Nikon unveils Z Cinema Lenses - a glimpse into their upcoming features
In a significant move, Nikon has officially entered the cinema camera market by launching its first co-branded Z Cinema camera, the Nikon ZR. This compact camera features a 6K full-format sensor and internal 6K RAW recording, making it a powerful tool for cinematic applications.
Nikon's foray into cinema lenses is also noteworthy. The company is developing a line of dedicated Nikkor Cinema lenses, with the focus on fixed lenses. The Nikkor Cinema lens line is expected to include prime lenses ranging from 14mm or 18mm to 135mm, providing a versatile range for various cinematic needs.
The development of wider zooms such as 14-35mm or 20-50mm could provide a more budget-friendly access point to cinema lenses for ZR users. A zoom lens to complement the Nikkor 28-135mm f/4 PZ is likely to be developed as well.
Nikon is looking at Canon's recent cinema lens output as a rough template for its Z Cinema lens line. Canon has been repopulating its cinema lens output with RF glass over the past few years, with its RF hybrid lenses and RF versions of its Sumire cinema primes. Most of Canon's Sumire lenses have T1.5 or T1.3 speeds, slowing to T3.1 for the 14mm lens and T2.2 for the 135mm.
James Artaius, a journalist with 25 years of experience, serves as the head of Digital Camera World. With his extensive experience in product testing and shooting ad campaigns for renowned brands like Olympus, Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom, and L'Oréal, Artaius brings a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes. He is an Olympus / OM System, Canon, and Hasselblad shooter, but his expertise extends beyond these brands.
Nikon's acquisition of Red, a company known for its cinema cameras, adds another layer to Nikon's cinema ecosystem. The company is building this ecosystem from the ground up, with the Nikon ZR cinema camera expected to have primes in 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm.
The Nikon ZR camera is budget-friendly, inviting the expectation of affordable lenses. However, its capabilities may also require fast high-end glass. The development of the Nikkor Cinema lens line is currently ongoing, and we look forward to seeing how it shapes up in the future.
