How to setup RAW recording in the Nikon Z6 and Atomos Ninja V

There are two parts to this:

1. What you need to do in the Nikon Z6, and
2. What you need to do in the Atomos Ninja V

How to setup RAW in the Nikon Z6

The ProresRAW upgrade isn’t a firmware update. You have to send or take the camera in to the nearest Nikon service center. It might take a day or more for them to return your camera, depending on the backlog.

Here’s the link to the Nikon USA page (it might not work in the future).

The Prores RAW upgrade isn’t officially free. There is a $199.95 (or the equivalent in your country) charge:

It’s also free if you have previously purchased a Z6 filmmaker’s kit or are planning to buy one in the future.

In some countries, like India, the upgrade is free for a limited period. Talk to your dealer or Nikon rep to see what your options are.

There is nothing you need to do, visit the HDMI page in Settings:

You’ll see two options. One to enable RAW:

And the other to pick your resolution and frame rate:

Now watch the video in the next section.

How to setup RAW in the Atomos Ninja V

Your Atomos Ninja V needs to be updated to version 10.2 or higher.

This is beyond the scope of this guide, but there are instructions on the Atomos site. here’s a video:

Note: As of this writing, Prores RAW is only supported on the Ninja V, but this might change. If and when Atomos announces support for further products, just make sure you have updated to the latest version.

Once you have updated your Atomos recorder, watch this video:

Download Video 1080p | 560p

Tip: Stick to Prores RAW, you don’t need Prores RAW HQ unless you’re shooting VFX or green screen work.

Important

As of this writing the color space/gamma recorded in the Ninja V is a weird ‘Linear’. There is no transform available in FCP X to get your footage to look as you shot it. But make sure you watch the lesson on exposure and editing Prores RAW for updated information.