Nikon's massive Z-mount uses a wider throat and shorter flange
In short: By increasing the lens mount diameter to 55 mm, Nikon has unlocked a new era of optical performance. This design shift, paired with a significantly shorter flange distance, allows for smaller, simpler, and more powerful lenses than ever before.
The Nikon Z-mount represents a significant departure from the company's previous systems. Alongside the Z6 and Z7 full-frame cameras, this mount debuted on August 23, 2018, with an initial lens set comprising the 35mm f/1.8 S, 50mm f/1.8 S, and 24-70mm f/4 S. To bridge the gap between old and new, Nikon also released the FTZ adapter to support existing F-mount lenses. This transition coincided with the discontinuation of the Nikon 1 series mirrorless system. The initial rollout included the Z7 and Z6 cameras, both featuring the Expeed 6 image processor.
A defining feature of the Z-mount is its 55 mm throat diameter, making it the largest full-frame mount available. This is notably larger than the 44 mm Nikon F-mount and the 46.1 mm Sony E-mount. Crucially, the Z-mount features a much shorter flange distance of just 16 mm. This reduction in distance from the lens to the sensor allows engineers to design lenses that are both smaller and mechanically simpler. This configuration is slightly larger than the 54 mm diameters used by Canon's EF and RF mounts. It also exceeds the 51.6 mm diameter of the Leica L-mount.
The system also introduces increased electronic complexity and physical security. The Z-mount expands the electrical contact count from eight on the F-mount to eleven, allowing lens-to-camera data exchange without mechanical levers. Additionally, Nikon increased the number of mounting tabs from three to four, providing enhanced security when attaching lenses to the camera body. These eleven electrical contacts facilitate the communication of vital lens information to the camera body. Furthermore, the mount utilizes a bayonet system for attaching lenses to the camera.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Nikon Z-mount
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