Everything we know about the Nikon Z70 so far

Nikon's Z70 looks set for announcement within weeks. Leaks point to a 41 MP APS-C body with 8K60 video, IBIS, and a price around $2000.

There is nothing official about the Nikon Z70, not even a teaser video as yet, but there is plenty of anticipation that something is coming imminently. Over the past three months, a fairly consistent picture of a fast, video-capable APS-C body has been built up by a succession of leaked materials from a range of sources, most of it documented by the industrious Nikon Rumors. Here is the story so far.

How the Z70 first leaked

The name first surfaced on August 8, when a "Nikon Z70" appeared on Apple's list of authorized ProRes and ProRes RAW cameras, just below the Z6 III. It was gone within hours, leaving only the Z6 III, Z8, Z9, and ZR.

On October 29, Nikon Rumors posted a screenshot said to come from Nikon Singapore, promoting the new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens. The caption reads: "Pair with the Z70's Digital Teleconverter and reach stretches to an equivalent of 1,260mm at f/4."

Then, on November 4, Nikon registered a new wireless remote, the N2416, with the FCC. Drawings in its manual show a camera that matches no current Nikon mirrorless body, with an extra button beside the top LCD. The next day, Nikon Rumors said it could confirm that the camera was the Z70 and that the new button is for recording.

Nikon Z70 rumored specs

• Sensor: 41 MP, not stacked. Earlier reports had suggested 45 MP and stacked.
• Processor: Expeed 7.
• Video: 8K60, ProRes RAW support, and "RED tech inside."
• Stabilization: IBIS.
• Viewfinder: the Z6 III's 5.76 million-dot EVF.
• Digital teleconverter: a new mode, which fits the Nikon Singapore caption.
• Controls: a dedicated REC button on the top plate.
• Price: in the $2000 ballpark.

What it means for video shooters

Last year's ZR was the first RED co-branded Nikon camera, and is even commonly referred to as the RED ZR nowadays. But by the looks of the rumored spec sheet, the Z70 would take the video capabilities even further. ProRes RAW, a REC button, and 8K video signal some serious intent, and would make it a competitive choice for video work, especially at that $2000 price point. It could conceivably even be branded the RED Z70, at least in some markets.

When will the Nikon Z70 be announced?

That is less clear. It seems to have originally been expected in August or September, but has slipped. It is, of course, not the only camera to do so. Fujifilm's X-T6 went so far as to have a launch event penciled in before disappearing from the schedules, and it is still AWOL.

The new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S was announced October 29, though, and is due to hit the market in mid-November, i.e., now. We know of at least one major camera that is being announced next week too, so we could be in for a busy end of the year.