Geo Film Group / Alpha Stabilized wins the FDTimes-Cinec “Why didn’t I think of that Award.” How many times have we taped a Microforce to a gear head’s tilt wheel to be able to pan/tilt/zoom? Crude and somewhat effective. Now, George Nolan’s group has separated the Preston Microforce force sensor zoom button from its housing, built it into a tilt-wheel… read more…

Here we go with the first salvo of reports on interesting innovations and products at Cinec 2012. In the week between IBC and Cinec, the lights must have been burning late at Transvideo in Verneuil-sur-Avre, because they came to Cinec with some things not seen in Amsterdam. Jacques Delacoux and crew came up with this helpful idea: mounting a Preston… read more…

It was an Anamorphic Cinec. The big news for many were the many new lenses announced to squeeze a 2.39:1 scene onto a 4:3 sensor. As predicted, the race to provide and produce classic ‘Scope 2x squeeze lenses is on. Panavision and Vantage still have the largest inventories so far. Vantage is building new lenses and introducing new designs at… read more…

More news from Photokina confirming the advance of 24 x 36 mm format for not only stills but also cine. Sony is showing their new NEX-VG900  consumer camcorder with full-frame 24 x 36 mm 24 Megapixel sensor and E-mount (18 mm flange focal depth). It shoots full-frame, 24 megapixel still photos (including RAW) and AVCHD 24p – 60p video. The camera will sell… read more…

At the pre-Photokina Leica event this evening, Dr. Andreas Kaufmann introduced the next Leica M camera: not the anticipated M10, but elegantly, simply “M.” The Leica M has a new 24 Megapixel, full frame 24 x 36 mm CMOS image sensor, which enables Live View and 1080p HD video. This is what we’ve been waiting for. The race is on… read more…

It’s setup day for vendors and free-range press access at Photokina, the enormous bi-annual photography trade show in Cologne. I have two words so far: large sensors. The 24 x 36 mm format is popping up everywhere, on new cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and others. Which means that motion picture cameras will be using 24×36 soon. Shallower depth… read more…

RED’s Meizler Module was presented at IBC, and it’s really smart. Above all, it’s a giant step toward a totally wireless set–with the promise of seamless communication for all departments. Add a Meizler Module to the Epic, and you’ll be able to send and/or receive picture, timecode, metadata, sound, camera control, lens control commands, slate info, camera reports, technical notes… read more…

The Cat is Back. Penelope Delta, the digital Aaton that sits like a cat comfortably on your shoulder, was working in the Angenieux booth and attracting crowds at IBC. Above: Jean-Pierre Beauviala, Linda Carriel (Angenieux Egerie), Aaton Penelope Delta, Angenieux Optimo 45-120. Aaton Digital Penelope works and the images are stunning. We looked at footage shot last week by Caroline… read more…

Cooke Speed Panchro lenses have always been coveted, for reasons partly described in FDTimes’ “Cooke Look Back,” pages 30-35. It was therefore a great surprise when FDTimes subscriber and supporter Ian Turtill steered me to the True Lens Services Booth in Hall 11 at IBC. There, sitting like a Phoenix on the counter, was a prototype Cooke Speed Panchro lens… read more…

Here’s the new ARRI/ZEISS 50 mm Master Anamorphic on an Alexa Studio at IBC, above. Below is a mockup of the 35 mm Master Anamorphic. Classic oval bokehs, blue streaks, no distortion, no breathing. At IBC, both ARRI and ZEISS have working prototypes of the new 50 mm T1.9 Anamorphic lens on ARRI Alexa Studio cameras in their booths.  The Master Anamorphics… read more…

The Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera introduced at NAB came with a Canon EF mount–which was great if you had Canon EF still lenses. You may have been less thrilled if your inventory of lenses consisted of PL, or any of the other still lens brands on the planet. Blackmagic has a companion model at IBC–same body, but with a Micro… read more…

Canon’s 4th medium-format style Cinema EOS product, the new Canon EOS C100, will be shown at IBC. It is smaller, lighter and more affordable than the C300. The C100 weighs 2.2 lb and comes in Canon EF mount only. The camera portion is pretty much identical to the C300 and 500, using the same 8.3 Megapixel sensor. Image creation is the… read more…