Apple Photoshop and Nikon's Z-Red – The photo news of the week 7/2025

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Just like two weeks ago, our column cannot avoid using a camera for professional filming rather than photography as the cover picture. Because it is now clear why Nikon took over the manufacturer Red in 2024. And this also has an impact on what the Nikons, which are primarily intended for photos, will be able to do in the future.

At least in the medium term, it is not about building new cine Nikons, as has been assumed in some quarters. Rather, Nikon is initially choosing the simpler path: the existing Red cameras will be equipped with the Z bayonet, and there will be adapters for the PL mount and Nikon's F bayonet.

One camera, three lens worlds

Many a filmmaker will be surprised to learn that – now has access to three generations of lenses with the support of the manufacturer –: The widely used PLs invented by Arri, the Nikon-F with many special lenses since the 1970s and the current Nikon Z. The latter bayonet is permanently installed on the cameras, with the golden ring that also adorns the 28-135mm f/4 PZ motor zoom, more on this in a moment. There is an adapter for PL for the Reds with gold ring, and the FTZ adapter known from the photo cameras also fits. One camera, three lens worlds – Nikon has come up with a very clever idea.

The first two Reds to be equipped in this way are the Komodo-X (6K, Super 35 format) and the V-Raptor X (8K, light medium format), both of which work with a global shutter sensor. Prices start at 7,000 and 30,000 US dollars respectively, which may be too much for professional production of series and films and for TV reports, for example.

Nikon's Powerzoom for filming with all Z cameras

However, system cameras can now also be used to film in impressive quality, and this is where Nikon's motorized zoom, which is also suitable for the Z-Reds, comes into play. This was previously only announced, but now all the data is available: It will be launched in April 2025, can already be pre-ordered and costs 2800 euros. So we were not far off the mark with our estimate of 2500 euros in November 2025. Nikon has not yet mentioned anything about focus stability, as with TV cameras, in the technical data, but 11 speed steps for the motor zoom and the fact that the center of gravity should hardly shift at all are striking – important for working on a tripod.

This does not necessarily require a remote, i.e. a remote control for the camera and lens, as is common in professional productions such as live broadcasts. Many functions of the motorized zoom can also be controlled remotely via a PC or the camera body. For example, the zoom rocker buttons can also be assigned to the two Fn buttons on the front of a Z8 or Z9 in the camera menu. This reduces image blurring compared to fiddling with the lens instead.

Adobe Firefly invents videos and translates audio tracks

One of the standard tools for filmmakers is Adobe Premiere Pro, which has been able to create AI-generated content since fall 2024. The web app "Adobe Firefly" can now also do this, from prompts, i.e. texts, as well as from photos as templates. Five-second clips in full HD resolution are created from nothing, or more precisely: from licensed training data. This is important because, as Adobe promises, companies should also be able to create legally compliant content. Firefly can now translate existing videos, including real ones, into 20 languages, at least the audio track. Among others, German, English and French are available. However, Firefly requires a rather complicated subscription model with "credits", which some subscribers to the major Adobe subscriptions already have. Our detailed report on the web Firefly explains this in more detail.

Apple takes over Pixelmator

Probably also because Adobe is so dominant in the professional environment and only offers its software as a subscription, Apple has taken over the photo software "Pixelmator", which can compete functionally with Photoshop. Pixelmator only runs on Macs, iPhones and iPads and is available both as a one-off purchase and as a subscription, depending on the version. So here, at least so far, Apple has taken an advantage for those who don't like subscriptions. So far, there are no plans to change the costs; Pixelmator Pro is currently available as a permanent license for around 60 euros. Apparently Apple wants to replace its own photo tool "Aperture", which was discontinued around 10 years ago.

Trends in SD cards and CFExpress

Our recommendation for, let's say, a long listen, for Sunday evening or the start of the week is a detailed technical look at memory cards. Some consider the days of SD cards to be numbered, but CFExpress is not really taking off. The new edition of the Bit-Rauschen podcast from our colleagues at c't sheds light on the reasons for this.

(nie)