- Nikon introduced at IBC that it’s creating cinema lenses
- There’s at the moment no timeline on when to anticipate the primary fashions
- They are going to be designed for the Nikon Z Cinema Cameras, together with the ZR
Nikon elevated its place within the cinema digital camera house when it purchased trade favourite RED Digital Cameras in 2024, and has set about capitalizing on the partnership at a price of knots.
Simply 18 months down the road, there’s already two RED cameras relaunched with Nikon’s Z-mount – the V-Raptor and the Komodo – a extra reasonably priced V-Raptor XE, plus the primary mannequin in a totally new line of Nikon Z Cinema Cameras, the Nikon ZR.
Branded Nikon RED, the ZR is a extremely succesful and polished Z-mount digital camera, with 6K 60fps video, in-camera 12-bit RAW, a brand new RED R3D ‘NE’ codec, 32-bit float audio seize and a rival-beating 4-inch contact show, all for a low value which places the squeeze on Sony, Canon and even Panasonic.
The ZR is a primary massive step into a brand new world for Nikon and appears set to hassle our greatest video cameras information, however by design it is an fanatic degree mannequin, whereas the system remains to be in its infancy. RED being within the image will transfer issues alongside properly, however nonetheless I am curious to know what’s subsequent for Nikon.
In the course of the IBC 2025 present in Amsterdam this week, I sat down with Nikon to debate its Z Cinema Digicam collection, and acquired some surprisingly open solutions about what we will anticipate subsequent.
Cinema lenses will come
Nikon has lengthy been a photographer’s model. Sure, its current mirrorless fashions, such because the hybrid Z9 and Z6 III, shoot top-quality video, however Nikon’s gear thus far is designed primarily for pictures.
That modified with Nikon’s first Z Cinema Digicam, the actually compact ZR. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless the matter of lenses. Canon and Sony already make hybrid lenses – ones with video options such a a de-clicked aperture ring. Nikon doesn’t, however had some thrilling information to share with me.
“We’re creating Nikkor cinema lenses,” stated Aihara Takashi, Normal Supervisor, UX Planning Division – Nikon Imaging Enterprise Unit.
“It’s going to take a while till launch, after all,” continued Aihara, “however I hope you look ahead to it – it’s [sic] going to be actually nice cinema lenses.”
Often manufacturers are tight-lipped on future gear, however Nikon is overtly committing to creating its personal cinema lenses.
This is good news for these impressed by the ZR’s capabilities and very good worth, however who’re not sure about adopting the Z-mount system for video, given how younger the system is and the absence of devoted video lenses, apart from a hybrid Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ (energy zoom).
The cinema digital camera upstart has additionally licensed its mount to Leica, which implies the ludicrously expensive Leitz Hektor collection is now obtainable for the Z-mount. Nevertheless, I believe most individuals will likely be ready to see which Nikkor cinema lenses are introduced and when they are going to be obtainable.
However what about extra Nikon cinema cameras?
I think about one other mannequin will be part of the Z Cinema Digicam ranks – certainly Nikon will not cease on the ZR?
The ZR is a video-first equal of the Z6 III, which is a midrange full-frame mannequin. There can be symmetry, subsequently, if Nikon was to announce a flagship Z9 equal in its cinema digital camera vary – one with a bigger physique and house to suit pro-grade connectivity and design touches.
For instance, the ZR contains a micro HDMI, not full dimension; a professional mannequin would upsize. Ought to a bigger mannequin land, I might additionally anticipate its reminiscence playing cards to be accessed by way of a door on the aspect of the digital camera and never throughout the battery compartment like within the ZR. Battery doorways are sometimes obstructed when a digital camera is mounted to a tripod, which makes reminiscence card swapping with the ZR a fiddly course of with a tripod in play.
Personally, I would additionally love a dual-axis tilt / vari-angle display screen. The ZR’s rival-beating show is shiny and huge, nevertheless it solely pulls out to the aspect – the show cannot be tilted up immediately from the physique. Sony’s A1 II / A9 III and Panasonic’s Lumix S1 II, then again, have such a display screen.
I would additionally anticipate further professional options to the above, however there would nonetheless must be some type of distinction between a future pro-level Nikon Z Cinema Digicam and RED’s personal fashions just like the V-Raptor and Komodo to keep away from the danger of cannibalization.
Nikon did not touch upon any future digital camera gear, nevertheless it bodes effectively that cinema lenses are on the best way. The best way issues are going, Nikon / RED will comfortably sit alongside Sony and Canon, Panasonic and Blackmagic within the cinema house very quickly, and doubtless at a extra reasonably priced value level.
