F3: HUGE price drop on Atomos HD recorders, get Samurai Blade or wait for B Video Assist?

I

IronFilm

Veteran
I used to think I'll obviously go for the BMD Video Assist for my Sony PMW-F3, but after this price drop it is trickier.... should I get a Atomos Samurai Blade instead for the same price?


Samurai Blade Pros:
Better features while shooting (such as waveforms)
Tagging good/bad takes on set to make post easier (this works seamlessly with Adobe Premiere? Does anybody here have experience with this?)
Better IPS screen
Is available now (but I don't mind waiting a few weeks more for the BMD VA)


Samurai Blade Cons vs BMD VA:
No 1080 60p (bummer!)
Lower resolution HD vs FHD screen (I think this is going to be less of an issue than I originally thought? As the Atomos screen is I suspect an otherwise better quality screen??)
SSDs vs SD cards (well... this is arguably a pro, but I already have SD cards. I don't have any spare SSDs)
No HDMI in/out (a non issue for my F3, could be a minor issue if I want to use it with other cameras as will need to use a convertor)






As their new prices are now:
Ninja 2 $295
Ninja Blade $495
Samurai Blade $495
 
IronFilm said:
I used to think I'll obviously go for the BMD Video Assist for my Sony PMW-F3, but after this price drop it is trickier.... should I get a Atomos Samurai Blade instead for the same price?


Samurai Blade Pros:
Better features while shooting (such as waveforms)
Tagging good/bad takes on set to make post easier (this works seamlessly with Adobe Premiere? Does anybody here have experience with this?)
Better IPS screen
Is available now (but I don't mind waiting a few weeks more for the BMD VA)


Samurai Blade Cons vs BMD VA:
No 1080 60p (bummer!)
Lower resolution HD vs FHD screen (I think this is going to be less of an issue than I originally thought? As the Atomos screen is I suspect an otherwise better quality screen??)
SSDs vs SD cards (well... this is arguably a pro, but I already have SD cards. I don't have any spare SSDs)
No HDMI in/out (a non issue for my F3, could be a minor issue if I want to use it with other cameras as will need to use a convertor)






As their new prices are now:
Ninja 2 $295
Ninja Blade $495
Samurai Blade $495
Click to expand...

The Video Assist has integrated cross conversion and does 60p. Those are plus's compared to the Blade.
However, it uses mini SDI connections and that is a pain because those are specialty cables which are hard to find and break often. Big problems for disconnecting them and micro disconnects as they age. A definite minus. When you have 100 one second clips you after handholding the camera you will know what I am talking about.

For me the waveforms of the Blade are also a major advantage on a pro set.
 
Ah yes, forgot it is micro SDI vs actual real SDI. I haven't looked into how much of an issue that will really be.
Waveforms might come to the Video Assist in a future firmware update, but then again a coffee making function might also come in a future firmware update too!
 
I don't think you need an SSD for the Blade. It says it can record to HDD and SSD. Given that, you probably don't need the fastest or more expensive SSD.

it says 10+ hours of ProRes for 1 TB. I bought a Sandisk Ultra II 480 GB SSD for $127 at Amazon last week. There are a number of 240 GB for $76 to $89, depending on speed. And I have a couple of older 120 GB just lying around. I am going to put them in my desktop as scratch drives. Not to mention the 500 GB HDD I will pull when I put the SSD in my laptop. I have a few of those lying around.

Good luck!
 
I have the Samurai, Samurai Blade and Shogun. Samurai is mini SDI. Blade is full size BNC connectors. Screen is better on Blade with brighter colors and wider view angle. Shogun is best of all screens but overkill for HD work.
 
basspig said:
Shogun is best of all screens but overkill for HD work.
Click to expand...

Kinda of what I was thinking, that even if the BMD Video Assist is as good as the Shogun screen (it won't be, I expect), it is a bit overkill and the Samurai screen is more than "good enough" (HD vs FHD, plus IPS vs TN?!). So all I'm really giving up is FHD 60FPS recording :-( But in return getting a way more fully featured monitor for using on shoots.
 
I am in the exact same situation as you, I am curious what you decide. I am leaning towards the Samurai myself.
 
Wait so there is a Samurai and a Samurai Blade version of the recorder? tried to look up the difference between the two but didnt find a definite answer, things a little confusing >.<
 
I think record & playback functions are the same but the Blade has an improved monitor ( though IMHO still not really good color) with much improved tools for focus and exposure monitoring. The original Samurai screen is dim and only suitable as a confirmation screen though it is fine for that.
 
ReelFilmGeek said:
Wait so there is a Samurai and a Samurai Blade version of the recorder? tried to look up the difference between the two but didnt find a definite answer, things a little confusing >.<
Click to expand...

I had the Samurai from a friend and bought the Blade almost 3 yrs ago so I could compare them 1:1
First of all the Samurai is not brilliant that makes the Blade shine a little if you put them
side by side. It's not the best screen at all but it has a waveform monitor which is a huge benefit.
They are not very bright both, you will always need a good shade / hood

I found two images of my side by side comparison on a FS700.
The size is the same, they seem different because of the distance of the mount

samurai1.jpg


samurai2.jpg
 
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I bought the samurai for my F3. Works well and the screen feels sharp enough for precise focus, not much different than my smallHD 502 (which is 1080p).
 
I just got a notification from B&H that my BMD VA has shipped. I completely forgot that I even had ordered it, and not entirely sure if I shouldn't have cancelled it after all this time. Oh well...I guess we'll see if it's any good in a couple days.
 
ReelFilmGeek said:
Wait so there is a Samurai and a Samurai Blade version of the recorder? tried to look up the difference between the two but didnt find a definite answer, things a little confusing >.<
Click to expand...

Samurai Blade is the newer model, the original Samurai is not sold anymore. I would only go with the newer one, heaps better.
 
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