Nikon ZR + Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S kit

Nikon ZR + Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S kit

This package includes the versatile Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S lens.

Advance offer: Anyone who orders a camera now gets a €150 gift certificate at the store - get the accessories right away!

Interesting news from Nikon! RED, the manufacturer of cinema cameras known from Hollywood productions is also involved. Nikon acquired RED through a corporate acquisition and now this expertise is starting to be more widely visible in Nikon cameras.

The Nikon ZR is a full-sensor camera designed for video use. The small size has been fitted with a partially stacked sensor from the Nikon Z6 III model, IBIS image stabilization, RAW video recording (Nikon Raw, Prores RAW and R3D!), a larger than normal 4" touchscreen with higher resolution, and 32-bit audio recording. The new product is priced right for content creators and as a second camera for Nikon photographers.

On the other hand, the camera says Cinema and has a RED logo on the back, which means that it has enough features to go further, meaning that it is suitable for use as a primary camera in large productions when rigged appropriately. In addition to R3D raw footage, REDI color models are included (also including the different color modes and 9 custom presets) and the material fits into the same workflows, and the existing great LUT files designed for REDI can be used immediately.

• Compact cinema camera made in collaboration with RED and Nikon Cinema
• 6K 24.5MP full-frame sensor, Partially Stacked CMOS
• Redcode Raw R3D, N-Raw and Prores Raw video capture directly to the card
• 7.5 f/1.0 effective in-body image stabilization
• 6K 60P, 4K 120P and FullHD 240P video recording
• Dynamic range up to 15+ apertures
• Nikon's latest autofocus with subject detection
• RED Picture Control settings
• Bright and large 4" swivel touchscreen
• Weighs only 640g with battery and memory card
• 32bit audio recording, built-in microphones and new digital audio interface
• Frame.IO Camera to Cloud support

Nikon ZR - the little giant of videography

In terms of size and features, Nikon has clearly started chasing market share from users of Sony FX and Blackmagic cameras, for example. The Nikon ZR does not contain anything unnecessary, i.e. there is no electronic viewfinder or mechanical shutter. Now there is a very accurate larger screen and on the other hand, in video productions, a frame and an external monitor are often added to the camera and possibly additional power from, for example, a V-Mount battery.

Thanks to the collaboration with RED, Nikon now has a really interesting R3D raw video, which offers a good alternative to Blackmagic's good codecs. And for those considering or owning Blackmagic cameras, Nikon's highly advanced autofocus and image stabilization will certainly pique interest.

• 6K 60P 12bit R3D NE, Nikon Raw and Apple Proress RAW 30P video recording directly to card
• Apple Prores 422 HQ 10bit, H.265 8 and 10bit and H.264 8bit recording
• LogG10, N-Log, SDR and HLG gamma options
• CFExpress Type B memory card slot
• 4K 120P and FullHD 240P slow motion videos
• Shutter angle setting
• Fast sensor readout time - even less than 10MS, meaning less rolling shutter distortion
• Better audio: 32bit recording, digital audio connection, line-level input
• Three internal microphones - five selectable polar patterns and wind noise cancellation
• HDMI Micro
• Focus breathing compensation function
• Image preview with LUT files
• Good thermal management without active cooling (i.e. no fan noise either)

The sensor is the same as the one in the Nikon Z6 III, so performance can be judged from this. The partially stacked structure of the sensor means fast readout of the sensor data, which is clearly the best in this price range. All video modes benefit from this and even the 4K mode, which is upsampled from 6K video, is just as fast.

For slow-motion videos, 4K 120P will likely include APS-C cropping, but then the readout time is even faster due to the smaller area, meaning the slow-motion video freezes the motion very artificially without jitter or distortion, even in fast-moving subjects.

We are looking forward to testing this, for example on the sensor read speed and the extent of rolling shutter. The Nikon ZR is well suited for fast-paced Run&Gun shooting and content production, also with a simplified and lightweight equipment, as it comes with the previously mentioned image stabilizers and fast autofocus.

The Nikon ZR is also the first camera in its class to feature 32-bit audio recording, and unlike Panasonic, this does not require a separate audio handle, but works with internal microphones (which have been heavily invested in this time) or a lightweight external microphone. In fact, the internal microphones are OZO technology originally developed by Nokia, which means they have adjustments such as wind removal and the directional pattern can be changed from five different options.

Now Nikon also has a digital connection, and with a compatible device, the audio signal goes directly through the hot shoe without wires. The 3.5mm connector can also be used to input line-level audio from, for example, a mixing console or a separate recorder.

The camera supports LUT files for preview, so the MicroSD card slot is at least useful for this. According to Nikon, the camera's color space directly supports LUT files made for RED cameras, so this can be used as an additional camera or crash cam in really large projects. The workflow for R3D NE files, at least at the release stage, uses separate RED Cine X Pro software for initial adjustment and from this, files that editing software understands are rendered, in the future the software can then understand the files directly.

At least initially, the camera doesn't directly support anamorphic lenses or include, for example, False color exposure assist. It remains to be seen what kind of features the camera will come with, for example, software updates.

Nikon ZR in photography & fast autofocus

The Nikon ZR is, as its name suggests, a Cinema camera, meaning it doesn't have a viewfinder or mechanical shutter, but in principle the performance is the same as the Nikon Z6 III camera using an electronic shutter, meaning it does handle still photography surprisingly well.

The sensor is so-called partially stacked, stacked sensors are used in the most expensive top-end bodies of brands such as the Nikon Z9, Sony A1 and Canon EOS R3. Now this technology has been partially implemented, meaning you get most of the benefits and speed but the price remains at the level of hobbyist devices.

And what all this sensor and the ten times faster Expeed 7 processor enable:

Faster autofocus: Nikon promises that the autofocus is at least 20% faster than the previous model, in addition to Nikon's more advanced 3D tracking and improved subject recognition (pets, vehicles, people, 9 different modes in total). The focus is just the right thing to do in the very tough competition with other brands.

Focusing now also works in very low light -10EV lighting (measured with an F1.2 aperture), meaning that focus speed is improved especially in extreme conditions and if you are not using the brightest fixed super telephoto lenses, but, for example, telephoto zooms combined with teleconverters.

All autofocus adjustments and calculations are performed 120 times per second, meaning the camera reacts quickly when shooting in burst mode and when shooting fast action.

We will elaborate on the still photography features later when we receive more extensive technical information after the release.

Frame usability

Due to the small size, the buttons have been reduced, there are no LCD status displays or exposure program selectors on the body. Video and Still side are selected with a slide switch. In addition, there is almost no grip at all. With light lenses this is not a problem, but with larger cine lenses or an external monitor you need to put a frame like Smallrig or Tilta around it and build the whole thing around this.

On the other hand, the screen is bright and high-resolution, the brightness is 1000 nits at maximum and the 1280x900 resolution is also better than usual, as well as the 4" size, which is unprecedented for Nikon. The aspect ratio is 19:10, which is very suitable for video shooting, so in practice it may be that this camera can do quite a bit without an external display. The user interface on the screen rotates to the correct position for portrait shooting.

There are two card slots, but a CFExpress Type B card is required for video recording, and small so-called proxy files are also stored on this card.

There is no active cooling in the body, meaning the camera is completely silent while shooting. The battery is Nikon's most common model, the EN-EL15C, as in the previous model.

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Nikon Z mount
• Sensor: full-frame Partially Stacked CMOS, 24.5 megapixels
• Sensitivity: Dual ISO 800/6400
• Video recording: 6K REDCODE RAW R3D NE, N-RAW and Proress Raw internally to memory card
• 4K 120P and FullHD 240 slow motion videos
• Display: 4"cm swivel touchscreen
• Memory card slot 1: for CFExpress cards
• Memory card slot 2: For MicroSD UHS-I cards (for still images and LUT files, not for video recording)
• Microphone connection: 3.5mm
• Headphone jack: 3.5mm
• Connections: HDMI Type D or MicroHDMI, USB C, Nikon DC2
• wireless: Wi-Fi 2.5 / 5GHz WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
• Battery type: Nikon EN-EL15C
• Size: 133 x 80.2 x 48.7mm
• Weight: about 540g

The sales package includes:

• Nikon ZR 6K Cinema Camera Body
• Nikon EN-EL15c Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh) battery
• Nikon UC-E25 USB Cable - USB-C cable
• Nikon BS-D1 Digital Accessory Shoe Cover
• Nikon BF-N1 Body Cap
• Nikon AN-DC26 Camera Strap

The sales package does not include a charger.