NikonRumors, a global optical and camera community, has released its latest compilation of major Nikon-related news in 'Weekly Nikon News Flash #888.' This week, the industry's attention is focused on a diverse range of issues, from the availability of new third-party lenses supporting the Nikon Z-mount to a bold challenge in the semiconductor lithography equipment market and the launch of high-performance memory cards.
1. Strengthening Third-Party Lens Lineup: New Releases from Voigtländer and 7Artisans
Attractive lens options for Nikon Z-mount users are expanding significantly. Voigtländer’s two new Z-mount lenses, renowned for their outstanding optical performance—the 'APO-LANTHAR 28mm f/2 Aspherical' and the 'SEPTON 40mm f/2 Aspherical'—have officially secured stock and entered the market. Furthermore, 7Artisans, known for its cost-effectiveness, is expected to introduce three new autofocus (AF) lenses shortly: two pancake lenses (AF 18mm f/2, AF 10mm f/4) and a full-frame fisheye lens (AF 10mm f/2.5), raising expectations among street and wide-angle photographers.
2. 'Ultra-Fast & High-Capacity' SanDisk CFexpress 4.0 Arrives with Memory Card Sales
News on next-generation memory cards designed to support ultra-high-definition video and high-speed continuous shooting has also been updated. SanDisk announced its new 'Extreme PRO CFexpress 4.0 Type B' memory card, boasting an impressive capacity of up to 4TB. These cards support blistering read speeds of up to 3700MB/s and write speeds of up to 3500MB/s, promising to dramatically shorten post-production workflows. Meanwhile, sale details for existing popular memory card lineups from SanDisk and Lexar were also shared.
3. Predicting Shifting Tides in the Semiconductor Market: Nikon’s Low-Cost Equipment Challenging ASML
According to Reuters, Nikon is planning to deploy "low-cost chipmaking equipment (lithography systems)" into the market to compete with ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant. This is interpreted as an aggressive move to expand Nikon's business beyond traditional camera manufacturing, positioning itself as a cutting-edge optical technology enterprise.
4. Industrial Optical Equipment and Firmware Update News
Targeting the industrial and scientific sectors, Nikon has newly released the 'ECLIPSE LV100AMS', an automated microscope operated with a simple one-click system. Additionally, RED, the cinema camera brand recently acquired by Nikon, released its latest firmware version 2.2 for the V-RAPTOR and V-RAPTOR XL platforms, further stabilizing its high-performance cinema ecosystem. Other updates included the release of a dedicated grip for the classic Nikon FM SLR camera and a setup guide for the smart photo management service, 'Nikon Imaging Cloud.'
5. Photography Contest for Female Photographers
Support for the cultural and artistic sectors was also highlighted. Nikon officially announced the launch of 'Female Facets 2026', a photography competition aimed at discovering and supporting the unique perspectives of female photographers worldwide, with submissions now officially open.
[Editor's Note]
"Nikon’s moves this week clearly demonstrate its determination to break out of the traditional 'camera' mold and showcase the pinnacle of optical technology. From manual-aesthetic Voigtländer lenses that perfectly complement classic bodies like the Zf, to its low-cost equipment strategy targeting ASML in the future-oriented semiconductor market. In particular, the steady firmware updates for RED cinema cameras—recently acquired by Nikon—prove that Nikon’s dominance in the video market is strengthening significantly. The arrival of ultra-fast CFexpress 4.0 memory cards and attractive third-party lenses, bound to tempt users' wallets, makes the upcoming summer shooting season all the more exciting."
[Tags] #Nikon #CameraNews #Voigtlander #Zmount #7Artisans #SanDisk #CFexpress4 #LithographyEquipment #REDCinema #NikonImagingCloud #FemaleFacets2026