Atomos and Z CAM have announced the development of ProRes RAW recording over HDMI from the Z CAM E2 cinema camera to the Ninja V 5” HDR monitor-recorder. The Ninja V will record 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW at up to 4Kp60. This development allows one of the most cost-effective solutions to capture ultra high definition HFR ProRes RAW in the market. 

Z CAM E2: Cinema camera for the masses

The first version of the Z CAM E2 was announced back in NAB 2018. Furthermore, after one year the other more professional options of the E2 were announced as well, which are the Z CAM E2 S6, F6, and F8 that are armed with larger sensors and higher resolution. The price was (and still is) super affordable. For instance, the Z CAM E2-F8 Full-Frame 8K Cinema Camera costs $6,000 and can capture 8K RAW (ZRAW) at 30 FPS which is quite impressive specs.

We wrote about it by saying that the Chinese have cracked the formula on how to create the tech more affordable (read our article: The New Z CAM E2 Cameras Bring 8K Full Frame to the Masses: Is That a Good Thing?). Of course, we didn’t anticipate the launch of the mighty Kinefinity Edge which aims to another whole ball game (read the article: (Kinefinity MAVO Edge 8K Cinema Camera Announced: Large Format and ProRes RAW, Inside a Carbon Fiber Body). However, we should not forget that there is the Achilles Heel of utilizing the RAW capabilities from the Z CAM E2. Although there is a RAW option (ZRAW), it’s cumbersome and complicates the workflow process. It’s important to mention that dealing with ZRAW was only possible in the Windows machine, however, Z CAM has introduced a new Mac compatibility. Check out the video below: 

Unleashing the ProRes RAW codec

The ProRes RAW constitutes a great alternative between heavy RAW files that demand vast workflow, to the good old and super-efficient ProRes codec that we all are familiar with. Check out our articles about this latest codec by Apple to fully understand its advantages. Atomos is taking a significant part in spreading this codec and implementing its SDK that it can be recorded by the Atomos recorder. For instance, two weeks ago, Atomos announced the option to record ProRes RAW from the Sony FX9 (Sony FX9 RAW Recording Announced, But It Will Cost You $3,800). Yesterday, they introduced the capability of recording ProRes RAW from the Z CAM E2 (the plain model) and thus helping to spread the ProRes RAW ecosystem above affordable cinema cameras. 

Z CAM and Atomos: 4Kp60 12-bit ProRes RAW on the E2

Therefore, yesterday Atomos and Z CAM announced the development of ProRes RAW recording over HDMI from the E2 cinema camera to the Ninja V 5” HDR monitor-recorder. The Ninja V will record 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW at up to 4Kp60. Furthermore, Atomos and Z CAM were also announced about the development of touch-screen camera control on the Ninja V for E2 system cameras. Atomos CEO Jeromy Young said: “We are proud to welcome Z CAM into the rapidly growing ProRes RAW ecosystem. The E2 is a highly affordable fully featured cinema camera with a small form factor that lends itself to many different applications. Now, with these new features, the E2 and Ninja V together become a tightly integrated camera package that offers unrivaled recording and monitoring options at an affordable price”. The E2 and Ninja V will gain the ability to record Apple ProRes RAW at up to 4Kp60 via free firmware from Z CAM and an AtomOS update from Atomos. Additional frame rates will be added in the future. For reliability and affordability, files are recorded to AtomX SSD mini SATA drives in the Ninja V.

Relevant only for Z CAM E2 plain model

We are proud to welcome Z CAM into the rapidly growing ProRes RAW ecosystem…With these new features, the E2 and Ninja V together become a tightly integrated camera package that offers unrivaled recording and monitoring options at an affordable price.

Atomos CEO Jeromy Young

Watch the video below shot on the Z CAM E2 + Ninja V in ProRes RAW:

Unfortunately, these ProRes RAW recording capabilities are relevant only to the E2 model with the smaller sensor (4/3″ WDR CMOS). However, hopefully, this privilege will be extended on future firmware updates of Atomos and Z CAM. Anyway, it’s worth knowing that the Z CAM is the third major company to announce support for RAW over HDMI, joining the Z6 and Z7 from Nikon and the Panasonic S1H. This is in addition to several Sony, Canon, and Panasonic cinema cameras that already support ProRes RAW recording via SDI to Atomos monitor-recorders.

Price

Z CAM E2 4K Cinema Camera: Buy it on B&H ($2,000)

Atomos Ninja V 5″ 4K HDMI Recorder: Buy it on B&H ($500)

These new features will be enabled in a free firmware release from Atomos in June 2020.

Final thoughts

As described in the title of this article, this solution allows professional output from an affordable cinema camera. Together with the Ninja V 5” HDR monitor, the whole apparatus costs $2,500 which is considered a very low price for what you are getting. Hopefully, this capability will be dragged out to more advanced models of the Z CAM E2, allowing us to take advantage of that ProRes RAW in a full-frame 8K sensor. Meanwhile, let’s be happy with ProRes RAW out of the 4/3” sensor.