Nikon vs. the World – Fujifilm Asks: The Photo News of Week 10/26
Nikon sues Chinese lens manufacturers and Z-mount lenses disappear from shops. Fujifilm lets users vote on which lenses to build.
(Image: erstellt mit KI / Thomas Hoffmann)
Sometimes it feels like the photography world exists in two parallel universes: in one, there's a legal ice age, while in the other, you can write wish lists. This week delivered both extremes – almost simultaneously. While Nikon activates its legal department in China and lens manufacturers take cover, Fujifilm casually asks its community, “What kind of lenses would you like?” One might think some are playing chess, others Monopoly – only that at Nikon, all roads are currently blocked.
Nikon goes to court, and everyone else retracts their lenses
On March 2, 2026, the legal proceedings between Nikon and the Chinese lens manufacturer Viltrox officially began. The accusation: patent infringement related to the Z-mount. What initially looked like an isolated legal dispute quickly turned into a wildfire. Because on that very day, Sirui's Z-mount lenses also disappeared from Chinese online shops – primarily from Taobao, China's largest e-commerce platform. Coincidence? Hardly.
Shortly thereafter, Meike, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer, followed suit and also removed its Z-mount lenses from its product range. However, with an official explanation so diplomatically worded that it could have been printed in a company's annual report, they were merely optimizing inventory and conducting quality controls. The lenses would be available again at the end of March. The fact that only Z-mount lenses were affected, while other mounts continued to be sold freely, was not mentioned.
Reports from China suggest that Nikon has sent warning letters not only to Viltrox but also to other Chinese manufacturers. Negotiations about possible compensation are reportedly already underway. None of the parties involved have officially confirmed this, but when three manufacturers withdraw their products from the market simultaneously, it smells suspiciously like preemptive obedience.
Nikon itself, when asked by PetaPixel, reiterated its diplomatic stance: they always work with officially licensed partners and promote technological progress through healthy competition. Third-party lenses from licensed manufacturers are welcome. What Nikon didn't say: Those without a license should better brace themselves.
What does this mean for Z-mount users?
Panic is unwarranted. In Germany and the USA, Viltrox, Sirui, and Meike lenses are still available. The lenses are also still listed on the manufacturers' official websites. So it looks more like a precautionary measure – possibly to avoid further legal risks during ongoing negotiations.
Nevertheless, the situation remains tense. Should Nikon achieve a clear victory in court, the signal to other manufacturers could be devastating: either pay license fees or disappear from the market. This would drastically reduce the selection for photographers and also drive up prices. If, on the other hand, an agreement is reached, an official licensing model could emerge – with clear rules but also higher costs for end customers.
Interestingly, Samyang, a South Korean manufacturer, confirmed at CP+ 2026 that they are waiting for an official license from Nikon before launching autofocus Z-mount lenses. Samyang already had F-mount lenses in its lineup and even offers two manual Z-mount lenses – but the legal situation seems more complicated for autofocus lenses.
CP+ 2026: Third-party manufacturers still showcase new Z-mount lenses
Despite the legal turbulence, CP+ 2026 in Yokohama was full of new Z-mount lenses from third-party manufacturers. 7Artisans announced an AF 135 mm f/1.8 for late 2026, Viltrox showed prototypes of a 35 mm f/1.8 and 55 mm f/1.8 EVO in APO design, and Songraw presented an AF 50 mm f/1.2 and an 85 mm f/1.2. Kase also presented an unusual 150 mm f/5.6 reflex autofocus lens, and TTArtisan showed a prototype of a 24 mm f/3.8.
Whether all these lenses will actually make it to market likely depends heavily on the outcome of the legal dispute between Nikon and Viltrox. What is certain: the third-party Z-mount lens scene is vibrant – but also in a legal gray area that is currently being clarified.
Fujifilm: Democracy instead of lawyers
So, while Nikon is engaging its legal department, Fujifilm is taking a completely different approach. At the event “Focus on Glass: Untold Stories” – we reported on it at the beginning of the year – the company presented 14 lens concepts and is letting the community vote on which ones should actually be built. None of these ideas are currently under development, but Fujifilm is taking the survey seriously. Each user can vote for three lenses, and the results are intended to help shape the future of the X-mount system.
Some ideas are downright crazy: a lens with a porous aperture that deliberately softens the image? A zoom with f/1.4? A manual focus lens with a brass housing? Others sound like long-overdue additions, such as an XF 35mm f/1.4 Mark II or an XF 16-80 mm f/2.8.
Particularly interesting: for the potential XF 35mm f/1.4 Mark II, Fujifilm presents three different approaches – and wants to know what is more important to users: image quality, size and weight, or autofocus speed. Not everything is possible at once, so priorities must be set.
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At the time of voting, the XF 18-50 mm f/1.4 – a 24-75 mm equivalent with an open aperture of f/1.4 – is leading the poll, closely followed by the XF 16-80 mm f/2.8. Both would be absolute dream lenses that don't exist yet.
What we can learn from this
Nikon's actions show how seriously the company takes protecting its technology. Whether this is wise in the long term remains to be seen. A too-restrictive licensing model could deter third-party manufacturers and make the Z system less attractive. On the other hand, whoever holds patents has the right to defend them.
Fujifilm's approach, on the other hand, is refreshingly open. Instead of sending lawyers, they simply ask users what they want. This creates closeness, trust, and perhaps better products. Whether a lens with a brass housing will actually emerge remains to be seen. But the mere fact that Fujifilm is publicly discussing such ideas is remarkable.
Anyone interested in the future of lenses should definitely participate in Fujifilm's vote. And for those wondering what will happen with Nikon and third-party manufacturers: wait and see – and perhaps buy a few Z-mount lenses while they are still available.
(tho)
