This news just in from Nikon. Too late to stop the presses (FDTimes Sept 2026 is printing now) –

Looking at the teasing photo, it’s a hybrid cine lens. T1.9. Focus marks. Gears on the outside, an A-M Autofocus-Manual switch — so internal motors.

Here’s the development announcement from Nikon:

“Nikon Inc. announces the development of the NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series of cinema lenses.There will be 9 prime lenses, including the NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV shown above.

“This will be the first NIKKOR lens series with an image circle large enough to cover the RED V-RAPTOR [X] VV sensor ( 40.96 mm × 21.60 mm — 46.31 mm diagonal) . The lenses will also feature a highly precise autofocus mechanism. Nikon will continue to contribute to the development of imaging culture that includes the field of cinema, with the hope of expanding possibilities for imaging expression. Filmmakers and content creators can expect great things from the new synergy between Nikon and RED.”

If the primes share similar ideas from the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ  introduced a couple of years ago, they will have absolute encoders that ensure very accurate and repeatable focus in both manual and auto modes.

Top: FDTimes rendering (estimated size) of NIKKOR 50mm T1.9 prime. Bottom: NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ.