Reviewed: Atomos Ninja V on Sony a7S III

Lately, I had the possibility to shoot video with the Atomos Ninja V recording monitor and on this evaluate I’m going over the expertise after having it paired up with the video powerhouse that’s the Sony a7S III.

The Atomos Ninja V can work with a large list of supported cameras and presents prolonged monitoring choices like waveforms, false shade, vectorscopes, zebras, focus peaking, 1:1 or 2:1 show zooms, and log gamma previews. Many of the choices will also be adjusted additional to at least one’s liking, for instance altering the dimensions of the waveform show or decreasing its opacity.

Nevertheless, essentially the most worth in having the Ninja V comes when it’s paired with a digital camera that takes full benefit of its recording potentialities. One such digital camera is the Sony a7S III, and that was certainly the first digital camera I used to check the 5-inch recorder.

The Sony a7S III, amongst another cameras just like the and Panasonic S1H, is ready to output the sign immediately from the sensor the place the Ninja V can then document ProRes RAW recordsdata as much as 4K 60p. Whereas these recordsdata have essentially the most flexibility in postproduction, similar to evaluating a uncooked photograph to a JPEG, it’s price understanding that in simply seconds of document time you’ll already be dealing with gigabytes price of storage calls for. Different recording choices resembling ProRes and Avid DNx supply a greater stability of knowledge charges and picture high quality.

Within the video evaluate above, I share my ideas on utilizing the Atomos Ninja V out within the subject with loads of pattern footage. Under is a fast abstract of a few of the issues I speak about.

The Execs

• Battery life is far, significantly better than anticipated.
• Dimension and weight means it by no means turns into a burden.
• Has a very good touchscreen when so typically that’s not the case.
• Pre-roll (cache recording) functionality is one thing beneficial for wildlife filming that’s missed from many cameras. The pre-roll recording instances aren’t the most effective on the a7S III, however a minimum of offers you one thing.
• ProRes RAW for getting absolutely the most from the a7S III sensor when desired.
• ProRes and ProRes RAW recordsdata play properly with my 2014 iMac, in contrast to a7S III proper off the cardboard. Clearly bypasses the prolonged transcoding course of to ProRes in Closing Reduce now.
• In-built tabs for sunhood accent mounting (offered individually).

The Cons

• Storage calls for that require a plan on what you’re going to do about it as a result of it may possibly’t be ignored for very lengthy. ProRes RAW doesn’t appear sustainable as a major recording technique as a consequence of its file dimension.
• Maxed out at 4K 60p when the a7S III can transcend that.
• There’s a fan, and it does make noise when it’s powered on.
• Storage drive has no lock that retains it from falling out. I didn’t have any shut calls with this, nevertheless it’s price a point out because it does appear a little bit scary {that a} $200-plus SSD drive can simply come off freely if accidentally sufficient friction pulled it out of the contacts.

The opposite digital camera I used the Atomos Ninja V with was my Sony FS5. Whereas there’s no apparent recording profit in that pairing, it did solidify for me that the Ninja V does make for a fantastic monitor by itself when out within the subject. Under is a bonus quick video filmed with that mixture.

Should you purchased an a7S III, I feel the Atomos Ninja V ought to be the subsequent massive factor to begin saving for. It’s a fantastic praise to that digital camera, and fixes various the annoyances I had once I did my full review of it just like the non-existent monitoring choices, poor design with the flip-out display screen, and troublesome video recordsdata, plus provides ProRes RAW, pre-roll recording, and extra to the arsenal. That doesn’t imply it’s important to get it straight away if you happen to’re nonetheless having fun with the honeymoon part, however down the road it’s one thing to take a look at to step issues up.