Notes On Video

First up in the world of 4K, Blackmagic announces a 3-4 week delay for their Production Camera , though it should still appear before the Sony FDR-AX1...maybe Blackmagic Design Forum |  Grant Petty |  Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Update Hi,I just want to give you an update on the 4K camera. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, we received the production sensors much later than we expected. When we built cameras from them we saw some big differences in the images between these production sensors vs the pre production samples we originally received. What this means is that we have been working over the last few weeks to replace a bunch of the software in the camera that handles the sensor calibration and image processing. It's taking a bit longer than we expected to do this and we think its going to take about 3 to 4 weeks more to get those changes done and to get the QA process completed before we can start shipping. Meanwhile, 4K is playing at your cinema (which may...

Here's more info on the 4K FDR-AX1 ; some first impressions and videos that Sony has posted to YouTube. One important note about this beast: the camera uses XQD memory cards, and with a throughput of 150MB/s you'll need the S Series cards, which cost $199.95 for 32GB , or $299.95 for 64GB . The Phoblographer | First Impressions: Sony FDR AX1–The First 4K Camcorder With an Auto Mode See that XQD card in my hand in the photo above? It was burning hot when it came out of the camcorder due to all the work that the processor was doing. Since the processor is burning that hot, the system obviously needs a way to cool it. There is a fan in the camera where the intake is around the side hand grip and the vent is toward the back.  SlashGear |  Sony FDR-AX1 4K Handycam official: top-quality video within reach The exposure system on this device works with multi-segment metering modes and both AE level and speed compensation. You’ll have noise reduction, white balance m...

In addition to the FDR-AX1  - their just announced $4,499.99 "consumer" camcorder - it seems that Sony has another version, the PXW-Z100, that offers a few more features and looks almost identical to the FDR-AX1. The PXW-Z100 offers: XAVC Intra 422 recording (the same codec found in the PMW-F5), 3G-SDI (for HD output), variable frame rate for HD and a Wi-Fi Remote. The significant difference is the recording format and the support for 4:2:2 (the FDR-AX1 uses 4:2:0 encoding.) All this will set you back about $6,500 and will be available "by the end of 2013." StudioDaily |  Sony Announces Sub-$6500 Pro 4K Camcorder Sony demonstrated the Z100 for members of the press in New York City last week, pointing the camera out the window of a midtown high-rise. The 4K image was of remarkably high quality given the camera's small sensor size, fixed lens, and aggressive price point. Live Production TV |  Sony Launches Professional PXW-Z100 4K Handheld XDC...

New Capabilities Include ACESproxy Output, Full RAW 120fps 4096 x 1080 Resolution and DCI-P3+ Color Gamut Support for the EOS C500 Camera, and 80,000 ISO Shooting for All Three Cinema EOS Camera Models New firmware is scheduled to be available starting in November 2013 for the EOS C300 and EOS C100 camera and December 2013 for the EOS C500. In addition, the XF305 and XF300 series camcorders are scheduled to receive firmware updates in early 2014 that include GPS support and enhanced digital tele-converter capabilities. Among the updates for the Canon Cinema EOS C500 Cinema Camera are: an ACESproxy (Academy Color Encoding System) output from the camera’s 3G-SDI monitor terminal for immediate on-set color correction (using a compatible ACES monitor with ASC CDL [The American Society of Cinematographers Color Decision List]) while primary footage is being recorded in RAW; support for the DCI-P3+ color gamut (a selectable function providing a wider range of color than DCI-P3); Canon...

Canon has announced the new CN-E35mm T1.5 L F single-focal-length Cinema prime lens designed for large-format single-sensor digital cinematography cameras employing Super 35mm or full-frame 35mm imagers. The new Canon CN-E35mm T1.5 L F prime lens is the sixth member of Canon’s line of EF-mount Cinema prime lenses, which also includes 14mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm EF-mount models. The lenses feature consistent color balance, minimal focus breathing, water-resistant rubber gaskets, and an 11-blade aperture diaphragm to help achieve creative depth-of-field manipulation and pleasing “bokeh” effects. “As with all Canon Cinema prime lenses, the new Canon CN-E35mm T1.5 L F lens has been crafted to meet the creative requirements of the most discerning cinematographers, directors and producers,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “Filmmakers indicated a need for this lens in our lineup and...

Anyone who's in sales will tell you that it's important to have memorable names for your product. Companies can get involved in complicated deals just to procure the rights to the ideal name. I note this because I had a couple of experiences of name confusion the last couple of days. Sony's Alphabet Soup Problem Sometimes Sony comes up with easy to remember names for their products. Sometimes not. The NEX-FS100 is a bit of a mouthful, yet shortened down to the FS100 it's easy to say and somewhat memorable. But try to remember the name of their Action Camera? It's the HDR-AS15 . And even if you can remember it, there's little point in telling someone the name, because they won't remember it. I was giving a short talk on the camera and I completely spaced on the name. Not that I've actually had cause to use the name other than when I ordered it. And then there's the NEX-EA50UH . Now there's a name that rolls off the tongue. Sony needs...

Sony is supposed to be announcing several things today, including the sensor/lens combination for smartphones, or QX lens cameras . I think the most interesting thing is the 4K camcorder , (not that I'm planning to buy one...) They've also announced a new version of the  Action Camcorder, the HDR-AS30V , which adds 1080p 60fps video capture to the range. It's expected to be available by the middle of the month for $298. They've also announced the  HDR-MV1 Music Camcorder  (no price and no delivery date.) It's an interesting looking duck, but I think I'd rather get the mic away from the camera, no matter how good the mic might be. LPCM & AAC Audio Formats for Recording Versatility Records in uncompressed Linear PCM (LPCM) and versatile AAC audio formats. With LPCM recording you'll be able to capture high-resolution CD-quality 44.1kHz/16-bit sound. With AAC recording you'll be able to capture 48kHz/128kbps audio files for easy uploadin...

Sony has announced a new 4K camcorder. It has a single 1/2.3" CMOS sensor with approximately 18,900,000 pixels, (though it has an "effective" 8,300,000 pixels.) It also has a 31.5mm - 630mm f/1.6 - f/3.4 lens and built-in ND. It will shoot at up to 3840 x 2160p at 60 fps (150 Mbps). While the price of $4,499.99 is quoted , currently there's no delivery date at B&H. With 4K resolution and recording for $4.5K it's pretty impressive. And it has a nice lens and built-in ND. But , it's a fixed lens and a small sensor. For documentary work it would be great, but probably not for most narrative work. Capture 4K 3840 x 2160p Video at 60 fps This model supports 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution. With four times better than Full HD 1080p image quality, you'll be able to capture the finest details at high resolution and produce vibrant, realistic images. Plus, the fast image processor is the same one employed in professional Sony models, making it possib...

Bags are something that's often overlooked. They can cost an incredible amount of money - hundreds of dollars - and spending that sort of money on something that doesn't actually capture an image can seem ...pointless? But I'm a great believer in having a good bag to store your stuff in; it really makes a difference for both storage and transportation. The problem is finding a good compromise on protection, quality and price. Part of the equation is your usage; if you're taking the gear out everyday shooting, you'll need something much stronger and sturdier than something used to store equipment in a studio or that is only occasionally transported. I have a couple of inexpensive bags for lenses and SLR cameras which are almost identical in capacity and price. I would recommend these for storage and light transportation/use. The AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR Cameras and Accessories-Black  is currently $35.96 while the Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon...

It seems that Acer is prepping to release a smartphone that can record at 4K: Engadget :  Acer announces 6-inch Liquid S2, 'first 4K-recording smartphone' Really? I can understand the attraction of 4K; if the image is actually a good one. But like the early days of inexpensive 1080p cameras that didn't produce a picture any better than 720p cameras, resolution for resolution's sake is pointless. ARRI believes that contrast and image quality is more important than resolution. I think that's a good rule. Seriously, how much better would a 4K image be through a smartphone lens? Which leaves the last concern: storage. Either this thing is going to compress the image so heavily, it really won't be worth recording in 4K, or it will create files so large you'll be spending all your money on hard drives to back up your footage. It all seems a bit pointless for a smartphone.

The Cheap Sony 4K SonyAlphaRumors has a picture of an upcoming cheap  4K camera from Sony that may sell for less than $5,000. Cheap, of course, is relative. This isn't really news; the idea of a camera like this was previewed back at NAB, as Cinescopophilia points out . I'm quite sure that Sony will come out with a 4K camera that looks like this; the question was never 'if,' only 'when' and 'how much?' But before you get too excited, note that this camera is basically the same body as the  HXR-NX5U and  HVR-Z5U . These cameras have a FIXED lens, and 1/3" sensors. This is not the 4K replacement for the NEX-FS100. It could still be a nice camera for documentary work, though the image better be worth the extra $$ compared to the price of the HXR-NX5U. Other News When a Camera Manufacturer Hates Me… | ProVideoCoalition Art Adams responds to being called out by Jim Jannard in his final post to Reduser: I have a lot of respect for RED. T...

As I previously mentioned, I haven't really done any serious lens testing before, so I've been doing some research on the topic. So far I've found the following references/resources: Lens flares | Too Much Information All lenses were at their wides aperture and pointed to a 500W spot light that was about 4 meters away. I shot the tests on Sony NEX-FS700. The only colour correction I did on the footage is set the shadows and highlights to 0 and 100 IRE respectively. Controlled, comparative, repetitive & meaningful bokeh tests | pbase The distance for the main object was 0.5m for all 50mm lenses, and 1m for 105mm Sigma (with and without TC) and Sigma 50-500. White christmass bulbs were at 3m distance. Object shot (HO steam model loco) was chosen for huge contrast, tiny details and very shiny parts that provoke easily CA and blooming. That way one can nicely judge other lens qualities besides bokeh. What the Heck is Bokeh? | Rick Denney Test condition...

Foreign Incentives Help Crush Once-Booming F/X Biz in U.S. | Variety While the city’s vfx business may not be entirely lifeless, it’s certainly bleeding out. It was severely wounded by several factors: failure to organize when it could; globalization; low labor costs abroad; and most of all, foreign subsidies. Chances are it will survive only as a much-weakened remnant. Video: An Inside Look at Storyboarding with the Coen Brothers' Storyboard Artist | No Film School It’s my job to get what’s inside a director’s head on the paper. It’s not my job to create the shot. It’s my job to interpret their language into a visual language. It’s very important that I get as close to the image that’s in their brain on the paper, so that everybody when they walk on the set is making the same movie — they’re not all imagining what’s going on. The Costs of Working with 2K and 4K Uncompressed Footage | wolf crow As you can see, the costs of storing uncompressed footage goes out of han...

Upcoming Free webinar : Storytelling from Indie to 3D with Avid Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock Shares His Secrets Thursday, August 29, 201311 am PT / 2 pm ET Acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and producer Jeremy Chilnick recently completed One Direction: This Is Us —a highly anticipated film that combines 3D concert footage with Morgan’s trademark documentary style. See how an Avid workflow helps Morgan and Jeremy collaborate Get a behind-the-scenes tour of their creative working environment Learn the storytelling secrets behind Morgan’s success Get your questions answered in a live Q&A with Morgan Be Natural: Interview with documentary filmmakers Pamela Green and Jarik van Sluijs | Michael Murie | Filmmaker Magazine If somebody thinks that they know the story that they are going to tell at the beginning, they better think again, because once they look at the footage it becomes something completely different. CLEAN DJI PHANTOM QUADCOPTER WITH GIMBAL AND INTERNAL FPV TR...

As expected, Sony announced three new E-mount lenses (useful for the NEX-FS100, NEX-FS700, NEX-EA50 and NEX-VG30 video cameras.) The first lens isn't really a new lens. The  Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens (Black) ($298) appears to be just the existing silver lens in a black covering; which will look a lot better on those black video cameras! The second lens (above) is the  Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens ($998) . It includes Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, and is probably a very nice lens, though it will probably appeal more to still photographers. The last lens is the  Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens ($598) . This will probably be of most interest to those with E-mount video cameras because it includes Optical Image Stabilization, a constant f/4 maximum aperture, Internal zoom and focus design to maintain a constant lens length with a non-rotating front element, and powered zoom:  The internal zoom operation utilizes Handycam...