Monthly Archives: September 2010
FGV PL1D: Canon EOS 1D with PL Mount
FGV Schmidle have done it: added a PL mount and modified Canon’s EOS 1D MKIV. The mirror cage is replaced by a new FGV stainless steel sensor carrier that minimizes flange focal depth variation from temperature changes. The Canon 1D Mk IV is especially interesting for cinematographers because its 16 Megapixel APS-H sensor (27.9 x 18.6 mm) comes closest to the… read more…
Tags: Canon, FGV Schmidle
Hybrid Optical – Video Viewfinder
FUJIFILM Corporation introduced the new FinePix X100 at Photokina 2010, a high-end digital compact camera with an APS-C CMOS sensor, Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 fixed focal length lens and an interesting new Hybrid Viewfinder. It should be available in early 2011. The Hybrid Viewfinder on the FinePix X100 combines a rangefinder-type “bright frame” optical viewfinder, and an electronic viewfinder. By using… read more…
Ross Lowell Photo Exhibition
Ross Lowell, founder of Lowel-Light, is at it again. See two dozen banners of his nature photography in large thirty-square-foot images, suspended from stately trees along a serpentine trail in the “Forest of Possibilities” at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. The banners were prepared by Josh Dick and printed by National Geographic Imaging. Routes 121 and 35 in Cross River, NY. Artist’s reception: Sunday… read more…
Tags: Lowel
ARRI Alexa Simulator
Test fly the ARRI Alexa with your computer, laptop or, even better, an iPad. The interactive, touch-sensitive, iPad-friendly simulator is online. Click here for the fullscreen version. It’s not an App but a fully functional, cross-platform live demo. Best viewed with iPad, because the touch screen works and you can twirl the rotary dial. For aeasy access: when viewing the… read more…
Tags: ARRI
Francesca Storaro, AILD, AIDI, PLDA, IALD
An elegant lady dressed in white tapped me on the shoulder in the lobby at Cinec. “Nice article,” she said. It was Francesca Storaro, above, author of that article in the September issue of FDTimes. Francesca is a prominent Lighting Designer, recently recognized by “Mondo Arc” as one of the top 50 lighting designers in the world. Read the article online: FrancescaStoraro_Domes150
Tags: Lighting
Alexa Plus at IBC and Cinec
The Alexa Plus is the newest addition to ARRI’s line of (digital) cameras. The PLUS provides built-in lens control and lens data, familiar to Arriflex 416 Plus users. Owners of “regular” Alexa EV models are offered an upgrade path to the Plus at a reduced rate. ARRI also introduced the RCU-4 remote control panel, which is capable of controlling everything… read more…
Supertechno 100
Every Cinec visitor must have seen this at the show. It was too large to miss. Right in front of the entrance of hall 3, the Supertechno 100 was raised into the blue Bavarian sky. (the Crane in front is the Panther Galaxy: 57 ft max lens height) After 4 years in development, Horst Burbulla premiered the Supertechno 100 at Cinec…. read more…
Tags: Cinec, crane, grip, supertechno
Solid Grip Systems Camera Cart
The Solid Grip Systems camera cart, designed by Dutch key grip Onno Perdijk, can be disassembled so that all parts are contained between two shelves. Its modular design allows shelves to be added as needed. Onno also offers some accessories like the bicycle bell (see picture), or a bracket to attach a sliding base plate for easy camera transport.
Rickshaw Dolly
Hans Hellner, key grip from Hamburg, Germany, presented his newest invention, the Rickshaw Dolly at this year’s Cinec. The Rickshaw Dolly is a wheelchair dolly deluxe. It is made of solid aluminium plates, equipped with downhill mountainbike wheels, hydraulic disk brakes, and has an adjustable seat and footrest. It allows the camera operator to sit in comfort while being pushed or… read more…
Tags: Cinec, dolly, grip, Rickshaw Dolly
Best Chef at Cinec
Once again, Master Chef and Caterer Martin Hartweg presided over Band Pro Munich’s sumptuous array of fine wines, air dried meat, olives and cheeses from his farm in Italy. The crowds were thick — for surely after detailed demos of 3D, Sony 9000, Leica Primes, Codex Recorders and much more by Gerhard Baier, Fred Myers, Seth Emmons and the rest… read more…
Tags: Band Pro
The Envelope…Bitte…at Cinec
In the historic Kaisersaal (Emperor’s Hall) of Munich’s Residenz, 9 Cinec Bavaria Statues were awarded from 43 applications. For Camera Technology: ARRI: ALEXA Digital Camera System P+S Technik GmbH: 16Digital SR Mag Optics: Chrosziel: MTF Star System Camera Support / Grip: Filmotechnic Europe : Gyro-stabilized “Russian Arm” Campilots: Multicopter Camera Equipment: Transvideo: CineMonitorHD 3DView Evolution Lighting: Dedo Weigert: Panaura Licht-Technik Hagenbach+Grill:… read more…
Tags: Cinec
Kino Flo Practicals
The most useful, simple and earth-changing product we saw at Cinec and IBC was the new Kino Flo compact fluorescent (daylight and tungsten) bulb. This is something cinematographers have been dreaming of for a long time: to screw a color-correct Edison-based fluorescent bulb into practical lamps and lighting fixtures that perfectly match larger on-set Kino Flo units. Up to now, there… read more…
Ikonoskop ACam DII
The guys from Sweden who brought us the Acam 16 mm camera a few years ago are now presenting the Acam DII. The Acam DII is a small and lightweight HD Camcorder that records 1920×1080 RAW CinemaDNG directly on excangeable 160 GB drives. It is available with C-mount, Leica-mount or PL-mount.
Marvin: Washing Machine for Data
An “automatic washing machine for video data”. That’s how Russell Branch of Marvin Technologies describes Marvin. Basically, Marvin takes a RED CF card, and performs a so called protocol. A protocol in this case, is a list of chores Marvin will perform, like copying data to the built in raid, verifying the copied files, process them to Quicktime, archive them on… read more…
Cine Deck
Alan Hoff from Cinedeck calls his product an “extremely capable recorder”. A look at the spec sheet shows, he’s not bragging. The Cinedeck ($ 9995) is not much larger than a 7″ monitor, records up to 4:4:4 uncompressed (with a $ 2995 option installed), has Ambient timecode ($ 795 option) and records to SSDs or SSD raids. The base version… read more…
Tags: Cinedeck, IBC, Products of Note, Recorder
ARRI DSLR Accessories
ARRI has expanded their product line for prosumer HD camcorders and DSLRs.
P+S Technik and Augusta
P+S TECHNIK’s Alfred and Anna Piffl and Andreas Dasser had major news at the company’s 20th anniversary party. A large group convened in a larger event hall, converted from an old industrial space across the street from Cinec. AUGUSTA Technologie AG (ISIN DE000A0D6612), a specialist in sensor and automations systems, has purchased a 55.5% stake in the acquisition of shares from… read more…
Tags: P+S Technik
IBC 2010
IBC in Amsterdam saw attendance increase to almost 49,000, the second highest level in its entire history. Healthy numbers: 8.7% increase from last year, 1300+ exhibits, 300 speakers in 60+ conference sessions, 100,000+ sq. meters, 150+ training sessions. Two new additional halls were added: Hall 12 and 13. These are good indications that the recession is hopefully over as clearly… read more…
Tags: IBC
Leica Report
Leica’s headquarters in Solms is halfway between Amsterdam and Munich. As we wind up IBC and begin Cinec, here is an expanded report–click here.
Tags: Leica
FDTimes at IBC
We’re almost out of magazines at our booth #40 in IBC. More at the printers, going directly to Cinec in Munich
Tags: Film and Digital Times
