GEAR
NIKON ZR
daylight. Big tick for all these things. But, because the body is so pared- down, Nikon has emphasised that the ZR is designed to be used on its own without bolt-ons. If you want to add a cage, top handle, rig or monitor mount, there are no attachment holes like on rival models from Sony or Canon, just a single tripod thread that doesn’t feature anti-twist pins. The full-size HDMI of the donor Nikon Z 6III has been downgraded to a micro HDMI, an odd choice for a cinema-focused camera. And to keep the body as slim as possible, the Nikon battery has been turned sideways and positioned so its access door is where the two card slots are: on the bottom plate. One is CFexpress Type B, the other is micro SD. The reality is that the micro SD is not up to recording any high-end video formats, so it’s really a single-card camera for video. You have to open the bottom door to change the memory cards or battery, which is a pain if the camera is on a tripod or rigged up in any way. While the rear screen is massive and the best we’ve seen on a camera this size, in order to make room for it the controls and custom buttons have been significantly slimmed down, including the rear mini joystick.
Content creators have swooned over the huge four-inch touchscreen and advanced AF, while professional filmmakers are amazed at the 32-bit float internal audio and wide choice of Raw files. High-end filmmakers are falling over themselves at the chance to own an affordable B camera that could match the Red Raw files from their V-Raptors. As its first attempt at making a cinema camera – with the promise of more high-end versions to follow – Nikon has made its rivals go green over Red. While some manufacturers try to lock you into their own Raw formats or enforce external Raw recording to a suitable device like an Atomos, Nikon offers internal 12-bit R3D NE Raw, Apple ProRes Raw and Nikon NRAW formats, as well as 10-bit ProRes or eight-bit H.264/H.265 files, to save space and time in post. Internal Raw goes up to 6K in 60p, 4K in 120p – although there is a significant 1.5x crop – and Full HD up to 240p. The ZR’s body weighs just 540g/ 1.19lb and is fully weather sealed. Costing £2199/$2197, it’s the lightest all-in-one full-frame cinema camera built with cinema-grade features in a highly portable format. If you’ve read this far and are bowled over by the specs, however, hold fire before you flash the plastic and order one. Yes, the ZR is compact and offers amazing spec, but there are certain handling and workflow issues that potential purchasers should understand. You can’t have it all in a camera this small and affordable so there are some compromises. The biggest is around handling and ergonomics. The ZR’s size is immediately noticeable. With a shell that blends Nikon’s mirrorless ergonomics with a cinema camera’s sensibility, it feels comfortable for run-and-gun, gimbal, drone or indie narrative use. The articulating four-inch, 1000-nit touchscreen is large, bright and usable even in bright
A LA MODE A sliding button swaps between stills and cine modes (above left). The ZR is dwarfed by the new zoom lens (above right)
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: £2199/$2197 Sensor: 35.9x23.9mm full-frame CMOS, 24.5 megapixels Mount: Nikon Z Video formats: 12-bit ProRes Raw 6K to 30p, DCI 4K to 120p, 4K to 60p. 12-bit Redcode Raw 6K to 60p, DCI 4K to 120p, 4K to 120p. ProRes 422 HQ 4:2:2 10-bit 5.3K to 30p, 4K to 120p, HD to 240p. H.265 8/10-bit 5.3K to 30p, 4K to 60p, HD to 120p Video output: 4K via micro HDMI Gamma: Nikon N-Log, Red Wide Gamut RGB ISO: Dual base 800-6400, native 100-64,000
Dynamic range: 15+ stops Shutter: Electronic rolling, 900secs to 1/16,000sec
Autofocus: Phase detection AF Image stabilisation: Sensor shift Input/output: Micro HDMI, USB-C Live streaming: No Stills formats: NEF Raw, JPEG, HEIF Stills frame rate: To 20fps Screen: 4in articulating touchscreen, 3.07m dots, 1000 nits Viewfinder: No Media: 1x CFexpress Type B, 1x micro SD Audio: 32-bit float, 24-bit, five audio pickup patterns Audio input/output: 3.5mm headphone socket and mic in, intelligent hotshoe Dimensions (wxhxd): 133x80.5x48.7mm/5.2x3.2x1.9in Weight: 540g/1.19lb
A SLOT TO PROVE The
ZR is a fine first attempt but no full-size HDMI jack is baffling
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