Atomos NEON 17” and NEON 24” HDR monitor-recorders are shipping later this month. The first sightings of prototypes were last year.
NEON 17” has a Full HD 1920 x 1080 10-bit, 16:9 aspect ratio display. (If you’re shooting 4K, it can process and scale the image to HD.)
NEON 24” has a 4K DCI 4096 x 2160, 10-bit, 17:9 aspect ratio display. (If you’re shooting HD or 2K, it upscales to 4K.)
Both NEON displays have Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) backlight illumination. FALD involves many zones of LEDs behind the screen that can be controlled independently. This results in rich blacks and brighter brights, up to 1000 Nits, for HDR display. This can provide a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio along with a 180 degree viewing angle.
Monitor controls let you select SDR or HDR (HLG, PQ HDR10, Camera LOG).
Native color gamut is DCI P3.
Display selections play nicely with Sony, ARRI, Canon, RED, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Nikon and other camera outputs, along with your 3D LUTs and Show Looks.
NEON monitors are modular. The concept is similar to the things you can attach to a Ninja V and Shogun 7 for storage and additional inputs—but on a larger scale. The Master Control Unit (MCU) has HDMI 2.0 IN and LOOP OUT connectors. The MCU can store up to eight 3D LUTs. (You can also store a LUT library on a 2.5” drive to upload as needed to the NEON using AtomOS app on iOS.
An AtomX SDI module provides two 12G SDI INPUTS. They support single or dual link 1.5G/3G/6G SDI or you can toggle between two cameras.
NEON Monitors are controlled via Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) using AtomRemote OS on an iPhone or iPad running version 12 or higher.
Video recording and audio will be familiar to Ninja and Shogun users. Slide your 2.5″ SSDmini or Atomos Caddy into the back and record up to 4K DCI 60p in Apple ProRes or Avid DNx. This is intended for on-set video playback or edit ready files. You might wonder whetherProRes RAW could be a future possibility.
Framelines include: 2.4:1, 2.35:1, 1.9:1, 1.85:1, 4:3 aspect ratios.
Anamorphic desqueeze currently supports: 2x, 1.5x and 1.33x.
Prices are democratically HDR friendly:
- NEON 17” – 3699 EUR / $3999
- NEON 24” – 5999 EUR / $6499
As mentioned, delivery is planned this November. A Limited Edition launch promotion NEON 17” and NEON 24” will come in custom HPRC flight cases.
Lewis Brown of Atomos commented on Zoom from Nottingham:
“We received a lot of feedback from our users and others that the main thing missing from production was the ability to view HDR affordably on set and in post on a larger screen.
“The NEON Monitors are not touch screens like our other products. This is really about the image fidelity. We don’t want any kind of fingerprints on the screen that can affect the monitoring quality. They are controlled via remote app. That also means you’re not having to sanitize the monitor in current careful environments.
“So, the 24″ is most likely for the DIT, Director or video village. It will also be good in the edit bay or grading suite. And the 17″ will allow for more accurate HDR monitoring or even SDR monitoring around set. Focus pullers, costume, hair, makeup and script, who often don’t get great monitoring/viewing, but are really responsible for delivering some of the most important aspects in the scene, will appreciate this.”
