A new era begins: 10-bit 4K N-Log with Nikon Z mirrorless and Atomos Ninja V
By Adam Noyes
From Jose Antunes with ProVideo Coalotion
Using mirrorless cameras provide a lot of benefits for photographers and videographers. They can be lighter and more compact and in general better for video. The Nikon Z series cameras look to take it a step further and push the standards way up, allowing shooters to record in 10-bit 4K N-Log. Unfortunately this format cannot be recorded onto the memory card used in the camera. Seems like a major misstep by Nikon, but an opportunity for another company so swoop in and save the day.
That’s where our good friends at Atomos come in. Their new Ninja V 4K HDR monitor/recorder is exactly what the doctor ordered when it comes to the Nikon Z series cameras. These cameras look to be in the mid-$2,000 range but for just a small increase more users will be able to record the best format of these awesome cameras and also get a world-class monitor at the same time! For videographers this is an absolute game-changer. In a rapidly growing technological industry like video production, having affordable products giving you the best possible imagery offered is a welcome breath of fresh air where for some it could be suffocating to try and find the best bang for your buck. Just another way Atomos has come through to benefit professional and novice shooters of all kinds.
Atomos announced that the company is proud to be the first to support Nikon Log, Apple ProRes recording and HDR monitoring from the Z series cameras, and adds that those interested in seeing how it all works only need to go to the IBC show, September 14-18 in Amsterdam and Photokina, in Cologne, September 26-29, to see the new Nikon cameras working with the Atomos Ninja V 4K HDR monitor/recorder, which can record and display in HDR.
The Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 have state-of-the-art full-frame sensors, with 45.7 MP and 24.5 MP respectively, that output pristine 4K images over HDMI, ready for conversion to HDR by Atomos. The Atomos Ninja V records the output to production-ready 10-bit Apple ProRes or Avid DNx formats. A whole new era begins!
The Ninja V has a sleek 1” thick aluminum body, crafted for maximum durability, and weighs only 11oz. The high brightness 1000nit display allows it to be viewed in daylight and used to display HDR images. The screen is color accurate and can be calibrated to maintain its accuracy over time. The Ninja V records onto industry standard SATA SSD drives, including the new AtomX SSD Mini series of smaller form factor drives. As a result, these drives are more affordable than proprietary media. Footage recorded onto the Ninja V can be instantly played back in REC.709 or HDR on the device itself, or to a TV. Metadata is embedded into the HDMI output to allow correct display of HDR on compatible monitors and televisions. The Ninja V has a modular expansion slot to allow future upgrades to its feature set…[continue reading]
