Mike Krumlauf
Award Winning Filmmaker
Pretty basic.. im looking to see what the pros and cons are with each one. does the aja have any benifits over the samurai. also does the aja work with VFR material from a 720p/60 stream?
Atomos Samurai Blade vs AJA KiPro Mini
- Thread starter Mike Krumlauf
- Start date
Mike Krumlauf
Award Winning Filmmaker
So im going to answer my own questions here for anyone interested now that i have worked with both. For anyone who might be working with the older varicam models and an SDI recorder here is what I have realized.
First and formost, these recorders DO (i repeat) DO make these cameras relivant again! I'm getting images (resolution aside) that i find to be way more filmic and natural then that of the Sony F3 or Red One MX. Even though they are 720p cameras, shooting SDI gives you enough information to blow up to 1080p no problem! I haven't been this happy with a setup i've owned in a very very long time.
now about the recorders... the AJA takes the cake all the way around for the varicam! The reason I say this is that it is able to pull a true 24fps signal from the SDI, while the atomos only takes out the 720p/60 signal and does not pick up on the flagged frames. the AJA VFR mode is a life saver! I also enjoy how small it is and i have it powered to the Dtap on the brick battery which is nice.
I've always been someone to experiment with older equipment given I have the means to do so, and its really exciting to see how well the old tech is merging with the new tech! If any of you still have a Varicam F or H lying around and own an SDI recorder, i suggest doing your own tests and see what you think, i for one am SOLD!
First and formost, these recorders DO (i repeat) DO make these cameras relivant again! I'm getting images (resolution aside) that i find to be way more filmic and natural then that of the Sony F3 or Red One MX. Even though they are 720p cameras, shooting SDI gives you enough information to blow up to 1080p no problem! I haven't been this happy with a setup i've owned in a very very long time.
now about the recorders... the AJA takes the cake all the way around for the varicam! The reason I say this is that it is able to pull a true 24fps signal from the SDI, while the atomos only takes out the 720p/60 signal and does not pick up on the flagged frames. the AJA VFR mode is a life saver! I also enjoy how small it is and i have it powered to the Dtap on the brick battery which is nice.
I've always been someone to experiment with older equipment given I have the means to do so, and its really exciting to see how well the old tech is merging with the new tech! If any of you still have a Varicam F or H lying around and own an SDI recorder, i suggest doing your own tests and see what you think, i for one am SOLD!
steve phillipps
Veteran
I seem to remember that the Ki Pro Mini takes ages to boot up? Reason enough to me to not be interested in it when I was looking - I'm sure it took about a minute or so?
Steve
Steve
Mike Krumlauf
Award Winning Filmmaker
Mine takes about 20sec to boot. Its a hell of a lot better then the boot times from the RED ONE MX :cheesy:
steve phillipps
Veteran
Yeah that's what put off the original RED too after putting down a deposit for one! I think the Ki Pro Mini has been constantly improved in terms of boot time - 20 seconds is still pretty long though, depending on what sort of stuff you're shooting of course.
Steve
Steve