Skip to main content Digital Camera World Digital Camera World THE HOME OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Search Digital Camera World View Profile Accessories Buying Guides The Photography & Video Show Digital Camera Australian Camera Australian ProPhoto Photography Magazines Why subscribe? Issues filled with product reviews, latest updates, expert advice and more Delivered to your Android or IOS device Every issue is packed with photo tips, kit reviews and inspiration From$12View Camera news Camera rumors Photography & Video Show Photo mag deals Cheatsheets The Nikon Z-Mount is great, but with the rumored Z 200mm f/2, I think this camera system would be legendary Sebastian Oakley 29 April 2025 Why Nikon’s new Z-Mount 200mm f/2 would mean everything to me! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. My Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 200mm F2G ED VRII mounted on my Nikon D800 DSLR (Image credit: Sebastian Oakley / Digital Camera World) For as long as I can remember, the Nikon 200mm f/2 has been the most important lens in my career. Throughout years of covering professional sports, it was the one piece of kit I could always rely on - a lens that delivered a magical combination of compression, subject separation, and sharpness that nothing else quite matched. Every frame it produced had a depth and energy that turned fleeting moments into something far more lasting. When Nikon leaped the Z-mount system, many professionals had to adapt it, but there was always a piece missing. I wanted - and needed - a true Z-mount version of my beloved 200mm f/2. Shot with the Nikon 200mm f/2 (Image credit: Future / Sebastian Oakley) Now, finally, it looks like that dream could be about to come true. Alongside the recent buzz when Nikon announced the new Z 600mm, there’s real movement on other long-awaited lenses. You may like One lens to rule them all: Why I think supertelephoto zooms are the future of sports photography First there was the ‘Sigmonster’ now there’s the ‘Sigmungandr’, I think the Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports is a mythological BEAST of a lens According to a report from PetaPixel, Nikon has confirmed that it aims to have a total of 50 Z lenses on the market by next spring. Speaking at the NAB show in Las Vegas, Nikon said: "There are three major turning points for our mirrorless camera system. The first is the launch of the Z9 in December 2021, the second is the launch of unique products called Zfc and Zf, and the third is lens diversity. Nikon currently has 46 lenses in its lineup. We aim to expand our lens lineup by taking full advantage of the advantages of the mount to meet the diverse needs and shooting applications of a wide range of customers. As for future developments, our goal is to expand the number of lenses to more than 50 by the end of this fiscal year." Tucked within the report was the acknowledgment that while the Z-mount lineup is now impressively broad, there are still a few critical gaps. Among them: ultra-wide fast lenses for astrophotography, specialty lenses like fisheye and tilt-shift options - and crucially, lenses that existed in F-mount but not yet in Z-mount including the 105mm f/1.4 and, most importantly to me, the Nikon 200mm f/2. It’s not just about filling in the blanks. It’s about bringing forward the true icons that helped define Nikon’s reputation among professionals for decades. The AF-S Nikkor 200mm F2G ED VRII was one of those rare lenses that didn't just perform, it inspired. It handled low light with ease, rendered backgrounds with an almost dreamlike falloff, and locked onto subjects with absolute authority. In fast-paced sports environments where chaos is the norm, that reliability gave me the freedom to focus purely on timing and composition. Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Shot with the Nikon 200mm f/2 (Image credit: Future / Sebastian Oakley) If Nikon does indeed bring a fully built Z-mount 200mm f/2 to life, it won't just fill a technical gap. It will complete the Z system for a generation of photographers who grew up with lenses that felt like an extension of their creative instinct. Coupled with innovations in autofocus speed and edge-to-edge sharpness that the Z system already delivers, a native 200mm f/2 could set an entirely new standard for professional telephoto primes. Of course, until the official announcements come, we’re all left reading between the lines. But after years of hoping, adapting, and waiting, it finally feels like Nikon is listening to those of us who trusted that a lens like the 200mm f/2 deserved a future - not just a past. See more Lenses News Sebastian Oakley Social Links Navigation Ecommerce Editor For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and holds a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since his film days using a Nikon F5. He saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still, to this day, the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, the British Equestrian Writers' Association. He is familiar with and shows great interest in 35mm, medium, and large-format photography, using products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2, shooting Street/Documentary photography as he sees it, usually in Black and White. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 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Should photographers be worried? Haunting black-and-white photo book blurs the boundaries between nightmares and reality I found a pair of Nikon D70 DSLR cameras in the cupboard. They’re a bit sticky and their specs are laughable, but back in 2004, they were all the rage From wide-angles to wildlife - Sigma’s vast-ranging 16-300mm zoom ships on May 16 Nikon’s pro-grade 24-70mm f/2.8 Z lens drops to $1,996.95 Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Terms and conditions Contact Future's experts Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Accessibility Statement Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...