Nikon launched its first Z-series Cinema Camera this week, the Nikon ZR, just 18 months after acquiring RED Digital Cameras – check out my Nikon ZR hands-on review for my early impressions. And hot on its heels we now have the first must-have accessory for the camera, in the shape of the SmallRig Cage kit.
The gist of my hands-on is that, while I'll need to test the Nikon / RED model over a longer period, I already think it's a highly capable video camera, thanks to its partially stacked 24MP full-frame sensor, in-body image stabilization, 6K 60fps video, internal 12-bit RAW recording, RED color profiles, internal 32-bit float audio, impressive internal mics, and mighty 4-inch touch display.
It's an instant major player in a new space for Nikon, with the skills to make pro-quality video in a compact weather-resistant package, for a rival-beating price of $2,200 / £2,199 / AU$3,499.
All that said, the ZR is clearly no high-end model. Nikon has prioritized compact dimensions over outright pro-grade cinema camera design, and that's no bad thing – I think there's a place for small, stripped-back cameras which you can bulk out with accessories to meet your needs.
Modifying a small camera can serve multiple purposes – you can keep it bare to fit into tight spaces, or add accessories to improve its handling.
I like the foundations the ZR has set, but to be a truly great run-and-gun camera, it needs an extra hand, and that just came in the form of the SmallRig Advanced Cage kit.
Get a grip
Unlike bulkier alternatives, the Nikon ZR omits a viewfinder, while its flat-fronted body only offers a little purchase. Furthermore, there are no mounting points for accessories like you get with other cinema cameras, nor space to squeeze in a full-size HDMI port, just a micro-HDMI. This all feels like enthusiast-level design rather than pro.
My first thought when I got my hands on the ZR is that it would benefit from a better grip and easier way to mount accessories – step in SmallRig.
The Advanced Cage Kit, which costs £149.90 and is available now in the UK (US and Australia pricing and availability are TBC), has four main components: the L-Shaped Handle, Cage, Top Handle and Side Handle. If you don't want the lot, you can save money by opting for the L-Shaped Handle kit, Basic Cage kit or Top Handle kit.
With all four components in play the ZR looks infinitely more comfortable to hold, and the L-Shaped grip will certainly make vertical shooting comfier. The ZR has vertical video skills you'll want to use – its UI changes as you hold the camera vertically, and any videos shot this way are automatically recognized as 9:16 files when you come to editing.
The ZR already has in-body image stabilization but, like the Nikon Z6 III, which has identical sensor specs, it's not the best I've used – the Lumix S1 II's stabilization for video is another level. That's why the Top Handle and Side Handle look useful: they'll offer a more secure hold for smoother handheld shots, reducing the need for a gimbal.
Personally, I'm not fussed about mounting points for an external monitor – the ZR's 4-inch display is big and bright enough for run-and-gun recording. However, it is useful for accessories such as a wireless mic receiver and compact continuous light panels.
Sure, SmallRig's Cage kit can't change the ZR's hardware, like the fact we have micro-HDMI and awkward access to memory cards through the battery door, but it does transform the ZR into the ultimate run-and-gun video camera. Add the cage, forget using a gimbal and external monitor, and you have an ultra-compact and easily carried package – it's certainly the first ZR accessory I'd look to buy.
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