Nikon has announced its acquisition of RED Digital Cinema, a leading US-based camera manufacturer renowned for its cutting-edge digital cinema cameras such as the RED One 4K and V-Raptor X. RED, founded by Jim Jannard (also the founder of Oakley), will now operate as a subsidiary of Nikon, marking a strategic move by the camera giant to venture into the professional digital cinema camera market.
Although specific terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in Nikon’s press release, it was revealed that RED will transition into a wholly-owned subsidiary under Nikon’s umbrella. This acquisition aims to leverage RED’s expertise in cinema cameras, including its unique image compression technology and advanced color science.
RED’s impressive track record includes providing cameras for major film productions like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Captain Marvel, as well as popular TV shows such as Squid Game, Mindhunter, and The Queen’s Gambit, among others, showcasing its significant impact in the industry.
The announcement of the acquisition was made by RED president Jarred Land on Instagram. Currently headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, RED employs approximately 220 individuals, according to Nikon’s press release.
This acquisition follows RED’s legal dispute with Nikon in 2022 over alleged infringement of its video compression patents. However, the lawsuit was dismissed last April after Nikon challenged the legitimacy of RED’s patents.
While RED is widely recognized for its digital cinema cameras, the company ventured into the smartphone market in 2018 with the RED
Hydrogen One, which boasted innovative features like a holographic display and modular add-ons. However, despite its ambitious features, the RED Hydrogen One faced critical failure and was discontinued just a year after its release.
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