Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra Released – New AtomOS 11 and 8K ProRes RAW Capabilities

Monitor Recorder

by Jeff LochAugust 14^th, 2023

Atomos has just released the successors of the Ninja V and Ninja V+: the Ninja and Ninja Ultra. Both new Ninja models share the exact dimensions and exterior design as the Ninja V series but now come standard with H.265 recording capabilities on top of all the ProRes, ProRes RAW, and DNxHD standard codecs. Also, the Ninja and Ninja Ultra are powered by AtomOS 11, a completely revamped operating system with new monitoring tools such as EL Zone and ARRI False Color. So let’s take a closer look at these two new monitor recorders!

Looking back

If you’ve been working in the film industry for over a decade, you might remember the original Atomos Ninja recorder that came out in 2012. This tiny little device was designed to be mounted on your DSLR – especially cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D800 – and extend your recording time by using hard drives instead of CF cards, which were quite expensive back in the day. Also, the Ninja allowed you to record the uncompressed HDMI signal that came out of your camera, if your camera could do that, of course.

Fast forward to 2018 with the launch of the Ninja V, a compact 5.2-inch monitor recorder that has been the most firmware-upgraded product I can think of. Indeed, over the years, the Ninja V gained so many features and has been made compatible with so many cameras that it’s nearly impossible to make a complete list. We could name the launch of many AtomX modules, including the SDI module, the Atomos AtomX CAST, and most importantly, the addition of ProRes RAW recording capabilities and H.265 via an optional paid upgrade.

The latest releases inside the Ninja V lineup were the Ninja V+ and Ninja Stream in April 2021. The Ninja V+ added extra recording capabilities up to 8K at 30p and 4K at 120p. Also, H.265 internal recording in 4:2:2 10-bit was directly included in the Ninja V+.

After several years of good and loyal service, Atomos has just introduced the successor of the Ninja V lineup and is returning to its OG label more than ten years later: the Ninja and Ninja Ultra monitor recorders.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Let’s start with everything the Atomos Ninja V series and the new Ninja and Ninja Ultra have in common. As you can tell, except for the Camo colorway, the exterior design remains unchanged. All unit measures 151 x 91.5 x 31mm/5.94 x 3.60 x 1.22in for a weight of 360g/12.7oz. Also, all the input/output ports of the monitor recorder are in the same place. This is good news if you already have a Ninja V/Ninja V+, as all your accessories, including cages, AtomX drives, AtomX modules, and so on, will be compatible with the Ninja and Ninja Ultra.

Next is the display that, judging by the specs, is probably identical between the Atomos Ninja V/V+ and Ninja/Ninja Ultra. Indeed, the Ninja/Ninja Ultra sports a 5.2-inch display with a FullHD 1920 x 1080 resolution and a maximum brightness of 1,000nits. This 10-bit (8+2 FRC) touchscreen display can be color calibrated using the Atomos Calibrator, compatible with the Calibrite ColorChecker Display Pro & ColorChecker Display Plus.

So, what is new with the Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra?

Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra – features

As Atomos describe them, “While the Ninja is targeted primarily at owners of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, Ninja Ultra is built to get the most out of camera-to-cloud technology and leans into cinematic workflows too.”

Both models can now record out of the box in various codecs, including 6K ProRes RAW, ProRes, DNxHD, and H.265, which was previously a paid option for the Ninja V.

If you go with the Ninja Ultra model, you’ll get the addition of 8K30p ProRes RAW. Also, the Ninja Ultra can record in ProRes RAW at up to 4K60p while at the same time recording HD60p to H.265. This feature can come in handy to quickly upload proxies to the cloud while still recording in ProRes RAW to your SSD. The Atomos Ninja Ultra supports automatic matching filenames, timecodes, and record triggers from many different camera models from ARRI, RED, and Canon cameras.

AtomOS 11

The latest AtomOS 11 operating system will power the Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra. Atomos says AtomOS 11 is a “completely overhauled operating system, cleaner, fresher, and faster.” This new version brings new features, including the EL Zone and ARRI False Color tools, to help you judge your exposure. Also, Atomos mentions “new scheduled playback & recording tools.”

Atomos Connect

If you add an Atomos Connect expansion module to the back of your Ninja/Ninja Ultra, you’ll benefit from the new RemoteView technology. In a nutshell, RemoteView allows you to share your Atomos screen with other Atomos monitors, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs wirelessly.

This is handy for sharing your screen with a client without the need to use a wireless video system on set. Furthermore, since your camera is connected to the Internet, your shot can be seen from anywhere worldwide, which is handy if you work on remote projects.

Lastly, if you go with the Atomos Ninja Ultra, the Connect module has a “lower latency, higher throughput, and more stable connection with Wi-Fi 6E,” according to Atomos.

Pricing and availability

The Atomos Ninja retails for $599/€599, and the Ninja Ultra is $799/€799. Both models will start shipping in early September 2023.

For more information, please visit Atomos’ website here.

What do you think about these new Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra models? Do you consider upgrading from your Ninja V/V+? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments down below!