News

No, it’s not April 1st. You read that right: Nikon really is acquiring RED, maker of high-end digital movie cameras. According to a press release issued today (March 7th), the Nikon Corporation has entered into “an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding membership interests of RED.com, LLC (RED) whereby RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nikon.” It’s a particularly surprising development given that it’s not so long ago that RED was suing Nikon over video compression technology in the Japanese company’s flagship Z9 mirrorless camera.

The press release goes on to explain that Nikon and RED have a shared interest in offering “exceptional user experiences that exceed expectations, merging the strengths of both companies.” Nikon touts its prowess in product development, image processing know-how, optical technology, and user interface, while praising RED’s knowledge in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and color science.” Combining these areas of expertise will enable the development of “distinctive products in the professional digital cinema camera market.” But it will be equally interesting to see how RED’s technology will make its way into Nikon’s mirrorless cameras.

Established in 2005, RED has its head office in California and employs around 220 people. The company has been at the forefront of digital cinema cameras since its establishment, becoming the camera of choice for countless Hollywood productions. In the underwater cinematography realm, the company’s cinema cameras have been extensively supported by Nauticam, which produces housings for models such as the Komodo, Komodo-X and V-Raptor.