Cooke NAB 2011 Evening

More than 65 guests attended the annual Cooke Evening on April 13, 2011 to mingle and discuss the state of motion picture industry. Here is a selection of comments from John Bowring ACS, Danys Bruyere, TSF ; Juan Pablo Fabres, JPF Cine; Barry Measure, Take 2 Films; Tarun Kumar, Anand Cine Service; Ernesto Musitelli, Musitelli Film And Digital; Thomas Järn, Dagsljus; Noah Weinzweig, Redgate Rentals; Denny Clairmont, Clairmont Camera; Robert Howard, CCEO Cooke Optics; Jon Fauer; Les Zellan, Chairman Of Cooke Optics; Geoffrey Chappell, Sales For Cooke Optics.

Sony Tour - Updated Reprint - April 2011 (PDF)

Sony invited us to tour their facilities in Japan to see their latest cameras and technology.

Our 28 page report takes us from the Atsugi Tech Center south of Tokyo to Kumamoto on the south island of Kyushu, where Sony's 20 Megapixel CMOS sensors for the new F65 cameras are made. We learn about the F65, SRMemory, Recorders, 3D, NXCAM S35 NEX-FS100, HXR-NX70, F3 updates, and lots more.

Fujifilm - Fujinon Optics Factory Tour (PDF)

In March 2011, we visited the factory where Fujinon lenses are crafted.

This 14-page report is an overview of the company's history, shows the breadth of product design and developement, and then takes us where cinematographers want to go: to see lenses being ground, lens meisters measuring to incredibly fine tolerances, and one of the most advanced MTF testers being used during the assembly process.

SONY F3 (PDF)

A 12-page special report on the Sony PMW-F3 digital camcorder. It is another step in the democratization of cinematography—a 35mm format digital camcorder that is lighter, smaller, faster, cheaper. Unveiled as an "affordable 35" prototype at NAB, it was introduced at USC on November 17th with film students and independents in mind. But its appeal is greater. The body weighs a meager 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg).

ZEISS Tour (PDF)

Revised and completed updated, our 144 page guide to ZEISS Cine Lenses, construction, and a tour of Carl Zeiss factories in Jena and Oberkochen is now ready to download.

ARRI ALEXA Report (PDF)

Join us on a 24 page Cinematographer's Tour of ARRI ALEXA from Concept through Construction.

Medium Rez Spanish (4 MB PDF)

Leica Report Updated (PDF)

Leica History from first camera to Che to Cine Lenses. Updated 26 page report

Image Stabilization (PDF)

by Larry Thorpe, National Marketing Executive for
Broadcast & Communications, Canon USA Inc.

At NAB 2010, Larry presented a fascinating lecture on how image stabilization works.

He's graciously crafted this article in response to demand for more insight into how the two major systems of stabilizers work: Vari-Angle Prism IS and Shift Lens IS.

A Cinematographer's Tour of Kodak (PDF)

This report could be called “My Trip to Kodak.”

I was recently invited to take a whirlwind tour compressing a hundred years of film manufacturing progress into a few fascinating hours.

This is not intended to be a technical treatise on how to build your own film factory, but to illuminate the process of film manufacturing so that fellow cinematographers and students might better appreciate the fascinating technology and process behind the product.

Leica Summilux-C Cine Lens Saga (PDF)

Reprint from June 2010 Issue 32+33

6 Pages. 2 MB PDF

Background on the development, from 2005, of the new line of Leica PL mount Cine Lenses. With information on the individuals involved: Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Christian Skrein, Otto Nemenz, Iain Neil, Band Pro, Alfred Schopf, and Erik Feichtinger. Interview with Christian Skrein and an in-depth discussion with prominent optical designer Iain Neil.

High Resolution Download (2 MB PDF)

Element Technica (PDF)

Reprint from Feb 2010 Special Report

6 Pages. 3 MB PDF

If I were a venture capitalist or investment banker, I'd be writing a report as wildly enthusiastic about Element Technica as...this Film and Digital Times article. Here's a company of really talented people who really get it-- founded and run by Hector Ortega and Stephen Pizzo. They make leading-edge 3D rigs and essential accessories. Read on.

Cine Gear to New Year - Feb 2010 Special Report (PDF)

68 Pages. Online Only

This issue uses Cine Gear as a prism to establish where we were in mid-year 2009, compared with where we are today, February 2010, and foreshadowing where we are headed:
Cine Gear 2010.

Trade Show Mania - January 2010 Report

Read the report by Oli Laperal, Jr on 6 major trade shows and important conferences:

1. Storage Visions. 2. CES. 3. IEEE/ICCE.
4. Red Camera Showcase.
5. 3D Displays & Applications.
6. SPIE Photonics.

Cooke 5/i and Panchro/i IBC Special (PDF)

The lensmakers in Leicester have been working overtime. Cooke surprised us at IBC with a new series: The Cooke 5/i. There will initially be 9 lenses in the series: 18, 25, 32, 40, 50, 65, 75, 100 and 135mm, all T1.4-T22. Read about our tests of 100mm pre-production samples of the new 5/i and Panchro/i lenses, along with a Cooke S4/i 100mm. The Cooke Look isn’t imaginary—it’s really there.

NEW Midsummer A-Z Online Report (PDF)

Totally revised and updated September 2, 2009. Our NAB 2009 Report from A to Z.

In case you missed NAB or want a quick review after your long summer vacation, get ready for IBC with this newly updated tour. All the latest additions and retractions. A digital digest, an in-depth look at the companies from Aaton to ZEISS.

The Low Rez PDF displays in single pages. The High and Medium Rez PDFs look like our paper edition with 2-page spreads. If you prefer single-page view, save the file and go to Acrobat's FILE VIEW, PAGE DISPLAY, 2-UP.

April-July 2009 NAB Issue 22-24

The Early Years of Super 16 and how it all started

by Rune Ericson

Rune Ericson, the father of Super 16, goes back to April 1966 and takes us on a guided tour of the invention and evolution of this important format.

Russian Production: Online Report (PDF)

From Russia With Roman. Here’s an article on the current state of affairs and the art by Roman Hoffmann. Roman knows Russia well, as Marketing Director of Dedo Weigert Film, with offices in Munich and Moscow. Roman also writes, teaches and provides production services.
www.pb-hoffmann.com

Aaton: Special Online Report (PDF)

We travel to Grenoble, France to speak with Aaton’s Jean-Pierre Beauviala and explore the ‘artisanal’ craftsmanship involved in the cameras’ manufacture.

2MB PDF

Blixt Camera: Special Online Report (PDF)

We recently visited Björn Blixt and Blixt Camera Rental in Copenhagen, Denmark. Björn is a fellow cinematographer with a wicked wit, cunning at punning and an enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit.

2MB PDF

3D: Stereoscopic Cinematography (PDF)

Articles on 3D history, definitions, theory, practice, technique and tools: by Rob Hummel, Alain Derobe, Florian Maier and Michael Phillips.

1.2MB PDF

Canon HJ40x10B telephoto EFP lens

If you get this close to heaven bring a long lens.

By Dickson Sorensen

Sony EX3 with Sample Video

6 minute Test Video shot with Sony EX3

A Cinematographer’s Guide to Zeiss (PDF)

How to Build a Cine Lens. A special 10 page report and tour of Carl Zeiss, with an inside look at lens design and manufacturing in Jena and Oberkochen

3.2MB PDF

Transvideo Story (PDF)

A 32-page Special Report. On location with Transvideo Monitors and a visit to Transvideo manufacturing and headquarters in Verneuil sur Avre, France

3.4MB PDF

Angénieux Tour (PDF)

An 8-page Special Edition. We travel to Saint-Héand, France for an inside and in-depth tour of the Angénieux factory and learn how Angénieux lenses are made.

2.2MB PDF

Cooke Book (PDF)

A tour of the Cooke factory in Leicester, England: the first time a mortal cinematographer was allowed unrestricted access with a camera into the inner sanctum and holy of holies of lens creation.

2MB PDF

ARRIFLEX 16SR3 Intro (Movie)

9 min, streaming Quicktime

ARRICAM Mirror Shutter (Movie)

1 min, streaming Quicktime

Two Cameras, No Waiting (PDF)

A side-by-side comparison of the Arricam Studio (ST) and Lite (LT), including a specs table

116k PDF

ARRICAM Films, Tutorials, How-To Videos online

Videos about ARRICAM cameras.

Cooke Series 4 Primes (PDF)

Detailed specs and images of the prime series, including the S4/i Electronic Lens System

912k PDF