The Z9 can easily be defined as the best video camera Nikon has ever made. According to Nikon, in the 2022 firmware update, the Z9 will be capable of shooting 8K ProRes RAW HQ, and a new flavor of N-RAW, which will probably be licensed by a company called intoPIX. If so, this new RAW titled TICO-RAW promises to reduce the bitrate of RAW video by a factor of 10 without impairing the quality. Hence, the N-RAW might be Z9’s secret weapon for video capturing.
Nikon Z9: Pioneering internal RAW capabilities in mirrorless cameras
For now, the Nikon Z9 is capable of capturing ProRes 422 HQ internally which is quite an impressive achievement for mirrorless cameras. Moreover, according to Nikon, on a future firmware update (in 2022), the 8K recording options will be extended, offering 12-bit RAW 8K/60p in-camera: N-RAW (Nikon’s original RAW video format), and ProRes RAW HQ. That’s very intriguing since the Z9 will be the first mirrorless camera to shoot ProRes RAW internally. Now, in a footnote, we place a small reminder regarding the case of Kinefinity MAVO Edge and the elimination of the ProRes RAW codec due to patent issues. Till now, the only camera that captures ProRes RAW internally is the DJI Zenmuse X7, and thus, the ProRes RAW capabilities of the Nikon Z9 must be taken with a grain of salt. However, let’s talk about the N-RAW.
intoPIX RAW
On the official Nikon Z9 page, there’s a new logo of intoPIX company which “creates and licenses innovative image processing and compression solutions”. According to intoPIX, they deliver unique IP-cores and efficient software solutions to manage more pixels, preserve quality with no latency, save cost & power and simplify storage and connectivity. The guys at intoPIX say that their solutions open the way to new imaging workflows and new devices, reducing costs in HD, 4K, or even 8K, replacing uncompressed video, and always preserving the lowest latency with the highest quality. It appears that the Nikon Z9 utilizes intoPIX technology to allow new and high-efficiency RAW, which is 1/3 smaller. As stated by Nikon: “The new RAW format retains the same high image quality, dynamic range, and flexibility as conventional RAW files with approximately 1/3 smaller file size to speed up your workflow”. Nikon adds the statement: “Powered by intoPIX technology”. Nevertheless, this is related to pictures. What about videos?
TICO-RAW: The new RAW?
In December 2020, we got an email from intoPIX titled “TICO-RAW is the new RAW”. According to intoPIX, TICO-RAW preserves the most beautiful pixels and most perfect colors with the world’s best efficiency. “With 10 times less bandwidth required and 10 times less storage needed compared with those of regular RAW, TICO-RAW offers all this with incredible speed and low complexity” the company stated and adds that: “TICO-RAW is a new format, ideal to shoot and edit with Feature Film Quality. It delivers a much smaller RAW file size and supports the latest image sensors, including high dynamic range, high resolutions, high frame rates. It is probably the first RAW codec that can be so fast in software for editing while preserving the most brilliant brights to the deepest darks acquired by a sensor.”
TICO-RAW = N-RAW?
The big question is if Nikon will be licensed by intoPIX in order to utilize TICO-RAW in its Z9 flagship? By connecting the dots, it might. Back then, we reached to intoPIX to get some more details on this new RAW:
Y.M.Cinema Magazine: Are you partnering with camera manufacturers for the implementation of the TICO-RAW?
intoPIX: Yes, we are partnering with camera manufacturers. TICO-RAW is made to be integrated in-camera and intoPIX does provide the code to embed it in-camera firmware. It is expected to see the first camera embedded TICO-RAW next year in 2021, as agreements and integrations are ongoing.
Y.M.Cinema Magazine: Are there any NLEs that can accept this codec?
intoPIX: intoPIX has developed the accelerated software running on both Intel / AMD CPUs or Nvidia GPUs, enabling the integration of the codec into Non-Linear Editing software. Speed is extremely fast to easily import, edit real-time 8K TICO-RAW footages. intoPIX has already developed its own Adobe Premiere Plugin to import & export TICO-XS video files but the support of TICO-RAW is expected to be available from next year too in NLE, either via intoPIX Plugins or via the camera manufacturers working with NLEs software.
Y.M.Cinema Magazine: Where can we find sample footage of the TICO-RAW?
intoPIX: We are going to make some TICO-RAW samples on the intoPIX website available. And certainly, some will also be available along with the camera manufacturers’ releases.
Those questions were answered in December 2020. So it’s possible that we’re talking about the new N-RAW of the Nikon Z9. If so, this RAW is going to be very efficient regarding its size and capabilities. We’ll keep you posted on more info in regard. Stay tuned.
Product List
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers:
- Nikon Z 9 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Nikon should make a cinema camera
Yes, definitely!!
Being able to record RAW internally is great, except that XQD and CFexpress Type B cards cost a fortune compared to SSD and the Nikon LCD is useless for HDR, making the Ninja V a superior solution for recording ProRes RAW.
In some situations, yes. But the problem with external recorders is their lack of durability. If I’m out in the backcountry in the winter, I need something more durable than a BMD Video Assist or Atomos Ninja. And of course, you get a much more simple package to load in to the backpack. The z9 weighs more than my z6 (2.9 pounds/1340g vs 1.5 pounds/675g with batteries included). But not more than the Z6, recorder, cables, and extra set of batteries which comes out to 2,021g (4.45 pounds). And an extra pound and a half along with more simplicity, is welcome when backpacking.
A lot of times these sorts of things are better for those that aren’t shooting in studio moreso than for those that are.
There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that the Atomos is not rugged enough for hiking – quite the contrary in fact. The Ninja V has withstood extreme weather conditions, including shooting in the Arctic at sub -24 degrees centigrade temperatures, performing flawlessly.
Well, Sigma did the right thing with their FP/FP L line as portable SSD’s can be used via USB. The amazing thing is they can record pure RAW (CinemaDNG) internally at 12bit,1080p (or 4k at 12bit externally)…on an fast SD card for nearly an hour, and the bodies are a quarter of the size of the Nikon Z9. Sigma may be a quirky camera manufacturer but they do come up with some interesting stuff.