Atomos Announces Their Brand New 4K Recorder, the Light & Affordable Ninja Assassin
Atomos first caught our attention with their line of HD to 4K recorders, like the Shogun. Today, they've announced something that's a real kick in the head -- the Ninja Assassin.
The Ninja Assassin has a lot to offer filmmakers using all types of cameras, including DSLR, mirrorless and video cinema cameras. It delivers 325ppi monitoring functionality, 7” screen size, 1920x1080 resolution, a 10% weight reduction (15 oz.), and is a true 10-bit 4:2:2 professional recording solution for Apple, AVID, and Adobe workflows. This means that many of the limitations we see from cameras, like compressed MPEG/h.264 recording, 4:2:0 color compression and 30-minute time limits, are bypassed using the Ninja Assassin. And all this at an affordable price point of $1295.
It’s the ideal size for 4K monitoring and considering its light weight and affordability its perfect for indie filmmakers (a7s, a7RII GH4), corporate video teams and anyone looking for an easy solution within a small budget.
From Atomos CEO and co-founder, Jeromy Young:
The Ninja Assassin eliminates creative barriers and unleashes the true power of the worlds best sensors into the hands of creative pro’s over one single HDMI cable. We are truly proud to deliver professional monitoring, video production tools and recording capabilities to assassinate camera limitations. Seeing an image on the Assassin’s 7” screen and feeling the low weight is when you truly believe it’s the only choice for 4K high-res production.
Features
- Record more accurate, higher resolution colors (4:2:2, 10-bit) direct to visually lossless editing formats (the only brand to do both ProRes and DNxHR).
- No Record time limits – Recording externally to the camera puts an end to the traditional 30-minute recording barrier and allows larger media capacity.
- Professional shot setup you can trust on a calibrated high resolution 7" monitor with over 320 pixels per inch.
- Anamorphic de-squeeze, the perfect companion for Panasonic’s GH4 and affordable Anamorphic lenses/adaptors.
- Easy to use professional monitoring tools including Focus Peaking Assist, 1:1 & 2:1 Zoom with silky smooth image pan & scan, False Color (skin tones), Zebra and Waveform/Vector Scopes for in-depth image analysis.
- Go back in time with Pre-Roll cache recording, up to 8 seconds of HD or 2-3 seconds of 4K so you’ll never miss that shot
- Video Time-lapse with up to 10 different sequences, speed ramp and scheduled start and end times over 24 hrs.
- 3D LUT’s allow you to create a specific signature look or even recreate classic film stock instantly, with 50:50 split / LUT on / LUT off view, you can compare effects and make creative decisions on the fly.
- Playback for instant review and editing on the fly with a choice of 10 tags in both record and playback mode. Our NLE support means that whether you are Mac, PC, Apple, Avid or Adobe we support you.
The Ninja Assassin is shipping now for $1295. If you interested in getting one of your own, click here to find a retailer near you.
And to celebrate the launch of the Ninja Assassin, Atomos is offering registered owners of the Atomos Shogun, Samurai Blade, Ninja Blade, Ninja2, and Ronin a free Power Station Video valued at $395. However, you're only eligible to claim one if you purchase a Ninja Assassin from September 1st to 31st October, 2015. Terms, conditions and process for the claim can be found here.
Your Comment
42 Comments
Wow. I'm getting one. Yes, please
September 1, 2015 at 6:53AM, Edited September 1, 6:54AM
High-res touch-screen 7 inch monitor with a 4K recorder built-in seems like a bargain at $1295. Thank-you Atomos.
September 1, 2015 at 7:01AM, Edited September 1, 7:01AM
Why price is cheaper than Shogun? Does it have XLR input?
September 1, 2015 at 7:04AM
No SDI support or Raw capability seems to be the main if not only difference. Absolute steal for what it is.
September 1, 2015 at 7:34AM
No XLR inputs too
September 1, 2015 at 7:43AM
Here's something better - and it's probably why Atomos came out with the Assassin:
http://www.videodevices.com/products/portable-video-recorders/pix-e
September 1, 2015 at 7:58AM
I was also on board with getting a pix-e when it came out...functionally they seem quite similar, but pix-e seems more rugged and button friendly whereas the shogun has 7". I am wary of reviews of the shogun mentioning its plasticky nature.
September 1, 2015 at 10:30AM, Edited September 1, 10:30AM
I doubt it, Kaster... That Blackmagic recorder only does 1080p. This is a 4K recorder. They aren't really competitors at all.
September 2, 2015 at 11:46AM
Looks cool, would consider it, but I'm a little disappointed at the lack of coverage by NoFilmSchool of the Video Devices 4K recorders, and also any honest critique of Atomos products, namely the reflective screen in daylight, which on the Shogun makes it nearly unusable. Had to go to my A7s screen to get the shots I needed. I rely on NFS as one of a few primary sources of gear info, and the absence of articles about other competitors to the Atomos products is noticeable. Sponsors and such are vital to NFS, I realize, but I'm not sure my eyes will keep coming to NFS if coverage is incomplete.
September 1, 2015 at 7:10AM, Edited September 1, 7:10AM
I couldn't agree more. Here's something better: http://www.videodevices.com/products/portable-video-recorders/pix-e
September 1, 2015 at 7:57AM
I'm excited about the Video Devices products as well, but what I most look for from sites like NFS is unbiased reviews and comparisons. If the Assassin ends up being a better product for my needs, it is about $200 cheaper, more or less, after all the needed accessories.
September 1, 2015 at 8:39AM
Hum...
http://nofilmschool.com/2015/04/sound-devices-5-7-inch-pix-e-series-1080...
September 1, 2015 at 9:16AM
Yeah yeah yeah we got your endorsed message by now.
September 1, 2015 at 4:30PM
Sponsored post yo!
September 1, 2015 at 9:42AM
i like this site: but these guys are shoe salesmen and stenographers. i've been staring incredulously at the piece of dogshit NLE ppro 2015 --- every day since it's release, the reviews have gotten nightmarishly worse: it's virtually unusable --- and something you might think would spark some critical / objective review by this site. but forget it ... they're just a sales catalogue.
September 2, 2015 at 8:28PM
Keep in mind now that this exists, the Shogun unit price will drop to around 1500-1300 and you could just get the original for the same price... I'm still not really sure why they made this. I own the Shogun and this sucks for me :(
September 1, 2015 at 8:16AM, Edited September 1, 8:27AM
I like that they've offered a cheaper option for those of us that don't need the heavy duty stuff (by which I refer to 4k raw etc). Another plus, UI is the same. I wonder if there's still the same issues around Sony 4k that the Shogun had?
September 1, 2015 at 9:39AM, Edited September 1, 9:39AM
I'm confused - this completely bypasses your camera's output capabilities? Does the Shogun do that, too? I thought cameras are still stuck with output capabilities no matter the recorder.
Does this mean you can get 10bit 4:2:2 out of the c100 Mkii?
I see the a7s in their video, but I was under the impression that camera still only outputs to 8 bit color space. If this truly surpasses that...that's pretty huge.
September 1, 2015 at 10:11AM
Camera internal recording tends to be 8-bit, 4:2:0 chroma. But for some reason (still working on why), cameras tend to send out higher information over HDMI - for example, the A7s will send out a 4k 4:2:2 signal (still 8-bit, I think) over HDMI but can't record that internally. But the 8-bit signal will be recorded in 10-bit color space - that doesn't create new color information, but it does allow more depth in color grading your footage (I think of it as "9-bit" color depth).
I had a Ninja 2 and loved it, but I couldn't afford a Shogun - I think the Assassin is for me.
September 1, 2015 at 10:24AM
Hm, yeah I mean that definitely makes sense I was just confused about the 8bit to 10bit mainly for the a7s. Crazy - this seems like a really great recorder.
September 1, 2015 at 12:09PM
This is not an accurate statement. 8-bit will be 8-bit. You can't pull color space information that doesn't exist. The main benefit is the 4:2:2 for more information retained in compression. Recording 8-bit output via 10-bit will just get you 8-bit that is a larger file size.
September 1, 2015 at 12:38PM
See that's exactly what I thought. In their promo, though, it shows the a7s outputting "10bit" as they say, although to my knowledge that camera only outputs 8bit color space. So it just threw me off. Maybe it was a mistake on their end.
September 1, 2015 at 1:02PM
Correct!
And to make matters more complex, The GH4 does send an external signal of 10 bit, which should together with 4:2:2 result in a nice gradient roll off, but is still looking 'video-ish' because the camera has only 10 bit stops of dynamic range.
I bet a 15 stops sensor with a 4:2:0 8 bit codec would look much better.
September 1, 2015 at 4:34PM
ok ... sooooooooooo ..... with the new v-log firmware for the gh4 ... should we theoretically be able to output 4'2'2 at 10 bit, without the 'videoishness' due to the expanded dynamic range of the v-log ?
September 4, 2015 at 9:44AM
Notice I said in my post that recording 8-bit color in 10-bit colorspace "doesn't create new color information" - however, instead of having (as a very loose, general, and not mathematically accurate description) two 8-bit steps of color difference between red green, in 10-bit colorspace your coloring program can act like there is ten steps of color difference between red and green. Shooting, it will still be 8-bit, but you'll have a bit more flexibility in post in that it will behave more like (but will not really be) 10-bit. Hence my "9-bit" description.
September 3, 2015 at 8:25PM
"The camera can read out its entire sensor fast enough to output 8-bit 4:2:2 4K video over HDMI at up to 30p."
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5952269437/sony-announces-alpha-7-serie...
September 1, 2015 at 1:13PM
Yes, 4:2:2 8 bit on the Sony a7s. I'm referring to the video above, :44 second mark, it shows the a7s with messaging that it is outputting a 10bit signal.
September 1, 2015 at 1:21PM
I'm happy to be wrong on this one, but either it's false marketing, or maybe there was a firmware update that made it a 10bit output (if that is even possible), or some kind of device wizardry that I am not privy to...
September 1, 2015 at 3:58PM
Oh I could be just as wrong! But I definitely hope it's device wizardry...lol.
September 1, 2015 at 5:15PM
Official word on this...
Hi Joseph,
If the camera is outputting 8bit, then you will not see an improvement in the image quality. You are correct in stating that you will essentially have an 8bit image wrapped in a 10bit file.
Regards,
Adam Badlotto
Support Representative
Blackmagic Design Inc.
October 6, 2015 at 7:51PM
Great job on the video Abandon Visuals! Edward killing it as always with his shots and effects.
September 1, 2015 at 11:00AM
awesome :)
September 1, 2015 at 12:12PM
Is it just me or does the screen looks super reflective? Could be next to useless in moderate sunlight.
September 1, 2015 at 11:59PM
I rented it for a project and the Shogun is useless in any kind of sunlight, even in shade on a sunny day. Hope they fixed it on the Assassin, for their sake and everyone who buys it, but it doesn't look that way. The overlays, peaking, false color, etc are definitely awesome however, and indoors the Shogun was great.
September 2, 2015 at 6:35AM
There is a sunhood you can purchase, and there's a new matte screen protector available for the Assassin.
Be interested to hear thoughts on how it goes from anyone who buys them.
September 4, 2015 at 4:02AM
Really new to all of this. Does this mean I can add something like the Ninja to my camera, record to the SSD and then transfer the files from the SSD to FCPX, bypassing my cameras storage capabilities?
September 2, 2015 at 4:06PM
Yes, that's exactly what this does. Of course it gives the added benefits of a calibrated touchscreen display, focus peaking, waveform, 3D lut support, etc, as well.
September 2, 2015 at 8:14PM, Edited September 2, 8:14PM
Thanks!
September 7, 2015 at 10:50AM
Would be interested to know in depth how it compares to the Shogun?
September 4, 2015 at 8:12AM
I'm confused....I have a GH3 that sends an 8-bit 4:2:0 signal out of it's HDMI. If I record this to the Assassin, what do I end up with. You can't make 8-bit, 10-bit and where would the 2 come from to make the recording 4:2:2? It seems you have to be outputting a 10-bit 4:2:2 signal to begin with.
September 5, 2015 at 11:40AM, Edited September 5, 11:40AM
I know I am a bit late to the party but now that I have one of these puppies (Ninja Assassin) what is the maximum quality I can record out of my RGB 4:4:4 S-LOG enabled Sony PMW-F3 and will some kind of dual link SDI to HDMI converter help? Thanks!
March 24, 2018 at 6:55PM
These boards are dead bro, head over to EOSHD for an immediate response...
July 18, 2019 at 10:09AM