Posted by Matt Wafer on 16th Aug 2023
Atomos Unveils the Next-Gen Ninja Series
Atomos has introduced the all-new Ninja line-up of camera-mounted monitor-recorders, pushing boundaries and highlighting their ongoing expertise in ProRes technology.
Unveiling their latest evolution in camera technology, Atomos presents the cutting-edge Ninja and Ninja Ultra monitor-recorders. Stepping into the spotlight with an impressive lineage, the original Ninja, unleashed in 2010, amazed the industry by merging a handheld touchscreen monitor with an HD disk recorder. Its innovation lay in capturing pristine, uncompressed video straight from the first DSLR generation onto a removable SSD.
The current generation of Ninja ushers in an era where video sources of up to nine times the resolution are seamlessly handled. Featuring a 5-inch HDR screen, it records ProRes RAW and boasts compatibility with nearly every camera model globally.
At the heart of these new Ninja incarnations lies the revamped operating system, AtomOS 11. Crafted to be cleaner, fresher, and faster, it is t!ailor-made to exploit the optimal hardware performance for AtomOS 11. The package includes a host of novel features, such as the EL Zone exposure-referenced colorized image, ARRI False Colour, as well as advanced scheduled playback and recording tools.
While the Ninja is designed for DSLR and mirrorless camera users, the Ninja Ultra embarks on a journey to maximize the potential of camera-to-cloud technology and embrace cinematic workflows. It ingeniously captures full-quality ProRes RAW files at up to 4K 60p, while simultaneously recording HD 60p in H.265. The synergy extends to automatically matching filenames, timecodes, and record triggers from a range of renowned camera models.
Introducing the Atomos Connect expansion module, which serves as a gateway to Atomos RemoteView—an innovative technology that facilitates wireless sharing of live views across Atomos screens, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs. This feature transforms remote production, introducing an array of unprecedented capabilities.
For the Ninja Ultra, the Atomos Connect module ushers in a low-latency, high-throughput, and stable connection through Wi-Fi 6E. Atomos remains at the forefront by integrating this state-of-the-art Wi-Fi standard into its cloud-enabled arsenal.
| Feature | Ninja | Ninja Ultra | ||
| AtomOS 11 | Yes | Yes | ||
| RecordAssist, Playback Assist & TimeLapse | Yes | Yes | ||
| Atomos RemoteView | Requires ACS subscription + credits | Requires ACS subscription + credits | ||
| Supported Wi-Fi standard (requires ATOMOS CONNECT) | 6 | 6E | ||
| Apple ProRes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Apple ProRes RAW | Yes (6K) | Yes (8K) | ||
| Apple ProRes RAW + H.265 (Dual Record) | No | Yes | ||
| Avid DNx (QuickTime) | Yes (MXF later in 2023) | Yes (MXF later in 2023) | ||
| H.265 | Yes | Yes | ||
| H.265 4K for C2C workflow | Yes | Yes | ||
| H.265 Record + Stream/Live Show/NDI TX | Yes | Yes | ||
| NDI 4K TX Pro, Mode ($/€198) | No | One-off activation | ||
| NDI HD TX Pro ($/€99) | One-off activation | One-off activation | ||
| ARRI/Canon/Sony/RED Camera SDI Cine filename support | No | Yes | ||
| Atomos Care360 Premium Warranty | Optional Purchase | Optional Purchase |
Both Ninja and Ninja Ultra are set to ship in early September 2023, Pre-order yours now!