Onto Z mount and although the Z6 and Z7 are strong introductory products, it appears Nikon have left plenty of room above it.
Nikon have stated that they started with a body size that they felt Nikon users would accept and everything went into that afterwards for the Z6 and Z7. Which means that size was a priority for the introductory models, which makes sense when combined with the moderately fast apertured f/1.8 primes and f/4 kit zoom.
However f/2.8 zooms are on the roadmap beginning 2019 hence the logical assumption that perhaps larger Z bodies may be coming in the near future. The middle range naming scheme for the Z6/7 also leaves room for Z8 and Z9 higher end bodies.
Along with the larger bodies probably comes room for secondary card slots which were size prohibited on the Z6 and Z7 bodies. My personal view is that those that need 2 slots need it and for those that don’t (likely a much larger majority), XQD is the best card format that Nikon could have chosen today.
I also think new made-for-mirrorless larger batteries are coming. To me, the EN-EL15b batteries used in the Z6/Z7 are further indications these were designed as transition or companion cameras to DSLRs.
The AF algorithm on the higher end bodies will probably be co-developed with the D6 as I believe the D6 camera must be able to embody some of the benefits of mirrorless shooting, whilst staying a DSLR or hybrid design whilst the Z8/Z9 bodies and trinity of f/2.8 zooms will complete Nikon’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics lineup. For a working pro, picking up either a D6 or Z8/Z9 must be seamless.
The Z7 EVF has courted praise for its usability although still criticized for some lag during quick pans. By 2019, a new generation of EVF supporting faster refresh rates at higher resolutions should be available which lends itself to faster paced shooting.
Onto the Z lenses and this is really where the excitement should lie. We’re already slowly seeing the whole picture revealed (no puns intended) for the announced three Z lenses of which mostly only the 24-70mm f/4 and 35mm f/1.8 have been out in the wild and the results are very promising. If Nikon reps and their MTF charts are to be believed, the 50mm f/1.8 will be even better.
Early in 2019 we’ll see the release of the 58mm f/0.95 Noct which I’m expecting to showcase the Z-mount and debut some new technology such as their ARNEO coating which will likely supersede the current Nano coating. Although this lens is likely going to be cost prohibitive for most, it should set the tone for subsequent S line lenses.
In addition to these premium bodies and S line lenses, Nikon would surely need to populate a lineup below this to cater to the masses. But with such a busy schedule I’m not sure when the first ‘affordable’ Z body and non-S line will appear.