Nikon today announced the ZR camera just prior to IBC, the big European broadcasting trade show.
To understand the ZR you have to first understand that Nikon had two elephants at different ends of a room: the DSLR-replacement Z models, and the RED-designed video models. Those are very distinctly different elephants, though, almost different species. Nikon needed a way to begin to bridge between them.
The other problem is that Canon and Sony, especially, have been actively bridging their elephants. Sony’s FX line started at true Hollywood level, and has now bridged right down to the C-type Alphas in the mirrorless still camera lineup. Yesterday, Canon announced their C50, which also puts Canon’s Cinema line much closer to their mirrorless models.
To create the ZR, Nikon basically fused parts of its two elephants: the ZR is mostly Z6III electronics, with some RED-infused logic and design and a couple of new things. Losses from the Z6III side include no built-in EVF, a different card slot set (CFexpress/microSD), and a really trimmed down body (in all dimensions; it’s quite small). Gains from the RED side include a high resolution 4” articulating Rear LCD that is 1000 nits bright and DCI-P3 compatible, more use of RED IP (3D LUTs built in) in the setting choices and monitoring options (including 12-bit RED raw), 32-bit floating audio, and more. One of the “more’s” is a new hot shoe with additional electrical contacts.
The result is a soap bar style camera—no forward extending hand grip—that’s physically smaller than the Z6III body, and with a more video-centric UX. Buttons are labeled the “video way” with numbers (and stenciled defaults), a rocker switch for power zoom, and much more. Yes, you can still take still images with it, but the primary interface is tilted to video (e.g. the opposite of the previous Nikon Z models). Oh, and the MENU button is now a mobile style hamburger icon.
As a reminder, the RED elephant the ZR bridges to is the RED Komodo-X. The Komodo-X is a Super35 (near DX) global shutter, while the ZR is a full frame partially stacked shutter. While both top out at 6K video, the Komodo-X does that at a Hollywood DCI (17:9) aspect ratio, while the ZR does so at consumer 16:9.
Price for body only is US$2200.
