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Archive 2025Zr - the review I was waiting for
p.4 #1Zr - the review I was waiting for
bernardl wrote:
I am wondering what settings are available in camera to control this, if any, and what value they used.
None of the initial reviews of the camera had mentioned this soft H.265 footage. Possibly because they all were focusing on Red raw, possibly for other reasons.
Cheers,
BernardThis is why I titled this thread The review that I was waiting for…No one else was shooting H265…just drooling over red raw ;-).
There was one initial review that did - he said the h265 was soft but then later on said it was decent.
This thing will be out in the public by next week so we will all know for sure.
And I have no doubt that there will be firmware coming pronto.Got it, but when a reviewer doesn’t mention something as basic as H.265 we don’t know whether it’s because they tested it and found nothing particular/interesting to say about it or because they didn’t test it.
Most tests of new cameras never speak about jpg image quality.
Cheers,
Bernard
JPEG isn’t a comparison-Again video and photo has zero relevance-
Shooting log is way more important than shooting raw in most scenarios-
Good lord man
ronno wrote
bernardl wrote
ronno wrote
The people using the camera seem to think it's an over-aggressive NR issue - should be easy to fix.None of the initial reviews of the camera had mentioned this soft H.265 footage. Possibly because they all were focusing on Red raw, possibly for other reasons.
Cheers,
Bernard
There was one initial review that did - he said the h265 was soft but then later on said it was decent.
This thing will be out in the public by next week so we will all know for sure.
And I have no doubt that there will be firmware coming pronto.
Most tests of new cameras never speak about jpg image quality.
Cheers,
Bernard
JPEG isn’t a comparison-Again video and photo has zero relevance-
Shooting log is way more important than shooting raw in most scenarios-
Good lord man
Oct 15, 2025 at 04:18 PM
p.4 #2Zr - the review I was waiting for
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].
Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use
.
Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use
.Oct 15, 2025 at 04:27 PM
p.4 #3Zr - the review I was waiting for
ronno wrote:
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].
I haven't agressed anybody.
Cheers,
Bernard
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].
I haven't agressed anybody.
Cheers,
Bernard
Oct 15, 2025 at 05:53 PM
p.4 #4Zr - the review I was waiting for
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it? 
Oct 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
p.4 #5Zr - the review I was waiting for
Testing h.265 is not some obscure test…It’s the basics.
I will probably buy one of these cameras next week.
Alex Phan wrote:
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it?
I will probably buy one of these cameras next week.
Alex Phan wrote:
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it?
Oct 15, 2025 at 11:17 PM
p.4 #6Zr - the review I was waiting for
ronno wrote:
Testing h.265 is not some obscure test…It’s the basics.
I will probably buy one of these cameras next week.
Nice !
The overheating test/remarks by MattJohnson and MattGranger seemed pretty positive
Testing h.265 is not some obscure test…It’s the basics.
I will probably buy one of these cameras next week.
Alex Phan wrote
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it?Nice !
The overheating test/remarks by MattJohnson and MattGranger seemed pretty positive
Oct 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM
p.4 #7Zr - the review I was waiting for
Yes - people are shooting outside in direct sunlight for hours with no hint of overheating.
Amazing that they have done this without a fan, reducing size and weight and avoiding dust and noise and battery drain issues cause by fan usage.
Edited on Oct 17, 2025 at 08:29 AM · View previous versions
Amazing that they have done this without a fan, reducing size and weight and avoiding dust and noise and battery drain issues cause by fan usage.
Edited on Oct 17, 2025 at 08:29 AM · View previous versions
Oct 16, 2025 at 01:31 PM
p.4 #8Zr - the review I was waiting for
ronno wrote:
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].
Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use .
That is not true for all reviews. Undone had it for long (said it himself) without a chaperon, but he obsesses over DR and rolling shutter more than anything else. Matti had it for several days, but focused only on R3D. He later posted another video saying he did not realize the bitrate was not ~190Mbps, but ~190MBps, so he didnt care about h265.
In Matti's samples too, h265 was softer then FX3 and for him fx3 was winner with h265. The Z63 h265, while noisier, is sharp. So maybe Nikon increase denoising in Zr at the cost of sharpness.
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].
Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use
.That is not true for all reviews. Undone had it for long (said it himself) without a chaperon, but he obsesses over DR and rolling shutter more than anything else. Matti had it for several days, but focused only on R3D. He later posted another video saying he did not realize the bitrate was not ~190Mbps, but ~190MBps, so he didnt care about h265.
In Matti's samples too, h265 was softer then FX3 and for him fx3 was winner with h265. The Z63 h265, while noisier, is sharp. So maybe Nikon increase denoising in Zr at the cost of sharpness.
Oct 16, 2025 at 02:31 PM
p.4 #9Zr - the review I was waiting for
Some consumers have started to get the camera. Wondering if it’s the same firmware as tested.
Oct 17, 2025 at 08:32 AM
p.4 #10Zr - the review I was waiting for
Alex Phan wrote:
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it?
I'm interested in the ZR for the 32-bit audio and better thermal performance vs. my Z6III, but am not sure I can live without the EVF and lack of buttons to control things like BBF. Maybe I'm just too used to a standard stills oriented body, but as a wildlife videographer I've never bought into the "cinema" line of cameras. The ZR would work as a B-cam for me, but won't replace my Z8 for high magnification videography. I'd like to use R3D but no way I could live with the file sizes...which is why I don't shoot prores or NRaw.
just curious for those that want this test, that test, are you guy really going to buy it or just want to see the test for the heck of it?
I'm interested in the ZR for the 32-bit audio and better thermal performance vs. my Z6III, but am not sure I can live without the EVF and lack of buttons to control things like BBF. Maybe I'm just too used to a standard stills oriented body, but as a wildlife videographer I've never bought into the "cinema" line of cameras. The ZR would work as a B-cam for me, but won't replace my Z8 for high magnification videography. I'd like to use R3D but no way I could live with the file sizes...which is why I don't shoot prores or NRaw.
Oct 17, 2025 at 03:07 PM
p.4 #11Zr - the review I was waiting for
ronno wrote:
Some consumers have started to get the camera. Wondering if it’s the same firmware as tested.
In a recent video with Matt Irwin Ricci commented that the firmware of production cameras differs from that available when Matt tested at announcement time. I guess it must be the case for most reviewers.
He did however not elaborate on the differences.
Cheers,
Bernard
Some consumers have started to get the camera. Wondering if it’s the same firmware as tested.
In a recent video with Matt Irwin Ricci commented that the firmware of production cameras differs from that available when Matt tested at announcement time. I guess it must be the case for most reviewers.
He did however not elaborate on the differences.
Cheers,
Bernard
Oct 17, 2025 at 03:26 PM
p.4 #12Zr - the review I was waiting for
indusphoto wrote:
Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use .That is not true for all reviews. Undone had it for long (said it himself) without a chaperon, but he obsesses over DR and rolling shutter more than anything else. Matti had it for several days, but focused only on R3D. He later posted another video saying he did not realize the bitrate was not ~190Mbps, but ~190MBps, so he didnt care about h265.
In Matti's samples too, h265 was softer then FX3 and for him fx3 was winner with h265. The Z63 h265, while noisier, is sharp. So maybe Nikon increase denoising in Zr at the cost of sharpness.
IIRC, the Z6 III does not have an OPF where as the Zr does? So this could be the cause of slightly softer video? Perhaps someone can chime in on this.
ronno wrote
Alright, settle down [ re: Bernard and RustyRus ;-) ].Most of the initial reviewers stated that they had the camera for only a couple hours before they were snatched out of their hands by the Nikon/Red reps.
Of course the initial tests were Red Raw, not the pedestrian H.265 that most of us use
.In Matti's samples too, h265 was softer then FX3 and for him fx3 was winner with h265. The Z63 h265, while noisier, is sharp. So maybe Nikon increase denoising in Zr at the cost of sharpness.
IIRC, the Z6 III does not have an OPF where as the Zr does? So this could be the cause of slightly softer video? Perhaps someone can chime in on this.
Oct 17, 2025 at 04:01 PM
p.4 #13Zr - the review I was waiting for
I thought this was interesting...'
Oct 17, 2025 at 04:30 PM
p.4 #14Zr - the review I was waiting for
Gary Irwin wrote:
I thought this was interesting...'
Indeed, he describes the H.265 of the ZR as being both sharper and cleaner than that of the Z6III. He may be using a camera with production firmware.
Cheers,
Bernard
I thought this was interesting...'
Indeed, he describes the H.265 of the ZR as being both sharper and cleaner than that of the Z6III. He may be using a camera with production firmware.
Cheers,
Bernard
Oct 17, 2025 at 06:51 PM
p.4 #15Zr - the review I was waiting for
It’s criminal that these people are not stating which firmware they have 🤔
Oct 17, 2025 at 07:37 PM
p.4 #16Zr - the review I was waiting for
These cameras are available in the US now, did anyone here get one?
I was too busy…I’ll have one soon though. I will test the H265 against my Sony A1 and see what is what.
Oct 20, 2025 at 06:24 PM
p.4 #18Zr - the review I was waiting for
Quality H265, check it with different color profiles.
and change some settings in those color profiles.
i cant believe they are bad.
and change some settings in those color profiles.
i cant believe they are bad.
Oct 21, 2025 at 04:05 AM
p.4 #19Zr - the review I was waiting for
There is also a high ISO NR setting in the video shooting menu that may affect results. Compare N-Log and SDR also if you can.
sport wrote:
Quality H265, check it with different color profiles.
and change some settings in those color profiles.
i cant believe they are bad.
sport wrote:
Quality H265, check it with different color profiles.
and change some settings in those color profiles.
i cant believe they are bad.
Oct 21, 2025 at 04:56 AM
p.4 #20Zr - the review I was waiting for
I was all-in on the announcement hype and about to order one to see if it could replace my a7sIII for video or preferably replace my a7cII as my 'chase my toddler daughter' EDC photo/video body - until I saw the awful looking h265. There's something weird going on there, not only the lack of sharpness - which looks horrendous and makes faces look like a shitty IG skin smoothing app, but the noticeable drop in DR and flickering noise issue that plagues the z6III. The r3d files look great, but ~15x the data of h265 is not practical for my daily use. Nikon is great with FW updates, I may jump in after a 2.0 update.
I do lust after that rear LCD and 32 bit float internal audio, so I may not make it to 2.0 haha.
Chris
I do lust after that rear LCD and 32 bit float internal audio, so I may not make it to 2.0 haha.
Chris
Oct 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM