Notes On Video

IFFBoston is coming! They have a schedule , and an iPhone app ! There will be three panels this year: Following the Band: Docs that Rock Friday, 4/29 at 3pm - Mass Art Tower Building , Trustees Room, 11th Floor, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston Panelists include: Gorman Berchad ( COLOR ME OBSESSED ), Jeff Broadway ( CURE FOR PAIN: THE MARK SANDMAN STORY ), Demian Fenton ( LAST DAYS HERE ) Moderated by Brad Searles , author of Bradley’s Almanac , Boston’s premier music blog. Navigating the Film Festival Circuit Saturday, 4/30 at 3pm - Somerville Theatre Microcinema Featuring Holly Herrick ( Sarasota Film Festival ), Andrew Rodgers ( Riverrun International Film Festival ), Dan Nuxoll ( Rooftop Films ) Moderated by Mike Bowes , independent film producer and Director of Central Productions . LEF Foundation & DocYard Present:  When Does a Story Become a Film?: From Idea to Documentary Sunday, 5/1 at 3pm - Somerville Theatre Microcinema Featuring Steven Ascher ...

A political action against the tyranny of good taste. - John Waters (appearing on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me )

Sony PMW-F3 Firmware Update Coming New PMW-F3 firmware, free update to be released very soon will include HD-SDI & HDMI same time outputs & utilize S/Q knob for menu nav - @CineAltaNews ARRI Alexa Q &A Jon Faur at Film & Digital Times interviewed Martin Prillmann , Managing Director of ARRI about the ALEXA . They talked about it's development, acceptance, and the transition from film to digital, which is "taking place right now." He also asked if the ARRI was going to be upgradeable to 4K: No, the camera is not designed to be a 4K camera. Our goal, and I think we are pretty well on track on that, is to get most out of 2K, and not to have 4K simply to have 4K. We don’t believe in the pixel race. We believe that a digital camera is a system which is the sum of more elements than only the pixels. Film&DigitalTimes :  Interview with Martin Prillmann of ARRI Zacuto Zgrop Gloves Official Though they were shown at NAB, Zacuto has now officially a...

The Small HD DP4 small camera monitor will ship in May, and the DP4-EVF will ship in June. They are not taking pre-orders, but you can sign up to be notified. Signup To Receive New Product Availability Notices 16x9 showed a PL-mount adapter for the Sony NEX-FS100 that will be available mid May and cost $870. That includes the mount and lens support ($595 mount and $275 for the lens support). The adapter has an interchangeable back mount, so will also work with the Panasonic AG-AF100 , and perhaps other cameras in the future. You can see a short video about it at Cinema5D :  NAB 2011 – Very high quality PL-mount for FS100 by 16×9 Inc. The Economist looks at the ailing home-entertainment business and how a move from purchasing to renting is having a profound effect on merchants, studios and even the movies being made. Unkind unwind Quante l has a interview with Ian Vertovec , the colorist for The Social Network . He talks about new technology and how he goes about worki...

Quick Links - Gear Next Wave DV interviews Den Lennie at NAB about the Sony NEX-FS100 , while JigsawSystems has a short video with the HXR-NX70 and NEX-FS100 . YouTube : NAB 2011: Interview with Den Lennie on the Sony FS100 YouTube :  Sony's NEX-FS100 and HXR-NX70 cameras: a sneak peak Production Junction talks to cinematographer Richard Crudo about his experience using the Sony PMW-F3 . " This camera right out of the box was able to handle the extremes in a way that I was very impressed by, especially for a brand new product. " Vimeo:  SonyPMW-F3.com: Richard Crudo, ASC talks about the F3 Introduced at NAB, the Audio-Technica AT2022 X-Y Stereo condenser microphone features two unidirectional condenser capsules in an X/Y configuration pivot and allows for either 90-degree (narrow) or 120-degree (wide) stereo operation for versatility: Amazon :  Audio Technica AT2022 X/Y Stereo Microphone BroadcastEngineering :  Audio-Technica debuts AT2022 X/Y stere...

Cinervate Grip Sticks Cinervate has announced mounting accessories called Grip Sticks which can be used for any camera or kit that supports a ¼-20 thread. Based on components of the new Simplis system, Grip Sticks allow users to mount standard accessories with ¼-20 threads such as on-camera monitors and external audio recorders in virtually any orientation imaginable. Grip Sticks are available in 11”, 13” and 15” lengths. Grip Sticks start at $174.98. The Simplis rigs starts at $399. Cinervate :  Proteus Grip Sticks Cinervate :  Simplis Solo - DSLR Rig Stop Motion by Carlos Lascano A post on the Zacuto website profiles Carlos Lascano , and the stop motion effects he uses to make videos. I used a Nikon D70s to capture the textures.  For the Stop Motion, I used a Sony V1 and iStopMotion Pro software. I also did a lot of hand-drawing for the 2D and 2D1/2 animation parts.  I love the combination of drawings and real objects.  Then I placed all the e...

Lenses for your Panasonic AG-AF100 One of the questions for any AG-AF100 owner; what lenses to use? Peter Lundstrom was thinking about getting a Canon EF adaptor, but ended up buying some Micro-Four Thirds and Leica VM Mount lenses, specifically: the Olympus 14-35/2, and the Voigtländer 25/0.95, 35/1.2, 50/1.1 and 75/1.8. He really likes the Voigtländers, especially the 25/0.95 : It’s built to a very high standard and the density and weight you feel when holding is a relief compared to many other lenses. Nothing beats genuine quality. As it happens it’s also a very good lens on the AF101. Full manual control and a direct micro 4/3 mount makes this one the best prime lenses for any micro 4/3 camera. Converge :  Great lenses for micro 4/3 cameras Philip Bloom bought a Sony PMW-F3... And Philip Johnston at HD Warrior couldn't be happier, because he predicted that Philip would abandon DSLRs last year: I think he will plum for the Pro Sony FilmLike camera. Philip Bloom ...

CineForm , now a division of GoPro, has announced a new, lower cost software product line for both consumers and professional production and post production customers. GoPro AHD3D-001 3D Hero Expansion Kit (Cameras Not Included) CineForm Studio CineForm Studio is a free 3D editing application specifically designed for use with GoPro’s 3D HERO System, that allows GoPro HD HERO Camera  owners to combine two HD HEROs together to capture synchronized 1080p 3D videos and photos. Available for both Mac and Windows platforms, CineForm Studio converges videos and photos captured with the 3D HERO System and provides image adjustment tools including 3D convergence control with unlimited keyframing, framerate, exposure, contrast, saturation, color temperature, image rotation, frame resizing, as well as cropping and zooming. Users can export their content using the GoPro CineForm codec for further editing in other applications or as H.264 compressed .mp4 files for viewing in 3D on an...

Bad news for everyone that saw the image quality of the PMW-F3 and figured "I can't afford that, I'll get an NEX-FS100 instead." Derek Shantz , a self-described Pro Video Sales Guy at Vistek , reports that a Sony rep told him the NEX-FS100 may not be available until the fall.

Redrock 3D Rig Redrock was showing this rig last year at the Canon Expo, and they are now listing it on their site: The Redrock micro3D SxS is a state-of-the-art rig for 3D production using two video cameras in a side by side (SxS) configuration. This rig features locking adjustments, precision machining, all-metal constructions, and the full complement of adjustments demanded by professional 3D setups. The micro3D SxS is designed with smaller size and weight in mind to minimize demands that large heavy 3D rigs place on productions. The micro3D rig is optimized for small format cameras such as the Canon XF105, but can support larger cameras including the Canon XF305, Sony EX3, and even the Red ONE. Redrock Micro : micro3D SxS rig - with shroud A Quick look at the Sony HDR-TD10 Julie Babcock writes a short, but surprisingly upbeat assessment of the Sony 3D HDR-TD10 ( I say surprisingly, because Camcorderinfo's review of the difficulties with the JVC 3D camcorder made it ...

Last year, Zacuto produced The Great Camera Shootout , a comparison of several HDSLR cameras shooting under challenging conditions. In addition to the digital cameras, film tests were also made under the same conditions. The results were then screened for several cinematographers on a large screen, and the audience weighed in with their opinions. While there were no formal results - or a declared winner - there was a lot to learn both from the participants reactions, as well as from seeing the clips posted online. I think the reaction can be summed up as: the digital cameras don't have the latitude of film, but it's closer than most people thought it would be (including me!) This year the effort was repeated, though with an entirely different selection of digital cameras.  Mike Curtis,  one of the team working on the test, has written an article for Pro Video Coalition that explains the process: The group shot 15 live-action and instrumented tests specifically designed ...

While it's not available yet, the S-Log firmware update for the PMW-F3 was seen in the wild at NAB. AbelCine had a PMW-F 3 with the firmware installed, and they loaned that camera to Next Level Pictures , who used it to shoot a test. You can see the video, as well as a behind the scenes video blog at their site: NextLevelPictures :  NLP shoots the worlds first footage with the Sony F3 S-Log CineTechnica : Shooting S-Log with the Sony F3 [ UPDATE ]  Timur Civan has also posted a blog about the shoot:  Sony F3: First S-Log Test! The same camera got rolled by Jay Friesen and he took some footage on the show floor. He's posted it on Dropbox, and also posted some stills: JayFriesen :  Sony F3 S-Log Footage! World's First Sony F3 S-Log Test - Behind the Scenes from Next Level Pictures on Vimeo . [ UPDATE  12:00AM Added Timur Civan link ]

The death of the Flip I Julia Roy reminisces about her first handheld video camera, but realizes that it has been replaced: ...its been years since I've taken it with me anywhere to capture video. This is for a few reasons. I now have a video camera on my phone ( iPhone 4 ), which is always with me for capturing spontaneous moments, making it not necessary to carry another device. And, more importantly, over the years I've opted for much sleeker models, starting with the Sony Webbie and most recently the Sony Bloggie . JuliaRoy : The Demise of the Flip Camera The Final NAB Wrapup? Splice Vine offers the 6 most disruptive things at NAB; I was a bit surprised that the death of DSLRs wasn't one of them! [removes tongue from cheek] A certain video editing package was number 1.... The Top 6 Disruptive Announcements for Post at NAB The death of the Flip II It seems Cisco axed the Flip the day before they were to announce a Web-Connected camcorder. Called the Flip...

In an article for Gizmodo , Matt Toder lists all kinds of things he thinks Final Cut Pro X should have added to be useful to the pro-editor: ability to save your export settings; shared bins; a reliable shared media solution; or a find bin command. But then he concludes that none of those features exist because they weren't shown: If this were truly a device for professional editors, those improvements would have been in FCPX, and Steinauer would have made a point of mentioning them considering the room he was playing to. But he didn't With that piece of sleuthing done, he goes on to complain about the removal of the Source Monitor: This represents a gigantic change in the way non-linear editing occurs, a nearly unfathomable one. Since non-linear editing was invented, the mainstays have been the source monitor, the record monitor, the browser and the timeline. To take one of these away means that non-linear editing has to be rethought entirely and proves that Final Cut Pr...

NAB Video Roundup FilmmakerIQ.com has collected together a pretty exhaustive collection of video clips taken by different people at NAB: NAB 2011 Video Round-up RED vs Alexa Jim Jannard offers his comparison of the ARRI Alexa and RED Epic : EPIC has 6 times the resolution of Alexa. Alexa has a stop more native dynamic range than EPIC. Good on them. EPIC has 3 stops more DR than Alexa using HDRx. Good on us. EPIC is ownable. Alexa is rentable. REDUser : Alexa vs. EPIC...   Cheap Motor for a Kessler Dolly Chris Duke shows how to use a variable speed drill as a motor control for your dolly: The "elektraDRIVE BUNDLE PACKAGE with ORACLE Controller" is a $1,314.95 add-on to their $649 slider making it a $2k package, and a whole lot of extra parts. What if you could pull off the same motor slide effect with something you already have in your garage, using a variable speed drill--and saving $1,300!! Vimeo : Kessler Pocket Dolly v2.0 C...

When you turn that camera on, and look through the viewfinder, what you see on that screen becomes your world. You can't see - and often forget about - what's around you and behind you. You focus on that small moving world... And then you trip over something.  Or walk into something or someone. I've done it lots of times, fortunately, never with any serious consequences. But the tragic death this weekend of an Emerson College Film Student who, it's believed, fell while walking backwards on a roof shooting a film project, is a warning to us all: Be aware of your surroundings If you're moving backwards rapidly, or working in situations that are high-risk, have an assistant (or if you can't afford that, get a friend!) to act as a guide/warning for you Similarly, have an assistant to act as your eyes in situations where other people or things are moving around you at high-speed In dangerous situations, consider leaving the camera locked-down on a tripod A...

Canonrumors picks up another Canon 5D Mark III rumor with a mid-year release date and 26.4MP pixels. But no information on video specs. Canonrumors.com : 26.4mp 5D Mark III Mid-year? [CR1]

More NAB Stuff Dan Chung at DSLR News Shooter has a video about the Small HD DP4 4.3inch monitor . It features HDMI input and pass-through, 1/8" component input, a USB port for firmware updates, and a scroll wheel and two buttons to control the interface. It has a double LP-E6 battery bracket, though they plan to offer other battery support. An optical attachment turns it into an EVF. Shipping date is May, with the attachment in June. Price $749. NAB 2011 – SMALL HD DP4 COMBINED MONITOR AND EVF Dan also has a summary of other " interesting accessories ," including: Redrock Micro's V.3 follow focus , Birns and Sawyer 4×4 ND fader , the D|Focus Matte box , and some lens mounts : NAB 2011 – INTERESTING GEAR WE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO CHECK OUT PART 1: LENSES, FILTERS, FOLLOW FOCUS AND MATTEBOXES. VideoMaker 's NAB Awards : This is an odd list for a couple of reasons; the best camcorder is the Canon XF305 (with the 3D firmware upgrade) but best in show is th...