Monthly Archives: April 2010
Nila SL Space Light
Space Lights are an efficient way to light large studio sets with relatively even “sky light” from above. They hang like giant lanterns from the studio grid. Spaced roughly every 10 feet apart, they are helpful for lighting floor space in front of white cycs and blue or green screen setups. A traditional tungsten Space Light consists of six 1000… read more…
Tags: Lighting
First Cooke 5/i Lenses at Clairmont
Clairmont Hollywood is the first US rental house with the new Cooke 5/i Primes. They are all T1.4, include /i Technology Lens Data, and have illuminated focus scales. Focal lengths: 18, 25, 32, 40, 50, 65, 75, 100, and 135mm. The 5/i Primes are color-matched with Cooke S4/i, Cooke Panchros, CXX 15-40 mm T2 Zoom, Cooke Zooms, and SK4 16mm… read more…
Sony PL (Z35)
Alec Shapiro, Senior VP Sales and Marketing, Sony Broadcast and Production Systems (above), taking the wraps off a new Sony prototype camcorder with PL mount at the Sony NAB press conference. It is expected to be ready between the end of 2010 and NAB 2011. The size and shape looks something like a cross between an HVRZ7U and a PMWEX3, with… read more…
Panasonic PL Camera
Panasonic was first out of the gate at NAB with PL-mounted, full-featured camcorder based on the DSLR phenomenon. Many expected something like this from Canon–but then, Panasonic was also first with the Lumix Micro Four-Thirds camera, which was quickly hotrodded by Illya Friedman and Hot Rod Cameras with a PL mount. A prototype of the new Panasonic AG-AF100 Camcorder was… read more…
Focus Optics Ruby 14-24 T2.8
Many of you know Stuart Rabin, who was a lens technician at Clairmont Camera and Panavision before founding his independent lens repair company in Tarzana, Focus Optics. (www.focusoptics.com) Stuart has completely redesigned the venerable Nikon 14-24 T2.8 zoom, reversed the focus marks so they travel in the “cine direction” we are used to, and put on a PL mount. Minimum… read more…
Aaton 4K Penelope-Delta
Eagerly awaited almost as long as Penelope herself, Aaton showed a working prototype of the Penelope-Delta Digital 4K “Magazine” at NAB. Expect working models at IBC 2010, and delivery probably this time next year. The large nautilus-looking sculpture where the film take-up inching knob used to be is a large silent fan—needed, as on most things digital, to cool the… read more…
ARRI Alexa adds Apple and Avid
The crowds waiting for a date with Alexa at ARRI’s NAB booth were reminiscent of the beginning of the revolution fomented in a Red Tent in South Hall a mere four years ago. What they saw were working models of the entry-level ARRI digital camera: A-EV, to be delivered this June. Missing was a bouncer at the entrance, although Bill… read more…
NAB Wrap-Up
NAB 2010 was truly the beginning of a new era. As usual, it was not what was initially intended. The initial spin was 3D from Camera to Couch (Panasonic) and Lens to Living Room (Sony). 3D rigs were everywhere, along with 3D monitors, controllers and 2D to 3D conversion tools. But beyond the 3D, we got a glimpse of where… read more…
Tags: Film and Digital Times, NAB
Lots of Lenses at NAB
Although 3D is one of the major themes of NAB, the abundance of new lenses is certainly remarkable. In addition to the new Arri/Fujinon Aluras (18-80 T2.6, 45-250 T2.6), there are four other new Fujinon HK (for momentary lack of a better name) PL zooms: 14-45 mm T2.0; 18-85 mm T2.0; 24-180 mm T2.6; 75-400mm T2.8-3.8. I saw them being… read more…
Tags: Lenses
Alexa and Alura
The alluring apparition at the DGA premiere of Alexa cameras with Alura lenses completes the alliteration of the alleged favorite trinity of Haskell Wexler, ASC: cameras, cars and chicks. The two new Arri/Fujinon Alura PL zooms are 18-80 mm and 45-250 mm T2.6. They will be marketed and distributed by Arri. Check out Alexas and Aluras at Arri’s booth at… read more…
Underwater Cinematography on “Oceans”
Underwater Cinematographer Didier Noirot moves in for a close-up. Painting by Marlena Fauer, from cover photo of Film and Digital Times NAB Edition, Issue 31, by Pascal Kobeh. Read all about the making of “Oceans” in the NAB Issue of Film and Digital Times, available online on Monday, April 12, at our booth C-6843, and coming to you by snail… read more…
Tags: Film and Digital Times
Cooke and Angénieux see /i to /i
Cooke Optics Ltd. and Thales Angénieux will announce a partnership agreement in which Angénieux will incorporate Cooke’s /i Technology into its line of lenses. We’ll hear the complete details at the press conference scheduled for 11am on Monday, April 12 in conference room N242 of the LVCC (North Hall Level 2, up the escalators near the cafeteria and book store). The idea behind… read more…
Fujinon 3-Perf & Micro 4/3 Angle of View Calculator (PDF)
To compare angle of view of 35mm 3-Perf with Micro Four Thirds (Lumix GH-1) format, enter data in Red. Answer appears in Blue. (This file is actually an XL document, not a PDF).
Leaping Lizards, the Mystery Lenses are Leicas
The lenses that could not be named are Leicas, and they will be on display at Band Pro’s NAB booth (C 10308). The initial set of Summilux-C Primes in PL mount will be: 16, 18, 21, 25, 35, 40, 50, 65, 75, 100 mm. They are all T1.4, and the focus scales of all lenses are identical and equally spaced…. read more…
Phantom Flex from Vision Research
Phantom Flex will be shown at NAB in the Abel Cine booth. It will shoot up to 2800 frames per second at 1920×1080. It also works at 24 fps and down to 5 fps. Sensitivity is measured at over 1,000 ISO. For more info, click here to view the latest on Abel’s blog.
Tags: Abel
Optimo Bleu
The Angénieux Optimo DP lenses are no longer only red. If you’re lining up for an ARRI Blue Alexa, you can get the 16-42 and 30-80 mm with blue rubber barrel rings. The two DP lenses fit Alexa EV models. Note: they will not work on the spinning mirror Alexa to be announced later this year. Check out the Optimo… read more…
Tags: Angénieux
Alexa debuts at DGA
Four working ARRI Alexas were the objects of attention for over a thousand guests at the DGA on April 7th, from 5pm – 10pm. There were many surprises. Alexa now supports two onboard SxS memory cards. Scenes are recorded as Quicktime .mov Apple ProRes files for simple direct-to-edit production. Insert the card into a laptop or reader and start editing… read more…
Film and Digital Times on iPad
Film and Digital Times is up and running on iPad. Visit us at NAB, Booth C-6843 to see it. Subscribers: log onto www.fdtimes.com/members with your username and password. View PDF files of the current issue and all archives on iPad’s Safari. We will be working on a Film and Digital Times iPad App. Oh…Issue 31 with the cover shark and… read more…
Tags: Film and Digital Times
Andy Romanoff retires from Panavision
Andy Romanoff retires from Panavision, after 27 years. He was Exec VP of technical marketing. Andy started Louma LA, which Panavison acquired in 1997 and re-named Panavision Remote Systems. Andy has been involved with Louma almost since the beginning. He was in France and saw a wonderful remote head above, and said, “This is what I have to do.” He is an… read more…
