Nikon’s F-Mount Is Still Alive

credits: Nikon

While most of the industry has moved on from DSLRs, one Chinese manufacturer appears to be doubling down on the Nikon F-mount. According to recent rumours, Meike plans to continue developing new lenses for the aging DSLR system. The reasoning is simple, even though hardly anyone is buying new DSLRs anymore, there are still a huge number of F-mount cameras out there in active use. Earlier this year, Meike already refreshed the mount with its $230 AF 85mm f/1.8 SE Mark II, a lens that had previously been available for mirrorless systems. The next step could be an AF 85mm f/1.4 SE.

That effectively makes Meike one of the very few companies still actively developing autofocus lenses for F-mount. Sigma, Tamron, and Viltrox have shifted their attention almost entirely to mirrorless systems. Nikon itself has not formally declared the mount dead, but it also has not released a new F-mount lens in years, and the lineup continues to shrink. There have even been reports about limited spare parts availability for certain professional lenses, which does not exactly inspire long-term confidence.

For photographers who are sticking with their DSLRs, Meike’s commitment is at least some reassurance. In addition to the new AF options, the company already offers manual APS-C lenses like an 8mm f/3.5 fisheye and a 6-11mm f/3.5 ultra-wide zoom for F-mount. On the camera body side, things look far quieter. Nikon and Canon exited the DSLR race years ago, and while Pentax is still holding on, even Ricoh has acknowledged that selling DSLRs is getting harder and that its broader focus lies elsewhere.