Reviewed: Atomos Ninja V on Sony a7S III

Recently, I had the chance to shoot video with the Atomos Ninja V recording monitor and in this review I go over the experience after having it paired up with the video powerhouse that is the Sony a7S III.

The Atomos Ninja V can work with a large list of supported cameras and offers extended monitoring options like waveforms, false color, vectorscopes, zebras, focus peaking, 1:1 or 2:1 display zooms, and log gamma previews. Most of the options can also be adjusted further to one’s liking, for example changing the size of the waveform display or reducing its opacity.

However, the most value in having the Ninja V comes when it’s paired with a camera that takes full advantage of its recording possibilities. One such camera is the Sony a7S III, and that was indeed the primary camera I used to test the 5-inch recorder.

The Sony a7S III, among some other cameras like the and Panasonic S1H, is able to output the signal directly from the sensor where the Ninja V can then record ProRes RAW files up to 4K 60p. While these files have the most flexibility in postproduction, just like comparing a raw photo to a JPEG, it’s worth knowing that in just seconds of record time you’ll already be facing gigabytes worth of storage demands. Other recording options such as ProRes and Avid DNx offer a better balance of data rates and image quality.

In the video review above, I share my thoughts on using the Atomos Ninja V out in the field with plenty of sample footage. Below is a quick summary of some of the things I talk about.

The Pros

• Battery life is much, much better than expected.
• Size and weight means it never becomes a burden.
• Has a good touchscreen when so often that’s not the case.
• Pre-roll (cache recording) capability is something valuable for wildlife filming that is missed from many cameras. The pre-roll recording times aren’t the best on the a7S III, but at least gives you something.
• ProRes RAW for getting the absolute most from the a7S III sensor when desired.
• ProRes and ProRes RAW files play nicely with my 2014 iMac, unlike a7S III right off the card. Obviously bypasses the lengthy transcoding process to ProRes in Final Cut now.
• Built in tabs for sunhood accessory mounting (sold separately).

The Cons

• Storage demands that require a plan on what you’re going to do about it because it can’t be ignored for very long. ProRes RAW doesn’t seem sustainable as a primary recording method due to its file size.
• Maxed out at 4K 60p when the a7S III can go beyond that.
• There is a fan, and it does make noise when it’s powered on.
• Storage drive has no lock that keeps it from falling out. I didn’t have any close calls with this, however it’s worth a mention since it does seem a little scary that a $200-plus SSD drive can just come off freely if by accident enough friction pulled it out of the contacts.

The other camera I used the Atomos Ninja V with was my Sony FS5. While there’s no obvious recording benefit in that pairing, it did solidify for me that the Ninja V does make for a great monitor on its own when out in the field. Below is a bonus short video filmed with that combination.

If you bought an a7S III, I think the Atomos Ninja V should be the next big thing to start saving for. It’s a great compliment to that camera, and fixes a number of the annoyances I had when I did my full review of it like the non-existent monitoring options, poor design with the flip-out screen, and difficult video files, plus adds ProRes RAW, pre-roll recording, and more to the arsenal. That doesn’t mean you have to get it right away if you’re still enjoying the honeymoon phase, but down the line it’s something to look at to step things up.

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