Atomos has just announced RAW recording at up to 4Kp60 via HDMI from the Sony A7S III to the Ninja V HDR monitor-recorder thus capturing the camera’s full dynamic range in Apple ProRes RAW for maximum detail and latitude in post-production.
The RAW files are optimal for HDR finishing, or for greater flexibility in SDR (Rec.709), giving stunning results in either. Images are recorded directly to affordable, reliable AtomX SSDmini or other compatible SSD drives without any recording time limit applied.
Optionally, RAW video can also be captured on the Ninja V at the same time as compressed video is recorded internally to memory card on the Alpha 7S III, providing several workflow options and a useful backup.
Alpha 7S III low light performance is more than impressive, with the data from the camera’s large photosites making recording RAW in dim conditions a practical option. The Alpha 7S III also has 5-axis optical image stabilization that is available while shooting RAW video, allowing for amazingly stable and detailed handheld RAW shots.
The data-rich 16-bit linear RAW output of the Alpha 7S III is compressed and recorded in the Ninja V as 12-bit ProRes RAW at up to 4Kp60. The result is a high-quality ProRes RAW file that combines the superb visual quality of the Alpha 7S III with the workflow advantages of RAW and the incredible real-time performance of ProRes.
One key benefit, especially in low light, is that the ProRes RAW files allow you to take fine control of how noise reduction and sharpening is applied to images, tuning these precisely for each shot.
Renowned filmmaker Philip Bloom has shot a short film titled ‘The Paddleboarder’ to test the ProRes RAW capabilities of the Alpha 7S III with the Ninja V. Shot on the river Thames in just one day it clearly demonstrates just how filmic the RAW images look. In his time with the camera he has also shot ProRes RAW in various lighting conditions including near darkness.
“Sony’s Alpha 7S III is incredibly powerful and does pretty much everything I need from a camera. Having the ability to record RAW over HDMI to the Atomos Ninja V is the icing on the cake.
Not only can I record at full quality 10-bit 4K internally to the camera’s memory cards, I can simultaneously record 12-bit ProRes RAW to an SSD which gives me more flexibility to grade and bypass things like the in-camera sharpening and noise reduction.
This is especially invaluable when shooting at very high ISO where working with RAW allows me to adjust the noise in post processing with much more precision.”, Bloom explains.
Jeromy Young, Atomos CEO, said: “What Sony have done with the Alpha 7S III for RAW recording to the Ninja V is truly amazing. I’m delighted that together we are able to bring this first Sony’s Alpha into the Atomos RAW ecosystem. Sony’s engineers have delivered an amazing quality RAW over HDMI output to the Ninja V that will open up countless creative opportunities.
The detail, dynamic range and especially low light performance is outstanding in RAW. The stable operation and long RAW record times that the Ninja V brings to the Alpha 7S III make it a brilliant tool for almost any production.”
Ninja V users will receive a free AtomOS update to enable RAW recording over HDMI from the Alpha 7S III. This is set to be available in September 2020.
[source: Atomos]
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Sony a7S III Mirrorless Camera (B&H)
Atomos Ninja V 5″ 4K HDMI Recording Monitor (B&H)
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