Nikon ZR Firmware 2.00 Adds RED Color Science, ISO NR Control

Nikon will ship firmware 2.00 for the ZR "before the end of the year," adding Log3G10 support in H.265, adjustable High ISO noise reduction, and expanded button-and-dial customization to its video-first camera. The release, first teased in September, stops short of the two headline features Nikon promised at launch: Open Gate recording and in-camera anamorphic desqueeze, both now dated for 2027.

The most consequential change for working video shooters is RED-derived color science arriving in a lightweight codec. Firmware 2.00 enables Log3G10 gamma when recording in H.265, which Nikon says carries wide grading latitude, smoother tonal gradations, and a wide color gamut. That combination matters for delivery pipelines: RED's look without RAW data rates.

What does 2.00 actually change on set?

Control customization gets the biggest usability push. More functions are now assignable to the command dials and function buttons, including ISO, exposure settings, white balance, and white balance color temperature (WBK). Assigning 3D LUT/View Assist to an Fn button lets operators cycle between LUT settings in a single operation.

"This enables the operator to adjust settings without taking their eyes off the monitor, allowing them to stay focused on capturing their intended shots," Nikon explains.

High ISO NR gains selectable levels, giving shooters direct control over the trade-off between noise and detail — a change that affects every low-light gig.

Flicker fix, monitoring improvements

The update also targets a technical complaint class Nikon knows well. New processing "suppresses frame-by-frame fluctuations in black level, reducing flicker that tends to occur in low-light conditions." Nikon has not said whether the ZR issue relates to the shadow noise problems Z6 III owners reported when recording RAW N-Log video, which Nikon fixed via firmware shortly after that camera's launch. The two cameras share the same 24.5-megapixel partially stacked sensor and the same image processing engine, so the parallel is hard to ignore.

Two more additions round out the list:

• Focus peaking now works even when a 3D LUT is applied during R3D NE-format recording, so monitoring looks no longer disable critical focus tools.
• A 3D LUT can be applied to the HDMI output, giving clients and operators on external monitors a graded preview rather than flat log.

The roadmap caveat

Nikon's September announcement paired this year's firmware with a 2027 commitment for Open Gate and anamorphic desqueeze. ZR owners shooting anamorphic or needing full-sensor-width delivery for reframing in post will wait more than a year past purchase for those capabilities — worth weighing if those features anchor current bidding decisions.

Version 2.00 is free, as is standard for Nikon firmware, and lands before December 31. Whether the flicker suppression fully matches the Z6 III's post-launch fix will only be clear once shooters test the release on real low-light productions.