Nikon to Acquire US Cinema Camera Manufacturer RED.com, LLC

[fgonz031]

Time jump forward. Will the Z9 or the Z9 Mark II include 16 bit RAW? The R3D codec? HQ, MQ, LQ, ELQ options? 8K @ 30 fps; 4K @ 120fps? How will the R3D bit rate variants be divvyed up on the lower end of the Z series?

According to Thom Hogan Nikon will be working on sensors from 80Mpx to 100Mpx and think that you can develop video in 12K with those sensors.
Show Me the Pixels

 

[Les Hillis]

According to Thom Hogan Nikon will be working on sensors from 80Mpx to 100Mpx and think that you can develop video in 12K with those sensors.
Show Me the Pixels

Thanks for that. The information you and the others have been posting here recently, about the Nikon company and cameras, has been helpful in understanding and making sense of this whole acquisition thing.

 

[chambeshi]

More from NAB particularly on examples of MRMC solutions

 

[chambeshi]

These interviews from Japan give useful insight into how Nikon designed their Z9 flagship and the Z lenses, particularly Nikon's aims and high standards.

The depth and detail of the answers are atypical, as the Nikon engineers are unusually candid

Z 9 開発者Special Interview vol.1～フラッグシップ機「Z 9」の開発コンセプトと注目の新機能～ | ニコンイメージング

ニコンZシリーズ〝フラッグシップ機〞フルサイズミラーレス「Z9」。開発コンセプトから、注目の新機能まで、ニコン開発陣のインタビュー記事をご紹介いたします。

www.nikon-image.com

Z 9 開発者Special Interview vol.2～光学性能と小型化を追求したZ マウントシステムの開発意図と誕生秘話～ | ニコンイメージング

新次元の光学性能、システムの小型化、そして使いやすさを追求するニコン Z マウントシステム。具体的な製品の誕生秘話まで、Z マウントの開発意図や背景から、光学設計と商品企画プロダクトマネジャーのインタビュー記事をご紹介いたします。

www.nikon-image.com

 

[Les Hillis]

These interviews from Japan give useful insight into how Nikon designed their Z9 flagship and the Z lenses, particularly Nikon's aims and high standards.

The depth and detail of the answers are atypical, as the Nikon engineers are unusually candid

Z 9 開発者Special Interview vol.1～フラッグシップ機「Z 9」の開発コンセプトと注目の新機能～ | ニコンイメージング

ニコンZシリーズ〝フラッグシップ機〞フルサイズミラーレス「Z9」。開発コンセプトから、注目の新機能まで、ニコン開発陣のインタビュー記事をご紹介いたします。

www.nikon-image.com

Z 9 開発者Special Interview vol.2～光学性能と小型化を追求したZ マウントシステムの開発意図と誕生秘話～ | ニコンイメージング

新次元の光学性能、システムの小型化、そして使いやすさを追求するニコン Z マウントシステム。具体的な製品の誕生秘話まで、Z マウントの開発意図や背景から、光学設計と商品企画プロダクトマネジャーのインタビュー記事をご紹介いたします。

www.nikon-image.com

Thanks for that, some interesting bits of information in there, about how the camera's and lenses work in general, and about Nikon's approach to making them.

There must be some amazing conversations, about what to make and how to make it, happening behind the secenes right now at RED and Nikon.

 

[Phil Holland]

I agree, I think Jarred will be out soon. Hopefully he can make his own camera company fast. Otherwise we are dinosaurs.

I spent hours discussing the future of RED and Nikon with both RED and Nikon at NAB. There's short term and long term plans unfolding. Yes. Jarred and Jim are now Advisors, and that will keep them in the loop for a long while one way or another. The general sentiment from Nikon people was there was is a lot to learn from RED people as they navigate and create new cameras in the future.

I don't understand this dinosaur stuff or the doom and gloom mentality, particularly when you are getting information from the source or people extremely close to the source. Zero of the people involved on both sides express that negativity. In fact it's been some of the more vibrant camera discussions I've had with anybody recently. The net result of this is really down the line, likely in a product cycle or two, is getting much more powerful hardware and potentially other things.

 

[Alex Zeder]

I'll eat my words when (if) Nikon releases the next Red camera.

Keep this and warm it up then...

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Who the hell is MRMC?

 

[Phil Holland]

Who the hell is MRMC?

Mark Roberts Motion Control. Established in 1966.

Long time and very established motion control manufacturer and rental, typically used on higher end production. Probably most notably and visible to the public is the Bolt robotic arm, which is a smaller and faster than say a Milo. But if you're alive and have seen movies or television of any sort, you've seen things shot with MRMC camera movement platforms.

They were acquired by Nikon in 2017 and have continued to be a force throughout the industry with much, much more global representation, sales, and support.

 

[Mark Holloway]

In most acquisitions the top leaders are asked to stay for one year and then they move on. It’s usually ~18 months before you start to see product merger. Eventually some RED employees will churn. Those who stay merge into the Nikon reporting structure.

 

[chambeshi]

RED is Nikon - Interview with Grays of Westminster

Hollywood cinematographer discusses the implications

 

[Daniel Villiers]

So the Nikon financials are out and they acquired RED for 85 millions dollars.

 

[chambeshi]

Keiji Oishi and Jarred Land on Nikon and RED - Film and Digital Times

Nikon completed its acquisition of RED Digital Cinema on April 8, 2024. This is an interview with Jarred Land and Keiji Oishi all about it.

www.fdtimes.com

 

[Han Vogen]

Looks like Nikon paid $85 million for Red. This puts in perspective just how small Red Digital Cinema was.

 

[Brian Timmons]

Before this purchase RED reportedly had a little over 200 employees so yes they were known to clearly be a relatively small company.
Considering the nearly 40 camera models they put out across 18-19 years they were consistently punching out of their weight class
against established companies (Arri is over 100 years old) with much greater resources (Sony being a multinational conglomerate).

Will see what tomorrow brings but I can say with certainty today that Komodo X is a damn fine camera.
Really like using that camera (as well as Komodo).

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[chambeshi]

Nikon Bought RED for Just $85M

Not a bad deal.

petapixel.com

Nikon didn't pay as much for RED as you may think - Newsshooter

Nikon's acquisition of RED.com LLC didn't cost as much as you may think. In Japan, the financial year for businesses ends on the 31st of March.

www.newsshooter.com

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Well it depends all on what equipement and stock you have.

Aaton digital has been sold (in bankruptcy) for 44'000$ ...

 

[Phil Holland]

Looks like Nikon paid $85 million for Red. This puts in perspective just how small Red Digital Cinema was.

Bare in mind, RSH wasn't part of the deal and is worth about 40-65% of that value (I think worth $35mil at the time when Jim purchased it). And I suspect the sale wasn't exactly traditional in nature as well compared to other acquisitions.

 

[Brian Timmons]

44'000$

????
Is this $44,000 USD (which seems like a very low number) or perhaps the value of feet in film mags?
Really though, trying to understand that number.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[MarkKilligan]

Maybe RED was in financial troubles.