BUYERS’ GUIDE
The Blackmagic Video Assist adds professional monitoring and recording to any SDI or HDMI camera in all HD, Ultra HD, 2K and 4K DCI formats. The super-bright, 2500-nit screen is a seven-inch, HDR, touch-sensitive monitor that supports 3D LUTs and has scopes, focus assist and exposure tools. There are two built-in SD card recorders to save files from the camera in 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes or DNx formats. A USB-C expansion port lets you plug in an external flash disk for recording, and Blackmagic Raw recording is available for certain high-end Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic and Sigma cameras. There are also two mini XLR connections with 48v of phantom power. Two standard Sony L-Series batteries provide the juice, and you can change batteries without interrupting recording. A single 12v universal power supply is included for mains use. There are dedicated buttons for play, stop and record, plus a mini timeline for scrolling through recordings. The LCD includes a heads-up display of timecode, video standard, media status and audio meters. For smaller cameras or budgets, there’s also a five-inch version available. BLACKMAGIC VIDEO ASSIST 7IN 12G-SDI/HDMI HDR £1158/$995 blackmagicdesign.com Pros: Enables Blackmagic Raw recording Cons: No built-in slot for SSDs
ATOMOS NINJA V+ £630/$799 atomos.com
module, which turns the Ninja into an HDMI switcher, multiview monitor and broadcast-quality recorder. The Atomos Connect unit transforms cameras into fully integrated devices supporting cloud-based workflows – and adds a 12G-SDI interface, Atomos’ AirGlu wireless timecode, multiple power options, plus Wi-Fi 6, network Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth LE capabilities. The Ninja V+ can function as a monitor/recorder for 10-bit capture and ProRes Raw recording, plus it opens up streaming and connectivity as part of a cloud-based workflow.
The Atomos Ninja V became the dominant monitor/recorder when it was launched in 2018, before the upgraded Ninja V+ built on that with a new processor to record 8K ProRes Raw and 4K/120p footage. It still has HDR monitoring and Raw recording, plus tools like waveforms and false colour. The V+ is compatible with cameras that output over HDMI, but also enables users of certain cinema cameras that output over SDI to use the device by adding on the AtomX SDI module. That was the first in a collection of accessories, including the AtomX Cast
Pros: Versatile five-inch monitor/recorder
Cons: Need to buy accessories
ATOMOS SHOGUN CONNECT £1319/$1299 atomos.com
Shogun Connect is Atomos’ latest flagship monitor/recorder, with lots of functionality built in. It has a 2000- nit, seven-inch screen that allows HDR monitoring, Raw recording and connection to camera-to-cloud services, plus live streaming and switching. With HDMI and 12G-SDI connections, it fits all cameras. Capable of Raw up to 4K/120p via HDMI or SDI and recording in 8K ProRes Raw in 12-bit and 30p, it can output 10-bit or Raw signals if your camera allows, and will record that in Apple ProRes Raw or ProRes. Menus are easily traversed with the responsive screen, or use a smartphone and the AtomRemote app to view and navigate the monitor. Alongside HDR monitoring and Raw recording, there’s a loop-through 12G SDI in/out with the option to
activate SDI Raw and output to multiple devices. It also has Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth LE and USB-C connectivity. The Shogun comes with the cloud capabilities of an Atomos Connect, so you can easily create an Atomos Cloud account and link it to Frame.io for professional, integrated workflows.
Pros: The best Atomos features, baked right in
Cons: On the pricier side
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