Nikon secures seven wins at the influential if design award 2026
Nikon is proud to announce its achievement at the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, earning an impressive seven accolades across its product portfolio.
This includes: CAMERAS, LENSES, SOFTWARE
- The ZR
- The Z5II
- The Z50II
- NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens
- Nikon Imaging Cloud
SPORTS OPTICS
- COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED / COOLSHOT 50i GII
- STABILIZED 10×25 S / 12×25 S Binoculars
Recognised by the iF International Forum Design GmbH, this globally renowned award is a prestigious seal of outstanding design that celebrates innovation, quality, and influence, honouring benchmark setting achievements across the design industry.
Nikon’s first cinema camera, the ZR, was praised as an industry trailblazer, described as redefining “conventional constraints in film production.” Featuring “diverse functionality,” including internal RAW recording with RED Digital Cinema’s industry-leading colour science and “the world’s first in-camera 32-bit float audio recording,” judges hailed the ZR as “a cinematic expression for all creators.”
The spotlight extended across Nikon’s mirrorless lineup, with the Z5II and Z50II taking centre stage. The Z5II impressed the jury, highlighting the EXPEED 7 engine and its ability to deliver versatility in varied conditions as well as its still and video capabilities, offering “superior performance” that inspires “creativity in creators” – all housed in a robust body that “satisfies Nikon’s strict quality standards.”
Judges also praised the Z50II for combining “the power of expression and operability needed for creative imaging” with “the same image-processing engine and superior performance found in higher-end models,” calling it an invitation to pursue the “pure joy of photography.”
Meanwhile, the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens earned recognition for empowering videographers in challenging situations, such as documentary filming or solo location shoots. Judges spotlighted its “superior optical performance” supporting “high-res 8K,” “smooth operability,” and the “versatile functionality of power zoom,” noting how the lens “expands the possibilities for video recording.”
Nikon’s optics and digital tools were also recognised for their innovation and performance. Judges applauded the COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED and COOLSHOT 50i GII rangefinders for their “outstandingly fast measurement speed” and “ergonomic design,” the STABILIZED 10×25 S / 12×25 S binoculars for an “unexpectedly immersive experience,” and Nikon Imaging Cloud for simplifying and enhancing the imaging workflow.
With seven wins spanning mirrorless cameras, lenses, optics, and digital tools, Nikon continues to set the standard for innovation, performance, and design, inspiring creators to push the boundaries of what’s possible worldwide.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the Nikon ZR
The ZR, Nikon’s first cinema camera, brings new value by integrating cinematic performance into a compact body. It packs diverse functionality that enables an uncompromising shooting experience and quality without complex accessories, featuring internal RAW recording with RED Digital Cinema’s industry-leading colour science, a large monitor with optimized aspect ratios, directional control for the built-in microphone, the world’s first in-camera 32-bit float audio recording, and video-optimized design. Disrupting conventional constraints in film production, the ZR liberates cinematic expression for all creators.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the Nikon Z50II
The Nikon Z50II is a mirrorless camera that combines the power of expression and operability needed for creative imaging with the same image-processing engine and superior performance found in higher-end models. Through “Imaging Recipes,” users can effortlessly achieve the distinctive looks of their favourite creators, while flagship-level subject detection and superior AF performance ensure confident shooting even for those new to cameras. Let the camera handle technical settings and create your desired colours and styles with easy and intuitive operation, pursuing the pure joy of photography.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the Nikon Z5II
The Nikon Z5II is a full-frame mirrorless camera that offers the performance of a higher-end models at an affordable price. Equipped with the same EXPEED 7 image-processing engine as Nikon’s flagship model, it delivers superior AF performance and the ability to respond to a variety of situations, including low-light conditions. This single camera expands imaging possibilities with still and video capabilities housed in a tough body that satisfies Nikon’s strict quality standards. The Z5II delivers superior performance, including advanced shooting functions from higher-end models to a wide range of users, inspiring creativity in creators.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens
This 28-135mm standard power-zoom lens is optimized for video recording. It was developed to support videographers in situations such as documentary filming or solo location shoots, where reshoots are difficult and mobility is a necessity. With superior optical performance that supports high-resolution 8K, smooth operability suited to video recording, and the versatile functionality of power zoom, this lens expands possibilities for video recording.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on Nikon Imaging Cloud
Nikon Imaging Cloud is a cloud service to which users can connect their camera, eliminating many of the tedious aspects of the imaging experience while making it more convenient and expanding the ways in which it can be enjoyed. Users can easily store their images with automatic transfer from NIC to one of several third-party online storage services. In addition, Imaging Recipes allow users to easily try out their desired visual expressions on their cameras by importing presets developed by renowned creators. The service also provides automatic firmware updates via the cloud, making it easy for users to keep their equipment up to date.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED / COOLSHOT 50i GII
The COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED features an outstandingly fast measurement speed and a stabilization mechanism, allowing you to instantly measure distances to your target without any delay. The COOLSHOT 50i GII is equipped with a built-in magnet, enabling comfortable use by attaching it to a golf cart or a club. Both models feature an ergonomic design for excellent grip and adopts an accent colour as a new identity, embodying the next generation design of the COOLSHOT series, which has long been loved by golfers around the world.
iF Design Award 2026 comments on the STABILIZED 10×25 S / 12×25 S Binoculars
This product offers an unexpectedly immersive experience from small-aperture compact binoculars. Generally, the larger the diameter, the wider the field of view and the more immersive the experience. However, many of these products are heavy and cause fatigue when used for long periods of time. This product’s image stabilization function eliminates a disadvantage of small-aperture binoculars, blurring of images due to hand movement. By enabling an experience that was previously only possible with a heavy, large-aperture product, users are freed from physical stress and can concentrate on what they want to see.
Further information on both of Nikon’s awarded products can be found on the iF DESIGN AWARD website.
