Pros & Cons
-
- Expands video capabilities of your camera.
- ProRes 4K recording.
- Bright 5-inch touch display.
- HDMI input and output.
- Offers LUT preview when recording.
-
- Requires a little DIY effort to mount to your camera.
- Standard SSDs jut out from side.
- Battery and cables aren't included.
The Atomos Ninja V ($695) is one of the more popular external video recorders on the market. It's gained traction with videographers working with mirrorless cameras, many of which can output higher-quality video via HDMI than they're able to record internally to a memory card. The Ninja mounts on your camera and connects via HDMI, unlocking the full potential of your camera.
A Tablet for Your Camera
The Ninja's basic design doesn't differ much from a small tablet—it's a big slate with a touch screen. It's notably thicker than any iPad, though. It measures 3.6 by 5.9 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and weighs about 11.3 ounces without a battery or SSD loaded. It's very sturdy—the frame is aluminum.
Full-size HDMI input and output ports are located on the left side, while you get 3.5mm headphone and microphone inputs, along with a 2.5mm remote control connector and the power button on the right. Standard quarter-twenty tripod threads are on both the top and bottom plate—helpful as some cameras put HDMI output on the right side.
The 5-inch touch screen dominates the front. It's a bright panel, 1000 nits at maximum, which improves viewing quality under bright light. It features a crisp 1080p resolution, and can be set to display waveforms, zebras, and focus peaking, as well as to apply a LUT preview when capturing with a Log profile.
Touch input is very responsive. The menus and functions are well laid out, with an interface that lets you switch between usage as a recorder, monitor, or for playback. You can even set in and out points and add other metadata to clips to help speed the editing process. There's a screen lock function too—you can toggle touch input with a short tap of the power button.
What It Does
What exactly the Ninja V can do for you depends on which specific camera you use. If you have something like the Sony a7 III, you'll get 8-bit 4:2:2 4K at up to 30fps. If you have the Panasonic S1, the video quality jumps to 10-bit 4:2:2 at up to 60fps.
Most mirrorless cameras record internally using H.264 or H.265 compression. The Ninja V uses higher-quality codecs—your choice of DNxHD or ProRes, with various levels of compression available. With DNxHD, you have the ability to adjust the level of compression; with ProRes you can choose between the LT, HQ, and 422 formats.
ProRes RAW is available, though camera support is limited. Nikon has announced plans for a paid upgrade for owners of the Z 6 and Z 7, and it will also be an option with the video-first Panasonic S1H.
Recording video at higher quality nets better-looking footage with less visible compression artifacts. And when you pair it with a flat profile, now an expected feature in mirrorless cameras, you get more leeway when color correcting footage. It's not unlike the difference between shooting in the lossy JPG format versus Raw for still capture.
You can also do some other cool things. I use the Ninja V as a tool for reviewing cameras. It's able to record the overlay information on the camera's screen, which lets you really review how an autofocus system works in the field, or take screenshots of menus. If you're an aspiring tech vlogger, you may find these features handy. The clip embedded above, which shows off the animal eye detection feature found in recent Sony cameras, was recorded using the Ninja V.
Think About Some Accessories
Regardless of how you plan to use the Ninja, you'll want to think about some add-ons. A battery is one. Atomos doesn't include one; instead you just get a power supply so you can plug the Ninja into a wall outlet. That's fine for use in a studio, but you'll need a battery to work with it in the field. The contents of the standard edition, without the accessory kit, are shown below.
Atomos offers a kitted version for $894, which is what we received for review. It includes two big NP-F750 5,200mAh batteries and a charger, a hood to prevent glare, and a travel case.
Even if you buy the kit, there are other things you need to add. An SSD is one—and video footage gets big, so you'll want one with a lot of space. You can buy a standard one from SanDisk or the like and use the included caddy.
The downside is that the SSD extends about half an inch beyond the edge of the recorder. If you'd like a more elegant solution, consider an AtomX SSDmini, custom-designed to work with the Ninja V.
You'll also want to get an HDMI cable, and you'll need to figure the best way to mount the recorder to your camera system. Atomos sells some coiled options, which cost a bit more than generic cables, but are worth it for the convenience and guarantee that they can handle the same quality video the Ninja is capable of recording.
If you're used to building out a big rig for cinema projects you'll certainly have some strategies in mind. For basic screen recording, I opted for a small ballhead, designed to lock into a camera's hot shoe. But your mounitng requirements may be more stringent.
Get More From Your Mirrorless
The Atomos Ninja V is an essential add-on for owners of the latest generation of mirrorless cameras who want to get the best video their camera can manage. It opens up higher-quality formats, with more color data, and offers tools like waveforms that many stills-first cameras omit.
There are certainly some drawbacks in terms of convenience. For starters, you have to mount the Ninja and connect it via HDMI. I worked with it handheld quite a bit, and did have to take extra care when handling the camera, so keep that in mind.
If you're committed to video work, however, the extra bulk and effort is worth it. It expands what you can do with many of the most popular mirrorless cameras on the market today, and is capable enough to pair with some higher-end models as well.