Nikon ZR, GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS, and Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema Make TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026

TIME has unveiled its annual Best Inventions of 2026 list, recognizing 300 innovations across various industries. Among this year’s honorees are three cameras from different categories: the Nikon ZR, GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS, and Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema.

TIME gathers nominations from its editors and correspondents, as well as through an online application process that allows companies to nominate their own products. It evaluates each nominee based on four criteria: originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

Nikon ZR Brings RED Cinema Technology to Nikon’s Z Mount

Introduced last year, the Nikon ZR made headlines as Nikon’s first dedicated cinema camera for the Z mount. It combines Nikon’s imaging expertise with cinema technology from RED.

Under the hood, the ZR shares much of its imaging hardware with the Nikon Z6 III, but features a redesigned body without a viewfinder or mechanical shutter. The space freed up by the new design accommodates a larger 4-inch LCD display.

The camera can record 6K video at up to 60 frames per second using RED’s R3D NE RAW format. It also supports internal 32-bit float audio recording.

Our review found the ZR to be an excellent cinema camera, with capabilities that make it a competitor to the considerably more expensive Sony FX3. It also earned a place on Imaging Resource’s list of the best cinema cameras.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS Adds Interchangeable Lenses to an Action Camera

GoPro’s Mission 1 Pro ILS takes a different approach, bringing an interchangeable lens mount to the action camera category. It features a 50-megapixel 1-inch sensor and supports video recording at up to 8K60p, along with 8K30p open-gate recording.

The interchangeable lens system is the camera’s defining feature. Rather than relying on a permanently attached lens, the Mission 1 Pro ILS allows users to mount Micro Four Thirds lenses, as well as compatible lenses through adapters.

GoPro’s new GP3 image processor is designed to deliver high-quality footage from the compact camera. The combination of a relatively large sensor, high-resolution video, and interchangeable lenses gives filmmakers more flexibility than a conventional fixed-lens action camera.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema Combines Video and Instant Photography

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema brings video recording to the Instax lineup for the first time. Its retro-inspired design draws from the Fujica Single-8 cine camera introduced in the 1960s, while its hybrid functionality combines digital capture with instant-film printing.

The camera can record video clips lasting up to 15 seconds. It also functions as a hybrid Instax camera, allowing users to capture still photographs and print them on Instax Mini film.

Its distinctive Gen Dial adds a creative element to video recording, applying visual effects inspired by 10 different eras of filmmaking. Options range from grainy, vintage-inspired looks associated with the 1930s to a cleaner, more contemporary aesthetic representing the 2020s.

Apple and Samsung Smartphones Also Make the List

TIME’s 2026 Best Inventions list also recognizes products outside the dedicated camera market. Among the honorees are Apple’s recently released iPhone Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The October edition of TIME featuring the Best Inventions coverage also features Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, on its cover.