Lumix, Atomos and video

[ermesjo]

I appreciate the flexibility to choose between file formats like MP4, MOV or ProRes. Filming internally it’s OK. It’s using SDXC cards in slot 1 or 2. When filming ProRes RAW to my Atomos Ninja, I meet the dead end. I still wonder about my S5iiX and the Atomos Ninja. Is the only option with this setup ProRes RAW recording to the Ninja? Meaning that you do not have the option to alter between MP4, MOV, ProRes 422/HQ and ProRes RAW recordings to the Ninja. Will this mean that the (expensive) SSD on the Ninja only works with RAW? If so, it is an expensive setup, because you will also have to pay for extra computer performing costs (handling the RAW files). Internally we can alter between file formats, but not to the Ninja. So for me I need to use SDXC cards, ProRes 422HQ, and the Ninja as a monitor solely (not using the SSD disk here). I got the monitor, but in both perspectives, it is a costly solution. Do you think the «problem» can be fixed in a future firmware update? Is it a licence issue with Atomos or license for the use of RAW-files? Channeling RAW-files for my Lumix S5iiX gives only one option: only RAW-files can be saved to the Ninja SSD, not MP4, MOV or plain ProRes 422/HQ. Isn’t this a shame? Is this a question that the Lumix community have discussed before? (I watched a YouTube video that claimed (?) to fix this, but all I got was a video of my Lumix screen (with the menus and focus points). ProRes 422 to a Ninja?

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I think (and I'm not a videographer at all) that you just need to output to hdmi with any of the supported formats for the Ninja, and choose the final output format on the Ninja. Like he did in the yt movie.
How I understand how the Ninja works is that it gets its video from HDMI and stores it there in the format you like. You only need to feed the Ninja the correct hdmi movie format.

 

[ermesjo]

Yes, I tried, but what I got was the screen like you find in the viewfinder. Not a clean video. I have posted a question to Julian Krakow.

 

[ermesjo]

Hi again. I have tried again. No, I can not find a proper solution on my Ninja attached with my S5iiX. Finding #1: Menu [MOVIE], Image Format 2, HDMI RAW Data Output: ON. This option will lock any other choices, you are bound to ProRes RAW on your Ninja. Finding #2: LUMIX: [MOVIE], Image Format 1: Set Ref.File Format to ProRes. Rec.Quality to FHD, 25p, 422HQ. Menu [GEAR], In/Out, HDMI Output, set the first tree to ON, Enlarged Live Display to Mode1. On the Ninja: INPUT: HDMI Detect: Auto, Device: unknown (when choosing RAW on my Lumix, the correct camera model displays, but not here). RECORD: change codec from RAW to ProRes HQ. So what happens next? Your camera screen loose all markers, like focus point, waterpass, etc. These are all transferred to the Ninja. (The Lumix menu are all at the Ninja display.) When you start recording, like a 10 second test, and do a playback you will get a video with all the Lumix menu. Good for a YouTube if you need to explain menu-settings, but not usable for a regular video. To me, so far, with the answers I get, is that users asume that you can record 422HQ ProRes 10L to your Ninja SSD (AtomX). But that’s not the case. I wish that Lumix could change the menu to «HDMI Data Output», and leave it up to you in the [MOVIE] Image Format to either ProRes RAW or plain ProRes 422HQ. At the Atomos web-page, they explain that MP4 is not supported (and that is OK). But I will insist that a Ninja should have the option to choose between ProRes RAW and ProRes 422HQ. The latter have software corrections like lens correction (chromatic and barrel) and compression. Currently Atomos and Lumix gives you only one option: ProResRAW, with the consequence that your workflow suffers, no lens correction in Final Cut Pro and that you need a costly Mac and big disks. Why so?

 

[CharlesH]

Hi again. I have tried again.

I gave up on Atomos quite some time ago. I have the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR, and I use this when I want to record from the camera. It will record either BRAW or non-RAW ProRes. It works well with ProRes, which I typically use. The user interface is much better than the Ninja, very intuitive, and you can record ProRes to an internal SD card. The Blackmagic might better fit your requirements.

 

[ermesjo]

I gave up on Atomos quite some time ago. I have the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR, and I use this when I want to record from the camera. It will record either BRAW or non-RAW ProRes. It works well with ProRes, which I typically use. The user interface is much better than the Ninja, very intuitive, and you can record ProRes to an internal SD card. The Blackmagic might better fit your requirements.

Thanks Charles, but with little comfort. I have asked my retailer of a meeting. I wish that I also could send a request to the Board of Panasonic / Lumix to tweak the menu of my S5iiX. Maybe they read this forum or my «last gasps» in Reddit? I will not say I am fooled (over-sale), but currently I need to either save videos to slot1 as an SDXC or an external Samsung T7 SSD. Leaving my 2Tb AtomX useless. What did they plan? After all, RAW is not The Rolls-Royce. Yes, there are benefits, but it costs hefty hardware and MUCH more post-works. When I looked at my perfect Lumix lens videos with barrel errors in RAW, I realized that you just do not get corrections at all! Read page 480 in the Lumix S5iiX manual. The list of non-correctable errors is so long. Horrible! As far as I know, Final Cut Pro cannot adjust these errors. So as of 2025, I believe that all this RAW-hype is non-mature. It clearly has room for improvements. OK, I can use RAW in extreme circumstances, but I believe that ProRes 422HQ (1920x1080, 16:9, 422HQ.LPCM) or higher resolution MOV formats (3840x2160 16:9 420/10bit/LongGOP) with corrections, but slightly lesser resolution than the RAW-format is better. As of 2025. Let us hope for further User Improvements. Again, I realize that the RAW is hyped, at least the manufacturers should tell the public about the drawbacks. The non-correctable RAW - list: Master Pedestal Level, iDynamic Range, Vignetting, Diffraction, Filters, Rec.File Format, Filtering, Rec.Quality, Luminance, E-stabilization (since RAW uses all pixels edge to edge, Loop Recording, Segmented recording, Live Cropping, Color Bars, Streaming.

 

[CharlesH]

Thanks Charles, but with little comfort.

I have worked with ProRes RAW for a long long time, I was one of the first. It is well known that all of the in-camera video features do not pass through with RAW video. It is just that, it is RAW video. Any corrections need to be done in post-procesing. The single reason to shoot with ProRes RAW is for higher dynamic range, with 12 bits versus 10 bits. If you have a very high dynamic range scene that you don't think 10 bits will cover, use ProRes RAW. Otherwise don't.

 

[ermesjo]

My case is resolved now after assist from friends at Reddit. I bought my Lumix S5iiX in September 2024 from Norways biggest reseller. For this question they could not help me, but recommended Atomos support. That says a lot. This morning, I have executed successful tests (almost). Yes, the footage is now stored at my AtomX disc. But I still have two questions and a friendly «nag» towards Lumix. On the S5iiX I configured two different compressions: 1) ProRes 422HQ 1920x1080 with 50fps - the only choice 2) Full frame MOV LongGOP 3840x2160 422 10bit 25fps. (I prefer 25fps). In the menu, choose cogwheel , InOut, HDMI Rec Output, Info Display OFF, HDMI Recording Control ON, Sound Output ON, Enlarged Live Display Mode1. In the menu only SSD, slot 1/2 is visible, but I guess SSD means the AtomX SSD as long it is connected with the HDMI and not with a Samsung T7 over USB-C. On the Ninja however, only ProRes compression is available, amongst DNxHR and ProResRAW. However, what I can see on my Mac mini with FCP is that it retain the 3840x2160 resolution when I output LongGOP. Very satisfying. So back to my «nag». Even my professional reseller could not help me. Coming from my Canon EOS 5Dii (a 2008 camera), I am used to turn the Mode dial to what I need. I understand that the S5iiX is a complete different bull. When you turn the Mode dial to CinemaM, video is just half the story. Yes, you then can choose you preffered format, to SDXC slot 1/2. If you want to use SSD over the USB-C port, choose another menu. If you need ProResRAW, choose another menu (and you the can choose different formats under the RAW segment). So, if you need to shoot video compressed, choose a third menu, configure your Ninja (V or not) to the correct compression, MP4 is not supported and that is OK. Nothing of this is described as easily understandable summaries at either Atomos or Lumix. Even my supplier does not know! So what I question is if it is possible to make a summary of the different options if you either turn the Mode dial to CinemaM, or if you organize all the different choices under ONE main menu choice. As the case is today, it’s like have a Greek Gyros served in front of you and you ask how the chef has put your meal so delicious together. Sorry Man, the Chef is not available. The key challenge for me (and my reseller ) is that the choices are smudged and hidden. You need to know! The other issue is the stress- factor. How many times have you experienced that you used wrong settings or forgot to choose the correct values on the set. You was stressed or simply forgot. In my opinion Lumix has a potential to make the menu choices more understandable and in addition add a summary in their camera manuals for this spesific task. Back to the Chef: what is the ingredients, for how long do you cook, how do you combine? After much struggle and good assist (from Reddit, not my reseller) I think my troubles are over for now. But does it need to be that hard? Anyways, I have learned a lot.



 

[Nevyn72]

I have worked with ProRes RAW for a long long time, I was one of the first. It is well known that all of the in-camera video features do not pass through with RAW video. It is just that, it is RAW video. Any corrections need to be done in post-procesing. The single reason to shoot with ProRes RAW is for higher dynamic range, with 12 bits versus 10 bits. If you have a very high dynamic range scene that you don't think 10 bits will cover, use ProRes RAW. Otherwise don't.

But that;s why BRAW would be so nice: You can do a lot more with that codec compared with ProRes Raw in Davinci Resolve. (As I understand, I saw the video's but haven't tested it yet).