nikon

Is N-RAW real RAW? Nikon Z9 under the spotlight at EOSHD

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It is time for a good old fashioned EOSHD article. Everything you’ve seen so far on YouTube is meaningless – yes it is. Comparing one shot to another this way is no longer representative of the camera. Our camera’s capabilities far outstrips what you can see via YouTube. At best it’s a comparison of grading styles.

Back in the days before LOG recording, your camera’s colour science was baked in and you were reliant on it. Since then, most footage looks very similar in LOG before it’s graded, and the main difference you’ll see on YouTube is how two cameras have been graded to match, or how the default picture profile and white balance compares. Then, on top of that it will all be converted to H.265 at a very low bitrate for streaming, even in 8K. In fact 8K looks dreadful on YouTube if you really examine it. So how can we really judge what a camera and codec as powerful as 12bit N-RAW is doing?

The answer is to have a good pixel peep. Freeze a frame, and look at it up-close at full resolution, without adding noticeable compression. This is what I set out to do here, to examine the texture and look of the image in 8K N-RAW on the Nikon Z9. Does it really have an advantage over the Sony A1 in H.265? Does N-RAW as a “film stock” really LOOK like RAW if we compare it to the Sigma Fp-L in uncompressed Cinema DNG? It’s time to find out.

Read moreIs N-RAW real RAW? Nikon Z9 under the spotlight at EOSHD

What are the details of Nikon’s new cinema 8K/4K RAW codec on the Z9?

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Nikon is keeping the details of internal RAW recording close to its chest so far, I think partly because the firmware isn’t yet final and most of the RAW recording capabilities will be added later in a 2022 firmware update.

However what we do know is that Nikon is licensing a RAW codec technology for the Z9 from “intoPIX”.

Quite how they are manoeuvring around RED’s compressed RAW patent is another question mark, but we’ll see if we can figure out some answers below…

Read moreWhat are the details of Nikon’s new cinema 8K/4K RAW codec on the Z9?

Nikon facing serious crisis in chipmaking – as well as camera business

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Nikon has seen huge financial losses this year, and it isn’t just the camera business that’s in trouble. Nikon’s other core business, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, supplies 70-90% of their chipmaking machines to Intel – but the US company’s investment in the machinery has run its course. To make matters worse, Nikon’s management baulked at investing large sums in next generation extreme ultraviolet lithography technology – a significant growth area.

Read moreNikon facing serious crisis in chipmaking – as well as camera business

FIRST LOOK: Techart TZE-01 Sony E to Nikon Z mount adpater

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I have quite a few game-changing Techart adapters but this one takes the biscuit.

Here’s my first look for the autofocus adapter on the Nikon Z6/Z7, which essentially converts the camera into a fully featured Sony E mount body.

In stock now on eBay

Read moreFIRST LOOK: Techart TZE-01 Sony E to Nikon Z mount adpater

Supposed “Nikon 8K” camera footage was actually shot on RED Monstro VV!

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Rumours out of Apple WWDC 19 talk about both Canon and Nikon 8K cameras being used to shoot ProRes RAW 8K footage for Mac Pro demos.

Footage from a documentary about Nikon ambassador Ami Vitale photographing Kenya was supposably shot in ProRes RAW 8K and the speculation was she shot with an as-yet unreleased Nikon Z9 with 8K output to an external recorder. Actually the documentary was shot on RED Monstro in 8K by Kiwi cinematographer Mark Toia of ZOOM Film and Television.

Meanwhile a Canon 8K camera resembling a C300 II is seen shooting props against a green screen for augmented reality demos on the new Mac Pro. This prototype has actually been shown by Canon before, most recently in 2018 at Inter BEE. The prototype has an 8K sensor and processor, but recording is external via SDI.

Indeed, Canon’s Super 35mm 8K prototype first dates back to 2015 and has been steadily developing since.

Read moreSupposed “Nikon 8K” camera footage was actually shot on RED Monstro VV!