Nikon’s ZR is its first cinema digital camera co-designed with RED

Nikon has unveiled its first cinema digital camera developed in collaboration with the corporate it acquired last year, RED. The Nikon ZR (the “R” is for “RED” I think about) is a digital camera that neither firm might have made by itself, marrying RED’s shade science and video codecs with Nikon’s superior topic detect AF and in-body stabilization. It would go up in opposition to different creator-oriented fashions like Canon’s new C50 and the Sony FX3 however at a a lot cheaper price.

Nikon’s mirrorless cameras are identified for his or her excessive dynamic vary and the corporate is leaning into that for the ZR. It has {a partially} stacked 24MP sensor with a Twin Base ISO of 800/6400 that guarantees 15+ stops of dynamic vary for top low-light sensitivity and better element in shadows and highlights. Although it would not fairly match the C50’s 7K decision, it’ll output 12K RAW 6K video at 60 fps, or 4K at 120 fps.

The interior RAW format used might be RED’s new R3D NE and a log format referred to as Log3G10 with the identical shade science as RED’s high-end cinema cameras (so it could actually match these in put up). That is a lighter codec designed solely for Nikon, however the ZR additionally helps Nikon’s N-RAW format together with ProRes/ProRes RAW and H.265. If you wish to apply RED’s LUTs, you possibly can load and monitor as much as 10 at a time.

Nikon targeted on audio as nicely, providing 32-bit float inside audio recording and Nokia’s OZO encompass sound tech by way of three built-in high-performance mics. You possibly can select from 5 pickup patterns together with entrance (tremendous directional), entrance, all instructions, rear and stereo (binaural) for any state of affairs from interviews to vlogging to ASMR.

The ZR comes with topic monitoring hybrid phase-detect autofocus, making it extra palatable for content material creators than any RED digital camera that has ever existed. That features AI monitoring of individuals (eyes, head and physique) together with animals and autos, with 9 varieties complete. It additionally has five-axis in-body stabilization with 7.5 stops of smoothing, one thing palpably missing in Canon’s new C50. One other key characteristic is digital focus-breathing compensation.

For the reason that ZR has no viewfinder, Nikon made the display screen as large, vivid and sharp as potential. It is a 4-inch 16:10 show with 1,000 nits of brightness and full DCI-P3 HDR shade protection, with 3070K dots of decision, one the very best of any digital camera show. In the meantime, the tiny 540 gram (1.2 pound) physique dissipates warmth nicely sufficient to permit 6K 60 fps RAW recording for as much as 125 minutes at 25C (77F) temperatures. It helps audio seize by means of a the digital hotshoe or a 3.5mm enter and has a USB-C port for charging, knowledge transfers and webcam/streaming, together with a headphone enter. The HDMI port is sadly a small and flimsy Micro HDMI sort, nonetheless.

For its capabilities, the Nikon ZR seems to be like a shocking discount. It starts at $2,200 for the physique solely with out equipment, which is almost half the worth of the Sony FX3 and $1,700 cheaper than Canon’s C50. Transport is anticipated to begin on October 20, 2025. It helps any Nikon (or third-party) Z mount lens or F mount glass with an adapter. Nikon additionally unveiled the $339 ME-D10 digital shotgun mike that is suitable with the digital camera’s 32-bit float audio.