Atomos has unveiled the Ninja TX GO, a brand new HDMI monitor-recorder that brings skilled recording capabilities to mirrorless and DSLR shooters. This 5-inch touchscreen gadget includes a vibrant 1500-nit HDR show, information as much as 6Kp30 RAW over HDMI to CFexpress Kind B or USB-C SSD storage, and helps Apple ProRes, ProRes RAW, Avid DNx, and H.265/H.264 codecs. The standout function is built-in digital camera management (coming by way of free OTA replace), permitting direct adjustment of publicity settings together with aperture, shutter velocity, and ISO on supported cameras from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Z CAM, and different manufacturers.
The brand new Atomos Ninja TX GO positions itself because the HDMI-focused sibling to the Ninja TX, which launched earlier this yr with SDI connectivity and 8K RAW capabilities. Whereas the TX mannequin targets higher-end cinema cameras, the TX GO addresses the large market of HDMI-based cameras whereas sustaining professional-grade monitoring, recording, and workflow options in a compact kind issue.
The gadget combines superior monitoring instruments together with EL Zone™, waveform, vectorscope, and focus peaking with the flexibility to report skilled codecs instantly from the digital camera’s HDMI output. For creators working with RAW-capable cameras, the Ninja TX GO captures as much as 6Kp30 RAW, delivering uncompressed picture high quality for optimum flexibility in post-production.
Bottom of the brand new Atomos Ninja TX GO. Picture credit score: Atomos
What distinguishes this announcement from earlier Atomos releases is the built-in digital camera management function, which we’ll discover intimately beneath. This performance transforms the Ninja TX GO from a passive recording gadget into an lively manufacturing device, eliminating the necessity to entry digital camera menus throughout essential capturing moments.
Show and monitoring capabilities
The 5-inch touchscreen delivers 1500 nits of brightness, a considerable improve from typical digital camera LCD screens that always wrestle in daylight circumstances. This brightness stage makes the Ninja TX GO viable for outside capturing eventualities the place monitoring accuracy is important for correct publicity and focus affirmation.
The monitoring toolkit consists of professional-grade instruments that cinematographers anticipate from exterior screens. EL Zone™ gives publicity evaluation, whereas conventional waveform and vectorscope shows provide exact management over luminance and colour values. Focus peaking assists with handbook focus operations, notably worthwhile when working with cinema lenses that lack autofocus capabilities.
These monitoring instruments function independently of the recording perform, that means you need to use the Ninja TX GO purely as a discipline monitor with out partaking the recording options. The touchscreen interface gives fast entry to those instruments throughout manufacturing.
Recording codecs and storage choices
The Ninja TX GO information to both CFexpress Kind B playing cards or exterior USB-C SSD drives, giving customers flexibility in storage choice primarily based on their workflow preferences and finances. CFexpress Kind B gives the quickest switch speeds and most sturdy kind issue for high-bitrate recording, whereas USB-C SSDs provide cost-effective capability for longer recording periods.
CFExpress Kind B is the default recording media of the brand new Atomos Ninja TX GO. Picture credit score: Atomos
Codec help spans the skilled post-production panorama. Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW preserve compatibility with Last Reduce Professional and DaVinci Resolve workflows. Avid DNx integrations serve Media Composer editors. H.265 and H.264 present delivery-ready codecs with smaller file sizes, although at the price of decreased colour grading flexibility in comparison with ProRes or RAW choices.
For RAW recording, the gadget captures as much as 6Kp30 over HDMI from suitable cameras. This decision and body price ceiling displays the present HDMI 2.0 bandwidth limitations present in most mirrorless and DSLR cameras. The sensible profit right here is capturing the complete sensor readout earlier than any in-camera processing, preserving most dynamic vary and colour data for post-production manipulation.
Digital camera management integration
The digital camera management function represents a major workflow enhancement for the Ninja line. By means of the touchscreen interface, operators can alter aperture, shutter velocity, and ISO settings instantly on supported cameras from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Z CAM, and different producers. This eliminates the necessity to navigate digital camera menu methods throughout capturing, notably worthwhile when the digital camera is mounted in positions the place bodily entry is proscribed.
In keeping with Atomos, digital camera management might be delivered as a free over-the-air replace for each Ninja TX GO and Ninja TX items, with availability coming quickly after launch. The corporate has not but specified which actual digital camera fashions might be supported at launch, although the broad producer help suggests in depth compatibility testing is underway.
For gimbal operators, aerial cinematographers, or anybody working with cameras in distant positions, this management functionality streamlines publicity changes with out breaking down rigging setups. The touch-to-focus performance extends this comfort to focus management on suitable cameras, although once more, particular mannequin help stays to be detailed.
What about connectivity and cloud workflows?
Constructed-in Wi-Fi 6E allows camera-to-cloud operation, a function set that has grow to be more and more vital for distant collaboration workflows. The Ninja TX GO consists of 20GB of free ATOMOSphere cloud storage and helps direct add to ATOMOSphere, Body.io, Dropbox, and different cloud companies throughout or instantly after recording.
The gadget additionally helps NDI 6 and HX3 transmission and reception for IP-based streaming workflows. This enables the Ninja TX GO to perform as each a streaming encoder and a distant monitoring endpoint when linked to NDI networks. For dwell manufacturing environments or multi-camera setups, this streaming functionality extends the gadget’s utility past conventional recording functions.
Aspect view of the Atomos Ninja TX GO. Picture credit score: Atomos
USB-C connectivity handles each knowledge switch and energy supply. The Ninja TX GO could be powered by way of USB-C, conventional NP-F batteries, or AC adaptor, offering flexibility for various capturing eventualities. The locking cable system for each HDMI and USB-C connections addresses a standard ache level with exterior recorders, the place cable disconnections throughout recording can lead to misplaced footage.
AtomOS platform and software program updates
The Ninja TX GO runs on the next-generation AtomOS platform, constructed on a Linux basis. This represents a departure from earlier Atomos working methods and allows over-the-air updates for each function additions and bug fixes. The flexibility to obtain OTA updates means the gadget can achieve new digital camera help, codec choices, and performance enhancements all through its lifecycle.
Peter Barber, Atomos CEO, positioned the gadget as bridging skilled capabilities with broader accessibility: “With Ninja TX GO, we’re bringing the ability and suppleness of our flagship Ninja TX to an excellent broader group of creators. It’s a light-weight, extremely highly effective monitor-recorder that delivers professional-grade monitoring, recording, and management with out compromise. It’s good for creators who need one of the best visible constancy and workflow flexibility straight from their HDMI cameras.”
The Linux-based structure additionally gives a extra secure basis for advanced operations like simultaneous recording, monitoring, streaming, and cloud uploads. Earlier Atomos units often struggled with thermal administration throughout intensive multi-function operation, so the brand new OS platform could tackle these issues, although real-world testing might be vital to verify thermal efficiency.
Atomos Ninja TX GO with antennas hooked up. Picture credit score: Atomos
Ninja TX vs. Ninja TX GO
For context, the Ninja TX (launched earlier this yr) consists of SDI enter and output alongside HDMI, AirGlu wi-fi timecode synchronization, and expanded 8Kp30 RAW recording capabilities. These options goal cinema digital camera operators working with higher-end tools that sometimes provides SDI connectivity and generates 8K output.
The Ninja TX GO removes these cinema-focused options whereas sustaining the core monitoring, recording, and management capabilities at a lower cost level. This positioning is smart for the HDMI digital camera market, the place 8K recording stays uncommon and SDI connectivity is non-existent. The gadget focuses on delivering skilled recording high quality and monitoring instruments to the mirrorless and DSLR section with out including value for options these customers can not make the most of.
Each units share the AtomOS platform, that means software program options and digital camera management capabilities might be constant throughout the 2 fashions. This unified method simplifies help and ensures function parity the place {hardware} capabilities permit.
Pricing and availability
The Atomos Ninja TX GO is obtainable instantly from Atomos resellers worldwide and the Atomos net retailer. Pricing is about at $799 USD, €799 EUR, £599 GBP, or $1,199 AUD, excluding native gross sales taxes and VAT.
The digital camera management function might be delivered as a free over-the-air replace for each Ninja TX GO and Ninja TX items, with availability coming quickly. Atomos has not offered a selected launch date for this replace, although the announcement suggests it can arrive inside weeks reasonably than months of launch.
The Ninja TX GO brings skilled recording and digital camera management to HDMI shooters at $799. What cameras would you most wish to see supported for the digital camera management function? Don’t hesitate to tell us within the feedback beneath!
