Samyang Waiting on Licensing to Produce Nikon Z Lenses

LK Samyang is reportedly planning to produce lenses for the Nikon Z mount, but the company is still waiting to secure official licensing before it can begin development.

The information comes from Phototrend, which spoke with Samyang representatives during the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2026. According to the report, the lens maker is currently waiting for official licenses from Japanese camera manufacturers before expanding support for additional mounts.

“As for a potential move to Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts, the lens maker is still waiting for official licenses from the Japanese manufacturers,” the report states.

Licensing Comes Amid Nikon’s Legal Dispute

The discussion around licensing arrives at an interesting period for the Z-mount ecosystem. Recently, Nikon filed a lawsuit in China against Viltrox over alleged intellectual property infringement related to autofocus Z-mount lenses.

Reports also suggest Nikon sent warning letters to several Chinese lens manufacturers. In response, companies including Meike and Sirui reportedly pulled some of their Z-mount lenses from stores and distributors.

Manual Lenses for Now

We may soon see Samyang lenses on Nikon Z cameras.

Samyang has produced several autofocus lenses for the older Nikon F mount in the past. However, when it comes to the Z mount, the company has so far been limited to manual focus lenses, likely due to the absence of a formal licensing agreement.

Camera manufacturers typically license their autofocus protocols to selected third-party brands, allowing them to produce compatible lenses. For Nikon’s mirrorless system, companies like Sigma and Tamron already produce autofocus lenses for full-frame Z-mount cameras.

Meanwhile, Canon has taken a more restrictive approach with the Canon RF mount, where third-party autofocus lenses have largely been limited to APS-C models.

Why Licensing Matters

Obtaining an official license typically gives lens manufacturers deeper access to a camera company’s autofocus communication protocols. This often results in better compatibility and more reliable autofocus performance.

Some lens makers choose to reverse engineer these systems instead. However, this approach can sometimes lead to compatibility issues. For example, when the Sony A7 V launched, some users reported autofocus problems with certain third-party lenses. Firmware updates can also occasionally introduce new compatibility issues between cameras and third-party optics.

By pursuing licensing agreements, Samyang appears to be taking a more official route toward expanding support for additional camera mounts.

Expanding Lens Development

Samyang has recently introduced several new lenses for the Sony E mount, including the company’s new Prima series fast prime lenses. Expanding into the Nikon Z ecosystem could be a logical next step if licensing agreements are secured.

The company is also part of the L-Mount Alliance, allowing it to produce lenses compatible with cameras from Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma.

During the CP+ show in Japan, Samyang also displayed several prototype lenses. Reports suggest the company is developing a 200mm F/1.8 lens designed to compete with optics like the Sigma 200mm F/2 DG OS HSM Sports and the Laowa 200mm F/2 C-Dreamer.