Nikon ZR announced

[Øivind Tøien]

The video-centric Nikon ZR that is based on Z6 III tech and one of the first fruits of the RED acquisition might not be what most forum members here are looking for.  But as usual it is interesting to see what directions new technology takes:
 
https://www.nikonusa.com/p/zr/2006/overview

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-zr-compact-full-frame-video-camera-6k-60-red-raw

RicciTalks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPT5UbkOZAI

Muskoxen in Norway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfSQdqyWY0

[Fons Baerken]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmEyP7j6P_8

[pluton]

The ZR is attractively priced and, assuming the large-ish rear screen really is usable in daylight, might be a solution for those wanting to shoot high-end handheld video/digital cinema shots with a minimally sized camera.  Small size helps for gimbal use also.  There will be those that want to accessorize it into a shoulder rig or tripod camera. High-end Youtubers might take to this.  A loupe that snaps onto the rear screen might be a handy thing for some enterprising specialty peripheral company to make. The only design trouble spots I've read about are the 1)Mini-HDMI jack for external monitoring/recording and 2) the placement of the Mini HDMI jack, which cannot be used with the built in monitor screen deployed.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

The ZR is attractively priced and, assuming the large-ish rear screen really is usable in daylight, might be a solution for those wanting to shoot high-end handheld video/digital cinema shots with a minimally sized camera.  Small size helps for gimbal use also.  There will be those that want to accessorize it into a shoulder rig or tripod camera. High-end Youtubers might take to this.  A loupe that snaps onto the rear screen might be a handy thing for some enterprising specialty peripheral company to make. The only design trouble spots I've read about are the 1)Mini-HDMI jack for external monitoring/recording and 2) the placement of the Mini HDMI jack, which cannot be used with the built in monitor screen deployed.

The Micro-HDMI can be used when the built-in monitor is deployed but not all orientations are available. I don't think there is much point in using this camera with an external recorder or monitor since it can record a variety of high-quality codecs in camera without overheating and the built-in screen is large (not as large as some external monitors but then it makes more sense to use a different camera if using an external monitor or recorder). A small camera is only small when it's used without a plethora of accessories ... :-)

What's in my opinion more significant is the blocking of the audio input connector when turning the screen up, this is potentially a significant limitation. However, it can take a digital audio signal through the hot shoe (for which hopefully there will be many compatible products), allowing the user to bypass the problem. There is also timecode recording which allows one to synchronize with an external audio recorder without relying on the similarity with the in-camera audio track or a clap board and no cables are needed.

[pluton]

I'd forgotten about the 3.5mm audio connector.  One could argue, however, that adding a [presumed] XLR adapter in the Sony fashion negates the compactness of the camera as much as an external monitor would. Hopefully the [presumed] XLR unit will be small.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I'd forgotten about the 3.5mm audio connector.  One could argue, however, that adding a [presumed] XLR adapter in the Sony fashion negates the compactness of the camera as much as an external monitor would. Hopefully the [presumed] XLR unit will be small.

The TASCAM adapters are of similar size (across camera brands), they have two XLR/TRS connectors, one 3.5mm input and output, and digital connections via the hot shoe.

However, what you can do instead is to record audio externally and have a bluetooth timecode generator from Atomos feeding signals into the audio recorded and the camera (Zf, Z8, Z9, ZR at least support this, probably Z6III as well) so the timecode in the audio files matches that in the video files and then syncing becomes easier. No cables or accessories need to be attached to the camera, but of course the external audio needs to be handled somehow, put on stands or a sound person can manage them. One thing that is good about this approach is that you can put the ZR on a gimbal and since the audio is recorded separately there is no noise from the gimbal, and the camera is free to move without cables or microphone being attached.

[Øivind Tøien]

Morten Hilmer field tested the ZR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fXmvmv7Mm0

It appears to be quite weather proof. 

There is also some nice insight into how he works when filming himself and his equipment.

[christeo]

Morten Hilmer field tested the ZR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fXmvmv7Mm0

It appears to be quite weather proof. 

There is also some nice insight into how he works when filming himself and his equipment.

It is always a pleasure to watch Morten Hilmers videos (especially those who are not reviews). I will save this one to a saturday morning, with a coffee

[Øivind Tøien]

It is always a pleasure to watch Morten Hilmers videos (especially those who are not reviews). I will save this one to a saturday morning, with a coffee

Good idea, 
BTW, even before this I had watched the actual non-review video he made using the ZR +Z9 (but did not reveal it at the time). There are some really nice wide scenes there, actually I think even more striking than the closeups with the Z9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sn3ammYqxw

[christeo]

Good idea, 
BTW, even before this I had watched the actual non-review video he made using the ZR +Z9 (but did not reveal it at the time). There are some really nice wide scenes there, actually I think even more striking than the closeups with the Z9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sn3ammYqxw

I agree. I watched this last Saturday, with a morning coffee It seems that the ZR delivers very good video quality. I don’t think of Denmark as a country with much wilderness and opportunities for wildlife photography, but it’s obviously better than you would expect.
I’m not personally in the market for a ZR, but it seems to be a capable video camera with good value.