PMI doubles down on smoke with the SmokeNINJA PRO

If you’ve been following around, you know that we are big fans of PMI’s handheld smoke machines. Both the Smoke Genie and the younger Smoke Ninja are essential tools for storytellers, and we have reviews of both in the links above.

Now PMI is double-down on the Smoke Ninja, adding a Pro version with some worthy features. Oddly enough, it is 20% cheaper than the previous “non-pro” version. My guess is that mass production helps them reach better pricing, but these are just my thoughts.

Better haze

Unlike the previous handheld fan, PMI redesigned an entire Haze solution with a nozzle designed from the ground up. Not only is the fan permanently attached to the Smoke Ninja, but it is also built to supply 1000 sq feet per burst while maintaining below 20 decibels. I know many (myself included) are using haze for product or broll shots where audio does not really matter, but going below 20 decibels actually opens the option to create haze on set while still recording audio.

“Bubble Rain” effect

If you follow trends on social media, you will occasionally see a smoke bubble burst. You use a lot of those in product shots. The Smoke Ninja Pro has a new nozzle just for creating some bubbles, and you can control the size of the bubbles using the different presets. You would need a special nozzle and a separate formula to create the bubbles, and those will be available separately as refills.

Ninja Trident Super blast

While the PMI gear mainly targets smaller sets, they are also foraying into medium-sized sets with the Ninja Trident. While this is not a new machine, it is a dedicated handle that operates three Smoke Ninja Pro units to create extra smoke. In trio mode, coverage goes up to 2,000 square feet, and according to PMI, it has enough throughput to be used outdoors. All three units can be effortlessly controlled through a built-in remote control on the handle, making it perfect for any filming environment.

DMX and USB-C controls

On the control front, you can still use the remote, like you could with the Smoke Genie and the Smoke Ninja, but the Smoke Ninja Pro adds two more control options: A wired USB-C and a more standard wireless DMX control. Aside from the bigger output of the Ninja Trident, I think that this is the main reason the Smoke Ninja Pro gets the “Pro” label.

General improvements

Aside from the new features, there are some spec upgrades to the core unit. The first is an improved liquid blocker, which minimizes “liquid spits” that tend to fly off the end off the nozzle.

The second upgrade is an improved cooldown system that allows for X3 smoke per burst and X3 faster cooling times. At the end, this means that yo don’t need to “rest” between bursts, and the bursts themselves are longer, which means it takes less time to fill up a space with haze or dispense smoke.

Price and availability

The SmokeNINJA PRO is released in multiple packages, and is available to pre order.

• Basic kit starting at $199
• HAZER Kit starting at $229
• TRIDENT kit with three sets of Smoke Ninja Pro units and the Trident handle for $690

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