4K Camera for $945

Point Grey's ice-cubed sized camera uses Sony's new 8.8 MP IMX1221 Exmor R sensor and can pipe 4,096x2160 images through a USB 3.0 port.  This officially makes it the world's coolest web camera.

It limits the frame rate to 21 FPS (185 mbps) but this may be just to use the USB 3.0 port.  The camera is designed for industrial applications including optical inspection, ophthalmology and interactive multimedia but Point Grey does list broadcast as a market, too.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/29/worlds-smallest-4k-usb-3-0-camera/

Kick Light

The Kick is a small light designed to be used with iPhones.  It has a couple of interesting features.

It can be wireless so you can control intensity and color temperature from your iPhone.  This includes  effects like strobe, lightening. etc.  One of these little units doesn't have the power to produce this effect on a full sized person but you can control multiple Kick lights at the same time.  The Kick does have the intensity to be useful for firelight/candle light.

The Kick light can also match light.  Sample of a light source in an image and it reproduces that color temperature.  The Kick light can also do this with changing color temperature sources like fire and can emulate both the intensity and the changing color temperature in real time.

Probably not practical at this size but make a 1x1 and you might really have something...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1918868829/the-kick-a-pocket-sized-lighting-studio-for-photo?ref=live

Canon t4i

The Canon t4i (Canon 650 in Europe) is the new flagship of the consumer camera with a couple of great features, my favorite being the new power switch which you'll note is off, still and video.

On my 60D the video mode is on the mode dial which means switching from video to stills means pulling the camera from my eye and turning the dial.  Sure, the 60D takes stills in video mode but they come out 16x9 even though the entire 3x2 image is recorded.

Speaking of the mode dial, there's two new modes:  Hand Held Night Scene and HDL Backlight which is Canon's HDR mode.  HH Night combines 4 images to reduce noise and HDL combines 3 images to increase apparent latitude.

There's a new chip in the t4i, that improves face detection, which allows for continuous autofocus even in video mode.  But don't get to excited.  It doesn't work well with the USM lens motors which is in just about in every Canon lens made.  The USM motor was designed to focus fast for still shooters.

There's a new STM motor designed for shooting video that focuses slower and smoother but is only available in two lenses at the moment and neither is an L series lens.  But I do have a weak spot for pancake lenses like the 40mm that's available.

Canon is also touting the Digic 5 processor but as far as I can tell this only effects still burst rate, from 3.7 to 5 frames per second.  Big whoop.

The big WOW is supposedly the touch screen.  You can go through the menu, change focus points, pinch and zoom to check focus, change f-stop, shutter, etc.  all by touching the screen.  This would be great IF I DIDN'T USE A ZACUTO VIEWFINDER which makes the touchscreen practically useless.

There are other consumer goodies like 7 different in camera effects like water color and a stereo mic on top so I can hear myself breathing and the auto focus motor even better. 

The street price of the t4i is $850 for body only.  I saw a t3i kit in Costco yesterday for about that price with two kit lenses.  I don't think I'd use the touch screen nor trust the auto focus (what if I'm not shooting faces?).  But I do like that power switch...

For more info, here's a few reviews of the Canon t4i:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_sOBGbvm3I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk2s_wSFwRY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRS1RhXpAmM&feature=related

Free Canon C300 Workshop

Canon is presenting a free session on custom color adjustment for the C300 at the new Canon Hollywood Professional Technology & Support Center.

On June 26, between 6-8pm, learn to create dynamic images by creating camera custom picture profiles.  This means less color grading and the ability to deliver matched settings to multiple cameras.

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/events_calendar/event_details/cll_events/20120626_hollywood_custompicture_pro_cll.shtml?WT.mc_id=EM1206EO01003&RID=1-6CGEO7&CON=1-Y0JD2&PRO=&CID=1-69ZFNN

Free Smoke

Autodesk Smoke is a powerful NLE, effects and finishing program rolled into one.  In the day it was expensive.  Really expensive.  Now, you can have it for free... for a limited time.

Later this month Autodesk will be releasing a public beta of Smoke 2013 for Mac.  This is a free install for everyone and will remain live until they start shipping final versions in fall.  At that time you'll be able to buy Smoke for mac for a mere $3500 bucks.  It's may sound like a lot but the original Smoke for Mac was $12,000 just a couple of years ago.

One word of warning:  You're probably not going to download this onto your laptop.  You need a Mac with some real horsepower to fully use Smoke.  Sign up for the download here...

http://usa.autodesk.com/smoke-for-mac/trial/?src=OMSE&mktvar001=457606&mktvar002=457606&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=autodesk%20smoke&utm_content=Branded%20Exact&utm_campaign=Autodesk%20-%20ME%20-%20Smoke%20-%20Br%20-%20Desktop%20Search

Sony FS700 240fps Food Fight

Cine Gear hosted the Shooting Low Light and High Speed with the FS700 seminar.  We was able to watch this test footage on the big screen and it was amazing how good that AVCHD codec looked blown up the size of a billboard.

The FS700 can shoot 120fps for a 16 second burst and 240fps for 8 seconds.  This is stored in a buffer memory and you can trigger storage at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a shot.  It takes about 30 seconds to render the footage out of the buffer onto a card.  The FS700 can record at higher frame rates but at much lower resolution.  The 980fps is really unusable for narrative but might be useful for industrial work.

The lowest ISO on the camera is 650.  This is up from 500 on the FS100 and may have been pushed up just to compete with the Canon C300.  The picture looked clean up to about 4000 ASA and usable up to 12,000 where the noise became noticeable.   20,000 ASA was what I would call "Night News Quality" but it's there if you need it.

 UNGRADED

The FS700 has the same Cine Gamma modes as the F3 and the test footage was shot in Cinema Gamma 4 which has almost 5 stops of overexposure over key as compared to the bit over 2 stops overexposure of my F900... which is why I have my zebras set at 60%!

GRADED

During grading they crushed the blacks slightly (note the loss of detail in the tree leaves), warmed and saturated the image.  The filmmakers wanted the footage to look like a "70's film".  There were no lights used.  They did have a white card... until it became covered with ketchup, mustard and chocolate pudding.

Watch the video at:  http://vimeo.com/43064629

4K Sensor for Smartphones

OmniVision has come up with the OV16820, a 16 Megapixel (4608x3456) image sensor.  This 1/2.3" sensor can shoot full resolution at 30fps or 4K2K (4608x2160) at 60fps.  Think iPhone camera that can shoot 4K slo-mo.

The sensor can also capture stills as 10-12 bit RAW RGB images, does burst photography and also has a strobe output to control flash.

And they've got some other cool things on their website...

http://www.ovt.com/products/sensor.php?id=116

C300 Menu Simulator

The C300 Menu Simulator is an interactive training tool to help you familiarize yourself with the camera's Custom Picture and Main Menus.

You can navigate with a mouse, keyboard, arrow keys or even your fingers on a touchscreen device to control the simulator.

http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/Simulators/c300.shtml?categoryId=229

Adobe Audition CS6

Audition is Adobe's audio editing, repair and mixing tool.   Audition has been around for years but it's only recently it's been available on Mac.

With the demise of Soundtrack Pro Larry Jordan has been using Audition on a daily basis and shares his views and tips.  Looks like another reason to think about Premiere...

http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/wordpress/archives/1894#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Shooting Stills: Epic vs. Hasselblad

This interesting video compares still images from a Hasselblad H3D22 and a RED Epic.  The Hasselblad is 22MP while the Epic is only 14MP but in the same amount of time you'd shoot 100 shots with the Hasselblad you'd create 7000 "shots" with the Epic.

Having extensively shot video and stills at the same time the two big differences are workflow and shutter speed.  Shooting stills you are looking for that definitive moment.  I like to snap an image and quickly review it to see what I've got, to see how it stands alone as a still.   Motion has to be much more fluid.

And while shooting stills you want a high shutter to freeze the action and keep the image sharp.  That same high shutter will give you the "Saving Private Ryan" effect on your video, which most of the time you don't want.  A low shutter speed blurs motion and helps the effect.

http://fstoppers.com/hasselblad-vs-red

Stabilizer Gear Expo Jun3

If you're looking for something to do June 3, the Sunday after CineGear Expo you can to to Stabilizer Gear Expo in the Filmtools parking lot from 11-3.

It's sponsored by  the Steadicam Guild, Tiffin Steadicam, Glidecam, the Steadicam Rickshaw Filmtools, and the SOC, so if you're in the market for anything Steadicam this is the place to be.

http://www.stabilizergearexpo.com/

Mole Richardson Open House

Mole Richardson is having it's 85th Anniversary Open House on Thursday, May 31st from 4-8pm.  I got this through Local 600 but I think anyone in the business is invited.

There will be Live Music and a BBQ and pony rides.  Well, OK, no pony rides but I do wish they were giving away free samples...

http://www.mole.com/85openhouse/

BorrowLenses.com

BorrowLenses.com is an online camera gear rental site that will ship the equipment or you can go to brick & mortar locations and pickup the gear.

And it's not only lenses.  They'd be happy to rent you a RED Epic, Sony F3 or EX-3, Canon 300, etc. plus any of the DSLR's.

Plus, they will provide insurance that covers most everything except loss, theft, water damage or misuse.  Hey, what else is there?

I haven't tried this myself but it sounds like something I should keep in my back pocket...

http://www.borrowlenses.com/

Zacuto 3.2 Mounting Frame for 5DmkIII & D800

Zacuto has come out with a new mounting frame for DSLR's with 3.2" screens like the Canon 5dmkIII and the Nikon D800 for $60.

I've had the chance to use the new Canon 5DmkIII but was disappointed because the 3" Zacuto VF system cuts off the sides of the screen and won't allow you to see the entire image which is a problem for an operator!

The good news is you only have to buy the mounting frame as any Z-Finder Pro will fit on the bigger mounting frame.  The really good news is Zacuto is also coming out with an 3.2 adhesive mounting frame that will probably cost around $6 bucks.

http://store.zacuto.com/Z-Finder-3.2-Mounting-Frame-for-Small-Body-DSLRS.html?utm_source=zfinderframeblast&utm_medium=sara%40zacuto.com&utm_campaign=zfinderframe

Steadicam Rickshaw

Replacing the good ol' wheel chair is the Steadicam Rickshaw.  Looks like fun plus it's just a much better design with the push bar and pneumatic wheels.

They also make this car mount.  Where was this when I was doing Steadicam work way back when while filming the Blue Line tracks before there was a Blue Line?  And shooting a bike race on Catalina Island sitting on the roll bar of a VW Thing?

All that weight on a trailer hitch?  I have to see this in person at the Stabilizer Gear Expo.

http://www.steadicamrickshaw.com/

D800, D4 and 5D Shootout

Philip Bloom compares the Nikon D800, D4 and Canon 5DmkIII.  The video is a 30 minutes and well worth watching if you're planning to buy or use any of these cameras.

But if you don't have time to watch, which is the best?  There really isn't a best, it's more the best tool for the job.  The D800 is the sharpest but the worse in low light.  The D4 is the best in low light but absolutely soft.

The D800 needs a filter added for moire but the 5DmkIII needs to be sharpened in post.

The Nikons only have a 24 mbps internal record rate while the Canon 5DmkIII is up to 90mbps.  But the Nikons have a clean HDMI out which means you can record to an external recorder at 220mbps, more info than my F900.  But if you're shooting with an external recorder why in the world are you shooting with a DSLR in the first place?

In the end, if you're a Nikon person with lots of money invested in Nikon lenses you finally have a camera that competes with the Canon.  But if you have a bunch of Canon glass, you'll stick with the 5DmkIII.

http://philipbloom.net/2012/05/13/fullframeshootout/

JL Fisher Mixer & BBQ Lunch May 19th

A reminder for all my 600 Brothers and Sisters that J. L. Fisher is having their 7th annual ICG, SOC & ASC Mixer and BBQ Lunch on Saturday, May 19th from 9a-4pm.

Exhibiting companies include Arriflex, Panavision, Camera Dynamics (O'Connor) Mole-Richardson, Matthews, Kino Flo, Barger Light, Tiffen, Band Pro, The Camera House, Film Tools, Anton Bayer, Local 80 and many others.

10:30-12p the SOC will host The Moving Camera Operation Seminar in the sound boom room.
2:30-4p is Dialogue with ASC Cinematographers moderated by George Spiro Dibie, ASC

No RSVP is necessary and be sure to buy a raffle ticket to support the Children's Vision Center!

Spend A Day With BlackMagic

BlackMagic will showcase all the newly announced NAB products at the Burbank Airport Marriot this Wednesday, May 16th.

There will be demonstrations and theater presentations including:

11:30 Customer Keynote:  Ramy Katrib, CEO Digital Film Tree

12:00 Adobe CS6 & Blackmagic Workflow

1:00 Avid MC6 & Blackmagic Workflow

2:00 Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 9

3:00 Adobe CS6 & Blackmagic Workflow

4:00 Avid MC6 & Blackmagic Workflow

5:00 Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 9

Sign Up at: http://invite.blackmagic-design.com/event2012/index.asp

Adobe Creative Cloud and CS6 Available Today

Creative Suite 6 is now available that includes the newest version of Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, etc. for $2500.

More interesting is the Adobe Creative Cloud.  Instead of buying CS6, you can rent or lease the entire suite plus you get online services like file sharing and publishing.  ACC is $79.99 a month but if you get the one year plan it's only $49.99 a month.  That's $600 a year compared to buying it for $2500 bucks.

It might be a good deal if you're new to Adobe and need the full line of products but it's still cheaper to  update an existing license or buy a single product (like Premiere Pro).

And I think they'd sell a lot more CS6's if the demo had a prettier girl...

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud.html

Cine Gear Expo Los Angeles

Just a reminder that Cine Gear Expo is coming up:

Friday, June 1 - 3pm-9pm

Saturday, June 2 - 10am-5pm

It's always fun unless, of course, you're actually stuck in one of those booths for two solid days.  I feel for you, Joyce and Mimi!

http://www.cinegearexpo.com/category/register/

CMOCOS Camera Motion Control System

How did I miss this at Cine Gear Expo last year?  I'm not much on motion control but this is very cool.

The CMOCOS (Cee-Moe-Kos) motion control system gives you 7 axis of movement from a single point (such as mounted on a tripod).  For a motion control system it's lightweight at 14 kgs (about 31 pounds).

The really interesting thing is you can move the camera with your hands and CMOCOS remembers the shot and will repeat it without the bumps and starts.

Thanks to gaffer extraordinaire Craig Burnie Burns for posting about the CMOCOS...

http://www.cmocos.com/

PRG TruColor Foton & HS

PRG TruColor lighting units use Remote Phosphor Technology to eliminate LED CRI issues.  That's a fancy way of saying a normal LED light doesn't give you full spectrum lighting like a tungsten bulb and colors may look unnatural.

PRG uses a separate phosphor substrate in front of the LED.  Think of an old CRT monitor shooting electrons at a phosphor screen.  This gives stable, high CRI white light.

PRG makes two fixtures, the Foton pictured above and the HS, a soft light seen below.  Both are flicker-free at any frame speed, are dimmable both local & DMX, and can be used in wet locations.

The HS has twice the output of a 2K incandescent soft light using only 400 watts of power.  That's 75fc at 10' with an incredible 160 degree beam spread.  The lamp head weighs in at 12 pounds while the ballast weighs 10 pounds.  With the 3200K interchangeable polycarbonate panel the HS has a 95 CRI and with 5600K panel a 90 CRI.  The HS should be available in June.

The Foton produces light at 3050K with a 95 CRI.  It doesn't spot or flood in the usual sense but has a variable, "quick-change" reflectors to give beam angles from 10 to 120 degrees.

While the Foton only uses 30 watts of power, it doesn't produce a whole lot of light, either.  At 10' the Foton with a 60 degree reflector produces an 11' beam of only 10fc .  By comparison, a 250 watt Mini-Mole at 10' will give you a 25fc 9 foot beam.

Of course, the Mini-Mole is using 8 times the power to produce 2.5 times the light.  On the other hand, while the Foton cost over $900 bucks and the Mini-Mole is less than $300.  But the Foton burns a lot cooler and with a 50,000 hour LED bulb life you'll never have to re-lamp...

http://www.prgtrucolor.com/
http://blog.abelcine.com/2012/04/19/nab-12-prg-trucolor-hs-remote-phosphor-lighting/