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Nikon launched its first Z-series Cinema Digital camera this week, the Nikon ZR, simply 18 months after buying RED Digital Cameras – take a look at my Nikon ZR hands-on assessment for my early impressions. And scorching on its heels we now have the primary must-have accent for the digicam, within the form of the SmallRig Cage equipment.
The gist of my hands-on is that, whereas I am going to want to check the Nikon / RED mannequin over an extended interval, I already suppose it is a extremely succesful video digicam, because of its partially stacked 24MP full-frame sensor, in-body picture stabilization, 6K 60fps video, inside 12-bit RAW recording, RED shade profiles, inside 32-bit float audio, spectacular inside mics, and mighty 4-inch contact show.
It is an prompt main participant in a brand new area for Nikon, with the talents to make pro-quality video in a compact weather-resistant bundle, for a rival-beating value of $2,200 / £2,199 / AU$3,499.
All that mentioned, the ZR is clearly no high-end mannequin. Nikon has prioritized compact dimensions over outright pro-grade cinema digicam design, and that is no unhealthy factor – I believe there’s a spot for small, stripped-back cameras which you’ll bulk out with equipment to fulfill your wants.
Modifying a small digicam can serve a number of functions – you’ll be able to preserve it naked to suit into tight areas, or add equipment to enhance its dealing with.
I just like the foundations the ZR has set, however to be a very nice run-and-gun digicam, it wants an additional hand, and that simply got here within the type of the SmallRig Superior Cage equipment.
Get a grip
In contrast to bulkier options, the Nikon ZR omits a viewfinder, whereas its flat-fronted physique solely affords a bit of buy. Moreover, there aren’t any mounting factors for equipment such as you get with different cinema cameras, nor area to squeeze in a full-size HDMI port, only a micro-HDMI. This all appears like enthusiast-level design reasonably than professional.
My first thought after I acquired my arms on the ZR is that it could profit from a greater grip and simpler strategy to mount equipment – step in SmallRig.
The Superior Cage Equipment, which prices £149.90 and is out there now within the UK (US and Australia pricing and availability are TBC), has 4 most important parts: the L-Formed Deal with, Cage, High Deal with and Aspect Deal with. If you don’t need the lot, it can save you cash by choosing the L-Formed Deal with equipment, Fundamental Cage equipment or High Deal with equipment.
With all 4 parts in play the ZR appears to be like infinitely extra snug to carry, and the L-Formed grip will definitely make vertical capturing comfier. The ZR has vertical video abilities you will wish to use – its UI modifications as you maintain the digicam vertically, and any movies shot this manner are routinely acknowledged as 9:16 recordsdata whenever you come to enhancing.
The ZR already has in-body picture stabilization however, like the Nikon Z6 III, which has similar sensor specs, it isn’t the most effective I’ve used – the Lumix S1 II’s stabilization for video is one other stage. That is why the High Deal with and Aspect Deal with look helpful: they’re going to supply a safer maintain for smoother handheld photographs, lowering the necessity for a gimbal.
Personally, I am not fussed about mounting factors for an exterior monitor – the ZR’s 4-inch show is large and brilliant sufficient for run-and-gun recording. Nonetheless, it’s helpful for equipment corresponding to a wi-fi mic receiver and compact steady mild panels.
Certain, SmallRig’s Cage equipment cannot change the ZR’s {hardware}, like the actual fact we’ve got micro-HDMI and awkward entry to reminiscence playing cards by way of the battery door, nevertheless it does rework the ZR into the last word run-and-gun video digicam. Add the cage, overlook utilizing a gimbal and exterior monitor, and you’ve got an ultra-compact and simply carried bundle – it is actually the primary ZR accent I would look to purchase.
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