Nikon, the renowned camera company, has announced its acquisition of RED Digital Cinema, a well-known US camera manufacturer. The move will see RED become a subsidiary of Nikon, as the company aims to make inroads into the digital cinema camera market.
The acquisition will grant Nikon ownership of RED’s professional film cameras, such as the V-RAPTOR XL platform. RED, founded by Jim Jannard, is famous for its digital cinema cameras, including the RED One 4K and V-Raptor X.
While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, Nikon expressed its intention to leverage RED’s expertise in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and color science. RED’s cameras have been utilized in the production of numerous major films, TV shows, and nature documentaries, including Marvel productions, nature documentaries like Planet Earth II, and popular TV series such as Squid Game, Mindhunter, and The Queen’s Gambit.
RED’s president, Jarred Land, announced the acquisition on Instagram, signaling a significant milestone for both companies. With around 220 employees and headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, RED has been at the forefront of innovation in the camera industry since its establishment in 2005.
In a press release, Land expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, ‘This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Nikon, melding its rich heritage in professional and consumer imaging with RED’s innovative prowess. Together, Nikon and RED are poised to redefine the professional digital cinema camera market, promising an exciting future of product development that will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in film and video production.’
Notably, this acquisition follows RED’s lawsuit against Nikon in 2022, where RED accused Nikon of infringing on its video compression patents. The case was dismissed last April after Nikon challenged the legitimacy of RED’s patents.
While RED is primarily recognized for its digital cinema cameras, the company ventured into the smartphone market in 2018 with the release of the RED Hydrogen One. Despite boasting a holographic display and modular add-on support, the phone faced critical failure and was discontinued a year later.
