Thom Hogan

Current camera firmware (downloadable from nikonimglib.com):

• Z5 — 1.21 (October 2022)
• Z6 — 3.60 (July 2023)
• Z6 II — 1.60 (July 2023)
• Zf — 1.10, (November 2023)
• Z7 — 3.60 (July 2023)
• Z7 II — 1.60 (July 2023)
• Z8 — 1.01 (August 2023)
• Z9 — 4.10 (October 2023)
• Z50 — 2.50 (June 2023)
• Zfc — 1.5 (November 2023)
• Z30 — 1.10 (May 2023)

Current lens firmware (downloadable from nikonimglib.com). Lens must be mounted on camera to perform update.

• FTZ (original) — 1.10 (July 2020)
• 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR DX — 1.01
• 20mm f/1.8 S —1.10
• 24mm f/1.8 S — 1.10
• 24-50mm f/4-6.3 — 1.01
• 24-70mm f/2.8 S — 1.20
• 24-70mm f/4 S — 1.01
• 24-120mm f/4 S — 1.10
• 35mm f/1.8 S — 1.10
• 50mm f/1.2 S — 1.10
• 50mm f/1.8 S — 1.10
• 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S — 1.21
• 85mm f/1.8 S — 1.10
• 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S — 1.10
• 105mm f/2.8 VR S — 1.10
• 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S — 1.10
• 400mm f/4.5 VR S — 1.10
• 600mm f/4 TC VR S — 1.10
• 800mm f/6.3 PF VR S — 1.10

Current accessory firmware (downloadable from nikonimglib.com). Device must be mounted on camera to perform update.

• WR-11a/b — 1.02 

Current Nikon software applications (downloadable from nikonimglib.com):

• Nikon NX Studio 1.5.0 macOS/Windows (free). A raw converter and file explorer that essentially replaces Capture NX-D. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Zf, Zfc. Last updated October 2023.
• Nikon NX Tether 1.0.5 macOS/Windows (free). A wired and wireless (with WT-transmitter) program for capturing images directly to a computer. Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Zf, Zfc, D6, D780. Last updated October 2023.
• Nikon Picture Control Utility version 2.4.15 macOS/Windows (free). Bundled with the above products, this utility lets you modify Nikon’s Picture Controls and save those to be loaded on your camera. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Zf, Z30, Z50, Zfc. Last updated May 2023.
• Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.36.0 macOS/Windows (US$180). Camera Control Pro allows for shooting tethered as well as interactively changing of some camera settings from a computer. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, and Z50. Last updated May 2023.
• Nikon Wireless Transmitter Utility version 1.11.0 (free). A utility to set up Nikon’s advanced wireless functions with the Nikon Z series. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Zf, Zfc. Last updated October 2023.
• Nikon Webcam Utility 1.1.1 (Mac/Windows) (free). Allows the Z cameras to be used as Webcams with programs such as Zoom or OBS. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Zf, Z30, Z50, Zfc. Last updated April 2022.

Note: Nikon currently only supports macOS Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura), as well as Windows 10 and 11. The good news is that Nikon has gotten a little better at keeping up with the latest OS releases. The bad news is that they've dropped support of earlier OS versions aggressively. 

Other relevant Nikon software for Z System owners:

• Nikon SnapBridge (free) iOS 2.10.0, Android 2.10.0. The SnapBridge app is needed for the Z30, Z50, Zfc, Zf, Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, and Z9 to communicate with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Supports time lookup, GPS for camera, transfer of images from camera to smartphone, control of camera from smartphone, raw file transfers, tablets, and more. Last updated May 2023.
• NX MobileAir (free and paid option) 1.1.0. Allows tethered transfer (via USB) to mobile devices, and supports IPTC captioning. Last updated December 2022.
• Nikon NEF Codec (Windows) version 1.31.2 (free). An extension for Windows that allows the operating system to understand and properly display and interact with Nikon NEF raw files. Last updated November 2021.
• Nikon Message Center 2.3.1 (free). A system that provides update information to you as new updates appear. Installed with some other Nikon software. Last updated November 2018.
• Short Movie Creator 1.4.0 (Mac) 1.3.1 (Windows). Last updated May 2013. 
• Nikon N-Log 3D LUT 1.0.3 (Mac/Windows). A look-up table used in post processing of Zf, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, and Z9 video files shot in N-Log, supported by Premiere CC, Final Cut Pro X, and DaVinci Resolve. Last updated May 2023.
• IPTC Preset Manager 1.3.0 (Mac/Windows) (free). Allows pre-creation of IPTC data sets for cameras that support entry (e.g. Zf, Z8, Z9). Last updated June 2023.

Finally, if you're looking for a free raw converter for Nikon NEF files produced by the Z cameras, you should consider Capture One Express for Nikon. This reduced feature set version leaves out the tethered shooting capabilities and many advanced editing features, but provides a solid basic raw conversion capability.

Raw converters that now support the Z8 and Z9 High Efficiency* and High Efficiency formats (you may need to update to a current version):

• Adobe Lightroom, Camera Raw, Photoshop Elements
• CaptureOne 22
• DxO PhotoLab 
• Nikon NX Studio
• On1 Photo RAW
• Topaz Photo AI 

Note: Apple macOS temporarily seemed to support HE* and HE files (which passes through to other applications, such as Affinity Photo 2 and RAW Power), but that seemed to get withdrawn quickly. Updated raw conversion support is part of Apple's current operating system updates, so it may change in the future.