If you are currently in the market for a compact and super leightweight field monitor that comes equipped with a bright and color-accurate 10-bit display with HDR support, then look no further than the Atomos Shinobi.
This fantastic 5-inch monitor has all of the capabilities that most of the Atomos flagship monitor/recorders provide (except for the recording capabilities) thus allowing it to be ultra-lightweight and great for filmmakers on the go. Greg from LensProToGo summarizes some of the most noteworthy features this powerful tool brings to the table while focusing on its flexibility and efficiency while using it on set. So, without further ado, let’s take a look.
First and foremost, the Atomos Shinobi comes in two versions – an HDMI only as well as a combined HDMI and SDI model. Other than that, unlike the metal housing of the Ninja V, Shinobi’s body is entirely built of polycarbonate plastic which makes it extremely lightweight.
Plus, it doesn’t have the extra parts and components such as an SSD port and internal fans required for cooling like its monitor/ recorder siblings. Here’s why it weighs in at just 200g (7 ounces) which makes it ideal for handheld rigs and compact single-handed gimbal configurations.
Additionally, Atomos Shinobi lacks many physical buttons due to the fact that it’s entirely controlled by the touchscreen Full HD 5.2″ display while supporting a plethora of input resolutions ranging from 720p signal up to 60fps as well as UHD video up to 30fps.
The unit also comes equipped with an SD card slot that allows you to upload and use some additional custom LUTs which is another extremely handy feature supported on board. The same SD card slot can also be used to install any future firmware updates.
Of course, you can always use any of the available preset LUTs that come with the Shinobi along with the multitude of professional video monitoring tools such as Waveforms, Histograms, Vectorscope, Zebras, Focus Peaking, False Color, Magnification, Cinema Guides, Anamorphic Desqueeze, and the list goes on.
Users also have access to the so-called Analysis Mode that allows them to pull up multiple scopes at once while monitoring the actual framing in real-time.
If for some reason, your camera doesn’t have a headphone jack, you can monitor your audio using the 3.5mm connector located on the left-hand side of the Shinobi. Furthermore, clear on-screen audio level meters give you confidence that your audio is set correctly. The Shinobi also has ¼”-20 mounting points on the top and bottom to allow flexible mounting.
Last but not least, what makes the Atomos Shinobi an extremely appealing on-camera monitor is its price. For $299 (HDMI only) and $399 (HDMI and SDI) respectively, it costs half the price of most rivals while offering the same spec list and functionality not to mention the fact that it can even be used as a professional color grading monitor in the field due to its extremely accurate high bright HDR display thus giving you even more value for the price.
[source: LensProToGo]
Order Links:
Atomos Shinobi 5.2″ 4K HDMI Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
Atomos Shinobi SDI 5.2″ 3G-SDI & 4K HDMI Pro Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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