Tag Archives: FDTimes
FDTimes NAB Edition Now Online
FDTimes Issue 75 April 2016 is now online. Subscribers can download–click on link. Paper copies are free at NAB and ship today to subscribers.
Tags: FDTimes
Angenieux Anamorphic 44-440 T4.5 Zoom
Here’s a new lens: the Angénieux Optimo 44-440 A2S T4.5 long range anamorphic zoom, to be shown at NAB. This is the 3rd A2S anamorphic zoom from Angénieux. The other members of the family are the Optimo 56-152 A2S T4 and the Optimo 30-72 A2S T4. The Optimo 44-440 A2S zoom lens has a dedicated rear group with cylinders and spherical elements that provide a 2x horizontal squeeze with high optical performance, minimal distortion and negligible breathing. There’s almost no geometric distortion or chromatic aberration. The aperture is T4.5 across the entire zoom range. It can be used wide open without loss of quality. Close focus is 4’ 1” (1.24m), and it is 16.6 lb (7.55 kg). read more…
Tags: anamorphic zoom, Angénieux, Angenieux 44-440, FDTimes
Captain Cooke and 135mm Anamorphic
Ahoy there. EMIT in Paris has taken delivery of the new Cooke 135mm Anamorphic /i prime. The long-awaited Cooke 135 Anamorphic Prime was at IBC. Like the rest of the “S6” set, it’s a front anamorphic (oval bokehs). The current Cooke 2x Anamorphic set consists of: 25, 32, 40, 50, 65 Macro, 75, 100 and 135 mm. Cooke 135 mm Anamorphic /i… read more…
Tags: Anamorphic Primes, Cooke, Cooke 135mm Anamorphic, EMIT, FDTimes
A Minimalistic Sony Camera: FS5
There are a bunch of breakthrough technologies and good ideas in the new mini Sony PXW-FS5 4K camera. Read complete report in FDTimes September Edition, now online. 1. Variable ND: Internal, 7 stops, CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE! The ND control knob is continuously variable from clear to ND2.1 (7 stops). Or, with the flick of a switch, you can choose one of four presets.
Tags: FDTimes, FDTimes FS5, PXW-FS5 4K camera, Sony FS5, Sony PXW-FS5
FDTimes Sept IBC Issue 71 Coming Soon
Starry light…low light…moonlight…no light…new cameras…new lenses…flares…FDTimes September 2015 Issue 71 will be ready on opening day of IBC. Printing in LA and Amsterdam. Find us at IBC Booth 11.F31 (courtesy of Aaton Digital – Transvideo) and get free paper copies at the booths of our sponsors. read more…
Tags: FDTimes, Film and Digital Times
Filming in Israel and Band Pro Open House
The Israeli film market is seeing changes in production. Even some of the more prominent movies are being shot with basic DSLRs or even iPhones. There’s a shift in what filmmakers essentially need and use to make their films. To address this, the 4th Band Pro Film and Digital Open House in Israel took place on July 30th with hands-on product demos and in-depth technical seminars. read more…
Preston Light Ranger 2 Updates
Preston Cinema is shipping the new Light Ranger 2 and they are now working on some major productions. One big surprise is how great the range is. Initial specs put the far distance at around 40-60 feet. Actual practice is astoundingly several hundred feet. And the close distance is several millimeters in front of the lens. Updates were shown at Cine Gear. read more…
Tags: FDTimes, Howard Preston, Light Ranger 2, Preston, Preston LR2
ARRI Alexa Mini Factory Visit
I visited ARRI in Munich this May to get a first-hand look at assembly of the Alexa Mini. This is a reprint from the report in FDTimes Issue 70 — June 2015. read more…
Tags: Alexa Mini, ARRI, FDTimes
Canon HDR Monitors
At NAB, Canon showed a prototype HDR 4K monitor. That led to some questions for Mr. Shinichi Yamato, head of the Display Product Business Unit of Canon Inc, Japan, and Mr. Hitoshi Doi, Future Product & Solution Group at Canon U.S.A. read more…
Leica M PL Mount
The Leica M PL Mount lets you attach PL mount cine lenses onto Leica M (Typ 240) and M Monochrom (Type 246) rangefinder cameras. Of course, you’ll want to use Leica Summilux-C and Summicron-C primes, but the adapter will work with almost any other PL cine lens. read more…
Tags: Adapters, FDTimes, Leica, PL to M Mount Adapter
Leica’s new M Monochrom (246)
Leica’s new M Monochrom (Typ 246) was introduced in May. We spoke with Jesko von Oeynhausen, the Leica M Monochrom Product Manager. “The sensor for the Leica M (Typ 240 and 246) was designed and constructed specifically for photography with Leica M-Lenses. Thanks to the use of only one cover glass instead of three, the number of air-to-glass surfaces is reduced from six to only two. This means that less light is absorbed, fewer reflections occur, and more light can reach the sensor. On top of this, the cover glass used for the sensor in M-Cameras is also multi-coated to reduce reflections…” read more…
Tags: Cameras, FDTimes, Leica, M Monochrom
The Business of the Business: Matt Danilowicz, CEO Vitec Videocom
Matt Danilowicz, CEO Vitec Videocom: “Our marketplace is moving much faster than it ever has before. I feel like there are more changes, more people entering the business… All of those things require a faster and more powerful response from companies… I think the market’s always going to be tiered. It’s going to be the high-end of the pyramid where people really demand the best and they have to have it and absolutely are going to pay for it. Then you have an intermediate part of the market where people are going to aspire to have those products. Maybe they can’t always afford them. And then you have the part of the market that’s growing the fastest, that’s broadening the fastest: all the people who are entering the business and buying their first camera, buying their first tripod…” read more…
Tags: Anton Bauer, FDTimes, Gold Mount, Matt Danilowicz, Sidefinder, Tripods, Vitec, Vitec Videocom
Steadicam M-1, Steadicam 40th Anniversary, Cartoni 80th Anniversary
Tiffen introduced the new Steadicam M-1. Its modular, ultra-rigid design and innovative features make it the most hotly anticipated “big rig” in decades. AT NAB, Steadicam celebrated their 40th Anniversary and Cartoni celebrated their 80th Anniversary. read more…
Dan May, BMD Pres, on URSA Mini and more
It’s always good to spend time with Dan May at NAB for an interesting guided tour. He puts things in perspective and explains not only the what and how of new equipment, but why. read more…
Tags: Blackmagic, Blackmagic URSA, FDTimes, Micro Cinema Camera, NAB
Hawk65 from Vantage Film
On February 9, 2015, Vantage Film announced three new sets of lenses for 65mm format. Since then, other products and pieces of the puzzle have come together. RED introduced the RED Weapon 8K camera, with its 21.60 x 40.96 mm sensor at NAB. ARRI announced an alliance of Alexa 65 with IMAX. I met with Peter Martin in Los Angeles. Peter is CEO of Vantage Film and leads technical development along with CEO Wolfgang Baumler.
Tags: FDTimes, Hawk, Hawk65, Vantage Film
Cooke 65 mm Macro Anamorphic /i 2x Prime
Here’s the lens that many cinematographers have been waiting for from Cooke. Cooke introduces their new 65 mm Macro Anamorphic /i 2x Prime lens at Cine Gear. It has a close-up magnification ratio of 4.1:1. read more…
Canon’s Mr. Maeda alludes to future technology
“Lunch with the FT” is a weekly column in the Financial Times. Their weekly interview with a leading cultural or business luminary was something we have been doing—but to paraphrase Virginia Woolf, “It’s dinner one wants, not lunch.” It was therefore a pleasant surprise to receive an email from Mr. Hitoshi Doi, head of the Future Product & Solution Group at Canon U.S.A. “Jon,” he wrote, “Can you slip away for a couple of hours during NAB to have lunch with Mr. Maeda and me?” Mr. Masaya Maeda is Managing Director and Chief Executive of Image Communication Products Operations at Canon. read more…
Tags: Canon, FDTimes, HDR, Lenses, Masaya Maeda
All About Dolly Track
Dolly track is a long story. When you go back far enough in history there’s a classic division between European and American track dimensions. Most of the European track was 1¼ inch diameter, and most of the American manufactured track was 1½ inch diameter. At some point during the mid ’70s and early ’80s, there was a realization that this really had to be standardized. We’ve all kind of moved to the 1½ inch diameter for the rails. Along with this, we started having all sorts of problems with rails bending, which plainly and simply was a function of moving from simply using dollies to using small manned cranes, to using larger manned cranes, to using very large manned cranes and enormous unmanned cranes. And then there’s the question of aluminum or steel. read more…
Tags: Dolly Track, FDTimes, Wick Hempleman
Gavin Finney BSC, “Wolf Hall,” candlelit, Leica Summilux-C T1.4, Alexa, Handheld
“Wolf Hall” is a series on BBC and PBS Masterpiece Theatre about Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance), a blacksmith’s son who rose to power as chief minister to King Henry VIII. Gavin Finney, BSC was the cinematographer. read more…
Fujifilm IS-Mini
The Fujifilm IS-Mini is a complete color management and monitor profiling system. It’s a small hardware box and comes with free software. It’s inexpensive and is an essential tool for DITs and post houses. The color science behind it is very sophisticated. You can use IS-Mini to create a LUT or CDL for the DP on set; and, if you have multiple monitors on set, you can attach a separate IS-Mini to each monitor. read more…
