We could see lenses even faster than f/0.95 for Nikon's Z system

With the arrival of Nikon's Z6 and Z7, we've heard a lot about the new Z mount and the benefits the large lens mount design provides Nikon's engineers. 

One of the benefits of the 55mm wide lens mount used by Nikon's full-frame mirrorless cameras is that we can now expect ultra-fast, high-quality lenses with apertures as big as f/0.95. To put that in perspective, the physical limitation of Nikon F mount is lenses with a maximum aperture of f/1.2 (though we haven't seen a autofocus lens with a faster maximum aperture than f/1.4). In fact, next year should see the first of these lenses in the shape of the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens.

Ultra-fast potential

While we've been under the impression that a f/0.95 is the maximum possible aperture for Nikon's Z mount, it appears it could be even more impressive. 

In a recent interview with French photography blog Mizuwari, Nicolas Gillet, Nikon France's director of marketing and communication revealed that Z mount is theoretically capable of supporting autofocus lenses with apertures as fast f/0.65. 

Will we ever see a f/0.65 lens though? Probably not. You just have to look at the sheer size, weight and the optical path of the forthcoming NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens to understand that a f/0.65 lens is a pretty impractical concept. 

What's interesting that Nikon's optical engineers have calculated that autofocus would be possible with a f/0.65 lens - the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens is manual focus, so could we see ultra-fast f/0.95 autofocus lenses in the future?  

Source: DPReview.com

Phil Hall

Phil Hall is an experienced writer and editor having worked on some of the largest photography magazines in the UK, and now edit the photography channel of TechRadar, the UK's biggest tech website and one of the largest in the world. He has also worked on numerous commercial projects, including working with manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm on bespoke printed and online camera guides, as well as writing technique blogs and copy for the John Lewis Technology guide.