The latest addition to Nikon’s Z-mount cameras, the ZR, is a cine-focused model, combining the sensor and processor of the Z6III with video ‘smarts’ acquired from RED Digital Cinema in April 2024.


The new, rig-friendly Nikon ZR camera has been designed for easy integration into video workflows. (Source: Nikon.)

Designed primarily for professional cinematographers, the ZR has a generous 4-inch LCD monitor with a video-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio and 1280 x 800-pixel resolution plus DCI-P3 colour space but no viewfinder. It uses the same, 26-megapixel, partially-stacked CMOS sensor as the Z6III but replaces the regular SD card slot in the dual-slot system with a UHS-I compatible XQD Micro SD slot. Support for video goes further with the addition of a digital hotshoe with support for audio and internal 32-bit float recording for audio. The camera also lacks a mechanical shutter but it comes with 5-axis image sensor shift stabilisation that claims up to 7.5 stops of camera shake correction. Pre-Release Capture is also available as one of the release mode options. Its compact body measures 133 x 80.5 x 49 mm and weighs approximately 630 grams with battery and memory card but without body cap and digital accessory shoe cover. Built-in interface ports include USB-C, HDNM (Type D), 3.5-mm stereo mini jacks for audio in/out and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Version 5.0 are provided and the camera is supplied with an EN‑EL15c rechargeable Li-ion battery that can power approximately 90 minutes of recording time.

As expected, image recording is slanted towards video, although the ZR can also capture stills images at 24-megapixel resolution, thanks to an external Photo/Video switch. The highest video resolution is available through the R3D NE / N-RAW High quality setting, which can record full-width 6K footage at 6048 x 3402 pixels at frame rates up to 60p or in the ProRes RAW codec at up to 30p. Users can also set the exposure based on the shutter angle, a ‘first’ for the Z-mount series.

The Nikon ZR has a local RRP of AU$3499 and is available to pre-order now from Nikon’s website.  (A $1000 deposit is required.) Global release is expected to begin on 20 October. Click here for full details.