Nikon ZR: New cinema camera with full-frame sensor
The ZR promises professional quality in a compact design. It offers 6K resolution, an exclusive codec and groundbreaking audio recording.
(Image: Nikon)
In cooperation with its subsidiary Red, Nikon presents the ZR, a new full-frame cinema camera featuring a 6K sensor and internal 32-bit float audio recording. The new model is aimed at filmmakers and creative professionals who are looking for a particularly mobile yet powerful device for their productions. Nikon is promoting the ZR as the lightest all-in-one cinema camera currently on the market.
Sensor and video formats
The new ZR has a partially stacked full-frame CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 24.5 megapixels. This design enables high readout speeds, which should minimize image distortion during fast panning, the so-called rolling shutter effect. The camera records videos internally at up to 6K at 60 frames per second. Frame rates of up to 240 frames per second in Full HD are also available for impressive slow-motion recordings.
NEV, R3D, MOV, and MP4 are available as recording formats. Compression is available in R3D NE, N-RAW, Apple ProRes RAW HQ, and Apple ProRes 422 HQ, as well as H.265/HEVC and H.264/AVC. A key feature is the exclusive R3D NE codec. It integrates Red's renowned color processing directly into the Nikon system and enables the seamless integration of ZR video footage into post-production workflows already established for other Red cameras.
Focus on audio quality
Nikon pays particular attention to audio quality: according to the manufacturer, the ZR is the world's first camera to enable internal 32-bit float audio recording. The enormous dynamic range of this technology eliminates the need for continuous monitoring and manual adjustment of audio levels during recording. In post-production, the levels can be flexibly adjusted without clipping or loss of quality, even if the original signal was extremely loud or quiet. The recording can be made via the internal microphones or a compatible external microphone.
Nikon is also introducing the new ME-D10 digital directional microphone. It is optimized for the 32-bit float audio format and offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 77 dB. The microphone allows direct switching between different directional characteristics such as omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid, figure-of-eight (binaural), and shotgun directly in the camera menu.
Operation and housing
(Image:Â Nikon)
The housing of the ZR weighs just 540 grams (without battery and memory card) and is fully sealed against the elements. A passive, fanless cooling system ensures silent operation.
Videos by heise
A tiltable and rotatable 4-inch touchscreen monitor with a brightness of 1,000 nits is used for image control. It fully covers the DCI-P3 color space and thus enables color-critical assessment directly on set. In addition, up to ten 3D LUTs (look-up tables) can be loaded for a visual preview of the final look during the shoot. The camera has two memory card slots: one for CFexpress (type B) or XQD cards and another for MicroSD cards.
Professional functions
When shooting in the Log3G10 gamma profile, the camera offers a dual-base ISO of 800 and 6400, ensuring that the full dynamic range of the sensor of over 15 f-stops is optimally utilized at both native ISO values. The autofocus system combines phase and contrast detection and features intelligent subject recognition and tracking.
An integrated 5-axis image stabilizer (IBIS), which works at the sensor level, effectively compensates for camera shake. For productions that require a final look straight from the camera, four creative video modes and nine custom RED Picture Control configurations are available. The Z bayonet ensures a high degree of flexibility in lens selection and, in addition to the native Nikkor Z lenses, also allows the adaptation of F bayonet lenses as well as models from numerous third-party suppliers.
Price and availability
The Nikon ZR is expected to be available in stores from the end of October. The recommended retail price for the body is 2,350 euros. The kit with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens will be available for 2,950 euros. The price for the new ME-D10 directional microphone is 300 euros.
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