Nikon ZR firmware 2.00: RED colour workflows and shooting controls expand

Nikon has outlined firmware version 2.00 for its compact ZR cinema camera, focusing on RED colour workflows, monitoring and faster access to shooting settings. The US announcement is dated November 3, 2026, followed by the Japanese notice on November 4. An important distinction remains: announcing the features is not the same as releasing the download. Nikon’s US product page says the update is scheduled to become available before the end of the year.

A RED colour workflow beyond RAW

One planned addition brings the Log3G10 tone curve and REDWideGamutRGB colour space to H.265 recording. Productions looking to work with RED colour settings will therefore gain an option beyond R3D NE files. In practice, that means considering storage requirements, editing hardware and delivery deadlines when choosing a recording format. H.265 should not be assumed to provide the same adjustment latitude as RAW: a shared colour workflow does not make the two formats technically identical.

Four levels of high-ISO noise reduction

Nikon specifies four noise-reduction levels for H.265/Log3G10 and H.265/N-Log recording. The additional control is intended to help users choose how to balance visible noise and fine detail at capture. The strongest setting should not automatically be treated as the best one; subject texture and subsequent post-production processing also matter. These are possible uses of the announced controls, not findings from a comparative Fibona camera test.

Checking focus with a LUT enabled

Focus peaking during R3D NE recording is planned to work with a 3D LUT applied to the monitoring image. A LUT helps preview a colour treatment, while peaking highlights sharp edges as a manual-focusing aid. Using them together can be useful when a small crew needs to judge composition, colour and focus without repeatedly changing the display setup.

The update also plans HDMI output with a 3D LUT applied, allowing an external monitor to show the intended viewing treatment. That can help directors or cinematographers evaluate footage away from the camera. It remains important to distinguish a monitoring transformation from the properties of the recorded file: the appearance of the external display is not a substitute for understanding the selected recording format.

More settings within reach

Command-dial assignments are being expanded for functions including ISO, exposure, white balance and Kelvin adjustment. Fn-button access to 3D LUT and viewing-assistance controls is another part of the update. When a camera is installed in a cage, shoulder setup or other rig, reaching touchscreen menus may be inconvenient. Such control changes may be less conspicuous than a resolution increase, but can be relevant throughout a working day.

Nikon also describes image-processing improvements intended to reduce frame-to-frame black-level fluctuations and the resulting flicker in dark areas. Assessing the practical improvement will require testing the released firmware in appropriate shooting conditions. The announcement alone cannot establish a measured performance gain.

Open Gate belongs to a different timetable

The previously announced Open Gate and anamorphic de-squeeze developments should not be confused with the 2.00 feature list. Nikon has placed those capabilities on a separate 2027 timetable. They should not be presented as functions already delivered by this update.

At our November 8 check, Nikon’s download centre still listed C 1.11 for the ZR. Owners should use the official download page for their exact model and read the release notes before any installation. The clearest description today is an announced update with planned year-end availability, rather than an update that every owner can already download.

Sources: Nikon US, November 3, 2026; Nikon Japan, November 4, 2026; Nikon ZR product page; official download centre. Image: Nikon product material.