Nikon Unveils Nine-Lens Cinema Series And Major Firmware Update For The ZR Camera

Nikon has announced it is developing a new series of nine cinema lenses under the NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV banner, alongside a firmware update for its ZR full-frame cinema camera that will add several features aimed at professional filmmakers and content creators.

The two announcements deepen the relationship between Nikon and RED Digital Cinema following Nikon’s acquisition of the cinema camera manufacturer.

Nine lenses for large-format cinema

The NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series is designed for cinema, professional productions and content creators. The series will comprise nine lenses, including the NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV.

Nikon says the new lens line follows a design philosophy intended to deliver the rendering performance required by the cinema industry alongside the practicality needed in professional production environments.

The lenses will be the first in the NIKKOR range to feature an image circle large enough to cover the V-RAPTOR [X] VV sensor developed by RED Digital Cinema, Inc. That sensor measures 40.96 mm x 21.60 mm, making it larger than a standard full-frame sensor.

The series will also include an autofocus mechanism designed to support professional workflows.

Building on the Nikon-RED relationship

The lens announcement represents a tangible product of the partnership between Nikon and RED. By building native NIKKOR glass capable of covering RED’s larger-than-full-frame VV sensor format, Nikon is positioning its optics to work across both its own mirrorless camera bodies and RED’s cinema camera ecosystem.

Nikon has produced more than 120 million NIKKOR lenses for its interchangeable lens cameras since the brand was established. The NIKKOR name derives from adding “r” to “Nikko”, the Romanised abbreviation for Nippon Kogaku K.K., the company’s original name.

ZR firmware version 2.00

Separately, Nikon has confirmed it is developing firmware version 2.00 for the Nikon ZR, a full-frame sensor camera in the Z CINEMA series that was released in October 2025.

The firmware update is scheduled for release later in 2026 and will include three additions aimed at expanding the camera’s capabilities for filmmakers and content creators.

What the firmware adds

The update will introduce support for Log3G10 and REDWideGamutRGB when recording in H.265 format. This combination is intended to deliver compact file sizes while retaining colour-grading latitude for post-production work.

A new option will allow users to select the level of High ISO noise reduction available during H.265 Log recording, giving creators more control over image rendering to match the intent and tone of their work.

The firmware will also add support for focus peaking display during recording in the R3D NE format, a RAW format developed for Nikon cameras that delivers the colour science of RED’s cinema cameras. The feature is designed to enable more precise focus confirmation while shooting.

Anamorphic and open gate support planned for 2027

Beyond the version 2.00 update, Nikon confirmed it is developing additional firmware to address frequently requested features. Open gate recording and a desqueeze display for use with anamorphic lenses are both in development, with the goal of incorporating them into ZR firmware in 2027.

The inclusion of anamorphic lens support signals Nikon’s intent to cater to filmmakers working with specialised glass that produces a wider aspect ratio and the distinctive visual characteristics associated with anamorphic cinematography.

For more information, visit nikon.com.au.

Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by Nick Ross