Author Archives: Jon Fauer
An evening with ARRI Signature Lenses
9/14/23
An evening with ARRI Signature Lenses: Join Art Adams, Logan Schneider and Jeff Berlin for an evening with ARRi Signature Primes & Zooms
Join cinema lens product specialist Art Adams, cinematographer Logan Schneider and fashion director/cinematographer Jeff Berlin for an evening with ARRI Signature Primes and Zooms, Impression Filters and more. Topics will include: A discussion with Logan Schneider about intercutting Signature Zooms with Signature Primes on “Arnold” and working with prototype ARRI Impression filters Live comparisons of ARRI Primes and Zooms A detailed… read more…
Graham Cassely, Cooke Optical Designer on SP3
Graham Cassely is an optical designer at Cooke. He described the SP3 project, “When we started on the Panchro/i Classic project about 8 or more years ago, we did a lot of digging through lots of paperwork at Cooke to find the original Speed Panchro designs. We found the old prescriptions—the optical designs written down by hand. The SP3 series are essentially another variation of the Speed Panchro design. In terms of the look of the lens, we tried to keep it very similar to what a Speed Panchro or a Panchro/i Classic would look like. We’re using the same types of single layer coatings that they would have used back in the 50s or 60s… read more…
New Cooke SP3 Prime Lenses
Cooke Optics introduces a new line of compact, lightweight, mirrorless-mount, affordable lenses. The new Cooke SP3 primes are based on a reincarnation of the legendary Cooke Speed Panchros.
Tim Pugh, CEO at Cooke Optics, calls the SP3 lens series “a significant strategic move into an exciting new sector that expands the horizons for such an iconic brand.”
The new SP3 primes are based on original Speed Panchros.
They have modern mechanics and a single optical coating.
At launch, there are five SP3 primes: 25, 32, 50, 75 and 100 mm.
They all cover Full Frame and have a T2.4 maximum aperture. The lens mount is easy to swap. You do not have to be a lens tech, nor do you need a clean room.
SP3 will come in E-Mount and RF-Mount as standard (RF-Mount will follow shortly after launch and customers can receive them free of charge). L-Mount and M-Mount are available as accessories. M comes in early 2024. read more…
Tags: Cooke Optics, Cooke SP3, SP3, Speed Panchro
ZEISS CinCraft Scenario
ZEISS has acquired Ncam and they have been working together for the past two years on an innovative, easy-to-use, lightweight, portable, affordable, real-time camera tracking system that sits on top of your camera or mattebox. It’s called ZEISS CinCraft Scenario. There are basically 3 pieces of CinCraft Scenario hardware: CamBar, Link and Origin. read more…
ZEISS Acquires Ncam
ZEISS has acquired Ncam Technologies Ltd, the UK-based camera tracking company. What does this acquisition mean? ZEISS is expanding its technology portfolio for the cinema, broadcast, and visual effects industries. This appears to be a natural progression for ZEISS in its cinema product line which currently includes Supreme Prime and Supreme Prime Radiance, Cinema Zoom and CP.3 lenses as well as their recent focus on lens metadata with CinCraft Mapper. Together, ZEISS and Ncam are planning to demystify and democratize tracking and VFX for professional productions. read more…
Tags: Ncam, ZEISS, ZEISS Acquires Ncam
Ben Affleck on AIR
Ben Affleck discusses his work directing AIR, shooting “D” camera, and producing the film with co-star Matt Damon and their production company Artists Equity. Bob Richardson, ASC, was the cinematographer. read more…
Bob Richardson, ASC on AIR
Bob Richardson, ASC seems to have a habit of being first to shoot with new prototype cameras. AIR was the first feature that I know of to use the ALEXA 35. Pre-production models, of course.
Bob explained, “When we heard about the ARRI ALEXA 35, I was instantly attracted to it. Not only was it receiving interesting reports from DITs I knew, but I was also doing research. I thought, ‘Okay, let’s go see this.’ Ben Affleck and I went to test it for AIR and we just said, ‘This is beautiful. Let’s try to get this camera.’ The added advantage of the ALEXA 35 camera was that it was Super35, not Large Format, so now it opened up a wide range of lensing.” read more…
CVP European Lens Summit
Sorry for delayed posts—Sweaty Tours from London to Cannes has been running at 120 fps while Internet barely crawled. Catching up: first stop was CVP’s newly-renovated headquarters in Brentford, outside London, at the European Lens Summit on May 20 and 21.
The two-day European Lens Summit (ELS) was produced in partnership with Koerner Camera, hosts of the ever-popular Pacific Northwest Lens Summit since 2017. With lens repair clinics taught by factory representatives, technical workshops, masterclasses, and in-depth discussions, the London event was busy, fun and educational. read more…
Tags: CVP European Lens Summit
Barry Ackroyd, BSC – Angenieux Tribute at Cannes
May 26, 2023. Interview with Barry Ackroyd, BSC. He will be honored with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute this evening at the Cannes Film Festival. Above: Barry Ackroyd, BSC handheld with Aaton Penelope on Captain Phillips. Right handgrip is a gear shift from a car. Barry said, “The single handle leaves the left hand free to steady the camera but more importantly free to zoom.” Olly Driscoll, Focus Puller, at right. Photo © Jonathan Olley. read more…
Jarred Land Interview about new KOMODO-X
The last time we saw Jarred Land holding the KOMODO for FDTimes was in a cover photo that just happened to be taken by Brad Pitt in Los Angeles. This time, Jarred is holding the new KOMODO-X in the trendy fashion film and photo stages at Pier 59 in New York, this time taken by me. His interview begins, “We call the new camera KOMODO-X and it’s not a KOMODO 2. KOMODO-X gives you twice the frame rates of KOMODO (up to 80 fps at 6K 17:9 and 120 fps at 4K 17:9). It uses a much faster CFexpress card for data, just like the RAPTOR. KOMODO-X fits nicely between the KOMODO and the Super35 V-RAPTOR, at a reasonable price. read more…
Nikon Z 8
If you loved the Nikon Z 9 but wished for a lighter, smaller Full Frame mirrorless hybrid still/video camera, Nikon now has the new Z 8. Nikon is definitely focused on cine as well as stills—the Z 8 records RAW internally: 12-bit N-RAW up to 8K 60p and ProRes RAW up to 4K 60p.
There are so many impressive things about this new camera that exclamation marks should replace bullet points: read more…
Tags: Nikon Z 8
Claudio Miranda, ASC on DJI Inspire 3
The new DJI Inspire 3 can work like a hovering dolly with repeatable waypoints and 1 cm accuracy.
That’s Claudio Miranda, ASC out of focus on the cover. He shot a 2 1/2 minute launch film for the new Inspire 3. It is a spirited sand-and-sandals epic chase through an ancient Roman marketplace.
EXT. Imperium Romanum Market – DAY.
Wide crane shot moves into CU of a pickpocket snatching the purse from a vintage vegetable vendor. Wait, wait—this cannot be a crane shot because the camera keeps moving along a narrow alleyway. Centurions pursue pickpocket, jumping over carts, skirting columns and obstacles, under beams, through a torch-lit interior, culminating in a fun anachronism of an ending as the camera soars from extremely close to very, very wide. read more…
AJA ColorBox v2.0
AJA updates ColorBox with firmware v2.0 for Colorfront Engine support, the latest ORION-CONVERT and BBC HLG LUTs, — and introduces new user overlay features and expanded test patterns.
ColorBox is a compact, high-performance conversion, look and color management device for cine production, live events and broadcasting.
ColorBox is controlled with a web browser user interface that includes video preview.
ColorBox supports Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), High Dynamic Range (HDR), and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) signals using 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 single wire connections for 4K/UltraHD HDR up to 4:2:2 10-bit 60p or 4:4:4 12-bit 30p. read more…
Tags: AJA ColorBox v2.0
SmallHD Factory Tour
Imagine the inducements to visit SmallHD in Cary, North Carolina. Haute cuisine and haute technology, not in that order. For sure, we’re here to explore the high technology of SmallHD.
It’s an easy 2-hour flight from New York’s newly renovated La Guardia Airport to Raleigh-Durham. You’re in Research Triangle territory and the campuses of Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State University. Apple, Google, Toyota, IBM, Cisco, Amazon, Epic Games, Qualcomm and Red Hat are among the many high-tech companies neighboring high-tech SmallHD. read more…
ARRI ZMU-4 Wired/Wireless Zoom Control
The full version of this article will be in Film and Digital Times April 2023 Issue 120 going online this Thursday, April 13, around 9:30 am EDT. Check the homepage, top left. The print edition will be distributed at NAB beginning Sunday April 16 and mailed as well.
ARRI introduces their new ZMU-4 zoom controller. It works seamlessly in wired and wireless configurations. This is the fourth incarnation of the ZMU. It is ergonomic, rugged and weather-resistant. Zoom motor control, camera start/stop and camera functions controls are combined in one device. read more…
Seriously? Sirius 1x Atlas Anamorphics
Fatigued by flares? Sick of streaks? Bored with oval bokeh? Vexed by vintage? On this first day of April, Atlas Lens Co announces Sirius Anamorphic primes with a 1.0x squeeze ratio. How does that work? We don’t know. 65mm ÷ 1.0 = 65mm. As their website explains, “Classical round bokeh, no more distracting streak flares, artisanal aspect ratio. Seriously? Sirius? (Disclaimer:… read more…
FDTimes at NAB 2023
Film and Digital Times is back at NAB 2023.
We’re in Central Hall, booth C5151.
Get your free Exhibit Pass by using our FREE code LV39733 when registering:
https://invt.io/1exbtt34vio
Exhibit Hall Hours:
Sunday, April 16 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, April 17 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. read more…
Naomi Kawase, Director of TOKYO 2020
Here’s an interview with the Official “Tokyo 2020″ Olympic Film director, Naomi Kawase. The film was produced in two parts: one showing the Games from the point of view of the athletes (Side A), and the other of the staff and volunteers (Side B). Side A premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2022.
Naomi Kawase was the youngest filmmaker to win the Caméra d’Or award for best debut director at the Festival de Cannes with her first feature, “Suzaku,” released in 1997. She is the first Japanese woman to be appointed a UNESCO goodwill ambassador in recognition of her film work, which focuses on the stories of women across generations.
“Tokyo 2020” was produced by the Kinoshita Group and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Yas Mitsuwa of NAC, Inc. arranged this interview and did simultaneous translation during our video conference. read more…
Cooke Varotal Zoom Lens History
Cooke introduced new Varotal/i FF Full Frame zoom lenses in 2021 and 2022: 30-95 mm T2.9, 85-215 mm T2.9, and 19-40 mm T2.9. Here’s a brief history of earlier Cooke Varotal Zooms from Arthur Warmisham’s first commercially manufactured variable focal (zoom) lens for cinematography (Cooke Varo 40-120mm cine lens for 35mm format), assembled and sold by Bell & Howell. In 1971, Cooke introduced their Varotal 20-100mm, f2.8 / T3.1 Zoom. read more…
Otto Blad and Otto Desć
Otto Desć ads that aired yesterday during the Oscars got our best spot award. Although legendary filmmaker Otto Desćinski is a spoof, as is the FDTimes best spot award, Autodesk is good and real.
Otto Blad is also very real. Ottoblad lenses are named for Otto Nemenz. Introduced at BSC Expo, they are Hasselblad/Zeiss Medium Format lenses wonderfully rehoused by P+S Technik of Munich. The project was initiated by Otto Nemenz International, Fritz Heinzle (Executive VP of ONI) and Gerhard Baier (Managing Director of P+S Technik).
The ring that got everyone’s attention at BSC Expo was the rear ring of the Ottoblads. Calibrated and numbered 0 – 6, you can dial in various degrees of detuning/tuning. read more…
