Thom Hogan

Current camera firmware (downloadable from nikonimglib.com):

• Z5 — 1.43 (April 2024)
• Z5II — 1.00 (April 2025)
• Z6 — 3.70 (July 2024)
• Z6II — 1.62 (March 2024)
• Z6III — 1.10 (February 2025)
• Zf — 2.00 (April 2025)
• Z7 — 3.70 (July 2024)
• Z7II — 1.62 (March 2024)
• Z8 — 2.10 (February 2025)
• Z9 — 5.20 (April 2025)
• Z50 — 2.60 (April 2025)
• Z50II — 1.01 (April 2025)
• Zfc — 1.80 (April 2025)
• Z30 — 1.11 (May 2024)

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 — 1.22 (June 2024)
• 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
• 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR — 1.01
• 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 1.9.0 macOS/Windows (free). A raw converter and file explorer that essentially replaces Capture NX-D. Supports Z5, Z5II, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Z50II, Zf, Zfc. Last updated April 2025.
• Nikon NX Tether 2.3.0 macOS/Windows (free). A wired and wireless (with WT-transmitter) program for capturing images directly to a computer. Z5, Z5II, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Z50II, Zf, Zfc, D6, D780. Last updated April 2025.
• 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, Z6II, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, Zf, Z30, Z50, Z50II, Zfc. Last updated May 2023.
• Nikon Wireless Transmitter Utility version 1.14.0 (free). A utility to set up Nikon’s advanced wireless functions with the Nikon Z series. Supports Z5, Z5II, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Z50II, Zf, Zfc. Last updated April 2025.
• Nikon Webcam Utility 1.1.1 (Mac/Windows) (free). Allows older Z cameras to be used as Webcams with programs such as Zoom or OBS (newer cameras support UVC/UAC streaming directly. Supports Z5, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, Zf, Z30, Z50, Z50II, 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 2.12.0, Android 2.12.0. The SnapBridge app is needed for the Z30, Z50, Z50II, Zfc, Zf, Z5, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, 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 November 2024.
• NX MobileAir (free and paid option) 1.3.2 (iOS). Allows tethered transfer (via USB) and Wi-Fi transfer (via STA mode) to mobile devices, and supports IPTC captioning. Android version allows transfer to Adobe frame.io. Last updated December 2024.
• Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.37.1 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, Z6II, Z7, Z7II, Z8, Z9, and Z50. Last updated May 2024. Nikon now suggests Nikon NX Tether for new cameras instead (see above).
• Nikon NEF Codec (Windows) version 1.31.4 (free). An extension for Windows that allows the operating system to understand and properly display and interact with Nikon NEF raw files. Last updated October 2024.
• Nikon NRW Codec (Windows) version 1.9.0 (free). An extension for Windows that allows the operating system to understand and properly display and interact with Nikon NRW raw files (mostly Coolpix). Last updated October 2024.
• Nikon Message Center 2.5.2 (free). A system that provides update information to you as new updates appear. Installed with some other Nikon software. Last updated February 2025.
• Short Movie Creator 1.4.0 (Mac) 1.3.1 (Windows). Last updated May 2013. 
• Nikon N-Log 3D LUT 2.00 (Mac/Windows). A look-up table used in post processing of Z50II, Zf, Z6, Z6II, Z6III, Z7, Z7II, Z8, and Z9 video files shot in N-Log, supported by Premiere CC, Final Cut Pro X, and DaVinci Resolve. Now includes RED compatible LUTs. Last updated September 2024.
• IPTC Preset Manager 1.3.0 (Mac/Windows) (free). Allows pre-creation of IPTC data sets for cameras that support entry (e.g. Zf, Z6III, Z8, Z9). Last updated June 2023.

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

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

Apple macOS briefly seemed to support High efficiency* and High efficiency files (which passes through to other applications, such as Photos, Affinity Photo 2 and RAW Power), but that appeared to get withdrawn quickly. Updated raw conversion support is part of Apple's current operating system updates, so it may change in the future. However, as of this pages's last update, you need either macOS Sonoma or Sequoia to support Z9 generation raw files, and then only Lossless compressed is supported.

Also, Apollo One added High efficiency* and High efficiency support to their image viewing program by bypassing Apple's built-in raw support, as has FastRawViewer.

Raw converters that support the Zf, Z6III, and Z8 NEFX pixel shift files:

• Nikon NX Studio
• Adobe Lightroom Classic 
• Adobe Raw Converter
• Capture One

Video programs that support Nikon's N-RAW files:

• Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve
• Color Finale Transcoder 2 
• REDCINE-X PRO 
• Adobe Premiere will add N-RAW support in 2025