Is there a new era of action cinema cameras (compact cameras that output RAW)? Thanks to Atomos this answer might be “Yes”. The company has just announced a new firmware update that allows outputting ProRes RAW from the tightly packed (and powerful) Sigma fp. Read more below.

Sigma fp: Small but strong!

The Sigma fp is Sigma’s first full-frame mirrorless camera. It’s characterized by a minimum design (very small form factor). It looks like those old and cheap point-and-shoot cameras, but it actually built very sturdy with a lot of goodies under the hood, and the GUI is just super friendly. This little beast offers to record Cinema DNG. However, this kind of RAW is a bit complicated and limited regarding workflow in post. Nevertheless, thanks to Atomos, the Sigma fp can now record ProRes RAW, and that changes the whole picture literally.

120fps ProRes RAW

Atomos continues to boost cameras’ capabilities by allowing them to output the advanced professional codec ProRes RAW for enhanced cinematic results. Atomos and SIGMA are today announcing RAW recording over HDMI with the fp mirrorless camera and Atomos Ninja V HDR monitor-recorder. Together the fp and Ninja V will record Apple ProRes RAW at up to DCI 4Kp24 or UHD 4Kp30 directly from the camera’s full-frame sensor. It will also be the world’s first mirrorless camera to record RAW over HDMI video in HD at 120fps for amazing high-speed shots. Now, with ProRes RAW capabilities, the Sigma fp has transformed into a filmmaking machine with huge potential and endless possibilities.

Action cinema camera

The SIGMA fp also becomes the smallest camera combination to record ProRes RAW, opening up a wide range of shooting options. The camera’s small size means you can shoot with the full flexibility of RAW almost anywhere. The fp body facilitates the mounting as a POV or crash camera, for use on gimbals or even worn on the body. Alternatively, with the addition of Ninja V, cage and other accessories, the fp can also be built out into a fully rigged cinema-style camera with the option to use a wide range of L-mount lenses natively, or PL mount, EF mount, and many other lenses via the use of adapters.

With SIGMA joining the Atomos RAW over HDMI family we now have an exciting option for filmmakers to shoot Apple ProRes RAW with a tiny full-frame camera that also excels in 120fps high frame rate shooting.

Atomos CEO Jeromy Young

Atomos CEO Jeromy Young said: “With SIGMA joining the Atomos RAW over HDMI family we now have an exciting option for filmmakers to shoot Apple ProRes RAW with a tiny full-frame camera that also excels in 120fps high frame rate shooting. This camera brings SIGMA’s unique approach to the photo industry into video and we are happy to be innovating together with them to enable the fp to shoot the most versatile RAW codec available. The Atomos Ninja V, SIGMA fp, and ProRes RAW open up a whole range of creative opportunities for our customers and I can’t wait to see what users can do with it.”

Other flavors of codecs

The Ninja V can also record 422 ProRes and DNx video up to 4kp29.94 and 120p119.88 from the standard 8-bit HDMI output of the SIGMA fp. For reliability and affordability, ProRes RAW or standard video files are recorded to AtomX SSD mini SATA drives in the Ninja V.

What do you need to get this?

ProRes RAW recording requires the free SIGMA V2.00 firmware update for the fp available today, and the free AtomOS update for Ninja V which will be available in Summer 2020.

Atomos Ninja V 5″ 4K HDMI Recorder

Also, you’ll need to buy the Atomos Ninja V HDR monitor-recorder. The recorder is 5” 1000nit HDR high brightness display that allows users to view the SIGMA fp RAW signal in HDR in a choice of HLG and PQ (HDR10) formats for optimal exposure. The monitor also offers touchscreen access to tools like 1-1 magnification and peaking for accurate focus, plus waveform, vectorscope, and false-color to nail exposure for the perfect HDR or SDR shot.

Final insights

Indeed, there is a new era of action cinema cameras, which means small-compact form factor cameras that are capable of recording high-grade cinema outputs (RAW and/or compressed RAW). To make this concept clearer, feel free to check our article about the new RED Komodo: RED’s “Baby Dragon” (Komodo): An Action Cinema Camera, so you understand a bit more about the concept and logic behind it. With the new updates for both Sigma and AtomOS for the Ninja V, the Sigma fp transforms to a high-end action cinema camera that can be used on drones, dangerous spots on-set, and as a “disposal” crash-cam on high-end productions.