With the ever-changing needs of filmmakers, Nikon is here to empower more creative storytelling by advancing the Z CINEMA ecosystem with new capabilities and tools! With that, Nikon has announced the development of the NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series of cinema lenses, designed for cinema, high-end productions, and creators, aiming to provide them with high-quality solutions. That's not all, Nikon has also announced the development of firmware version 2.00 for the Nikon ZR, a full-frame sensor camera in the Z CINEMA series.
The NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series will be comprised of nine lenses, including the NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV. This series will further enrich the visual expression of the NIKKOR Z CINEMA line through a new design philosophy that delivers both the rendering performance required by the cinema industry and the practicality needed in professional production environments. In addition, this will be the first NIKKOR lens series to feature an image circle large enough to cover the V-RAPTOR [X] VV sensor, which is larger than a full-frame sensor. The lenses will also feature a highly precise autofocus mechanism to support creators' workflows.
Further empowering cinema production is the the development of firmware version 2.00 for the Nikon ZR, scheduled for release in 2026. With the aim of further advancing creative capabilities and workflows for a broad range of users, from high-end filmmakers to content creators, here are the the planned new features:
- Support for Log3G10 and REDWideGamutRGB when recording in H.265 format, delivering compact file sizes with high colour-grading latitude.
- A new option for selecting the level of [High ISO NR] available during H.265 Log recording, enabling image rendering tailored to the creator’s intent and the tone of the work.
- Support for focus peaking display during recording in the R3D NE* format, enabling more precise focus confirmation.
Nikon is also developing new firmware to support frequently requested features, including open gate recording and a desqueeze display for use with anamorphic lenses, with the goal of incorporating them in ZR firmware in 2027. Additionally, RED is updating its remote-control applications, RED CONTROL and RED CONTROL PRO, which will enable remote control capabilities for ZR.
