Enter the Ninja!

Atomos has announced the worldwide release of its revolutionary Ninja: a portable touchscreen HD recorder, monitor and playback device that captures video direct to Apple ProRes from any camera with an HDMI output onto low-cost, removable 2 1⁄2 inch hard disks.
Ninja transforms video production by:

• Eliminating the need for capture cards and wasted time logging and capturing by avoiding the lossy, time consuming capture to edit process
• Bypassing the image-degrading compression needed to squeeze HD onto in-camera flash storage like P2, SxS, SDHC etc.
• Providing limitless and cheap storage through the use of abundant removable 2 1⁄2 inch laptop hard disks
• Including all accessories in one rugged case - Batteries, Chargers, Disk Caddies and a PC/MAC docking station
• Recording to a high quality codec at the camera, in the field - simple
• Reycling older cameras with obsolete tape and compression technology and updates them with a modern, high-quality file-based workflow
• Banishing worries about battery life with 'looping' hot-swappable batteries

Hidden inside Ninja's compact design is a hardware implementation of the Apple ProRes codec: a bit-perfect rendition of Apple's professional compression system that's designed to leave your final images looking as good as when they first hit your camera's sensor.
Atomos' unique battery-looping technology means that you never have to interrupt a Ninja recording to swap power cells. Just unplug the old battery and replace it with a fully charged one.
Ninja makes it easy to get video off your camera and onto your computer, with FireWire 800, USB 2 and 3 e-SATA interfaces built in. Apple ProRes works natively with Final Cut Pro and on any computer with the ProRes codec installed (including suitably configured PCs).
Ninja is simple to use as well, with a no-nonsense, intuitive touchscreen that doubles as a viewfinder and playback monitor.
Jeromy Young, CEO, Atomos, said: "It's hard to overstate the significance of the Ninja for anyone that makes video. We've worked with Apple to perfect our implementation of Apple ProRes, and using it is like storing a fine painting by gently rolling it up, instead of screwing it into a ball and throwing good data away, which is what the in-camera codecs do."
Atomos Ninja is available now and will be demonstrated at the company's stand at NAB (SL9105).
(KMcA/GK)