News
Designing Angénieux Optimo Ultra Compacts
Clément Mondésert is the Project Manager for Angénieux Optimo Ultra Compact Zooms. He started at Thales LAS France in Saint-Héand three years ago, first as project manager for head-up displays and small zooms for helicopters and drones. Clément joined the glamour and excitement of the cine team about a year ago. We discussed the new Angénieux Optimo Ultra Compact 37-102 Full Frame Zoom. read more…
John Brawley, ACS, URSA 12K, “Desperate Hour”
“The Desperate Hour” is one of the first features where a Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K was the “A” camera. Actually, there were four URSA 12K cameras on the film. Cinematographer John Brawley, ACS discusses cameras, Supreme Prime and Angénieux lenses, lighting, equipment and more. “The Desperate Hour” was directed by Phillip Noyce and stars Naomi Watts. read more…
Si Bell on “A Very British Scandal”
Happy Boxing Day, Sunday Dec 26, 2021. “A Very British Scandal” premieres today on BBC One in the UK.
Si Bell’s previous appearance in FDTimes was February 2020 in which he talked about his work on Peaky Blinders.
Si Bell discusses the film: “A Very British Scandal stars Claire Foy and Paul Bettany. It’s about the Duchess and Duke of Argyll in the 1960s. Quite dramatic, it was about their very messy divorce and it was one of the first times a woman was really shamed by the mass media because she was a celebrity…” read more…
Estelle McGechie, ATOMOS CEO
A Business of the Business conversation with Estelle McGechie, Chief Executive Officer of ATOMOS. Among many topics, Estelle talked about democratization: “ATOMOS makes high quality, professional, cost-effective products to democratize filmmaking, game streaming, and all other forms of content creation. ATOMOS has evolved the core product line to develop next-generation, adaptable, multi-function devices. Our products help our creative customers access the same high-quality options that are required by Hollywood blockbuster productions. That we can make that technology affordable and put it in the hands of every filmmaker is very important to our vision of democratization.” read more…
Angenieux Ultra Compact Zoom Ships
This contradicts FDTimes’ axiom of 9 months from first product sighting to first delivery. Announced at Cannes in July, presented in New York by Band Pro in September, Angénieux begins shipping the first 37-102 Full Frame Optimo Ultra Compact Zoom lenses from their factory in Saint-Héand. The 37-102 will be followed by a 21-56 mm Ultra Compact Zoom. So, the… read more…
Micro Salon Italia 2021
Micro Salon Italia was back, after its last appearance in 2019. It just a few days after Amsterdam’s IBC was cancelled and BSC postponed to April 2022 due to the possible surge of the new variant in Europe. The Roman event was held at Ragusa-Off, an 11,000 sq m city bus depot built in 1929 and recently revamped as a trade show location.
This year’s Micro Salon Italia had 42 local and foreign exhibitors: Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, Cartoni, De Sisti Lighting, D-Vision & Movie People, Leica, Leitz, K5600, Angénieux, and Trans Audio Video (TAV), just to mention a few. read more…
Gear Expo Tokyo 2021
Text and photos by Arato Ogura. Gear Expo Tokyo Show & Workshop was held at Toho Godzilla Studios on December 3 and 4.
The event was co-hosted by JSC (Japan Society of Cinematographers) and JSL (Japan Society of Lighting Directors).
The mornings were used for equipment demos and trials.Each manufacturer was given time to explain their products on stage. The afternoons had workshops led by JSC and JSL instructors.
A small set was prepared and had actors, showing actual camera movement and focusing techniques, while the lighting department was explaining wireless lighting control and LED technology. read more…
Tags: Arato Ogura, Gear Expo Tokyo 2021, JSC, JSL
What lenses fit ARRI’s next S35 4K camera?
Will standard 35mm lenses (before Open Gate era) cover ARRI’s next, new Super35 camera? ARRI Camera Systems Product Manager Marc Shipman-Mueller was kind enough to elucidate. “Yes, the sensor has almost the same dimensions as the ALEXA Mini Sensor,” Marc said. “I think that is an important feature of this camera. We want to make sure that our customers’ extensive investment in Super35 glass is protected. Without giving away too much, we have a 4K (4096) 16:9 recording mode for spherical lenses that has a diagonal of 28.55 mm and a 6:5 recording mode for 2x anamorphic lenses that has a diagonal of 27.39 mm. Both fulfill the 4K mandate.” read more…
FDTimes September Issue 110 Shipped 10/11/21
To all subscribers asking, “Where is my September 2021 Film and Digital Times Issue 110?”
It is shipping today, October 11.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the USPS couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds—except a confluence of supply chain, paper and ink shortages and shipping backlogs. read more…
Dominick Aiello at Creative Solutions
Dominick Aiello was appointed as divisional senior director of accessories at Creative Solutions, working on Wooden Camera, SmallHD and Teradek brands. His job is product management and product design—to build tools that solve problems for camera professionals.Dominick said, “I am constantly talking with camera assistants to get feedback on our designs. I like to attend camera prep and set visits to observe how they do their job — and try to think of an easier way. Trying to find that answer is the goal.” read more…
NAB 2021 Cancelled
Statement from NAB: To Our NAB Show Community: For more than a year we have worked tirelessly to bring our industry together safely in Las Vegas at NAB Show. Unfortunately, the pandemic and surge of the Delta variant has presented unexpected and insurmountable challenges for our global community. As we have always kept the best interest and safety of… read more…
URSA Mini Pro 12K price drop to $6K
This is irresistible. The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K can now be had for US$5,995. That is a $4,000 drop from its original $9,999.
Blackmagic says, “This price reduction has been made possible by efficiencies in manufacturing combined with an improved supply of 12K sensors. With this new low price for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K, a much wider range of customers will have access to feature film production.”
That has been a guiding business model of the Melbourne, Australia company—make great products eminently affordable so lots more people can buy them, thus enabling the lower cost. read more…
ARRI ALEXA Mini LF 1:1 for 2:1 Anamorphic
Why would ARRI include a new 1:1 square sensor mode in the latest ALEXA Mini LF Software Update SUP 7.1?
Shoot with a 2x squeeze anamorphic lens on an ALEXA Mini LF in this new 1:1 (2880 x 2880) format, and the image desqueezes horizontally in a glorious 2:1 widescreen aspect ratio.
Furthermore, this new ALEXA Mini LF 2.8K 1:1 salubrious sensor mode has an image circle of 33.60 mm. How convenient. ARRI/ZEISS Master Anamorphic and other Super35 format lenses conveniently cover this diagonal. read more…
Agnès Godard AFC: Cannes Angénieux Tribute
On Friday, July 16, 2021, Agnès Godard, AFC, is honored with this year’s Pierre Angénieux Tribute for achievement in Cinematography at Cannes.
As an official partner of the Cannes Festival, Angénieux has celebrated a prominent Cinematographer every year since 2013 with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute. The ceremony typically opens with an introduction by Cannes Film Festival’s chief Thierry Fremaux and the presentation is hosted by Pierre Zéni, editor-in-chief at Cine+ Canal+.
Agnès Godard has won 11 awards and 13 nominations for her Cinematography. She won a César in 2001 for Beau travail, directed by Claire Denis, with whom she has worked on more than 15 films.
We spoke several weeks go. read more…
SIGMA fp Update 3.00. Framelines! EVF!
Faster than you can say fp Firmware Update 3.00, this free download brings many of SIGMA’s new fp L camera features to the fp camera.
Best of all, Version 3.00 lets you use the essential accessory SIGMA ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER EVF-11 on the fp. And it add custom framelines and aspect ratios.
The EVF is modular and screws onto the camera’s left side. It’s makes the fp a great DP / Director’s Finder. read more…
Latest FDTimes Edition lands at SIGMA America
Sigma Corporation of America appears to be first to receive the latest edition of FDTimes—May-June 2021. Mark Amir, President of Sigma Corporation of America, (center, with tie) sent this team photo from their newly renovated Ronkonkoma, NY headquarters. SIGMA Corporation CEO Kazuto Yamaki is on the cover and the cover story is about the SIGMA fp L camera / DP – Director’s Finder. read more…
ALEXA Mini LF SUP 7.0 with Super35
No sooner had ARRI ALEXA Mini LF arrived than users clamored for Super35 recording formats. And now, ALEXA Mini LF SUP 7.0 provides Super35 in addition to its existing Full Frame / Large Format sensor modes. The new Software Update Package provides your ALEXA Mini LF with identical recording formats as an ALEXA Mini. As an added bonus, maximum frame rates are faster in S35 and recording data rates are lower for the two new LF formats. read more…
Seth Emmons returns to LEITZ
Seth Emmons is back at Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH as Director of Communications. Seth previously worked with Leitz for five years. He will continue to be based in Los Angeles and will work primarily with the North American market of cinematographers, directors, rental houses, and professional organizations to increase exposure to the Leitz line of cinema lens products. read more…
11 ZEISS Radiance Primes
And now there are 11. Initially, 7 ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance (SPR) lenses were introduced in June 2019. Inevitably, cinematographers asked for more. Now, just short of 2 years later, ZEISS introduced 4 more Supreme Prime Radiance lenses. ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses artistically emphasize ghosting (flares). They are consistent across the entire set. They are based on Supreme Primes but have a warmer color tone. And no, they are not simply the same Supremes with coatings removed. There is no loss of light and no uncontrolled “white-out.” Instead, Radiance Primes have newly formulated T* Blue coatings. While there are 13 focal lengths in a set of Supremes, there are now 11 Radiance Primes, from 18 to 135 mm, all T1.5. read more…
DJI FPV @ MIT
Jonathon Brearley, MIT Master of Architecture and colleagues fly the DJI FPV. ” The FPV system’s precise navigation makes it feel extremely easy to position the drone in the sky. With this drone, the intention is to use the superb first-person-view (FPV) goggles that provide the pilot with a high definition stream of the 150˚ FOV drone camera. The goggles are so immersive, if you’ve had dreams of being a bird, free to roam the skies, this might be the closest you’ll get with your feet planted safely on the ground. It’s slightly uncanny how natural the flight felt, especially the ability to assess depth and proximity of obstacles through the goggles, something I do not find easy to do while flying other phone-screen operated drones. read more…
