Review of the Atomos true 10-bit 4K NEON 24″ Monitor/Recorder
By Adam Noyes
The Atomos line of Neon Monitors are here after being announced in 2019, and shipping starting in November of 2020. This is a different product for Atomos, as the 24″ functions as a high end, 4K display and recorder with a large size and amount of screen real estate. This monitor comes in at $6,499 and fits a ton of different workflows.
Check out some highlights from this article from newsshooter.com that covers the NEON 24″ below.
The NEON takes a queue from the 19″ SUMO as it also has a recorder built-in; however, the NEON has a modular unit on the back called the “Master Control Unit.” It’s basically a screenless Ninja V that clicks onto the back of the monitor.
The NEON includes the AtomX SDI Xpansion module for SDI connectivity. HDMI is built into the Master Control Unit. This is the only way to connect with HDMI and SDI inputs. There are no other inputs on the actual monitor except power.
NEON Connectivity
All the IO is on this Master Control Unit, including Mic/Line audio with a 3.5mm jack. A 3.5mm headphone out and a Remote LANC connector for calibrating and connecting external controllers. More on that in a minute.
True 10-Bit Display
Atomos states the display’s Bit depth is True 10-Bit, not 8-bit + FRC. Does this matter? Yes and no. 8-bit + FRC monitors are much less expensive than true 10-bit panels, and for the most part, the viewer can’t tell the difference. The fact that the NEON is an actual 10-bit monitor in this price range is impressive. Also impressive is the image quality. Watching 4K footage on the NEON 24″ is beautiful. When playing back HD, the image loses half its resolution and softens. This is no surprise. The image retains the full 24″ of the display. There are no HD scaling features if you want to see the actual resolution.
The panel also has a Super Wide 178 Degree viewing angle that is equally impressive.