Author Archives: Jon Fauer
Koichi Nakayama, DP / Production Co. Owner
With InterBEE coming up next week (Nov. 18-20) in Japan, let’s focus on a Koichi Nakayama — cinematographer and production company owner. I met him a few months ago at the offices of NAC Rental in Tokyo. Yasuaki Mitsuwa, NAC Image Technology Head of Global Sales, translated. read more…
Sony RIALTO 65 Report Updated
This is an update to the Sony RIALTO 65 Report by FDTimes. It has new details and specifications, imager modes, framelines and aspect ratio measurements. Prices, acessories, history and more.
There’s a section on how lenses cover RIALTO 65. You may ask, “What is coverage, illumination, vignetting, shading, and the meaning of life on location?”
There will be additional updates next week.
Clair Popkin on EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE
EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE is the feature-length National Geographic, Disney and Little Monster Films documentary by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin about a ski mountaineer who overcomes incredible personal losses to fulfill a dream of being the first person to ski down the treacherous north face of Mt. Everest. It’s in IMAX and other theaters now.
Clair Popkin, award-winning cinematographer, discusses his incredible work on the film over several years, with cameras that became lighter and provided images that couldn’t have been done before, and by an eclectic selection of lenses, some breathless, all breathtaking. read more…
Stephen Murphy BSC ISC on THE GENTLEMEN S2
As Netflix describes Guy Ritchie’s THE GENTLEMEN Season 2, “A year can change a gentleman.” Eddie Horniman (played by Theo James) has graduated from reluctant duke. He and Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) have grown their business, introducing an “eclectic assortment of allies, adversaries and aristocrats” along with the usual suspects. It’s streaming on Netflix now. This is an interview with Stephen Murphy, BSC, ISC — the Cinematographer of Episodes 3, 4, 5 and 8 of THE GENTLEMEN, Season 2, directed by Eran Creevy. read more…
ONI NYC: Otto Nemenz Int’l opens in New York
Otto Nemenz International celebrated the opening of their New York City offices last Friday. The famous camera rental company founded by Otto Nemenz in 1979 on Sunset Boulevard has expanded with offices in LA, Atlanta and now New York.
And what a wonderful location it is. On the Brooklyn Sunset Park waterfront, a 12-minute ferry ride from Wall Street, ONI NYC is in the historic Brooklyn Army Terminal. There is ample parking for your car and equipment cart, massive freight elevators to move equipment and a picture postcard view of New York Harbor. read more…
Sony RIALTO 65
Oct. 29, 2026. Sony announces additional details of the RIALTO 65 Camera Extension System for VENICE 2. RIALTO 65 is essentially a new front-end for the VENICE 2. You can use your existing camera, replace the forward section, and it will be familiar to users of the Sony Extension Systems (RIALTO and RIALTO Mini). RIALTO 65 has a 65mm format image sensor with a 1.5:1 aspect ratio. Sensor dimensions are 53.75 × 35.83 mm. Image diagonal is 64.60 mm.
There has been some hand-wringing about many lenses that do not cover a 64.60 mm image diagonal. Fear not. Unless you are shooting full-height 3:2, chances are your widescreen release format may be 2.20:1, 2.39:1 or 2:1. In that case, using the RIALTO 65’s sensor mode of 9.6K 2.20:1 will provide a pleasing 59.04 mm image diagonal. Of course, you can shoot full-height 3:2 Open Gate and crop in post.
All the rest of the VENICE 2 features are the same: such as color science, internal recording in 16-bit X-OCN and existing post-production workflow. read more…
Tags: Sony RIALTO 65
TRIBE7 & IB/E Optics & K70 Primes
October 29, 2026. How convenient. Today, TRIBE7 and IB/E Optics announce a partnership and also new K70 Primes that cover the entire Sony RIALTO 65 sensor. TRIBE7 + IB/E Optics = Tr-IBE. Neil Fanthom, Director of TRIBE7 and Klaus Eckerl, President and Senior Optical Designer at IB/E Optics announce a partnership to combine IBE’s R&D, manufacturing and sales capabilities with Tribe7’s industry relationships and brand recognition. read more…
Eben Bolter ASC BSC on SLOW HORSES
SLOW HORSES ranks number 1 on Apple TV in 68 countries including the US and UK. In case you’ve missed the previous 6 seasons, it’s a no-pause-button episodic drama about a dysfunctional but sometimes effective team of MI5 agents and their disreputable but brilliant boss. Eben Bolter, ASC, BSC discussed SLOW HORSES while still working on seasons 7 and 8, which just wrapped. read more…
SIGMA FP2
That’s Sigma Corporation CEO Kazuto Yamaki with a pre-release FP2 camera focused on a bluefin tuna’s scary skeleton at Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam last month. Sigma Corporation of America President Mark Amir-Hamzeh and I were there to try it out. And what an amazing camera it is.
Cut to: October 23, 2026. Sigma Corporation introduces the new Sigma FP2. This is the latest in Sigma’s fp series of the world’s smallest, pocketable Full Frame hybrid stills and cine cameras. The new FP2 is cool and stylish—as expected of Sigma. It has a 24.5-megapixel partially stacked CMOS sensor, improved performance, 6K Open Gate 3:2, Internal L-Log, H.265 and H.264 recording, ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ recording to an SSD connected via USB-C, Tiltable LCD, a new EVF that also tilts, and lots more… read more…
Cineverse Rome at Cinecittà Studios
10/16/26 – 10/17/26
Cineverse Rome at Cinecittà Studios: October 16-17, 2026 from 09:00 to 19:00.
From the Association of Italian Cinematographers (AIC) and the nice team behind BSC Expo and Eurocine — Cineverse is coming to Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy.
October 16-17, 2026 from 09:00 to 19:00.
Entry is free with registration.
- EXPO FLOOR
Brands, distributors, rental houses and production technology from across the industry. - TECH ROOM
Hands-on hardware demonstrations, guided tests and professional workflow sessions. - AIC IMAGO PANELS
Professional conversations, case studies and panels led by senior cinematographers.
And lots more.
NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV SERIES
“Nikon Inc. announces the development of the NIKKOR Z CINEMA T1.9 VV series of cinema lenses.There will be 9 prime lenses, including the NIKKOR Z CINEMA 50mm T1.9 VV shown above. This will be the first NIKKOR lens series with an image circle large enough to cover the RED V-RAPTOR [X] VV sensor ( 40.96 mm × 21.60 mm — 46.31 mm diagonal) . The lenses will also feature a highly precise autofocus mechanism.” If the primes share similar ideas from the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ introduced a couple of years ago, they will have absolute encoders that ensure very accurate and repeatable focus in both manual and auto modes.
FDTimes at IBC stand 12.D81
Visit Film and Digital Times at IBC 2026 in Amsterdam September 11 – 14.
We’re in Stand 12.D81 — at the back of Hall 12, near Easyrig and DJI.
For a free show pass, click here or use registration code EXFJQJLFR3.
Pick up a free copy of the FDTimes IBC Edition at our stand during the show. read more…
FDTimes IBC Edition
Film and Digital Times goes online and on paper at IBC Amsterdam on September 10.
Pick up a free copy at our booth 12.D81 in Hall 12 of the RAI. Or download a PDF at fdtimes.com
Lots of news and new gear. More to follow on Sept 10.
• Cover story: MAALSTROOM feature film with ALEXA 35, ZEISS Super Speeds, Angenieux Zooms. Interview with Thijmen Doornik NSC, Eli van Cleef, Camalot/Camalux, Seb van Zuylen, Gert Bauwens. read more…
Eleven Sigma Aizu T1.3 FF Primes
Now there are 11. Sigma has added 3 new focal lengths to their Aizu Prime Line—the world’s first Full Frame series of cine lenses to achieve a maximum aperture of T1.3 across all focal lengths (as of Sept 2026).
For all DPs and Rental Houses who asked or pleaded for additions to the original core set, here’s looking at you and me.
The look is painterly, smooth and gentle yet sharp where you want sharpness. Wide open at T1.3, the look reminds me of an Impressionist painting. Backgrounds can have a swirly out-of-focus character, with big, graceful bokeh. Sigma describes the look as “quiet elegance and depth, consistent across the entire range of focal lengths from 18 to 125mm.” read more…
Gareth Edwards Interview about Sony FX5
A few weeks ago, director Gareth Edwards and a pre-release Sony FX5 returned from an adventure in Angkor Wat, Bangkok and Katmandu. Our discussion follows, accompanied by great BTS images by Mark Bone. Gareth begins: “In 2022, we made a film called THE CREATOR. It was a crazy ambitious thing with at least 80 locations in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia and Vietnam—all shot with the Sony FX3… Two years later I was contacted by Sony… The first things I noticed about the new FX5 camera were the three things that I really wanted: internal RAW, flip-up monitor and EVF…” read more…
Sony FX5 Special Report
Cut to the chase:
The FX5 camera is the camera to get if only for any one of these 3 exceptional reasons: Higher 16.6 MP resolution, Internal 16-bit X-OCN RAW, EVF (OLED — 7.07 million dots) that tilts from horizontal to vertical and detaches. This is my favorite thing. Of course, there are many more things to applaud. Download the free FDTimes Sony FX5 Camera Report. It’s a 13MB 40-page PDF. read more…
“TREASURE & DIRT” with URSA Cine 17K 65
This is the first major long-form Australian production shot with the new Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65 cameras. With cinematography by Edward Goldner, ACS and equipment rentals from Lemac Film and Digital, TREASURE & DIRT starts streaming today in Australia. Read the full article: fdtimes.us/ursa65
TREASURE & DIRT is a six-episode crime series on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company). Homicide detective Ivan Lucic and partner Nell Buchanan investigate a mysterious murder in an Outback mining town.
Let’s cut to the chase with Edward’s interview about working in 65 format on this drama of greed, corruption, action and intrigue. read more…
ARRI spins off Rental
Breaking news from Munich: “ARRI has entered into an agreement to sell its global rental activities in Europe, the UK and North America to H2 Equity Partners. The management buy-out is led by ARRI Rental’s existing UK-based leadership team in partnership with H2 Equity Partners. It ensures continuity of keeping the business in the hands of the people who have built it. The new standalone rental group will transition to its own brand after a customary transition period.” If there’s a new name, I vote for Camera Service Center. Known to most New York crews as CSC, this was one of New York’s legendary rental houses. Located in Hell’s Kitchen on two floors of a vintage building with lots of character… read more…
FUJINON GF19-35mm T3.5 PZ OIS WR
The FUJINON 19-35mm T3.5 for GFX Format (54.8mm image diagonal) launched today—July 9, 2026.
The official name is Fujinon GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR.
Because you can never go wide enough—especially in Larger Format for epic vistas, wide close-ups, handheld and up-close action shots, this 19-35mm zoom is the equivalent of 15-28mm in Full Frame.
This is the second Fujinon PZ (Power Zoom) cinema lens for the GFX Larger Format system—joining its popular sibling GF32-90mm T3.5 introduced last year.
These lenses do much more than just “PZ” (Power Zoom). They are both fly-by-wire smart lenses. Internal motors move the lens elements instead of mechanical cams or helical threads. These silent, high-speed motors are synced directly with the focus, zoom, and iris rings. read more…
Sony RIALTO 65 FDTimes Report
Download the 10-page FDTimes Sony RIALTO 65 Development Announcement Special Report. https://fdtimes.us/RIALTO65
Why is it called RIALTO 65? Because you can tether the 65mm sensor block to the camera in ways already familiar to users of the original RIALTO and RIALTO Mini. It uses an existing VENICE 2 body in back. Remove the VENICE 2 Full Frame sensor assembly and replace it with the new 65mm format sensor head for 1.4x larger format production. Keep your Full Frame front-end and swap back and forth.
The 9.6K Sony RIALTO 65 sensor is 53.75 x 35.83 mm and has a φ 64.60 mm image diagonal. The full sensor aspect ratio is 1.5:1. read more…
