Atomos has marked another camera. From now, the privilege of shooting ProRes RAW is also relevant to the Sony FX9. However, you’ll need the camera’s extension unit plus Atomos recorder (Shogun 7) which means paying $3,800 more for a piece of gear that will allow you to utilize this codec. Does it worth it?

Sony FX9 and RAW

The FX9 is already capable of shooting 16-bit RAW. The Ver 2.0 firmware update released a month ago, allows that (Read: Sony FX9 V2 Firmware Available: 16-bit RAW, FF 4K 60p, 180 FPS, and More). With the Ver 2.0 firmware update, the camera can output 16-bit raw 4K/2K footage up to 180 fps via the optional XDCA-FX9 Extension Unit. That means the Sony XDCA-FX9 unit supports 16-bit raw 4K/2K recording output to compatible external recorders. This extension unit is very bulky and heavy, but it enables ENG-style shoulder mounting for FX9. However, it’s not relatively cheap and costs $2,500 which is about 20% of the general cost of the camera.

ProRes RAW via Atomos

Today, Atomos has announced ProRes RAW recording support for Sony’s PXW-FX9 camcorder with a full-frame sensor, which is now capable of outputting RAW over SDI via the XDCA-FX9 extension unit. The external recorder needed is the Atomos Shogun 7 which will record pristine Apple ProRes RAW images at up to DCI 4Kp60, or in 2K up to DCI 2Kp180 continuously.

Shogun 7 and ProRes RAW

The FX9 with XDCA-FX9 joins the existing Sony RAW capable line-up of FS7, FS7 II, FS5, and FS5 II, which all work with the Shogun 7 to record in ProRes RAW. However, all these options are relevant only if you have Sony’s external recorder plus a specific license (required in some cases). The FX9 camera’s RAW output is now available via a V2.01 firmware update for the FX9 from Sony and AtomOS V10.42 firmware (download available on the Atomos website).

PXW-FX9 metadata

ProRes RAW has metadata supplied by the FX9. Apple’s Final Cut Pro X and other NLEs will recognize ProRes RAW files recorded by the Shogun 7 from the FX9’s RAW output and allow for them to be set up for editing and display in either SDR or HDR projects. Additional information will also allow other software to perform extensive parameter adjustments.

Summary

While Atomos is achieving outstanding R&D-ing performances regarding expanded boundaries of cameras’ ProRes RaW utilization, We think that this time is a bit of unnecessary. The FX9 ability to shoot RAW already exists thanks to Ver 2.0 firmware update. Although Atomos is bringing you the option of ProRes RAW, it will costs you 30% of the camera (XDCA-FX9 Extension Unit + Atomos Shogun 7 = $3,800). Sony must be focused on how to get that RAW internally, without enforcing you to invest a couple of thousands of US dollars more.