Monthly Archives: February 2016
ZEISS at CP+ Yokohama Japan
ZEISS Team at CP+ in Yokohama — the largest Photo Show in Japan. ZEISS is showing the entire product lines of Touit, Batis and Loxia lenses for mirrorless cameras, Milvus SLR lenses, Compact Primes, Compact Zooms and binoculars. And handing out Film and Digital Times. read more…
March of the Penguins — Part III — Costa Rica
The day after the ASC Awards, Steve Turner and I (photographed by Tobias Keuthen) made our way through Tapanti Rainforest, an hour away from Cartago, Costa Rica, and the high tech Vitec OConnor – Sachtler factory. When I heard Costa Rica, I thought eco-tourism, hiking, surfing, volcanos, rainforests and coffee. Little did I know that this country, which ranks 1st in the world for sustainable tourism, is also home to many high tech companies like Intel, HP, Glaxo, Baxter, and of course, Vitec. read more…
Tags: Costa Rica Factory, OConnor, OConnor 2575, Vitec
March of the Penguins, Part II — ASC After-Party
Two years ago, I visited Steve Turner, Product Manager of OConnor, at Vitec’s Bury St Edmunds Factory. “One day, you should visit our plant in Costa Rica,” he said. So, here we are, two years later, at an ungodly early morning hour, as we staggered out of the ASC Awards After-Party (above) and headed for an Air Alaska Flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. That story comes next. read more…
Tags: ASC Awards, Bill Bennett, John Toll
The 2016 ASC Awards – Updated
Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC; Vanja Cernjul, ASC, HFS; Pierre Gill, CSC; Adam Arkapaw, ACS; and Mátyás Erdély, HSC won in the four competitive categories at the 30th Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for Outstanding Achievement. John Toll, ASC got lifetime achievement award, Lowell Peterson got Career Achievement in TV, Ridley Scott got Board of Governors Award, and Bill Bennett, ASC received ASC Presidents Award. read more…
Tags: ASC Awards
March of the Penguins, Part I – Sci-Techs
At the Oscar Sci-Tech Awards on Feb 13, Michael John Keesling was recognized “for the design and development of Image Shaker, an optical system that convincingly creates the illusion of the camera shaking in a variable and repeatable manner. Invented twenty years ago, it continues to be used today.” If your script says “earthquake, volcano, torpedo hit, or Saving Private Ryan storming… read more…
Tags: Clairmont Camera, Oscars, Sci-Tech
Panasonic VariCam LT
Panasonic launched the VariCam LT — LT as in Lite (Bud Lite, Arricam LT…) It’s a lighter, smaller, lower-priced version of the VariCam 35. Same 4K sensor, same dual native 800/5000 ISO, smaller body. It looks like Mr. Miyagi’s Panasonic team, with Taka Mitsui and Barry Russo and many others, came up with a very appealing camera. The Panasonic VariCam LT (official model number AU-V35LT1G) weighs about 6 lb. It will be at home on Steadicams, rigs, gimbals, drones, cranes, remote heads, handheld or shoulder-resting. It could be an indie A camera or big budget B camera. Actually, with cameras multiplying on big shows, I can imagine it being part of an arsenal of 10-20 cameras ready to roll. read more…
Tags: Panasonic, VariCam LT
VariCam LT LA Launch
Last night we joined hundreds of industry professionals at the Directors Guild of America LA building for a well-run presentation of the VariCam LT. After a nice sizzle reel of VariCam 35 projects and testimonials from filmmakers, Mr. Miyagi, Director of Panasonic’s Professional Video Business Unit, unveiled the new camera with unmistakable enthusiasm. read more…
Sony a6300 APS-C
Feb 3, 2016. New York. Sony introduced a new APS-C size mirrorless e-mount still / UHD video camera: the α6300. It shares the same e-mount as the full frame α7 — flange depth of 18mm. 24.2 MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS sensor UHD 3840 x 2160 video recording Blazingly fast autofocus. Sony says it’s the world’s fastest autofocus When do you… read more…
Tags: Sony a6300, α6300
Fujinon Moves to Cypress, CA
If you’ve been going to Redondo Beach for Fujinon lens service for the past 21 years, it’s time to reprogram your GPS. Fujinon’s Western Service and Sales facility is moving to a big, new Fujifilm location in Cypress, CA beginning Feb 15, 2016. It’s a few minutes off the 405 Freeway — about 8 miles inland from Seal Beach and arguably some of… read more…
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Canon’s new EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR was introduced on February 1. It’s a Full Frame 35mm (24x36mm) high-end professional still camera that also shoots 4K video. This is the camera that will be seen, and used, during the election season, at the summer Olympic games, and wherever flagship Canon DSLRs tend to go. read more…
Tags: Canon, EOS-1D Mark II
