Atomos is an Australian company primarily engaged in manufacturing and distribution of video equipment. The company specializes in producing 4K and HD Apple ProRes monitor recorders, designed for various video production purposes, including social media, YouTube, television, and cinematography. Atomos has significantly contributed to the adoption of Apple ProRes RAW format in Cinema Cameras. The company has also made innovations in several areas, including RAW recording through HDMI, wireless timecode, multi-camera setups, asynchronous switching, and streaming solutions.[1]
The company was founded in 2010 by CEO Jeromy Young.[2] Initially launching products like the Ninja and Samurai, Atomos focused on allowing camcorders such as the Sony EX1 and EX3 to achieve BBC broadcast standards through uncompressed SDI output.
In 2014, Atomos released the Ninja Star recorder, notable for its small size. This compact device didn't have an LCD screen. However, once synchronized with a camera's signal, it offered reliable performance and portability. Over the years, Atomos has transitioned from producing HD recorders like the screenless Ninja Star to advanced 4K recorders with HDR monitoring capabilities, as seen in their Shogun 7 model. Atomos has been collaborating with companies such as Sony and Panasonic. These partnerships have facilitated the adoption of codecs such as ProRes RAW in selected cameras.[3]
Atomos has developed a diverse range of products[4] over the years, including:
In 2022, Atomos announced the Sapphire 8K Global Shutter Sensor. This full-frame sensor supports DCI 8K (8192 x 4320) global shutter recording at up to 60fps, 4K recording at 240fps, and 1080p at 360fps.[5]
This high-performance full-frame sensor received the "Innovation of the Year 2022" award at the Lucie Technical Awards.[6] http://www.luciefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/LTA-Past-Winners-2022.pdf
This device is an advanced expansion module for the Atomos Ninja series, designed to facilitate video conferencing and broadcasting. It connects SLR or mirrorless cameras to computers, converting camera signals into formats compatible with software like Google Hangouts, OBS, and Zoom. This makes it suitable for home working or YouTube Studio setups. It requires plugging into a computer via USB, with camera connection through HDMI. It's compatible with systems meeting certain specifications, such as an i5-3400 or i7-3537U processor, 4GB memory, and a discrete GPU from around 2012–2013. Cameras used should have the capability to support clean HDMI output.[7]
Atomos is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It has an internationally distributed team and offices that are located in several countries: the USA, Japan, China, the UK, and Germany. The company has established a strong global network of distribution partners.[8]
Atomos products have been used in various film and television productions, such as: