Atomos Ninja V - 2021 Long Term Review with Sony Cameras

This is the Atomos Ninja 5 monitor and recorder, it’s a little powerhouse capable of recording footage in 4k ProRes RAW with certain cameras like the Sony a7siii, FX6, Nikon Z7 & Z6, Z Cam or even Simga FP. I've been using it as my main monitor for a few years and I've grown to rely on it as my main means of recording for my Sony a7siii, a6600 and a7iii. In this video I hope to be able to share the things that I like and dislike about it and why I still highly recommend it in 2021
Thank you for watching the video, if you enjoyed it please consider subscribing and liking the video, it helps a tonne. I hope you have and awesome day!
This is my instagram: / shanebphotography
Intro 0:00
Background 0:32
Basics 1:25
Display & Chassis 2:24
Batteries & Power 3:00
Cage 3:27
Active Cooling Fan 3:50
HDMI, SDI & Audio Ports 4:29
Power Button 5:17
Record Button 5:51
Software 6:36
Monitoring Features 7:12
LUTs 8:04
External Recording 9:00
Recording Codecs & Compression 10:05
Apple ProRes RAW 10:50
ProRes 422 12:10
Audio Recording & Monitoring 12:32
Price & Value 13:18
Atomos Shinobi & Shogun 13:50
Conclusion 14:14
Ending 14:58
Cameras - Sony a7riii & a7iii
Main lenses - Sony 35mm f1.4 & Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
Monitor - Atomos Ninja V
Filters - PolarPro Variable ND
Cage - Small Rig Cage and accessories

[@StevenSmith-nq5xe]

I love the clarity, information and pace of this video. Thank you!

[@Trivia_in5]

This is a perfect all in one review. Thank you, I’ve subscribed.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Thank you very much, and thanks also for the sub :)

[@DeletedPonySongs]

Man the lighting in your studio looks so nice. Your face looks perfectly lit. I wanted to watch a tutorial on how you set that up, but I couldn't find anything in your video feed.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Oh thank you! I've been meaning to make one, I spend a lot of time setting up the lighting for these videos but I'm not necessarily the most confident person so I'm always a little bit anxious sharing the advice on something I don't think I'm the great at 😅

[@MadeWithLau]

Extremely informative! Thank you! I was wondering if this records proxy footage or if you can set the resolution of what you're looking to record externally? Also wondering if the Shogun might be more appropriate if we're trying to do this with multiple cameras (2 x Sony A7iii and 1 x Sony FX3)?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Unfortunately there is no proxy file recording, but in my experience the files handle very well in editing software so I haven't had the need to use proxies. The only thing you can control for the resolution is the recorded video, so you can have the camera sending 4k footage to the monitor and then it can record in 1080, so you can effectively down sample in a higher quality or record 4k in the camera and use the ninja files as proxies, which is kinda a backwards way to do it. This isn't the case for RAW though, it can only record in the sensor read out size, so depending on you camera its different but on the FX3 it would be be 4.2k and you cannot adjust the aspect ratio or anything like REDs can with compression

[@UncleJoeDunckel]

Great job!

[@rxqmd]

thank you for your information mr shane i have 1 question about ninja v What do you suggest to me about the codec correspond to davinci resolve and thank you

[@dhyaajoda1]

Hello,I'm using the Ninja v with my sony fx3 but it's stop recording after one minute each time!.Do you know please how i can fix that ?

[@hans6304]

Hi Shane, thank you for the video. You made me understand more about the Ninja V. Do you think it will be a good investment for me to purchase the Ninja V now to be used with my old A7iii to start my videography? I do appreciate any thoughts 🙏

[@gilsadewa]

Yo Shane, great content btw! I want to ask a question. Does this Ninja V works for monitoring only? In case if I dont want to add SSD to external recording.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I'm a little slow on this reply but yes, it's a great monitor though there are much cheaper options if that is all you need it for

[@davidluo9682]

Hi Shane! Great Work as always! Does this Ninja monitor connect to the hot shoe of Sony mirrorless camera since I am planning to use the sony ECM-B1M to audio-recording ? Thanks.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Thanks 😊 It doesn't require the hot shoe for anything thankfully. I find for balancing it's nicest to have it on top of the camera, however smallrig also makes a handle goes on top of the audio adapter so you have that as an option too, or Sony actually makes a cable that can move the hot shoe if you want it offset.

[@davidluo9682]

@@ShaneBethlehem Thank you so much!

[@Jack-dj2tj]

Great video Shane. I was wondering if "Active Stabilizaton" and "Gyro Stabilization" are still available if shooting in ProRes 422? I don't think they are in ProRes RAW. Thanks!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Hi Jack, thank you 😊, and unfortunately gyrodata isn't able to be transferred through the HDMI, but active stabilization and every form of in body stabilization can be enabled while recording externally on Sony cameras in any format besides Raw. When recording Raw externally all you get is just essentially censor data, so you lose any processing done by the camera like noise reduction, stabilization, or down-sampling

[@Jack-dj2tj]

@@ShaneBethlehem That's great! I'm surprised that very few people who recommend shooting in ProRes RAW on the Ninja V mention that active stabilization is no longer available.

[@LanzaroteShowcase]

Is there a mode where it will start recording at the same time you start the camera on body button record?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Yes there is, but you need to enable it in the camera and I don’t know what cameras all support it

[@billjobes1851]

What is the Small Rig accessory you mention at 3:35? I cannot understand what you''re saying.

[@SerafimSmig]

I’d like to know as well - what is that swivel attachment that allows the smooth rotation? Thanks!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I just said Nato rails are useful, this is the swivel mount smallrig.com/smallrig-swivel-and-tilt-monitor-mount-with-nato-clamp-both-sides-bse2385.html

[@GiuseppeGessa]

Really interesting and well done video. I was wondering if would I have some issue with a Sony A9?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I have never used an A9, but I am unsure is the A9 had log profiles or not? With that said I've used it with the a6600, a7iii, a7riii, a7siii and a1 and never had an insurmountable issue

[@nelsontelemaco4920]

Great video!!! Thank you!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@ronfoy9618]

Awesome Content Brother. I do have a question ? What kind of Cold Shoe adapted did you use to get the Rode Wireless Go to front face.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Thank you very much! I think they discontinued the original part that I had but they replaced it with the: SmallRig Cold Shoe Mount BUC2736 It looks to just be an improved design on the one I had anyways

[@ronfoy9618]

@@ShaneBethlehem thanks a million Shane

[@HezJP]

Hey Shane! What (specific!!) drives do you use with your Ninja? I've tried drives by Kingston and Crucial but very occasionally get skipped frames, especially with the the 480gb Crucial drive I got.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Hey, currently I'm using Samsung drives and have not had an issue with them. The biggest defining factor is its max write speed, honestly I don't know the right number I literally just picked the fastest I saw 😬

[@HezJP]

@@ShaneBethlehem sounds good - are they the evo 860 drives?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Yes, I have a 250gb one I tested with and then a 1tb one that is my main drive. I've never had an issue with drop frames, only a single occurrence where several of the files on the drive corrupted or had a read error when I transferred them to my computer, at the time I reached out to atomos but never heard anything and have no clue what the issue was

[@MONKEYDUDEELITE]

What cable do you use to power the ninja v on a dtap battery? (not the overpriced atomos option 😂)

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I don't currently have a dtap cable, I find myself using wall power most if the time if I can when my camera is on a tripod and then just the NP batts otherwise

[@MONKEYDUDEELITE]

@@ShaneBethlehem thank you! 😊

[@Jack-dj2tj]

Do you find you rarely need to use the sunhood? I was debating whether to get the Ninja V cage or not as it adds weight and cost.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I don't think it's absolutely necessary in 90% of the situations, but when it is a full sunny day or for instance if there's snow on the ground and is very bright out it's hard to use the monitor. I think just because of how expensive it is it's worthwhile just to not buy it at first and see what you think and then decide from there, it's not critical to have when you buy it at first

[@Jack-dj2tj]

@@ShaneBethlehem Good advice 👌

[@dathofilms]

Omg thank you!!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Np, thank you for watching!

[@MatthewIanWelch]

Informative review. Much appreciated. Kinda seems like the host is drunk based on the speech slurring and cadence. Apologies if that's just your natural speech style.

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Thanks. I grew up with speech impediment. This is such a constructive comment to make, I hope you have a great day.

[@MatthewIanWelch]

@@ShaneBethlehem I also had a speech impediment growing up. I could not pronounce the consonant "R" (American R). Instead, it always came out as a "W." I was teased mercilessly about it in school. I went through speech therapy, and I understand that we all have different circumstances with language and pronunciation. There is nothing wrong with that, and I hope you understand where my comment was coming from. I was not intending to be unkind, but to my ears, it was noticeable. Now, I understand why. Thank you for your review and for sharing that information with me. All the best to you as well.

[@workgmail2375]

Weird question, does this have the simple exposure meter in canons like the -3---0---+3??

[@ShaneBethlehem]

There is no zone/area metering, so unfortunately no real way in software to implement it that I'm aware of. However when using false colors is probably the closest thing you can get that is it will give you luminance values on the left side of the screen, otherwise it's really just based on your histogram

[@TimandLauren]

@@ShaneBethlehem how do you expose for slog 3? Usually i look at the exposure meter but you just have to look at the histogram levels?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

It depends on the situation I'm in, usually if I'm shooting something indoors the histogram is the most reliable components just because you have no extreme highlights covering the frame, however in an outdoor setting false colors or using a corrective light will help dramatically improve your exposure just by being able to visualize the scene a little bit better.

[@TimandLauren]

@@ShaneBethlehem thanks shane, question though, What if we want to not use false color cause i just want to see the rec 709 image on the monitor when filming? Whats best to use when outdoors

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Happy to help, as far as corrective luts to 709, there a bunch out there like the native Sony ones or third party ones like Leeming luts and then just use a histogram and to see where your exposure lies

[@rattoh]

super informative!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Thank you ☺️

[@waverunneradventuregfx]

Ninja v vs shinobi?

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I touch on the topic at 14:00 briefly. I have not experience using the shinobi on an actual shoot, just holding a friends, it seems great but I can't say much more than that

[@Smooth1productions]

Will it work with A6500

[@HezJP]

yep I use it for client work with an A6500 as my main camera and it looks fantastic. I highly recommend it for that camera

[@Smooth1productions]

@@HezJP I'll plan to get within the next month or so

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Hey sorry for the slow reply, I use it with the a6600 without issue. I find shooting with the larger display to be a game changer for the smallee cameras

[@HezJP]

@@ShaneBethlehem don't forget this gets around the screen dimming and overheating issues on the a6500 ;)

[@ShaneBethlehem]

Oh to true, I forgot about those particular issues 😅

[@darkmoonproductions8711]

Really don't understand what your talking about with pro res raw and premiere pro, iv used nothing but pro res raw in premiere and have access to all the things you say you don't???? Premiere pro now accepts pro res raw in its fullest capabilities!

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I haven't tried it since I made this video, but like a month ago all I had to access to was the exposure slider. I believe I was using the most current update to premiere but I could have made a mistaken, I'll have to check it out again!

[@darkmoonproductions8711]

I do believe you have to go to Adobe’s website and. Download the probes raw codec, it doesn’t come stock to the program

[@hdstudiosdanaandrobinjenki3992]

Atomos AtomX Cast, I BOUGHT THIS AND THE FIRMWARE HAD TO BE UPDATED BUT THE USB-C DOESNT WORK BOTH B&H AND ATOMOS SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED BUT SINCE IM STILL WITH IN MY RETURN PERIOD IM GETTING RID OF THIS AND LOOKING ELSE WHERE. THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE PRODUCT IT HAS LOTS OF ISSUE'S WHICH THIS GUY DOESNT TELL YOU WOULD OF BEEN NICE TO SEE HONESTY

[@ShaneBethlehem]

I’m sorry you had a completely rubbish experience, that blows. However in the years of use I’ve had with this product I’ve had no remotely similar issues, I barely even touch on it’s streaming function, the cast wasn’t even released when I published the video. I appreciate you sharing your negative experience but please don’t hold it against me just because I never experienced the same issues. All the best in finding an alternative, SmallHD make some fantastic alternatives.