The Nikon ZR is already great – but this SmallRig accessory turns it into the ultimate run-and-gun video camera

Nikon launched its first Z-series Cinema Camera this week, the Nikon ZR, just 18 months after acquiring RED Digital Cameras – check out my Nikon ZR hands-on review for my early impressions. And hot on its heels we now have the first must-have accessory for the camera, in the shape of the SmallRig Cage kit.

The gist of my hands-on is that, while I’ll need to test the Nikon / RED model over a longer period, I already think it’s a highly capable video camera, thanks to its partially stacked 24MP full-frame sensor, in-body image stabilization, 6K 60fps video, internal 12-bit RAW recording, RED color profiles, internal 32-bit float audio, impressive internal mics, and mighty 4-inch touch display.

It’s an instant major player in a new space for Nikon, with the skills to make pro-quality video in a compact weather-resistant package, for a rival-beating price of $2,200 / £2,199 / AU$3,499.

All that said, the ZR is clearly no high-end model. Nikon has prioritized compact dimensions over outright pro-grade cinema camera design, and that’s no bad thing – I think there’s a place for small, stripped-back cameras which you can bulk out with accessories to meet your needs.

Modifying a small camera can serve multiple purposes – you can keep it bare to fit into tight spaces, or add accessories to improve its handling.

I like the foundations the ZR has set, but to be a truly great run-and-gun camera, it needs an extra hand, and that just came in the form of the SmallRig Advanced Cage kit.

SmallRig cage kit for the Nikon ZR, attached to camera and held by videographer

(Image credit: SmallRig)

Get a grip

Unlike bulkier alternatives, the Nikon ZR omits a viewfinder, while its flat-fronted body only offers a little purchase. Furthermore, there are no mounting points for accessories like you get with other cinema cameras, nor space to squeeze in a full-size HDMI port, just a micro-HDMI. This all feels like enthusiast-level design rather than pro.

My first thought when I got my hands on the ZR is that it would benefit from a better grip and easier way to mount accessories – step in SmallRig.

The Advanced Cage Kit, which costs £149.90 and is available now in the UK (US and Australia pricing and availability are TBC), has four main components: the L-Shaped Handle, Cage, Top Handle and Side Handle. If you don’t want the lot, you can save money by opting for the L-Shaped Handle kit, Basic Cage kit or Top Handle kit.

With all four components in play the ZR looks infinitely more comfortable to hold, and the L-Shaped grip will certainly make vertical shooting comfier. The ZR has vertical video skills you’ll want to use – its UI changes as you hold the camera vertically, and any videos shot this way are automatically recognized as 9:16 files when you come to editing.

The ZR already has in-body image stabilization but, like the Nikon Z6 III, which has identical sensor specs, it’s not the best I’ve used – the Lumix S1 II‘s stabilization for video is another level. That’s why the Top Handle and Side Handle look useful: they’ll offer a more secure hold for smoother handheld shots, reducing the need for a gimbal.

Personally, I’m not fussed about mounting points for an external monitor – the ZR’s 4-inch display is big and bright enough for run-and-gun recording. However, it is useful for accessories such as a wireless mic receiver and compact continuous light panels.

Sure, SmallRig’s Cage kit can’t change the ZR’s hardware, like the fact we have micro-HDMI and awkward access to memory cards through the battery door, but it does transform the ZR into the ultimate run-and-gun video camera. Add the cage, forget using a gimbal and external monitor, and you have an ultra-compact and easily carried package – it’s certainly the first ZR accessory I’d look to buy.