In a move to expand its presence in the digital cinema camera market, Nikon has announced its acquisition of RED Digital Cinema, a renowned US camera manufacturer. RED, founded by Jim Jannard, the visionary behind Oakley, is best known for its cutting-edge digital cinema cameras such as the RED One 4K and V-Raptor X.
While the exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Nikon’s press release confirms that RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the camera company. By joining forces with RED, Nikon aims to tap into the professional digital cinema camera market, leveraging RED’s expertise in cinema cameras, including their unique image compression technology and color science.
RED’s impressive portfolio boasts an array of major films and TV shows, including Marvel productions like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Captain Marvel, nature documentaries like Planet Earth II, and popular TV shows like Squid Game, Mindhunter, Peaky Blinders, and The Queen’s Gambit. Their cameras have consistently delivered exceptional quality and have become a favorite among industry professionals.
The news of the acquisition was shared by RED president Jarred Land on Instagram, accompanied by an intriguing image and the caption “Heh heh heh…”
This exciting development comes as RED celebrates its 17th year since its establishment in 2005. With approximately 220 employees and its headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, RED has been at the forefront of innovation in the camera industry.
Jarred Land shared his excitement about the collaboration in a press release shared on his Facebook page, saying, “This partnership signifies a major achievement for Nikon, blending its extensive legacy in both professional and consumer imaging with the innovative expertise of RED. By joining forces, Nikon and RED are ready to revolutionize the professional digital cinema camera market, ensuring an exhilarating path ahead in product evolution that will consistently challenge the limits of what can be achieved in film and video production.”
Interestingly, this acquisition comes less than a year after RED’s lawsuit against Nikon for alleged infringement on its video compression patents was dismissed. In 2022, RED filed a lawsuit against Nikon, claiming that the camera company had copied its data compression technology in a firmware update for Nikon’s Z9 camera. Nikon, in response, challenged the legitimacy of RED’s patents, leading to the dismissal of the case in April of the same year.
While RED is primarily known for its digital cinema cameras, the company ventured into the smartphone market in 2018 with the release of the RED Hydrogen One. The phone boasted a holographic display and support for modular add-ons, but unfortunately, it did not meet the expectations and was discontinued a year later.
With Nikon’s acquisition of RED, the future of digital cinema cameras looks promising. The collaboration between these two industry giants is expected to bring forth groundbreaking advancements and redefine what is possible in film and video production. As Nikon combines its rich heritage in imaging with RED’s innovative prowess, we can anticipate exciting developments that will push the boundaries of creativity and technology.
In conclusion, Nikon’s acquisition of RED Digital Cinema marks an important milestone in the camera industry. This strategic move allows Nikon to expand its presence in the professional digital cinema camera market and leverage RED’s expertise in cinema cameras. With their shared vision for innovation, Nikon and RED are set to redefine the future of film and video production, promising exciting advancements that will push the boundaries of creativity and technology.
