5D mkIII and external video recorder

[Warren Eig]

I spoke to Atmos at Cinegear Expo and they said the way they record actually is 10 bit. I have never tried the Ninja myself, but if it gives you 10 bit vs 8 bit it is a no brainer.

Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905

email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.BabyBoomPictures.com

REEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html

For Camera Accessories – Monitors and Batteries
website: https://www.EigRig.com

[Steve Crow]

Well this would actually be more of a question: if you are saying that HDMI output of the 5D MIII is 8 bit then how can Ninja record that signal in 10 bit? Where is the extra data coming from?

This forum posting:

https://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13610.15

says: “It’s still 8bit in a 10bit container if you record on Ninja 2, the additional 2bits are just zero.” which would explain a lot if true.

Now you would still have the advantage of the transcoding to ProRes being done for you by the Ninja and you wouldn’t have to do that transcoding in your NLE.

Steve Crow

[Warren Eig]

I asked the same question. They responded by saying it is in their record algorithm and guaranteed it. I’m not sure how they do it.

Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905

email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.BabyBoomPictures.com

REEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html

For Camera Accessories – Monitors and Batteries
website: https://www.EigRig.com

[Steve Crow]

Warren, I guess if that forum posting I mentioned is correct they do it by adding a container for the extra 2 bits of data but then leave that container empty so technically it’s 10 bit but only has 8 bit’s worth of data…again IF that forum posting is correct which I don’t know for sure.

Steve Crow

[Diogo Mendes-pinto]

Thank you for your replies.

1 – The Ninja (or any other recorder) don’t really transcode the H.264 info from the camera. It actually bypasses the information directly from the sensor to the recorder through the HDMI port.

2 – The information in the referred post by Steve is actually correct. Meaning that if you have 8 bit info and you record it at 10 bit you’l only get 8 bit information because there isn’t anymore info to record. It’s like if you have 8L of water in aa 8L container and you get that water into a 10L container you still have 8L of water, it’s just in a bigger container.

I know that recording directly into ProRes will gather much more info than in H.264. My question is what advantages will I get recording to the Ninja (I know there are advantages)? More dynamic range? Only more shades of grey? Other advantages that I’m not remembering? And last, is it worthy?

For 300$ I do believe it is worthy I just wanted to get a few more thoughts about it.

Thank you,
Diogo

[Carlos E. martinez]

What about RAW recording? Would it be in 10-bit?

[Warren Eig]

RAW recording is 14bit with Magic Lantern but only to internal CF cards.

Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905

email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.BabyBoomPictures.com

REEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html

For Camera Accessories – Monitors and Batteries
website: https://www.EigRig.com

[Jp Pelc]

I don’t see how it would make any difference whatsoever. The only benefit would be the one mentioned above, where the video is immediately recorded to the edit-friendly ProRes on the spot vs having to take the time in post to convert it if that is your normal workflow.

As far the image quality, 8-bit vs 10-bit etc it will make no difference. Just wrapping it in a 10-bit codec doesn’t add any information that wasn’t there previously. It’s like if you were to shoot 1080p video, then export it as 4k from your NLE. The computer may say it is 4k, but it is completely different from video shot in 4k.