Nikon announces acquisition of cinema camera maker RED

Photographic equipment specialist Nikon acquired RED this Thursday (7). The American camera and sensor maker will soon become a subsidiary of the Japanese company.

The deal was made possible by Nikon and RED’s “mutual desire” to meet consumers’ needs and deliver “exceptional experiences.” The merger will combine Nikon’s century-old expertise with RED’s knowledge of cinema cameras.

Founded in 1917, Nikon is a Japanese company specializing in optics and imaging technology. RED was born in 2005 and has become one of the leaders in the high-performance digital camera market, being used in a number of high-quality productions in cinema and content production.

Nikon did not provide detailed information about its new strategy within the scope of RED, but stated that it will “expand the professional digital cinema camera market by leveraging the acquisition.”

It is possible that Nikon could leverage RED’s expertise and presence in the United States to expand its product catalog and enhance its existing tool portfolio. Currently, Nikon has powerful cameras like the Z8 Mirrorless.

The statement did not disclose the purchase price and did not disclose whether RED would undergo internal restructuring after the acquisition.

It’s worth remembering that Nikon and RED have faced off in court before. In 2022, RED accused the Japanese giant of infringing patented technology. Legal action did not yield results for the company, and the issue was apparently resolved among the leaders.