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One of the secrets to getting your digital footage a little more cinematic is to add some grain in post. While even footage originating on film sometimes gets this treatment, it’s a nice way to bring back some organic feeling into an otherwise clinical medium. Rgrain, who has been producing realistic grain plates (not actual scanned grain) for some time now, is introducing a brand new pack that extends all the way up to 6K resolution. Check out an introduction video below: More »
Even though NAB is mostly a gear show, new hardware isn’t very useful unless it’s actually being used to make something. FreshDV had a chance to talk with filmmakers on the show floor about more than just gear, specifically what kinds of story and storytelling they enjoyed the most. Click through to check out the video below. More »
We mention 4k a lot around here, mainly because it’s something most filmmakers will have to work with at some point in the near future if they haven’t already. While 4k acquisition is certainly a separate topic from 4K distribution, both are important conversations, and FreshDV took to the NAB show floor to discuss the topic with filmmakers: More »
Adobe had quite a bit to talk about at their conference yesterday. Besides announcing that they were ending Creative Suite and making it a Creative Cloud-only option, they also talked about a few hardware projects they’ve been working on: Mighty, a new cloud-connected pen stylus, and Napoleon, a ruler — both made specifically for mobile devices. While the hardware itself may not be all that innovative, the way it interacts with the devices takes mobile creations to a whole different level. Check out the introduction video below from Michael Gough, Adobe’s VP of Product Experience: More »
About a year ago, Adobe announced that they were going to be offering subscriptions for their software through what they were calling Creative Cloud. Besides being a monthly subscription instead of a one-time fee, Creative Cloud also offers other advantages like being able to view and share work from any device through specific applications. Back in March, Adobe killed off boxed versions of the Creative Suite, suggesting that they were going to move away from CS altogether, and starting in June, they’re doing just that: future versions of Creative Suite will only be available through Creative Cloud. Click through for more from Adobe on the announcement. More »
While one person will never replace a crew of people, plenty of gear is making it easier to get great looking shots on your own. Kessler has been at the forefront of this change, and they are now introducing a piece of gear that will make it easier to do repeatable slider movements while panning at the same time — without any additional motors. Click through to check out the introduction video for the Kessler Parallax auto-panning device: More »
We reported recently that French camera maker Aaton was in financial trouble thanks to issues with sensor development on its Penelope Delta digital cinema camera which has yet to see the light of day in any real numbers. Confirming these issues, Jean-Pierre Beauviala, Aaton founder, explained in a statement what’s happening with the company, and what they plan to focus on going forward — which includes a new audio recorder and a new documentary-style digital cinema camera. More »
The professional/semi-professional lens market is getting very competitive very quickly — which is great for filmmakers who are now using cameras that are much sharper than DSLRs, and need lenses that can match that resolution, and also provide smooth iris and focus. Schneider has been making PL mount lenses for some time, but they’ve now decided to introduce a full-frame cinema lineup with interchangeable mounts to go head-to-head against similarly priced lenses from Canon and Zeiss. Check out the FreshDV video below with Ryan Avery from Schneider: More »
We took a look at the Cinevate Axis Jab at last year’s NAB, but they’ve made quite a few improvements that really make this even more set-ready. Our friends at FreshDV checked out the jib this year at the Cinevate booth, and talked with Dennis Wood about some of the changes and improvements over the model they were showing at NAB 2012. Watch the video below: More »
Wireless follow focus systems are slowly getting cheaper, but when you’re dealing with wireless, quality is still the most important aspect. Hocus Products, who makes the Axis 1 Wireless Follow Focus System, has been developing the device for several years, but they are now finally about to ship to users. I’m told from those who have used it that it should stack up nicely against the much more expensive Preston systems which can run over $30,000 for a complete kit. Click through to check out the FreshDV video with Peter Hoare from Hocus: More »
Canon Finally Releases Firmware V1.2.1, Enabling Clean HDMI on the 5D Mark III
With everything going on with the 5D cameras over the last few days, you’d think the clean HDMI firmware had already been released — but today Canon finally took the wraps off the firmware update they announced all the way back in October. While the headline feature is definitely the clean/uncompressed HDMI, they have introduced a number of other fixes as well. Click through for more from Canon about the update. More »
NAB Video: CineChopper on Modifying the DJI Phantom
If you thought you were safe from more NAB videos, well, you were wrong, as we’ve got a few additional interviews from our friends over at FreshDV. The DJI Phantom has certainly brought down the cost of entry for getting great-looking aerial footage — especially with cameras like the GoPro HERO3 — but right out of the box, there are some modifications that can be done to improve the steadiness. Here is Chris Newman from CineChopper on his modifications: More »
We’ve mentioned the Aaton Penelope Delta a few times, not only because it is a seriously impressive piece of machinery, but also because it comes from a long line of well-designed cameras from the French-based company. While certain manufacturers are going small and/or modular, a few — namely Aaton and Arri — are still making cameras that are well-balanced and can be thrown on your shoulder right from the factory. Unfortunately, the company has faced a few setbacks with their still unreleased camera, and now it looks like those issues have put them in serious financial trouble. We’ve also got an update about the RED DRAGON sensors, and why we’ve yet to see any footage (even though the hardware is done). More »
Steven Soderbergh has been making movies at a rapid pace over the last few years, likely trying to get everything out of his system before his “retirement” from filmmaking. We’re not sure if the new Liberace film will truly be his last, or if he’ll ever direct anything else again, but one thing is sure: he still has a lot of strong feelings about the film industry and many of the problems facing filmmakers today. He recently spoke at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival, and got into some of the major issues that affect filmmaking — and filmmakers — today. [Update]: you can now watch the full speech online. More »
Canon 5D Mark III Clean HDMI Firmware Leaks, Plus More from Magic Lantern Regarding RAW Video
It seems like it’s been all about the Canon DSLRs over the last day or so, but we assure you there are plenty of other things happening. Even though it’s not set to be released for another few days, it looks like an official firmware update for clean HDMI on the Canon 5D Mark III has leaked to the internet, version 1.21. We wanted to make sure this was the real deal and wouldn’t brick any cameras, but it definitely looks like this is an official update — but whether this will be the final release is unclear. We also have some more information about the RAW video hack that the guys are working on over at Magic Lantern. More »
First RAW Video Sample DNGs from the Canon 5D Mark III with New Magic Lantern Firmware
We just told you about what Magic Lantern is doing with the RAW liveview image, and now we’ve got some of the first samples for you to play around with. Luke Neumann has been testing the new firmware with A1ex over at Magic Lantern, and he has produced a spectacular sample that really gives you an idea of what this firmware is capable of. First, here is a video from Luke walking you through the process he went through to get these samples: More »
Magic Lantern Unlocks RAW Video on the Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III
Every day it seems things get more and more interesting with what these Canon cameras are actually capable of. It would be interesting to know if Canon is actually aware of what their cameras can do, or if some of these are happy accidents for the team over at Magic Lantern. They have made significant discoveries trying to enable full uncompressed HDMI, and not only do we have RAW still images from the liveview video stream, but they’ve actually managed to get RAW video working on Mark III. More »
Roger Deakins to Aspiring Cinematographers: 'You Have to Have Your Own Perspective & Way of Seeing'
Roger Deakins is no stranger to this site, but that’s because he’s been extremely generous throughout his career about giving advice and trying to help those who are just starting out (in fact that’s why he started a forum). If you aren’t an Academy Award-nominated Cinematographer (I’m guessing you aren’t), Roger Deakins has some sage advice for you. Check out the video below. More »
Thanks to cameras being made with mounts very close to their sensors, we can adapt all sorts of older lenses that were made to be farther away from the sensor/film plane. The two most adaptable and supported so far, the Sony E-mount and the Micro 4/3 mount, have seen a wide range of adapters for lenses like Canon, Nikon, and PL, and we’ve even got adapters now that can make your lenses faster, wider, and sharper. If you’re shooting in brighter environments, and you want to keep your shutter speed and f-stop consistent, you need ND filters, so it was only a matter of time before someone decided to put a variable ND into a lens adapter. That’s exactly what Thomas Läräng did with the HolyManta internal ND lens adapter, and he’s running a crowdfunding campaign to try to get the project off the ground. More »
We still have about a week to go before the new Canon 5D Mark III firmware is released, and while attention has somewhat shifted since it was announced back in October, there are still many people looking forward to what uncompressed HDMI can bring to their setup. Canon has confirmed through their website that the firmware should be released April 30th, but in the meantime, we’ve got a sneak peek from the Atomos NAB 2013 booth thanks to OliviaTech. Check out the video below. More »
Sergey: very interesting! Thanks. Old School 'Photoshop' Techniques That Still Apply: Touching Up Celluloid …
Joe Marine: I realize you'd normally take the cynical side, but making lenses faster, … Micro 4/3 Metabones Speed Booster Now Shipping for Leica R & Contax L…
Tyler: Depends how you look at it. I only want wide for light, not DoF. Most … Micro 4/3 Metabones Speed Booster Now Shipping for Leica R & Contax L…
john jeffries: Now you can get even MORE of that "film look" with super shallow depth of … Micro 4/3 Metabones Speed Booster Now Shipping for Leica R & Contax L…
Gene: Shhhhh, you're raining on the parade. ;-) Luke Neumann on Canon 5D Mark III RAW Video and a Comparison with the RED …