From a business standpoint I don’t think people realize how far reds ideology can soar with multiple millions in r&d behind their ideas, or how Nikon just freed themselves from Sony by having the opportunity to make their sensors in house. This is a game changer, I’m a canon shooter and I know this will make Sony and canon pucker up and step up their game. Literally everyone wins.
It’s going to be insane! Nikon definitely have loads of eyes on them now. I have no clue what canon is doing but hopefully they start going crazy with it because they’ve been MIA it seems haha Everyone wins, it’s going to be so rad to see
I personally think that Nikon acquiring RED won’t change anything about the RED brand. They’ll have the same team and same core philosophy, probably keep the RF mount but maybe add Z as an option - think of how DJI acquired Hasselblad and how they’re still such seperate entities when it comes to their products. The big reason behind it I think is the patent IP as you pointed out. Nikon will license the tech from RED, pay them a royalty and integrate lossless comp into their cameras. That’s all I think will happen. Would Nikon think it’s worth killing a $150m dollar business with huge foothold and brand identity in cinema just to steal lossless compression? They’ll look to renew the patent in 2028 when it expires and maybe even potentially use it as a revenue source and license it to other camera manufacturers (hopefully). It could be the start of lossless raw video being the standard vs h265 just like raw is the standard in photography rather than jpg. It’s actually big news for the industry.
Don’t take this personally, but your analysis is way out. In my past life, I was involved in a few M&A’s. This acquisition makes so much sense for both Nikon and Red. There will be a few post-acquisition implementation challenges that Nikon will need to navigate, but the way Nikon has been managing their business of late, they are so disciplined. I understand the nervousness of Red customers, but they should be very happy.
Perhaps those with very little sense of what Nikon has been over the past half century need some help seeing how good a deal this is for both companies. Young video/film people would name five companies and leave NIkon out (Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji, Blackmagic, ...). This has led to disdain without much understanding behind it, besides a potato music video.
I'm getting a Nikon Zf to dip my toes in after discovering E mount lenses can be adapted to Z mount. Reds came with RF mount and that makes this news even more juicy. Canon better be hitting the gym more now.
So rad! I love that you can adapt E to Z I don’t mind any of these mirrorless mounts as I primarily adapt anyways Canon better be feeling the pressure. We need a KX competitor
Nikon’s balance sheet from 5 years ago +/- indicated one that may not survive financially. However, they seem to be turning things around but more importantly in their business model. Since release of their pro models (Z9/Z8/Zf), Nikon has been providing regular firmware updates. Beyond fixes, Nikon is providing real upgrades with the updates, improving & adding new features. The majors have not previously done this- but typically asking us to upgrade body every 2-3 years. Nikon is “shaking up the industry” with their leadership changes - yea Nikon of all companies….
Nikon has wanted to be in the video/cinema line for many years. They did the math to put a lot of money into resources or acquire an established company in business. They went with the latter. So, the future change would be (my speculations); - RED will eventually become Z mount, and RF mount might not be the future, though converters will be available. - Nikkor will come with a new line of cine lenses or a renewed RED line with Z mount. - Nikon could also have a few video-centric bodies and more budget options than RED, which will stay as their cinema line. - RED might also work with new sensors for future Nikon bodies, especially to trickle down the tech for global shutter sensors. - Nikon's resources for manufacturing bodies would benefit RED. - Nikon's AF is better than RED now and on par with Canon and Sony. So, RED's new cameras and existing lineup. - Nikon's philosophy of providing insane firmware updates might also expand to RED. Overall, this is a positive game-changer for both companies. The deal is better than 'RED', acquired by a manufacturer established to produce digital cinema cameras. With Nikon, they are most likely to stay as a true subsidiary and won't eat up RED.
Yes to all of this. RF adapters seem barely necessary, most users are probably adapting PL and EF lenses, the Z-mount allows for E lenses to also be adapted. Even Canon's RF cinema series is incomplete, only six of eight have been released to date.
Nikon has quietly acquired a few companies recently. They will not try to integrate RED into Nikon corporate or otherwise screw with the RED DNA. It is not their way. They will collaborate on technologies and synergies. It will be a great move for both parties.
@@thomas.kovacik You're already seeing it, and more importantly, *doing* it. If you look into what Nikon has done over the past 65 years, you may be surprised.
@@SoundSpeeding The Nikon brand name will probably get elevated among the video community now, because that is about perception. RED's brand name will get elevated only after new products deliver, because that is about experience.
James Jannard turns 75 this summer. He might have decided to do this to preserve this legacy. If RED was bought by Sony, Canon, or Panasonic, it would be for the technology, and the cameras would most likely be absorbed. Nikon is more likely to keep the brand, it is extremely valuable to them.
@@UnconventionalReasoningexactly! If you want the RED brand to stay around and grow, then Nikon looks like the best possible thing that could happen to RED
this is not like disney buying out all the IP's and just fully destroying classics. Nikon will likely keep RED as is, but also pull elements they need from the sensors and color science to make their nikon cameras better. Look at how long nikon has been around. Over 100 years.. RED? Not even 20.
Dream scenario forsure, excited to see what Nikon does! Definitely an industry shaking event Great point about how long they’ve been around, I forgot that Nikon has truly been around for over a 100 years
Most people here are being very very hopeful. Red does not make enough money to be viable as a business. Jared Land knew this and sold Red for that. There was also no major area for growth as they clearly weren’t interested in the prosumer market. Nikon needs to up their video line and have seen Raw video as a way to do that. Acquiring Red is almost solely for that. They have the capabilities to develop other features themselves. Acquiring Red also would allow them to now be competitive with Sony and the rest in the cinema market. I wouldn’t be surprised if they supported the dev of another gen of Red cameras but there is no way Nikon is going to allow their own acquisition to actively promote and support the growth of their direct rival’s ecosystem through the use of the RF mount.
This is the issue with buying high end cinema cameras... Red disrupted this space and is laughing all the way to the bank. Y'all should have just rented instead of using your red to undercut the rest of the cinematographers out there.
Not sure if this has happened in the high end cinema space before ARRI seems to be stable, slow and eager to let their cameras have long shelf lives RED is forsure an anomaly in this space I guess time will tell what happens, I have high hopes for this to work out well
I think where ARRI got it right was by designing an entire workflow with their film cameras and keeping it close to the same on the OG Alexa. I can hand any ARRI to any union 1st AC and they will know exactly what to do.
@Thomas Ko I enjoyed your video, but saying Nikon is not the most innovative is just a lie: First digital SLR before Canon First underwater SLR camera First to add video to SLR cameras First add VR to Macro lens First to entirely remove the shutter FIrst to have a full internal compress raw Widest and most shallow mount in order to be able to adapt any lens, even E-mount. Nasa's camera choice - and headed to the moon. Yes I think Nikon is a solid company and always pushes the boundaries
Fair! I think my stance is that they're definitely more tame than the industry shaker that RED is Nikon definitely has a foundation of accolades under them, but we'll see how these two companies mix. Hopefully it's not like oil and water
Yeah we will see what happens. Fact is, every camera manufacturer makes great cameras these days. But Nikon always had these "Nikon vibes" haha. I mean, we all know this one nerdy dude coming up with a Nikon shooting photos , just kidding😂@@thomas.kovacik
Great question- I think Sony has done great marketing while making some really solid cameras. Canon kinda follows suit, and Nikon seems to not have done much marketing at least with influencers. If they have I personally haven't seen it. When sony releases a new camera or lens they have loads of videos going out on embargo release. I have a feeling Nikon is going to be back in the conversation for the vast majority of users pretty soon
Sony Marketing has done a great job of buying UA-cam imaging influencers. It started by teaching users to hold the camera out at arms length with the left hand in the jeans pocket. It continues with "Sony Camera Camp". They sought out younger users, something they had experienced with from the Playstation division. They've long been more hip, going back to the Walkman and Discman, though they're probably still kicking themselves for losing to Apple with the iPod and iPad. Nikon's other divisions have little appeal to the youth market, such as microscopes and industrial optics. Sony has also been making video cameras for four decades, starting with the Betamovie failure and then the Handycam. Nikon also operates a bit slower than a company like Sony, so it makes people think they do not innovate. Americans are so fixated on "Now, now, now!" and Nikon resists that urgency. The pace of iPhone releases probably makes Nikon executives cringe. Nikon also wants products which last longer than most others. For fun, I recently got a used Nikon F5 film camera, released in 1995. It will work with lenses released over the next two decades, the first lens which is incompatible was released in 2016, as well as lenses released since 1977. Almost four decades worth of lenses on a camera released in the middle of that period. Only Leica has a better lens compatibility history.
In my opinion, this is just a delayed outcome of the lawsuit that was settled. Old man wanted out, patents running out, barely selling any cameras (however good they are), going up against much bigger companies.
@@thomas.kovacik yes, but making a phone is really expensive, specially when they developed new components and software for the assembly (like the infamous 3D screen) and they don’t have the cash flow of titans like Samsung or apple. So I’m pretty sure the suffered a lot and still having issues to leverage capital for R&D.
They’ve moved on from litigation. They settled out of court. This deal benefits both parties. Nikon currently gets their sensors from Sony and RED makes their own sensors. On the flip side, Nikon makes some of the best lenses in the world and is the only company to fully make their own lenses, down to the glass. They also have a solid AF system. before this news, rumors were that Nikon were developing a cinema line of lenses. I think this may confirm that.
so nuts! exciting to see what they do. I know the z8 / z9 are solid but not popular haha. I'm sure the structure of popularity will change over the years
I’ll never forget when I was starting in photography and tested a D750 as it was one of the best cameras for landscape at the time… the OI, ergonomics and weight felt so odd and not natural. Just checked how much their Z8 weighs and they still havent improved on that. 1kg without a lens 😂
Hahah oh no! Yeah I learned exposure triangle stuff on my good friend’s old Nikon DSLR. I was in love with that camera back then haha, very heavy forsure
It’s heavier than I prefer, but is so good. The size helps to avoid overheating when recording video as well. Engineers apparently had difficulty squeezing the functionality of the Z9 into the Z8 body.
Red sued nikon for the compressed raw & nikon just buying red lol that's most sigma move ever. 😂👏
Absolute Chads hahah
@@thomas.kovacik thanks for the pin 😊
From a business standpoint I don’t think people realize how far reds ideology can soar with multiple millions in r&d behind their ideas, or how Nikon just freed themselves from Sony by having the opportunity to make their sensors in house. This is a game changer, I’m a canon shooter and I know this will make Sony and canon pucker up and step up their game. Literally everyone wins.
It’s going to be insane! Nikon definitely have loads of eyes on them now. I have no clue what canon is doing but hopefully they start going crazy with it because they’ve been MIA it seems haha
Everyone wins, it’s going to be so rad to see
Nicely said!
I'm pretty sure Nikon still designes their sensors in house, atleast for the high end. Sony just manufactures them.
Red doesn't make its sensors. Similar to Nikon
@@bigdspeedshop Who makes RED's sensors?
I personally think that Nikon acquiring RED won’t change anything about the RED brand. They’ll have the same team and same core philosophy, probably keep the RF mount but maybe add Z as an option - think of how DJI acquired Hasselblad and how they’re still such seperate entities when it comes to their products. The big reason behind it I think is the patent IP as you pointed out. Nikon will license the tech from RED, pay them a royalty and integrate lossless comp into their cameras. That’s all I think will happen. Would Nikon think it’s worth killing a $150m dollar business with huge foothold and brand identity in cinema just to steal lossless compression? They’ll look to renew the patent in 2028 when it expires and maybe even potentially use it as a revenue source and license it to other camera manufacturers (hopefully). It could be the start of lossless raw video being the standard vs h265 just like raw is the standard in photography rather than jpg. It’s actually big news for the industry.
The RF mount is gone. There aren't enough RF cinema lenses to stop the change.
Don’t take this personally, but your analysis is way out. In my past life, I was involved in a few M&A’s. This acquisition makes so much sense for both Nikon and Red. There will be a few post-acquisition implementation challenges that Nikon will need to navigate, but the way Nikon has been managing their business of late, they are so disciplined. I understand the nervousness of Red customers, but they should be very happy.
Perhaps those with very little sense of what Nikon has been over the past half century need some help seeing how good a deal this is for both companies. Young video/film people would name five companies and leave NIkon out (Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji, Blackmagic, ...). This has led to disdain without much understanding behind it, besides a potato music video.
I'm getting a Nikon Zf to dip my toes in after discovering E mount lenses can be adapted to Z mount. Reds came with RF mount and that makes this news even more juicy. Canon better be hitting the gym more now.
So rad! I love that you can adapt E to Z
I don’t mind any of these mirrorless mounts as I primarily adapt anyways
Canon better be feeling the pressure. We need a KX competitor
Hopefully this just gives red more resources. Nikon could end up being the corporate overlord but I’m optimistic! 😂
Haha I feel it! Imagine if they both just go full steam ahead
Nikon’s balance sheet from 5 years ago +/- indicated one that may not survive financially. However, they seem to be turning things around but more importantly in their business model. Since release of their pro models (Z9/Z8/Zf), Nikon has been providing regular firmware updates. Beyond fixes, Nikon is providing real upgrades with the updates, improving & adding new features. The majors have not previously done this- but typically asking us to upgrade body every 2-3 years. Nikon is “shaking up the industry” with their leadership changes - yea Nikon of all companies….
Nikon has wanted to be in the video/cinema line for many years. They did the math to put a lot of money into resources or acquire an established company in business.
They went with the latter. So, the future change would be (my speculations);
- RED will eventually become Z mount, and RF mount might not be the future, though converters will be available.
- Nikkor will come with a new line of cine lenses or a renewed RED line with Z mount.
- Nikon could also have a few video-centric bodies and more budget options than RED, which will stay as their cinema line.
- RED might also work with new sensors for future Nikon bodies, especially to trickle down the tech for global shutter sensors.
- Nikon's resources for manufacturing bodies would benefit RED.
- Nikon's AF is better than RED now and on par with Canon and Sony. So, RED's new cameras and existing lineup.
- Nikon's philosophy of providing insane firmware updates might also expand to RED.
Overall, this is a positive game-changer for both companies. The deal is better than 'RED', acquired by a manufacturer established to produce digital cinema cameras. With Nikon, they are most likely to stay as a true subsidiary and won't eat up RED.
Yes to all of this.
RF adapters seem barely necessary, most users are probably adapting PL and EF lenses, the Z-mount allows for E lenses to also be adapted. Even Canon's RF cinema series is incomplete, only six of eight have been released to date.
Nikon has quietly acquired a few companies recently. They will not try to integrate RED into Nikon corporate or otherwise screw with the RED DNA. It is not their way. They will collaborate on technologies and synergies. It will be a great move for both parties.
Great context! I have a feeling they’re going to bring some heat over the next few years
I wouldn’t worry Nikon wouldn’t buy it to sniff it out ! They are elevating the Nikon brand name
Should be sick to see!
@@thomas.kovacik You're already seeing it, and more importantly, *doing* it. If you look into what Nikon has done over the past 65 years, you may be surprised.
Nah, they are elevating RED's brand name! ;-)
Would be awesome if RED ends up getting Nikon's robustness and reliability.
@@SoundSpeeding The Nikon brand name will probably get elevated among the video community now, because that is about perception. RED's brand name will get elevated only after new products deliver, because that is about experience.
the main reason they probably did this is because they were probably going to go out business when their patent expired
James Jannard turns 75 this summer. He might have decided to do this to preserve this legacy. If RED was bought by Sony, Canon, or Panasonic, it would be for the technology, and the cameras would most likely be absorbed. Nikon is more likely to keep the brand, it is extremely valuable to them.
@@UnconventionalReasoningexactly! If you want the RED brand to stay around and grow, then Nikon looks like the best possible thing that could happen to RED
@@SoundSpeeding 💯💯💯
This is why RED owners should mainly just chill out and keep using their cameras. Just avoid buying new RF lenses for now.
this is not like disney buying out all the IP's and just fully destroying classics. Nikon will likely keep RED as is, but also pull elements they need from the sensors and color science to make their nikon cameras better. Look at how long nikon has been around. Over 100 years.. RED? Not even 20.
Dream scenario forsure, excited to see what Nikon does! Definitely an industry shaking event
Great point about how long they’ve been around, I forgot that Nikon has truly been around for over a 100 years
Most people here are being very very hopeful.
Red does not make enough money to be viable as a business. Jared Land knew this and sold Red for that. There was also no major area for growth as they clearly weren’t interested in the prosumer market.
Nikon needs to up their video line and have seen Raw video as a way to do that. Acquiring Red is almost solely for that. They have the capabilities to develop other features themselves.
Acquiring Red also would allow them to now be competitive with Sony and the rest in the cinema market.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they supported the dev of another gen of Red cameras but there is no way Nikon is going to allow their own acquisition to actively promote and support the growth of their direct rival’s ecosystem through the use of the RF mount.
This is the issue with buying high end cinema cameras... Red disrupted this space and is laughing all the way to the bank. Y'all should have just rented instead of using your red to undercut the rest of the cinematographers out there.
Not sure if this has happened in the high end cinema space before
ARRI seems to be stable, slow and eager to let their cameras have long shelf lives
RED is forsure an anomaly in this space
I guess time will tell what happens, I have high hopes for this to work out well
I think where ARRI got it right was by designing an entire workflow with their film cameras and keeping it close to the same on the OG Alexa. I can hand any ARRI to any union 1st AC and they will know exactly what to do.
@amamdawhatever I love this! They seem really straightforward and consistent
Also they rarely release cameras which is also nice in a way haha
@@amamdawhatever It seems that this will have very little negative effect on current RED camera owners.
Great thoughts on this Thomas. We are just going to have to wait and see what happens.
Thanks Josh! Yeah I agree, time will tell. Still hopeful, considering I just put $10k+ into a KX haha
@Thomas Ko
I enjoyed your video, but saying Nikon is not the most innovative is just a lie:
First digital SLR before Canon
First underwater SLR camera
First to add video to SLR cameras
First add VR to Macro lens
First to entirely remove the shutter
FIrst to have a full internal compress raw
Widest and most shallow mount in order to be able to adapt any lens, even E-mount.
Nasa's camera choice - and headed to the moon.
Yes I think Nikon is a solid company and always pushes the boundaries
Fair! I think my stance is that they're definitely more tame than the industry shaker that RED is
Nikon definitely has a foundation of accolades under them, but we'll see how these two companies mix. Hopefully it's not like oil and water
Sold your C70 and now you are a Nikon guy 😜
Hahah crazy turn of events! Stoked to see what they come up with
the z8 / z9 are underrated it seems
Yeah we will see what happens. Fact is, every camera manufacturer makes great cameras these days. But Nikon always had these "Nikon vibes" haha. I mean, we all know this one nerdy dude coming up with a Nikon shooting photos , just kidding😂@@thomas.kovacik
@@thomas.kovacik the new Z6mk3 is going to be awesome too
Nice video dude. Loved hearing your thoughts 💪🏽
Thank ya!
im exited
Same! I’m hopeful
Stoked to see what happens
Why does Nikon have such a negative image in the UA-cam space?
Great question- I think Sony has done great marketing while making some really solid cameras. Canon kinda follows suit, and Nikon seems to not have done much marketing at least with influencers. If they have I personally haven't seen it. When sony releases a new camera or lens they have loads of videos going out on embargo release. I have a feeling Nikon is going to be back in the conversation for the vast majority of users pretty soon
Sony Marketing has done a great job of buying UA-cam imaging influencers. It started by teaching users to hold the camera out at arms length with the left hand in the jeans pocket. It continues with "Sony Camera Camp". They sought out younger users, something they had experienced with from the Playstation division. They've long been more hip, going back to the Walkman and Discman, though they're probably still kicking themselves for losing to Apple with the iPod and iPad. Nikon's other divisions have little appeal to the youth market, such as microscopes and industrial optics. Sony has also been making video cameras for four decades, starting with the Betamovie failure and then the Handycam.
Nikon also operates a bit slower than a company like Sony, so it makes people think they do not innovate. Americans are so fixated on "Now, now, now!" and Nikon resists that urgency. The pace of iPhone releases probably makes Nikon executives cringe. Nikon also wants products which last longer than most others. For fun, I recently got a used Nikon F5 film camera, released in 1995. It will work with lenses released over the next two decades, the first lens which is incompatible was released in 2016, as well as lenses released since 1977. Almost four decades worth of lenses on a camera released in the middle of that period. Only Leica has a better lens compatibility history.
In my opinion, this is just a delayed outcome of the lawsuit that was settled. Old man wanted out, patents running out, barely selling any cameras (however good they are), going up against much bigger companies.
I believe that Red will get a munch needed R&D budget, the same that is still recovering from the failed phone project.
definitely! sheesh, very similar situation to the gopro session + karma instances? I thought that phone was released like 10 years ago haha
@@thomas.kovacik yes, but making a phone is really expensive, specially when they developed new components and software for the assembly (like the infamous 3D screen) and they don’t have the cash flow of titans like Samsung or apple. So I’m pretty sure the suffered a lot and still having issues to leverage capital for R&D.
yeah makes sense! Should've put the hours / cash towards their lane haha
Thought this was about avoiding patent litigation 👀 maybe better tech?
Hard to tell! Could be either or both!
The patent stuff definitely raises some eyebrows
They’ve moved on from litigation. They settled out of court. This deal benefits both parties. Nikon currently gets their sensors from Sony and RED makes their own sensors. On the flip side, Nikon makes some of the best lenses in the world and is the only company to fully make their own lenses, down to the glass. They also have a solid AF system. before this news, rumors were that Nikon were developing a cinema line of lenses. I think this may confirm that.
@@SooksVI This acquisition was the "settled out of court" action.
It would have been less expensive to pay for 'infringing' the patent than to buy the company. This is about a lot more.
yoo do u prefer the xt5 or a7c for vidio and photo
Neither! But if I had to choose, prob the new a7cii
The xt5 should have a good image but the ergonomics are odd for me
Crazy news! Nikon has been ignored in the video/cinema space for decades. These are exciting times indeed.
so nuts! exciting to see what they do. I know the z8 / z9 are solid but not popular haha. I'm sure the structure of popularity will change over the years
I’ll never forget when I was starting in photography and tested a D750 as it was one of the best cameras for landscape at the time… the OI, ergonomics and weight felt so odd and not natural. Just checked how much their Z8 weighs and they still havent improved on that. 1kg without a lens 😂
Hahah oh no!
Yeah I learned exposure triangle stuff on my good friend’s old Nikon DSLR. I was in love with that camera back then haha, very heavy forsure
It’s heavier than I prefer, but is so good. The size helps to avoid overheating when recording video as well. Engineers apparently had difficulty squeezing the functionality of the Z9 into the Z8 body.
Some like the UI, ergonomics, and weight.