Nikon has stepped into the cinema game in a big way. The Nikon ZR is a full frame cinema camera co-developed with RED, built for serious video work but still friendly enough for ambitious creators who are ready to move beyond a standard mirrorless body.
At Budgetcam you can now rent the Nikon ZR for your next commercial, music video, documentary or high-end social production.
In short: what makes the Nikon ZR special?
The Nikon ZR is part of the new Z CINEMA line and is designed as a video-first hybrid cinema camera:
- Full frame 24.5 megapixel sensor (same generation as the Nikon Z6 III)
- Internal 6K up to 60p RAW recording in multiple formats: RED R3D NE, Nikon N-RAW and Apple ProRes RAW HQ
- More than 15 stops of dynamic range for cinematic highlight and shadow detail
- Advanced subject detection autofocus with tracking for people, animals, vehicles and more
- 5 axis in body image stabilization for stable handheld shots
- 4.0 inch fully articulating LCD with high brightness for outdoor viewing
- 32 bit float audio recording with Nokia OZO Audio and full audio ports
- Compact body with passive heat dissipation for long recording times
If you are used to a Sony A7 or Nikon Z stills body, you can see the ZR as a dedicated cinema brain that drops straight into your rig and workflow.
Sensor and image quality: full frame 6K with room to grade
Under the hood the Nikon ZR uses a 24.5 megapixel full frame sensor, closely related to the one in the Z6 III.
What that means in practice
- 6K resolution for more detail You record in up to 6K, which can be downsampled to super sharp 4K, or cropped for different aspect ratios without quickly losing quality.
- Cinematic dynamic range With more than 15 stops of dynamic range, you can keep detail in bright skies and deep shadows in the same shot, which is ideal for high contrast outdoor scenes and dramatic lighting setups.
- Low light performance The native ISO range from 100 to 51,200, plus dual native ISO points when recording R3D NE, gives you a clean image in low light and flexible exposure options on set.
- Still photos when you need them Although it is a cinema camera, the ZR can capture 24.5 megapixel stills, which is useful for unit stills, thumbnails, or quick social content on set.
Video first: 6K RAW, multiple codecs and pro tools
The real magic of the Nikon ZR is in its video pipeline. Nikon and RED worked together to put serious codecs and color tools directly inside the camera.
Internal RAW recording
You can choose between:
- RED R3D NE up to 6K/59.94p, 12 bit
- Nikon N-RAW for lighter files with high flexibility
- Apple ProRes RAW HQ for integration into Apple based workflows
For you as a creator this means:
- You can adjust ISO and white balance in post much more freely
- It is easier to match footage with existing RED cameras on larger shoots
- You keep maximum flexibility for color grading and VFX
Frame rates for every project
Depending on resolution and codec, the ZR offers:
- 6K up to 60p for high resolution narrative and commercial work
- 4K with high frame rates for smooth slow motion
- Full HD up to very high frame rates (around 240p) for extreme slow motion looks
Typical use cases:
- 6K 24 or 25p for cinema style narrative and documentaries
- 4K 50 or 60p for online content with motion but a sharp, crisp look
- 4K or FHD slow motion for sports, dance, fashion or product shots
Color and looks
The camera supports:
- Log3G10 and REDWideGamutRGB for a RED style log workflow
- N-Log and Nikon picture controls for familiar Nikon grading pipelines
- RED curated looks and imaging recipes that you can sync via Nikon Imaging Cloud
You can treat the ZR as a compact RED style tool, but with Nikon ergonomics and Z mount lenses.
Autofocus and stabilization: the camera tracks your talent
Although it is a cinema camera, the ZR still gives you the modern autofocus and stabilization that creators expect from a mirrorless body.
Subject detection AF
The ZR uses Nikon subject recognition autofocus for around nine types of subjects, including people, animals and vehicles.
In practice this means:
- The camera locks on to eyes and faces during interviews and walk-and-talk shots
- It can track runners, cyclists or cars moving through frame
- You can work faster with a small crew, because you do not always need a dedicated focus puller for simpler setups
5 axis in body image stabilization
The ZR includes 5 axis sensor shift stabilization plus electronic tools for even smoother shots.
Benefits on set:
- Handheld shots feel more controlled, especially with wider and mid-range lenses
- Small gimbal setups are easier to balance because the camera itself already smooths micro jitters
- Documentary and run-and-gun work become less dependent on heavy rigs
Audio: 32 bit float sound built in
One of the standout features of the Nikon ZR is its audio section.
You get:
- 32 bit float internal audio recording, which gives you huge headroom before clipping
- Support for Nokia OZO Audio for 3D style capture with the internal mics
- Standard 3.5 mm microphone and headphone jacks for external mics and monitoring
- A digital hotshoe for future audio accessories
For you this means less stress about peaks in dialogue or sudden loud sounds, especially in documentary or event settings. Even if a line comes in hotter than expected, you have much more room to fix it in post.
Body and workflow: a compact cinema brain for your rig
The ZR is designed more like a mini cinema cube than a classic stills camera.
Key design points:
- Compact, lightweight body engineered to sit easily on cages, rigs, gimbals and drones
- No EVF, so the entire back is dominated by a 4.0 inch fully articulating LCD with about 3 million dots and 1000 nit brightness for daylight viewing
- Passive cooling design that allows long takes in high quality modes without noisy fans in the body
- Professional connections: USB C, HDMI, mic in, headphone out and digital hotshoe
For media, the ZR uses:
- 1 x CFexpress Type B or XQD slot for high bitrate RAW
- 1 x microSD card slot for proxies or secondary recording
This setup fits well into professional workflows where you record RAW to CFexpress and maybe lighter formats or audio backups elsewhere.
Who is the Nikon ZR at Budgetcam for?
Ambitious creators stepping up from hybrid mirrorless
- You already shoot on cameras like Sony A7, Canon R or Nikon Z mirrorless and want a dedicated cinema tool for bigger jobs
- You want internal RAW, better audio and a more rig friendly body without jumping straight to a huge cinema system
- You work on music videos, commercials, branded content or indie films and need a camera that clients take seriously on set
Experienced DPs and directors
- You want a compact B camera or crash camera that matches well with RED and Nikon systems
- You need 6K RAW, 15+ stops of dynamic range and solid AF in a small package
- You value practical things like 32 bit float audio, shutter angle control and a bright flip-out screen for fast setups
Why rent the Nikon ZR at Budgetcam?
At Budgetcam you not only rent the body, you build a complete cinema setup that fits your production. You benefit from:
- A ZR body that is fully checked and firmware updated before every rental
- Matching Nikon Z lenses, matte boxes, follow focus, audio gear and support systems so you can build a ready-to-shoot rig in one order
- Flexible rental periods, whether you are shooting a one day music video, a multi-day commercial or a longer documentary
If you are ready to take the step from hybrid mirrorless to a real cinema workflow, or you want a compact RED flavored camera in your kit, the Nikon ZR at Budgetcam is a powerful choice for both ambitious and experienced creators.
