https://shop.olympus.com.au/news/post/development-firmware-atomos
Or in other words, Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Micro Four Thirds cameras will be able to record Apple’s ProRes Raw video footage via the Atomos Ninja V 5-inch monitor/recorder in late 2020.
Development of Video Raw Output Firmware With Atomos
September 15, 2020
Development of firmware that enables the RAW video data output from Olympus Mirrorless Cameras to the ATOMOS NINJA V HDR Monitor Recorder
Olympus is pleased to announce the development of firmware that enables output of RAW video data output from Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III mirrorless cameras to the ATOMOS NINJA V HDR monitor recorder. Development is underway in collaboration with ATOMOS. Data is recorded to the ATOMOS NINJA V as Apple ProRes RAW for flexible image editing. This lends greater flexibility to professional video production post-processing tasks such as adjusting exposure and colour grading recorded footage. The firmware is scheduled for release in summer 2020.
Olympus will continue supporting authentic video production and further improve hand-held high-definition video recording via compact, lightweight system thanks to unrivalled portability and powerful in-body 5-axis image stabilisation.
About ATOMOS
Atomos exists to help creative professionals cut through technology barriers by creating easy to use, cutting-edge 4K and HD Apple ProRes monitor/recorders. These products give video professionals a faster, higher quality and more affordable production system, whether they create for social media, YouTube, TV or cinema. Atomos continues to demonstrate its commitment to putting users first through continual innovation at amazing price points. The company developed the AtomOS operating system dedicated to video recording with an elegant and intuitive touchscreen user interface and was also the first to implement the professional Apple ProRes RAW format for recording with cinema cameras. Atomos is based in Australia with offices in the USA, Japan, China, UK and Germany and has a worldwide distribution partner network.
ATOMOS website: www.atomos.com
Commentary

I am yet to have the pleasure of trying out the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and so have no experience-based opinion to share about their video capabilities.
Until now Olympus has concentrated on developing its cameras for stills photographers rather than videographers but flagging sales and changing perceptions about hybrid cameras appear to have tipped the balance.
So much so that Atomos and Olympus has just announced this completely unexpected turnabout, with the result that the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II can now be regarded as serious video production cameras.

I do have an experience-based opinion about Olympus’ M.Zuiko Pro professional-quality Micro Four Thirds prime and zoom lenses – they are just one feature short of perfect, missing only an aperture ring that can be set to de-clicked or clicked.
Otherwise they are amazing and if I had the means to purchase every one of them, as cinematographer John Brawley clearly does, then I would do so.
The lenses’ manual clutch focus capability via a retractable focusing ring is their strongpoint, allowing easy focus-pulling for video and deadly accurate manual-focusing when making documentary photographs in available darkness.

One item in the lens roadmap that Olympus released earlier this year has grabbed my attention, the coming M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4.0 Pro with its focal length range equivalent to 16-50mm in the 35mm sensor format.
The closest current M. Zuiko Pro lens to this is the M. Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 Pro while the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7 Aspheric is Panasonic’s closest lens in focal length terms.

Those lenses’ 35mm equivalences are 14-28mm and 20-50mm respectively, but the downside of the M. Zuiko Pro 7-14mm f/2.8 is its protruding convex front element that mitigates against screw-in neutral density and protective filters.
An Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4.0 Pro superwide-to-standard zoom lens would be tempting as a replacement for my beloved M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro daily-carry lens, though I would supplement it with an M. Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro for available darkness work or an M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro for extra reach and portrait photography.
Links
- Asobinet.com – Will Olympus M.ZUIKO 8-25mm F4 PRO appear? Anxious patent application is published – article is in Japanese.
- Atomos – ATOMOS ANNOUNCES PRORES RAW SUPPORT FOR OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1X AND OM-D E-M1 MARK III MIRRORLESS CAMERAS – “Atomos is excited to announce co-development with Olympus of RAW recording over HDMI with the OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III mirrorless cameras.”
- Atomos – YouTube channel – plenty of inspiring and educational content, especially videos shot on Apple ProRes Raw with the Ninja V and various cameras.
- B&H – Atomos Ninja V 5″ 4K HDMI Recording Monitor
- B&H – Olympus M.Zuiko Pro lenses
- B&H – Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Mirrorless Digital Camera
- B&H – Olympus OM-D E-M1X Mirrorless Digital Camera
- John Brawley – flickr
- John Brawley – Instagram
- John Brawley – Olympus
- John Brawley – website
- John Brawley – WordPress
- Olympus Australia – Development of Video Raw Output Firmware With Atomos, Development of firmware that enables the RAW video data output from Olympus Mirrorless Cameras to the ATOMOS NINJA V HDR Monitor Recorder – press release
- SmallRig – I have little doubt that SmallRig is already designing camera cages, L-plates and other production accessories for the OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. I will add news items on them as they appear. Meanwhile, please click on this link to access the SmallRig website through my affiliate account. Any income derived from my affiliate accounts assists in running this website.