Products
Musashi-Opt 29-120 T2.9 Full Frame Zoom
Musashi Optical System Co. Ltd announces the new Takumi 2 Full Frame 29-120 mm T2.9 PL-mount zoom lens. Musashi Optical System Co. Ltd is based in Saitama, Japan, about 20 km north of Tokyo. Founded in 2003 by former Fujinon executives, Musashi-Opt (as it is commonly called) is well-known for its OptMag and OptMore PL mount extenders and Full Frame expanders. In 2019, they introduced a Super35 23.9-195 mm T2.9 zoom lens. This was followed by the Takumi 1, a Full Frame 40.6 – 332 mm T4.8 PL-mount version of the lens. And now the Takumi 2 29-120 T2.9. read more…
EL Zone by Ed Lachman ASC
Ed Lachman, ASC has come up with an incredibly intuitive, innovative and essential exposure tool. It’s called EL Zone, which stands for Exposure Log Zone — or Ed Lachman Zone.
Think of it as a spotmeter in your viewfinder or monitor. Toggle it on or off. Each stop of exposure is represented by a color. White shows areas of the scene that are over-exposed by 6 or more stops. 18% gray is normal-neutral. Black is under-exposed by 6 or more stops. read more…
Tags: EL Zone, EL Zone by Ed Lachman ASC
Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Hard
Hard Soft. The new Litepanels Gemini Hard 1×1 is both hard and soft at the same time. This is not a paradox. It may remind you of a 5K Tungsten Fresnel, full spot through a 4×4 frame of 216 Diffusion. The light has intensity, punch, direction. And yet there is peripheral softness and fill. It is a very pleasing for portraits. Directional enough to punch through a studio fogger yet soft enough to avoid seraphic shafts. Bright and soft to light a studio sky of overhead rags. Perhaps in separate Space Light style: skirted, diffused or raw. The Gemini Hard 1×1 is bright. I measured 3660 lux / 340 footcandles at 10 feet and set to 5600K CCT. That’s T11/2 at 800 ISO, 24 fps. read more…
DJI Air 2s
The new DJI Air 2s combines thrill of flying and amazing image capture. It is nimble, amazing in low light, and super steady—even as a tripod in the sky. You can film in 5.4K or take 20 Megapixel stills. The one-inch sensor has 2.4 micron photosites — significantly larger than the Mavic Air 2 camera’s 0.8 micron photosites. This contributes to gorgeous picture quality and great dynamic range. read more…
Tags: DJI Mavic Air 2s
SIGMA fp L: 61 MP. Still. Cine. Director’s Finder. Webcam.
March 25, 2021. SIGMA Corporation CEO Kazuto Yamaki presented the SIGMA fp L as the sequel to fp and the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame digital single-lens mirrorless camera with a full-frame 61 MP sensor. The camera continues SIGMA’s fp development concept: smallest and lightest pocketable full-frame camera; seamless STILL/ CINE switch, and scalability. The optional EVF-11 OLED electronic viewfinder addresses many user requests. And, the SIGMA fp L is one of the best Director’s Finders you could possibly find. read more…
Panasonic LUMIX Firmware Updates
Panasonic LUMIX S Series and BGH1 cameras get firmware updates. Quick review: LUMIX S Series are Full Frame L-Mount mirrorless hybrid video/still cameras with compelling cine capabilities. BGH1 is a Micro Four Thirds versatile cube-shaped camera conducive to remote, drone, multi-camera, stunts and car rig coverage. Highlights include: S1H: 5.9K and 4K Blackmagic RAW 12-bit Full Frame recording with Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR. S1H: Anamorphic 3.5K 12-bit recording in Super35 format. S1: 12-bit ProRes RAW recording with Atomos Ninja V. BGH1: 12-bit ProRes RAW recording with Atomos Ninja V. (S1H and S5 already record ProRes RAW on Atomos Ninja V.) Additional video capabilities for S1. And lots more. read more…
AJA T-TAP Pro
Grass Valley, CA. AJA Video Systems releases T-TAP Pro. It’s small, sturdy, silent and sits inconspicuously between your Thunderbolt 3 computer’s output and 4K TV or monitor’s HDMI or SDI input. T-TAP Pro is about the size of a small box of Lipton Instant Soup Mix: 5” x 5” x 1” — and weighs about 8 ounces. Best of all, it is silent—quiet on set. The sound recordist will not be prowling in search of a noisy fan ruining whispered words in a dramatic, critical close-up. AJA T-TAP Pro is essentially the key to viewing 4K or HD via 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 inputs from from any supported Thunderbolt 3-enabled Mac or PC. (UHD and 2K as well.) read more…
Tags: AJA T-TAP Pro
Sony FX3: Cage-Free, Free Range
And now there are four.
The FX3 is the latest addition to Sony’s growing Cinema Line of cameras. They seem to be multiplying at an impressive rate. VENICE, FX9, FX6, FX3.
Sony explained the concept on Sept 2, 2020: “Cinema Line will deliver not only a coveted cinematographic look but also enhanced operability and reliability. The series will extend beyond traditional cinema camera and professional camcorder form factors.”
Here’s a cinema camera with a decidedly different form factor. Inside, the FX3 acts quite like Sony’s a7S III hybrid still and video camera. Outside, the FX3 has lots of 1/4-20 threads in a unibody rugged steel skeleton. The cage-free design begs you to mount this camera in all kinds of places where a single mounting point and add-on cage wouldn’t dare to thread. read more…
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Three exciting things about the new the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro should get your heart racing and your fingers dialing to buy one:
Built in Clear, ND.6, ND1.2 and ND1.6 filters.
5″ LCD Monitor tilts up and down
Optional (essential) 1280 x 960 color OLED viewfinder.
Unless you have the enviable close-up vision of a 12-year-old prodigy pointillist painter, squinting at a camera’s rear monitor held at arm’s length in bright daylight may not be your idea of the best way to discern framing and focus. read more…
Chrosziel Lens Projection with Metadata
2/22/21
Chrosziel Lens Projection with Metadata - Webinar: Lens metadata read-out is now available with the Chrosziel lens test projector.
Chrosziel will host Zoom meeting webinars about lens metadata read-out on the Chrosziel lens test projector–and more–on Feb 19 and Feb 22. Topics include a short introduction to Chrosziel P-TP7 II; Metadata display of Cooke /i, ZEISS XD, and ARRI LDS; Latest lens service products and accessories (MFT, RF, Leica M, Nikon F, USB-Adapter, Reticles); Newly updated Chrosziel Collimator with CLC Mount.
Panasonic LUMIX DC-BGH1
Panasonic calls it a box camera. Perhaps that is too modest a name for the LUMIX DC-BGH1. “Box” reminds me of the first Kodak box camera of 1888. It had a simple fixed lens and lacked controls. “You take the pictures, we do the rest.” Calling the BGH1 a box camera could be like comparing a Jiro (dreams of Sushi) Omakase experience to a box lunch. Yes, the LUMIX BGH1 is boxy on the outside, with sculpturally beveled and rounded edges. It will feel familiar for broadcasting, streaming, multi-cam and IP remote control. But the BGH1 is much more. read more…
Tags: Panasonic, Panasonic LUMIX DC-BGH1
SmallHD Indie 7 Monitor
Indie 7 is a new SmallHD 7″ touchscreen monitor, well, for independent filmmakers and many others. Some call it an entry level model, but perhaps that is a bit modest for something so packed with helpful features. This is probably the affordable monitor you’ll want to tame your new KOMODO. Optional software upgrades provide touchscreen camera control of RED KOMODO and DSMC2 cameras. read more…
FUJINON Premista 19-45 mm T2.9
Jan 14. FUJINON officially launches their new Premista 19-45 mm T2.9 Full Frame zoom lens. This third member of the Premista zoom family was first announced as being in development on Sept 2, 2020. Now it is here and will be released on January 28, 2021 with an online presentation that day (details to follow.) The three FUJINON Premistas cover from 19 mm to 250 mm: 19-45 mm T2.9. 28-100mm T2.9. 80-250mm T2.9-3.5. read more…
Vocas Accessories for RED KOMODO
Vocas has a range of compact and handy accessories for the RED KOMODO.
With the side cage as the starting point, you can add components to build a complete cage with different top handles, handles, lens motors, microphone holder, additional 15 mm rods for mounting focus motors and shoulder supports. read more…
TILTA Kits for KOMODO
The TILTA Full Camera Cage for RED KOMODO protects the camera and provides 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 mounting threads for accessories. Handgrips attach to industry-standard Hirth-Tooth Rosettes in front and at the back of each side. A cold shoe on top accepts carrying handles. There are numerous configurations. The base of the cage has mounting threads to attach your camera to gimbals, drones and other places where balance is important. Several baseplates attach to the bottom of the cage for lens rods, Arca Swiss and Manfrotto as well as other quick release plates, and underslung battery plates. read more…
Tags: KOMODO, TILTA, TILTA Kits for KOMODO
Teradek Bolt 4K LT
I have been singing the praises of 4K and HDR wireless video on set and location. But there was a concurrent chorus of users who wanted a more affordable alternative. Now Teradek adds their new Bolt 4K LT Transmitter and Receiver to their Bolt 4K line-up. “Bolt 4K LT represents the culmination of a massive effort at Teradek,” said Nicol Verheem, Creative Solutions CEO. “We’ve added considerable technology upgrades without raising the price to the end-user.” What’s this? Same price as previous Bolt 2K models? Why would I want to upgrade? And at half the price of the current Bolt 4K systems, what’s missing? Yes, Bolt 4K LT is the same price as earlier 2K models. You want to upgrade because the image quality and signal range is greatly improved compared to your older 2K Bolts. But you don’t have to ditch them. For example, you can use them for B camera or second unit. read more…
Cinematography Electronics /i Lens Display
Larry Barton, President of Cinematography Electronics, was on the other end of a Zoom chat in high resolution, with dramatic lighting and Full Frame shallow depth of field. It was time to learn about the Cinematography Electronics /i Lens Display. Larry said: “What we’ve done with our /i Lens Display was to take the iris, focus, focal length and other metadata from the lens—combined with information from the CINETAPE 2—and make the information more user-friendly for focus pullers and lens technicians at rental houses.” read more…
Panasonic LUMIX DC-S5
The new LUMIX DC-S5 joins Panasonic’s growing line of Full Frame L-Mount hybrid mirrorless cameras that shoot stills and video. A quick review. The LUMIX DC-S1H is still the flagship for hybrid video, with a crisp 5.76 million dot OLED EVF and numerous video choices that include C4K Full Frame 4096×2160 All-I 4:2:2 10-bit 400 Mbps MOV H.265 files internal recording up to 30 fps. The LUMIX S1H has a 24.2 MP sensor. LUMIX DC-S1R has a high resolution 47.3 MP sensor. Both have 5.76 million dot finders. Now, if you want a lighter, smaller, cheaper companion to the S1H, the new LUMIX S5 beckons. It uses the same 24.2 Megapixel Full Frame sensor as the S1H. read more…
Tags: Lumix, Panasonic LUMIX DC-S5, panosonic
Leitz Henri Directors Finder
Rainer Hercher, Managing Director of Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH (Leitz Cine), said, “The initial concept of Henri was to implement the Leica SL2-S for lens testing. And so, we decided to make our own system as a Director’s Viewfinder for the cine world, especially because the SL2-Sb camera, in my opinion, has the one of the best viewfinders in the business. It’s very good and very sharp. The colors and contrast are excellent. read more…
Leica SL2-S for Stills and Cine
The new Leica SL2-S launches today, December 10. Think of the “S” after the “SL2-” as “Special” or maybe “Sinematographer” with an “S.” That is because the SL2-S will be specially suited for cinematographers and anyone shooting stills and cine.
The SL2-S has a 24.6 Megapixel sensor inside. (Its sister SL2 has a 47 MP sensor). What is it about 24 MP sensors that puts them inside the Panasonic S1H and S5, as well as the SIGMA fp? Are these members of the L-Mount Alliance conspiring? What do they know that we should know? read more…
