Nikon has announced the acquisition of RED Digital Cinema, a trailblazer in the industry founded by Jim Jannard, the visionary behind Oakley. While the exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Nikon’s press release confirms that RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the renowned camera company.
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Nikon Acquires Pioneering Digital Cinema Camera Maker RED
Nikon’s acquisition of RED is a strategic move aimed at leveraging the latter’s expertise and expanding its reach into the professional digital cinema camera market. By tapping into RED’s vast knowledge in cinema cameras, including its unique image compression technology and color science, Nikon hopes to redefine the landscape of professional filmmaking.
RED has earned a reputation as a pioneering force in the industry, with its cameras being the choice for numerous major film and television productions. From Marvel’s blockbusters like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Captain Marvel” to critically acclaimed nature documentaries like “Planet Earth II,” and hit TV shows such as “Squid Game,” “Mindhunter,” “Peaky Blinders,” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” RED’s cameras have captured some of the most iconic visuals in recent times.
Jarred Land, the president of RED, took to Instagram to announce the news with a cryptic image and the caption “Heh heh heh…” Founded in 2005, RED currently employs around 220 individuals and is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, according to Nikon’s press release.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Land expressed his excitement about the acquisition, saying:
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.
The acquisition comes on the heels of a legal dispute between RED and Nikon, which saw RED suing Nikon in 2022 for allegedly infringing on its video compression patents. RED claimed that Nikon had copied its data compression technology in a firmware update for Nikon’s Z9 camera. However, Nikon challenged the legitimacy of RED’s patents, and the case was ultimately dismissed last April, less than a year before the acquisition announcement.
While RED is best known for its groundbreaking digital cinema cameras, the company previously attempted to diversify its offerings by venturing into the smartphone market in 2018. The RED Hydrogen One, a smartphone boasting a holographic display and support for modular add-ons, was launched with great fanfare but ultimately failed to resonate with critics and consumers, leading to its discontinuation a year later.
As Nikon absorbs RED into its fold, the combined forces of these two imaging powerhouses hold the promise of redefining the professional digital cinema camera market. With Nikon’s rich heritage in imaging and RED’s innovative spirit, the future of film and video production is poised for an exciting transformation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in visual storytelling.
