Earlier this month, Atomos put out a statement saying that it would be expanding the Ninja line, and while our hope was to get a monitor with native HDMI and SDI connections, unfortunately, that is not the case with the Ninja V+ or the Ninja Stream.
There are notable updates in the new Ninja V+, but they come at a price, while the Ninja Stream has the potential to be your next wireless video system on set.
Ninja V+
Credit: Atomos
The Ninja V+ continues the same compact 5" footprint, which is fantastic, as it's the ideal size for on-camera work out in the field. It also has the same 1,000-nit 10-stop HDR screen we've grown to love with the Ninja and supports the same Atomos accessories, making it easy to switch between monitors when necessary. New is the ability to record up to 8K 30p RAW, 4K 120p, and the addition of the H.265 10-bit 4:2:2 codec.
As of now, 8K 30p RAW on the Ninja V+ is only supported by the Canon EOS R5, but as we know with Atomos, they're sure to support more cameras down the line. For instance, the Sony Alpha 1, Canon EOS R3, and Nikon Z9.
When it comes to 4K 120p, only the Z CAM E2 and E2-M4 models support 4K 120p, but we know the Sony FX6 and FX9 will be supported in May. The one caveat is that with the FX9 you will need the XDCA-FX9 extension unit as we previously pointed out. What we'll have to wait for is how quickly Atomos will start supporting 4K 120p for the a7s III and FX3 and similar cameras.
The more intriguing update is the H.265 codec, as it will save on storage space, which is always a good thing when you're shooting higher resolution and/or longer runs. But the Ninja V+ only records H.265. If you need an H.264 workflow, you'll need to stick with the Ninja V or Shogun 7.
The price of the Ninja V+ is $1,499. In comparison, the Ninja V is $599.
Ninja V+ and Pro Kit
Credit: Atomos
Like the Ninja V, the Pro Kit is available for the Ninja V+ which adds SDI connections to the monitor-recorder via the AtomX Expansion Module. Having SDI will allow you to connect a myriad of cameras to the Ninja V or Ninja V+, including the Sony FX9, FX6, and Canon Cinema cameras for external recording.
When Atomos introduced the Pro Kit with the Ninja V, we should have seen the writing on the wall that Atomos will most likely continue to keep HDMI and SDI two separate worlds for the foreseeable future.
If you're in need of an external monitor that has both SDI and HDMI, there is the Shogun 7 and Blackmagic has its Video Assist 12G HDR monitors in 5" or 7" models. But do keep in mind Blackmagic does not support ProRes RAW but instead BRAW on a limited number of cameras.
The Ninja V+ Pro Kit is priced at $1,699.
Ninja Stream
Credit: Atomos
The Ninja Stream also carries over a similar 5" hardware design as the Ninja V, but it has built-in WiFi, Ethernet, and USB-C to simultaneously record both ProRes and H.264/5 proxy files while sending a video feed to web-based platforms, smart devices, or other Ninjas.
Ninja Stream supports up to 4K 60p, and Atomos says in the emailed press release that the device can connect via WiFi and Ethernet 1GbE at up to 300m to livestream content without the need of a computer.
Ninja Stream definitely has some potential in terms of workflow usage, but it won't support many of the recording features found on the Ninja V and Ninja V+. For instance, RAW over HDMI or SDI, or Avid DNx. Essentially, Ninja Stream is a ProRes recorder that can stream to several devices at once.
What we like about Ninja Stream is that it could be used in the same way we use wireless video systems. If Ninja Stream allows you to connect to, let's say, three to five different smartphones in the 300m area, you can use tablets or iPhones as monitors on set, so your director, scripty, and anyone else who needs to see a feed will be able to.
Atomos will have a virtual event on May 6 to talk more about Ninja Stream, including details on price and availability.
Credit: Atomos
Ninja V H.265 Option
Along with the two new monitors, Ninja V users can now upgrade the codecs with H.265. The upgrade is not free and will cost $99, but with it, the Ninja V will support 4K 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 with options for 8-bit at various data rates. The upgrade is expected to be released in May. Also, Atomos has said that it will continue to keep updating the Ninja V with future updates.
What do you think of the new Atomos Ninja V+ and Ninja Stream? Let us know in the comments below.
