How did the DJI Zenmuse X7 Manage to be the Only Camera That Shoots ProRes RAW Internally?
How did the DJI Zenmuse X7 Manage to be the Only Camera That Shoots ProRes RAW Internally?

How did the DJI Zenmuse X7 Manage to be the Only Camera That Shoots ProRes RAW Internally?

2021-06-27
2 mins read

In April 2018 Apple released ProRes RAW, which is built upon the same technology as other ProRes codecs but is directly applied to the raw data coming from the sensor. Most probably, Apple’s mission was that this codec will be implemented by other camera manufacturers. However, as of today, only one camera is able to output ProRes RAW internally, which is the DJI Zenmuse X7. Why?

The DJI Zenmuse X7
The DJI Zenmuse X7

Apple ProRes RAW

ProRes RAW was established in 2018 (based on the same principles and underlying technology as existing ProRes codecs that were introduced in 2007), as Apple’s answer to allow raw output for video professionals. In fact, Apple has designed a graphic card that is aimed to facilitate post-production workflow by only accelerating ProRes RAW (Afterburner). BTW, it’ll be interesting to reveal how many Afterburner cards were sold. Anyway, till now, there’s only one camera that supports this RAW internally: The DJI Zenmuse X7.

DJI Zenmuse X7
DJI Zenmuse X7

ProRes RAW: Externally

Currently, there are more than 25 cameras that are able to shoot ProRes RAW externally. Now it’s time to be reminded that Atomos is paying RED Digital Cinema for the license to record ProRes RAW, as a result of a legal compromise between the two companies. The cameras listed below will record ProRes RAW media when using supported Atomos recorders.

  1. Canon EOS C300 Mark II
  2. Canon EOS C500
  3. Fujifilm GFX100
  4. Fujifilm GFX100S
  5. Nikon Z 6
  6. Nikon Z 6II
  7. Nikon Z 7
  8. Nikon Z 7II
  9. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
  10. Olympus OM-D E-M1X
  11. Panasonic EVA1
  12. Panasonic S1H
  13. Panasonic S5
  14. Panasonic VariCam LT
  15. Sigma fp
  16. Sigma fp L
  17. Sony Alpha a1 (ILCE-1)
  18. Sony ILCE-7SM3 (Alpha a7S III)
  19. Sony ILME-FX3
  20. Sony ILME-FX6
  21. Sony NEX-FS700 / FS700R
  22. Sony PXW-FS5 / FS5M2
  23. Sony PXW-FS7 with XDCA-FX7
  24. Sony PXW-FX9 with XDCA-FX9
  25. Z CAM E2
  26. Z CAM E2C
  27. Z CAM E2-F6
  28. Z CAM E2-F8
  29. Z CAM E2-M4
  30. Z CAM E2-S6
RED & Atomos: Legal/business partnership
RED & Atomos: Legal/business partnership

DJI Zenmuse X7: ProRes RAW internally

The Zenmuse X7 is a very unique camera due to the reason it’s the only camera that is able to shoot ProRes RAW internally. The capability to shoot ProRes RAW was announced in 2018, as stated back then in the DJI press release: “We are thrilled that the Zenmuse X7 has become the first aerial camera to support Apple’s new ProRes RAW standard…With the RAW activation package, ProRes RAW files are recorded natively in the Zenmuse X7 and can be transferred directly to Final Cut Pro for post-production”. Also, it has been said that: “DJI has obtained authorization from Apple for the latest Apple ProRes RAW. When mounted to the Inspire 2, the Zenmuse X7 is capable of recording 6K 14-bit Apple ProRes RAW video at 23.976 fps”.

The Zenmuse X7
The Zenmuse X7

Discussion

This is quite an interesting debate. How did DJI manage to bypass the patent war zone? For instance, the new Kinefinity MAVO Edge was planned to output ProRes RAW internally as well, but the feature has been neutralized due to patent infringement. What’s so special about the Zenmuse X7 making it the first and only camera that capable of shooting ProRes RAW internally, while all other 30 cameras can do it only externally (via Atomos)? It’s a good question, and we don’t have the answer. Well, feel free to enlighten us in the comments section below.

Product List

Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers. 

Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition.
Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.

16 Comments

  1. The inspire 2 aircraft is a separate device from the zenmuse x7 camera, the recording is done in the aircraft’s onboard Cinecore processing unit – essentially an external recorder.

  2. The article raises a question in the tile and then ends with “we don’t have the answer”
    Thanks for wasting my time.

  3. A good part of that $2,900 you pay for the Zenmuse goes for the ProRes license. Other camera manufacturers choose to not saddle their customers with this expense.

  4. I don’t get it, I have the DJI Zenmuse X5s for the Inspire 2 and I bought the ProRes license; and the ProRes files are recorded natively and can be transferred directly to Final Cut Pro for post-production…

    • But is that ProRes Raw that your X5S is shooting? The whole issue with infringing on REDs patent is that it can’t be internal RAW recording. Regular ProRes 422, HQ and 4444 are not raw codecs.

      The whole premise of this article is flawed anyway since even when the X7 records RAW it’s not doing in internally. The camera is a separate instrument on the Inspire 2 than the “CineCore” hardware which process the video on the drone itself not the camera which essentially is just a gimbal attached sensor and lens.

  5. The bigger question is how does Canon record internal raw to their cameras?

    Also, why don’t camera manufacturers just use compressed raw on image sequences that the user can turn into an image sequence in post. Like cDNG except with higher lossy compression? Surely RED doesn’t have a patent on compressed raw still images.

    • Canon pays RED a licensing fee. It’s one of the few camera manufacturers to have reached a deal with RED for internal RAW recording.

      CDNG was a lot like what your referring too and that could be a work around for a 24-120 FPS “still” camera that people could turn into video later. The workflow might be a bit klunky though as any steps towards making it video friendly would probably start to converge with REDs patents.

  6. This leaves out that ProRes Raw was co-invented by Apple and Atomos. They are both victims of the derelict USPTO and the erroneous court decision that allowed software patents, which are supposed to be illegal, to become reality. Until we get real patent reform that abolishes software patents and “busienss-method” patents, the holders of these bullshit patents will continue to use them to steal others’ work.

  7. You do not have the answer to the question how DJI’s Zenmuse X7 records Apple ProRes Raw internally… BECAUSE IT DOES NOT. Only when the X7 is hooked up to the Inspire 2 drone, the drone can record in Apple ProRes Raw using the Zenmuse X7 camera.

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