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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Atomos Ninja or Samurai good purchase?

Yes, Samurai is, the Ninja doesn't like pure progressive, it seems. The firmware is not as mature (yet?) as the PIX 240's, filenames don't carry over, but they seem to be working on it.

Don't expect too much from their analog audio, though, the audio is better on RED cameras.

Uf you want a working solution now with excellent audio, go PIX 240.
 
I had a ninja but now samurai. Good reliable unit. Hated the HDMI connection so I upgraded.

Bob, do you get black bars on top and bottom of the picture when recording with the Samurai?

Also, I've read somewhere that the start/stop functionality is not working perfectly yet (the Samurai will start but won't stop when the camera does), have they fixed this?
 
Yes, Samurai is, the Ninja doesn't like pure progressive, it seems. The firmware is not as mature (yet?) as the PIX 240's, filenames don't carry over, but they seem to be working on it.

Don't expect too much from their analog audio, though, the audio is better on RED cameras.

Uf you want a working solution now with excellent audio, go PIX 240.

Thanks for the information. Has Atomos said publicly that they are working on file names carry over, and any idea of when that may happen?
 
Yes I spoke with Jeromy at Atomis just a couple weeks ago. Expect a firmware update with file naming protocol around NAB :-)
 
Hi Tim,

I have never read personally that they are doing this but I have heard it through the grapevine.

I can confirm that my Samurai does not stop recording with Epic. Works brilliantly though with my F3! It's still a great option for Epic/Scarlet if the client does not want RAW and it's your only camera. Better using this combo than hiring in something else just so they can have their prores files. This is why I bought an F3 as well.
 
stop recording with Epic. Works brilliantly though with my F3! It's still a great option for Epic/Scarlet if the client does not want RAW and it's your only camera. Better using this combo than hiring in something else just so they can have their prores files. This is why I bought an F3 as well.

On that same note, mine records both on EPIC and Scarlet in terms of stop start but...
Name wise no go, they did say that's coming though, never heard about the NAB thing but damn excited if true so can't wait!

Stop start record is great only if the name thing comes...but then again only because I want to use it as reference files
 
Yup...looks like its going on my "to purchase" list. Will be great once the names carry over. There any latency as a monitor source while recording? I know the resolution isnt great, but producer may just use to see comp. Also, what size drives did you guys go for?
 
Just checked again and the Samurai works great (firmware 2.8) with Scarlet for record and pause using trigger. BTW, you must have media in the camera or this won't work. Atomos are definitely working on the naming protocol. I had conformation via email on that. The rest is up to RED to get the scaling right which they have confirmed to be working on. So.... all in all, the Samurai works as it should. I ended up getting 2 500GB drives for the day.

As a side note, for those who want to have SDI and HDMI working at the same time, the Connect product should help.

http://www.atomos.com/connect/
 
I was also told in an Email (B4 NAB) that file name match was coming very soon. However, that was before all the J Cameron buzz.
Implementing all the features he was asking for must have been a big distraction from getting file name matching implemented.
It's the only feature holding this device back from working well with RED and Alexa. Fingers crossed that it's on the next FW update.
 
Sounds like an interesting product, but when you can't get phone support if your life depends on it, I have to pass. And 3 day turn around to get a response on an email doesn't cut it. This is my living. If a piece of gear goes down in the field and I can't get support - forget it. Media drives can be finicky and I need to know there are solutions if I need it. Too bad, I was getting hopeful.

Unlike the Red Drives - when they came out I was a little concerned. But they were great. Great connections - not something unreliable like hdmi cables and there was always great support form Red.
 
April 30th will be a firmware upgrade that will allow matching file names with RED. As well, RED is releasing firmware with full frame SDI out. Happy days are ahead.



I was also told in an Email (B4 NAB) that file name match was coming very soon. However, that was before all the J Cameron buzz.
Implementing all the features he was asking for must have been a big distraction from getting file name matching implemented.
It's the only feature holding this device back from working well with RED and Alexa. Fingers crossed that it's on the next FW update.
 
I used the Ninja in India for 2 months. For the most part it worked 98 percent of the time. The other 2 percent was because of the HDMI cable. I upgraded to the Samurai and the connection has been solid.


Sounds like an interesting product, but when you can't get phone support if your life depends on it, I have to pass. And 3 day turn around

to get a response on an email doesn't cut it. This is my living. If a piece of gear goes down in the field and I can't get support - forget it. Media drives can be finicky and I need to know there are solutions if I need it. Too bad, I was getting hopeful.

Unlike the Red Drives - when they came out I was a little concerned. But they were great. Great connections - not something unreliable like hdmi cables and there was always great support form Red.
 
I'm currently considering the Samurai vs the Pix240 and the only thing currently holding me back from the Samurai is clip names. Does anyone know if Atomos released the firmware update yet? Or is it something that is still in progress?

Also, are there any DTap power options for the Samurai? The fewer batteries I have to keep track of, the better.
 
I'm currently considering the Samurai vs the Pix240 and the only thing currently holding me back from the Samurai is clip names. Does anyone know if Atomos released the firmware update yet? Or is it something that is still in progress?

Also, are there any DTap power options for the Samurai? The fewer batteries I have to keep track of, the better.

Dtap is on the table. File naming will available in September.
 
Just chiming in here that the Samurai screen is DARK. But it is a great product and works well. Can't beat th price.
 
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