.
For a true viewfinder mirrorless hybrid, we have to go back even further, over a year in fact, to the Nikon Z5 II in May 2025. This was a decent upgrade to Nikon’s affordable Z5, which delivered a number of performance improvements to redefine what entry-level full-frame models can do, and went on to win our 2025 award.
Currently, the range of Nikon cameras 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 plus the ZR cinema body.
The most rumored Nikon cameras are the Nikon Z9 II – what with the Z9 being over four years old – and new cinema camera bodies; potentially a premium and larger 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-styled bodies have been around for a while now. Personally, I’d like to see a Nikon camera in the Z f style, but as a compact camera version with a fixed fixed aperture prime lens.
Tipsters think we’re unlikely to see another Z7 camera; The Z6 III (and obviously the Z5 II) is too new for a replacement, while the Z8 has aged well and still holds its own today. CoolPix compact cameras have seemingly become sunsets – aside from updating its old 125x zoom bridge camera with the CoolPix P1100, we haven’t seen a true new CoolPix in years.
For me, having been hosted by Nikon at IBC 2025 in Amsterdam last September around the launch of the ZR, it was clear that Nikon has its head in cinema camera equipment, so a high-end cinema house to follow the ZR is very plausible, although I don’t know what it would be called.
A new Nikon cinema camera with an APS-C sensor is also highly likely. In theory, that would make a direct Z30 successor redundant in practice, although it would cost quite a bit more than a potential Z30 II would. 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.
Fujifilm’s next-generation processor on the way?
As for Fujifilm cameras, the X-T30 III was its latest X-mount release back in October 2025, which followed the classic X-E5 from June 2025.
These 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 range, with a range of 26MP and 40MP options.
I wouldn’t bet on an X-Pro 4 until the next generation of processors are out in the wild, if at all, and usually each new processor comes with the latest high-end XT model, the latest of which was the X-T5.
It comes as no surprise that the X-T6 is the most rumored Fujifilm camera, tipped for a release in September, when Fujifilm typically hosts its once- or bi-annual X-Summit.
I’ve written about what upgrades I could hope for in an X-T6, notably improved autofocus performance and an all-new processor, but otherwise it’s hard to see where Fujifilm can improve the X-T5 without stepping on the toes of the high-speed XH series.
Elsewhere in the range, the X100VI premium compact continues to sell well, so I’d be really surprised if a seventh-generation model arrives this year – a new processor should also arrive first.
Stepping outside 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 present and give you agency over how you see, how you feel and how you remember. They allow you to turn feelings into images – a grounding that doesn’t tell you what to think, but helps you stay focused and present.’
Are you a Nikon or Fujifilm photographer? What camera would you like to see next and what are the upgrades that will benefit your photography the most? Have your say in the comments.
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