5 reasons to use an external recorder when filming

Monday 4 September 2023, 16:16 by Nando Harmsen | 3,820 views | 6 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Do you like filming with a DSLR or mirrorless camera? Then you know there can sometimes be limitations. You can put up with them, or look for a solution. An external recorder might be that solution. Here are 5 reasons to use one.

Filming with a DSLR or mirrorless camera doesn't have to be a problem. However, you do have a number of limitations, which can vary depending on the make and model of your camera. You probably know what they are if you use the video features.

Recordings for Photofacts Academy with a Sony A7 camera. There is a 30-minute time limit, which can be difficult. The camera can also become too hot. These are things to take into account.
There may be a time limit for recordings. Only a limited number of video recording formats may be available. Controlling the exposure can be difficult. You may not have access to log recording. The small LCD screen on your camera can also be difficult to work with.

An external recorder can be a good solution to many of these problems. I spent a long time wondering whether I should buy one for my video recordings. After all, they aren't cheap. Now that I have one, I wouldn't want to be without it.

1. A larger screen for a better view

A larger screen gives you so much more enjoyment and convenience. This is the difference between the 3-inch screen of a Canon EOS R5 and the Atomos Ninja V
A camera's LCD screen is generally no larger than 3 inches. That works reasonably well for looking back at your photos. But viewing your footage while filming, and keeping an eye on the focus and exposure, is extremely difficult.

A larger screen makes this much easier, and gives you better control as well. A Ninja V, for example, has a 5-inch screen, which is considerably larger. You can go even bigger, but make sure it remains practical.

2. A choice of different recording formats

A camera has a number of recording options. These usually relate to the resolution of the video, and sometimes the quality. But there is more. Think of frame rate and recording in log format, or even raw format.

Choose recording formats that your camera doesn't have, such as ProRes RAW. It gives you more flexibility.
An external recorder usually offers more options. Not just in frame rates and quality, but also in recording formats. Think of ProRes RAW, for example. This gives you much more flexibility when choosing the best file format for your purpose.

3. More features for controlling exposure, focus and colour

A camera usually only allows you to display a histogram. Colour and focus are also hardly possible to check. Some cameras have more options, but never as many as an external recorder.

Some ways to control the exposure on the Ninja.
Think of an advanced histogram, false colour display, focus peaking, applying a LUT to your log recording, and much more. This way, you can be sure that the recordings you make are perfect.

4. An external hard drive is cheap and easier to use

Video takes up a lot of storage space. A 64GB card won't be enough, and I consider 256GB the absolute minimum. Especially when you want the highest possible quality.

Choose 1TB or larger hard drives to store your recordings. They are cheaper than regular memory cards.
With an external recorder, you can simply use a large 1TB or 2TB SSD. With an adapter, it works perfectly with your recorder. When you have finished recording, you simply connect the hard drive to your computer.

5. No time limit for recordings

One of the biggest annoyances is the time limit for video recordings on a camera. Sometimes there is a good reason for it, because a camera becomes very hot while filming. Half an hour is often the maximum. Although these days, that limit is increasingly being extended.

Record for longer than your camera's time limit.
With an external recorder, you don't have that limit. Want to record continuously for an hour? No problem. Two hours? No problem. You can even record for longer if you want. The only limit is probably the storage capacity or battery.

What am I using?

The recorder I have is an Atomos Ninja V. These are expensive devices, and you need some accessories with them. Think of an arm or a hot shoe adapter to mount the monitor. You also need a battery to power the recorder. And a hard drive to store your footage, of course.

The Atomos Ninja V during corporate recordings, with a LUT applied to the output signal. This allowed me to record and stream at the same time.
Atomos announced a new version of the Ninja recorder in August 2023. There is now a good chance that the old model will be offered on the second-hand market at an attractive price.

I also bought my Ninja V second-hand. It saved me quite a bit of money and I haven't regretted it for a moment.

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