IBC 2026
At the Nikon booth at IBC 2026, there was something our team absolutely wanted to see in person: the “NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV” cinema lens series, announced on September 8th, just before the opening of IBC. At the venue, Nikon displayed the “NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV,” still under development.
The actual unit was behind a glass case and wasn’t able to be handled. However, even a close look reveals details that weren’t apparent from the press release photos alone. Therefore, I’ve tried to compare the information released by Nikon with what can be confirmed from the actual camera.
New cinema lenses viewed with three Z CINEMA cameras
The three models on display were the Nikon “ZR,” the RED “V-RAPTOR [X] Z Mount,” and the “KOMODO-X Z Mount.” All of them were fitted with the same “NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV” lens.
NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV Closeup
Looking at the lens, one notices a barrel that is distinctly cinematic, unlike the NIKKOR Z lenses intended for still photography. Gears are incorporated into the focus and aperture controls, and large distance markings line the area around the focus ring. From its appearance, it’s clear that this lens was designed with cinema shooting in mind, especially with the use of external equipment such as follow focus systems.
What also caught our attention was the “A/M” switch on the side of the lens barrel. Nikon has announced that the NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series will be equipped with a high-precision autofocus mechanism. One of the characteristics of this series is the combination of cinema lens-style controls and autofocus.
The connection to “VV” with RED and its development into a total of 9 releases
What’s interesting here is the “VV” at the end of the product name. The NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series is the first NIKKOR lens to have an image circle that covers the 40.96mm x 21.60mm “V-RAPTOR [X] VV sensor” developed by RED.
Knowing these specifications reveals the reason why the same 50mm lens is mounted on all three cameras. The V-RAPTOR [X] Z Mount and KOMODO-X Z Mount are both RED cinema cameras that use the Nikon Z mount. Adding the Nikon ZR to this mix, they are all paired with the same NIKKOR Z CINEMA lens.
Designed for the V-Raptor X
In particular, the combination of the V-RAPTOR [X] Z Mount and the 50mm T1.9 VV lens demonstrates that the collaboration between Nikon and RED extends beyond cameras to the entire Z CINEMA system, including lenses.
The NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series consists of nine lenses in total, including the 50mm lens displayed at this event. The focal lengths and detailed specifications of the remaining eight lenses have not yet been revealed.
Because the exhibit was behind a glass case, it was impossible to assess the weight, the torque of the rings, or the speed and tracking performance of the autofocus. Nevertheless, the series’ direction—support for the VV format, a lens barrel designed with cinema shooting in mind, and high-precision autofocus—was evident.
What kind of lens system will it become when the remaining eight lenses are all in place? Next time, I’d really like to try it out in person, outside of the glass case, to check the actual feel, image quality, and AF performance.
