Most portable 10bit recorder???

T

tankbullock

Active member
Well I'm taking the plunge on the Slog upgrade and after reading up on the many various discussions about trying to record Slog to SxS cards (and reasons not to do it) I have decided to get an external recorder. I don't need it to have a screen or do anything mega fancy. I literally want something that is portable and will record 422 10 bit. Most of the units I have seen so far add a fair bit of bulk and as I'm going to be doing a hayyyuge amount of handheld work on this docco project, I am hoping to minimize bulk as much as possible.

Anyone found a magic bullet?

Many thanks.
 
I own the Ki Pro Mini and the HyperDeck Shuttle.
I love the HyperDeck: it can record uncompressed material , light, affordable and fast.
The Samurai, for sure, is the smaller one.
 
To users of the AJA KiPro Mini...

Any comments or suggestions to those thinking to buy it?

Still evaluating purchase decisions off the new options...

Thank you all in advance.
 
For tankbullock:
You can obtain the exact dimensions of the Ki Pro Mini from this location on the AJA website:
http://www.aja.com/media_folder_web/Ki_Pro_Mini_Dimensions.pdf

The weight of the Ki Pro Mini is 1.262 lbs (0.572 kg) (This information is found in the product manual, also available from the AJA website).

You can find a review of the Ki Pro Mini at the following link where it makes a good case for the unit's compact size and low weight:
http://www.studiodaily.com/studiomonthly/reviews/13255.html

Hope this information is helpful,
Jon Thorn
Senior Product Manager
AJA Video Systems, Inc.
 
I would say the Aja mini. I have one, and have it on rails, with the Abel/element technic base plate. And it is a perfect solution together. Adds rear weight for balance and rides on the shoulder great. All others are just another box that you have to rig somewhere on top of camera. For hand held its a good match.
 
Thanks very much for the responses. Yeah the Pro Mini looks great and the Samurai does too, though that doesn't appear to be out yet in the UK.

It's going to be between these two me thinks, though my friend did also mention a blackmagic product that is suposedly very portable. He's sending me a link to it, so I'll check that out too. I cannot wait to see some Slog footage!!!!
 
also guys lets not forget power consumption which is as important as size and weight when you're in the field and only have a certain number of batteries. The AJA Ki Pro Mini is excellent in this. I would love to hear what the power usage is on the Samurai since does it have a production monitor as well?
 
You must have an exceptional KiPro mini... mine is terrible for power consumption and regularly cuts out before the F3 was signalling 50% on the 88Wh Li-ion IDX batteries.

PMW-F3 = 24W
KiPro Mini = 18W
Atomos Samurai = 6.8W

No Contest!
 
Here's my power comparison chart I've gleamed from product pages across the internet and your info - I don't 100% know if this is true:

PIX 240 28.8 watts, 12 watts at idle
PMW-F3 = 24W
KiPro Mini = 18W
Atomos Samurai = 6.8W
Nanoflash - 5/6W while recording
Gemini - 8 to 15watts

Amazing how efficient the Samurai is. I look forward to it. However a little concerned that I just learned that it doesn't have a 1/4' mount - it's a M6 metric mount. not easy to find an adapter for that.
 
Last edited:
eddavid said:
Here's my power comparison chart I've gleamed from product pages across the internet and your info - I don't 100% know if this is true:

PIX 240 28.8 watts, 12 watts at idle
PMW-F3 = 24W
KiPro Mini = 18W
Atomos Samurai = 6.8W
Nanoflash - 5/6W while recording
Gemini - 8 to 15watts

Amazing how efficient the Samurai is. I look forward to it. However a little concerned that I just learned that it doesn't have a 1/4' mount - it's a M6 metric mount. not easy to find an adapter for that.
Click to expand...


Easy solution if this simple screw is a problem!
Buy quick release lock like Zacuto or 16x9 and replace the screw from 1/4 to what ever metric you need at the local hardware store (Homedepot, etc...)... Done!
 
I have been using the Ki Pro Mini since March of this year, it is still not without problems but from reading various forums most of these decks are not perfect and require software upgrades along the way. I’ve surcome to the thinking that with this new technology; problems are un-avoidable and you have to work a lot harder these days with this new gear to ensure good quality recordings.
I like the mini because it is light weight and mounts nicely behind the F3 using the AJA mounting kit. The unit records 10bit 4:2:2, menus can be controlled via keys or computer link. It records in ProRes all the way up to 220Mb/s and will soon record Avid’s DNxHD.
With the greatly anticipated upcoming 3.0 software upgrade (hopefully it shows up this month) the unit will show a superimposed output displaying the transport state of the media (recording, playback) as well as the time-code value. This new upgradable feature will allow those using the Ki Pro Mini to confirm recording and see time-code out of the Ki Pro via their accessory EVFs (viewfinders) or client monitors.
In the past I found that when the onboard battery reach a certain voltage in my case 12.67 volts the Ki Pro Mini would shut down but the F3 continued to record. With the F3 on my shoulder and the Mini behind me I didn’t notice the unit had shut down. I did a series of test to determine the voltage cutoff for my unit on my rig and found that the voltage readout on the F3 display closely corresponded to my digital volt meter. I have since set my low voltage alarm on my F3 to correspond to the cut off voltage of the Mini. Some of the owners voiced concern about un-observed shutdowns and AJA is responding with the 3.0 upgrade.
The Ki Pro Mini supports all 10bit 4:2:2 resolutions and frame-rates coming out of the Sony F3 via HD-SDI. The Mini has a range of cross-conversion options from HDMI and SDI to HD-SDI making it convenient when working with add on accessories. I recently purchased a SmallHD DP4 EVF (viewfinder) for the F3 camera. I’m currently feeding HD SDI out of the A port of the dual link bnc connectors on the F3 into the Ki Pro Mini and taking HDMI out of the KPM to run the new EVF. I can now run my onboard viewfinder via HDMI and run my client monitor via SDI out of the KPM. I could even use the HDMI loop through out of my EVF to power an additional HDMI monitor. This setup works well as long as I not shooting at 23.98PsF then I have to take my HDMI output from the F3 which automatically up-converts the 23.98 frame rate out of the HDMI port to 59.97.
The mini records onto CF cards, a 64GB extreme pro card will run you around $500.00, shooting at 145Mb/s will give you about 55 minutes of record time. The Mini holds two cards but does not at this time automatically switch over to the second card when the first one is full.
The Ki Pro Mini is built solid aircraft grade aluminum not plastic however like the F3 and most EVFs it is not protected from the elements so you will need a rain-cover.
I think the most important reason to buy the Mini is it is built by AJA they have a very good track record when it comes to customer service and will most likely be around for some time.
 
scocklin said:
I have been using the Ki Pro Mini since March of this year, it is still not without problems but from reading various forums most of these decks are not perfect and require software upgrades along the way. I’ve surcome to the thinking that with this new technology; problems are un-avoidable and you have to work a lot harder these days with this new gear to ensure good quality recordings.
I like the mini because it is light weight and mounts nicely behind the F3 using the AJA mounting kit. The unit records 10bit 4:2:2, menus can be controlled via keys or computer link. It records in ProRes all the way up to 220Mb/s and will soon record Avid’s DNxHD.
With the greatly anticipated upcoming 3.0 software upgrade (hopefully it shows up this month) the unit will show a superimposed output displaying the transport state of the media (recording, playback) as well as the time-code value. This new upgradable feature will allow those using the Ki Pro Mini to confirm recording and see time-code out of the Ki Pro via their accessory EVFs (viewfinders) or client monitors.
In the past I found that when the onboard battery reach a certain voltage in my case 12.67 volts the Ki Pro Mini would shut down but the F3 continued to record. With the F3 on my shoulder and the Mini behind me I didn’t notice the unit had shut down. I did a series of test to determine the voltage cutoff for my unit on my rig and found that the voltage readout on the F3 display closely corresponded to my digital volt meter. I have since set my low voltage alarm on my F3 to correspond to the cut off voltage of the Mini. Some of the owners voiced concern about un-observed shutdowns and AJA is responding with the 3.0 upgrade.
The Ki Pro Mini supports all 10bit 4:2:2 resolutions and frame-rates coming out of the Sony F3 via HD-SDI. The Mini has a range of cross-conversion options from HDMI and SDI to HD-SDI making it convenient when working with add on accessories. I recently purchased a SmallHD DP4 EVF (viewfinder) for the F3 camera. I’m currently feeding HD SDI out of the A port of the dual link bnc connectors on the F3 into the Ki Pro Mini and taking HDMI out of the KPM to run the new EVF. I can now run my onboard viewfinder via HDMI and run my client monitor via SDI out of the KPM. I could even use the HDMI loop through out of my EVF to power an additional HDMI monitor. This setup works well as long as I not shooting at 23.98PsF then I have to take my HDMI output from the F3 which automatically up-converts the 23.98 frame rate out of the HDMI port to 59.97.
The mini records onto CF cards, a 64GB extreme pro card will run you around $500.00, shooting at 145Mb/s will give you about 55 minutes of record time. The Mini holds two cards but does not at this time automatically switch over to the second card when the first one is full.
The Ki Pro Mini is built solid aircraft grade aluminum not plastic however like the F3 and most EVFs it is not protected from the elements so you will need a rain-cover.
I think the most important reason to buy the Mini is it is built by AJA they have a very good track record when it comes to customer service and will most likely be around for some time.
Click to expand...
Amen
 
eddavid said:
Amazing how efficient the Samurai is. I look forward to it. However a little concerned that I just learned that it doesn't have a 1/4' mount - it's a M6 metric mount. not easy to find an adapter for that.
Click to expand...


Apparently some units have been mistakenly made with non-industry compliant metric sockets. My is one of them. My dealer has said they will be exchanged. It still is a great unit.
 
Prices do change quickly, I mentioned in my above post the ScanDisk Extreme pro 64GB 90MB/s cards cost me $500.00, they are now on sale at B&H for $249.00. They are currently out of stock.
 
eddavid said:
Here's my power comparison chart... - I don't 100% know if this is true:

PIX 240 28.8 watts, 12 watts at idle
PMW-F3 = 24W
KiPro Mini = 18W
Atomos Samurai = 6.8W
Nanoflash - 5/6W while recording
Gemini - 8 to 15watts
Click to expand...

If the Pix240 pulls 29 watts that creates wiring concerns particularly on Steadicam, if you are powering your entire camera package from the bottom of the sled. Once you total up all your battery powered devices you could easily be pulling 100 watts and of course you will have frequent battery swaps to do.

Thanks for pulling this info together Ed.
 
If the Samurai turns out to be reliable it sounds like a winner to me. Sounds like the smallest, cheapest, least power draw and simplest to operate which can be a big advantage. Fewer choices but only the ones I need and simpler menus = fewer mistakes to make. I like the idea of SSD's also.
Should have built this last year instead of the Ninja.
 
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