• Blog
  • Calculators
    • DoF Calculator | Lens Equivalent
    • Camera Bitrate Converter | Record Time Calculator
    • Diffraction Calculator
  • Memory Cards
    • SD Memory Cards Guide
    • CFExpress Type-B Memory Card Benchmarks
    • CFexpress Type-A Memory Card Benchmarks
    • Memory Cards For Canon Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Fujifilm Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Nikon Cameras
    • SD Cards For GoPro
  • Accessories
    • Canon
      • Canon R5 Accessories
      • Canon R6 Accessories
      • Canon EOS R
      • Canon RP
      • Canon M50 Accessories
      • Canon T7i / T6 / T6i / T6s
      • Canon SL3 / 250D
      • Canon M6 II
      • Canon M5
      • Canon G1X III
      • Canon G7X III
    • Nikon
      • Nikon Z6 II / Z7 II
      • Nikon Z6 / Z7
      • Nikon Z50
    • Fujifilm
      • Fujifilm X-T4
      • Fujifilm X-S10
      • Fujifilm X-Pro3
      • Fujifilm X-T3
      • Fujifilm X-H1
      • Fujifilm X-T200
      • Fujifilm X100V Accessories
      • Fujifilm X100F Accessories
      • Fujifilm X-E4
      • Fujifilm XT30 & XT20
    • Leica
      • Leica Q2 Accessories
    • Panasonic
      • Panasonic GH5 / GH5s
      • Panasonic LX100 II
    • Ricoh
      • Ricoh GR III
    • Sigma
      • Sigma fp
    • Sony
      • Sony A1 Accessories
      • Sony A7IV Accessories
      • Sony A7c Accessories
      • Sony A7sIII
      • Sony A7rIV / A9II
      • Sony A9
      • Sony A7 III, A7r III Accessories
      • Sony A6600 Accessories
      • Sony A6100 Accessories
      • Sony A6000 Accessories
      • Sony RX1R II
      • Sony RX10 IV / RX10 III
      • Sony RX100 IV / RX100 V
    • Drones
      • Mavic 2 Pro
    • Camera Cleaning Gear
  • Lenses
    • Canon RF Lens List
    • Fujifilm XF Lens List
    • Fujifilm G Lens List
    • Leica M Lens List
    • Micro Four Thirds Lens List
    • Nikon Z Lens List
    • Sony FF E Lens List
    • Sony APS-C E Lens List
  • Store
Alik Griffin
Alik Griffin
  • Blog
  • Calculators
    • DoF Calculator | Lens Equivalent
    • Camera Bitrate Converter | Record Time Calculator
    • Diffraction Calculator
  • Memory Cards
    • SD Memory Cards Guide
    • CFExpress Type-B Memory Card Benchmarks
    • CFexpress Type-A Memory Card Benchmarks
    • Memory Cards For Canon Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Fujifilm Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Nikon Cameras
    • SD Cards For GoPro
  • Accessories
    • Canon
      • Canon R5 Accessories
      • Canon R6 Accessories
      • Canon EOS R
      • Canon RP
      • Canon M50 Accessories
      • Canon T7i / T6 / T6i / T6s
      • Canon SL3 / 250D
      • Canon M6 II
      • Canon M5
      • Canon G1X III
      • Canon G7X III
    • Nikon
      • Nikon Z6 II / Z7 II
      • Nikon Z6 / Z7
      • Nikon Z50
    • Fujifilm
      • Fujifilm X-T4
      • Fujifilm X-S10
      • Fujifilm X-Pro3
      • Fujifilm X-T3
      • Fujifilm X-H1
      • Fujifilm X-T200
      • Fujifilm X100V Accessories
      • Fujifilm X100F Accessories
      • Fujifilm X-E4
      • Fujifilm XT30 & XT20
    • Leica
      • Leica Q2 Accessories
    • Panasonic
      • Panasonic GH5 / GH5s
      • Panasonic LX100 II
    • Ricoh
      • Ricoh GR III
    • Sigma
      • Sigma fp
    • Sony
      • Sony A1 Accessories
      • Sony A7IV Accessories
      • Sony A7c Accessories
      • Sony A7sIII
      • Sony A7rIV / A9II
      • Sony A9
      • Sony A7 III, A7r III Accessories
      • Sony A6600 Accessories
      • Sony A6100 Accessories
      • Sony A6000 Accessories
      • Sony RX1R II
      • Sony RX10 IV / RX10 III
      • Sony RX100 IV / RX100 V
    • Drones
      • Mavic 2 Pro
    • Camera Cleaning Gear
  • Lenses
    • Canon RF Lens List
    • Fujifilm XF Lens List
    • Fujifilm G Lens List
    • Leica M Lens List
    • Micro Four Thirds Lens List
    • Nikon Z Lens List
    • Sony FF E Lens List
    • Sony APS-C E Lens List
  • Store
  • Blog
  • News

Will Nikon Make A Medium Format Z Camera?

  • October 22, 2020
  • Alik

Something I’ve been thinking about and could never quite figure out until now was, why did Nikon make the Z mount so big? It just always seemed like overkill to go with a 55mm mount.

Like I totally get the obvious reasons from their marketing, for example, it helps when it comes to lens design, and you don’t need as aggressive of a micro-lens design on the sensor, which has actually been helping with adapting third-party and vintage lenses (from my experience). But, it still seems like a 55mm mount was overkill and that Nikon marketing was, you know, doing the marketing thing, stretching the truth.

If it was really going to benefit lens design that much, Leica, Panasonic and Canon would have gone with a bigger lens mount since they all were also starting fresh.

Everything with the way Nikon presented this Z mount smelled a little fishy and there has been this one big question that has always loomed in the back of my mind.

 

Could Nikon Fit A Medium Format Sensor In The Z Mount?

 

Today I was messing around in photoshop and I drew out the dimensions of the Z mount which is 55mm and the GFX medium format sensor size which is 44mm x 33mm and put them together. Here is what it looks like.

 

A GFX Medium Format Sensor In A Z Mount Camera

It’s a little ghetto I know, I don’t have any nice drafting software to do it better, but, it’s a perfect fit!

When I throw it inside the actual camera I do notice that some of the mount hinges do obstruct slightly, but this shouldn’t be an issue considering the Sony FF sensor in their E-mount is pretty heavily obstructed and the Zs 16mm flange distance should give the lenses all the angle they need to reach those corners.

 

If Nikon could pull this off what would it mean?

This would be super cool. Having a Z mount with a Medium Format sensor would mean you would have one mount that can take APS-C, Full Frame, and Medium Format lenses.

This means that whatever system ends up living or dying in the future, Nikon has its bases covered.

 

When Will Nikon Make A Medium Format Camera?

This is total speculation but it seems like they need to fill out their Z full-frame and APS-C lens line a little bit more, which will likely take one or two years if they keep up their current pace, which is a bit slow. Right now they have 8 Z-Mount full-frame lenses and 2 Z-Mount APS-C lenses.

They’ll likely need to make some f1.2 and f1.4 primes and fill out their sports lineup a little more. The sports lenses don’t technically need to come until the next Olympics, after the games coming up and they still need a mirrorless sports camera.

If I had to guess, I would say they could do a Medium Format camera by the end of 2021 given their current pace of things.

 

Could Canon Make A Medium Format RF Camera?

Canon’s RF mount at 54mm is only 1mm smaller than Nikons, however, the Canon RF has a deeper flange distance of 18mm vs Nikons 16mm flange.

Given how Sony fit a full-frame sensor into a much smaller lens mount, then almost certainly Canon could pull this off with their 54mm RF mount and that longer flange distance.

Both Canon and Nikon could potentially have one mount that houses Medium Format, APS-C and Full Frame. Canon will just need to figure out what they’re going to do about their M system which has been incredibly popular. Do they make two different APS-C systems? That would be weird.

**This website contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click them to make a purchase.
Alik

Professional editor, blogger and photographer from Los Angeles California.

Related Topics
  • Nikon Z Lenses
You May Also Like
Moment Cinebloom Diffusion Review
View Post
  • Accessory Reviews
  • Blog
  • Reviews

Moment CineBloom Filter Review & Sample Photos

  • Alik
  • April 28, 2022
Voigtlander Lenses
View Post
  • Blog

Understanding Voigtlander Lens Naming

  • Alik
  • March 8, 2022
View Post
  • Blog

Kipon Ibelux 40mm f0.85 III Review & Sample Photos

  • Alik
  • May 24, 2022
Best CFexpress B Memory Cards
View Post
  • Blog
  • Memory Cards

Best CFExpress Type-B Memory Cards – Real Benchmarks

  • Alik
  • June 14, 2022
Popular Articles
  • Moment Cinebloom Diffusion Review 1
    Moment CineBloom Filter Review & Sample Photos
  • Voigtlander Lenses 2
    Understanding Voigtlander Lens Naming
  • 3
    Kipon Ibelux 40mm f0.85 III Review & Sample Photos
  • Best CFexpress B Memory Cards 4
    Best CFExpress Type-B Memory Cards – Real Benchmarks
  • 5
    Best CFexpress Type-A Memory Cards For Your Camera
Join The Fun! Sign Up To The Newsletter!


*You will need to confirm your email. Check your spam folder after hitting subscribe.

About Me

A professional freelance trailer editor. I've been blogging for a decade and this site focuses on benchmarking memory cards, camera accessories, and lens reviews. There will be a shift towards more education with color and editing so be sure to hit the bell in the bottom right to subscribe for updates. Read About to learn more.

Popular Lens Reviews
  • 1
    A Complete List Of Fujifilm Lenses | X-Mount
  • Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S Lens Review 2
    Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S Lens Review & Sample Photos
  • 3
    Kamlan 50mm f1.1 II Review & Sample Photos
  • 4
    Meike 35mm f1.7 Review & Sample Photos
  • 5
    Meike 35mm f1.4 Review & Sample Photos
Memory Card Guides | Benchmarks

Memory Cards For Canon R5

Memory Cards For Canon R6

Memory Cards For Nikon Z6II / Z7II

Memory Cards For Nikon Z5

Memory Cards For Fujifilm X-T4

Memory Cards For GoPro Hero 9

Memory Cards For GoPro Hero 8

Privacy Policy | Ethics Statement | Licensing

Copyright © Alik Griffin Inc. 2021

Input your search keywords and press Enter.