A new Nikon patent hints at tech to make bright aperture lenses smaller, but you might already have it in your Z-mount lens

Nikon Z 35mm f/1.2 S next to two identical lens silhouettes with question marks on them on a blue to purple gradient .

A new Nikon patent has quietly revealed an intriguing dual focusing-group system designed to help make bright aperture lenses more compact. However, while patents usually get me all excited, Nikon may have gotten our hopes up for nothing, as the seemingly new optical design may in fact be one we saw released over a year ago.

Patent 2026-035920 was published by the Japan Patent Office earlier this month, and it describes two lenses, a compact 35mm f/1.2 and 50mm f/1.4, that use two groups of optical elements that move independently along different paths – or loci – during focusing.