» Posts Tagged ‘camera’
Blackmagic announced two cameras at NAB 2013, but on the floor at the show, much of the buzz was not about the 4K camera, but actually the smaller Pocket Camera. Truly a first of its kind, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with its Super 16mm-sized sensor will be recording ProRes and RAW 1080p footage in a package about the size of most mirrorless cameras, all for $1,000. I got to play around with both cameras a bit, but it’s always nicer to see a camera outside of the NAB show floor and really get a sense of what it’s capable of. John Brawley, who has worked closely with Blackmagic to develop their cameras, has posted the first footage from the Pocket Cinema Camera. More »
The Panasonic GH3, if you’ve been looking to buy one, has been out of stock many places pretty consistently. While it began shipping in November of last year, there have been quite a few shortages over the past few months — not too dissimilar from the launch of the GH2. That hasn’t stopped Panasonic from improving the product, however, as they’ve just released a new firmware update, version 1.1. Check out the details below. More »
There were rumors that Leica would be announcing a new camera with video capabilities, and sure enough, with their new $7,000 full-frame 24 Megapixel Leica M, they added a video function. There is a lot of love for Leica out there thanks to their sharp and bokeh-licious lenses, and their simple but high-quality digital cameras, and while their pricing is a bit high, adding a video mode means another possible option for those looking for compact and impressive image quality. But what does the video look like? Johnnie Behiri over at cinema5D recently took the Lecia M for a spin. Check out his results as well as some other Leica M videos below. More »
Last month we mentioned a growing issue among a number of video shooters that were experiencing camera crashes with the Canon 5D Mark III. While it seems that the issue may be related to certain brands of CF cards corrupting footage, other users have experienced issues regardless of the cards used. A petition to Canon was started online to hopefully get a solution to the problem, and it seems that at least two of those cameras affected with this issue have had their cameras fixed by Canon for free. Here is a message from Max, who started the petition, sent earlier today: More »
When the GoPro HERO3 was announced, it quickly became clear that it was a huge upgrade from the HERO2, especially considering the addition of 2.7K and 4K modes. Some later tests certainly confirmed this, and while the camera packs quite a punch considering its small size, filmmakers are always looking for more control and more options. That’s where the Radiant Images and View Factor Novo Camera mod comes in. We’ve seen some mods for GoPro cameras in the past, but this is in an entirely different league. The Novo takes everything that’s great about the HERO3, and gives it manual control with a back-focus adjustable C-mount (a mount typically found on 16mm and security cameras). Check out some of the videos below to see this little guy in action. More »
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED EPIC, and Arri Alexa RAW Camera Test Part 3: Overexposure
This is a guest post by Cinematographer Ryan E. Walters.
Welcome to Part 03 of Some Like It RAW, where I am comparing the Arri Alexa, Blackmagic Cinema Camera, and the RED EPIC. My goal for these tests is to explore how each of these cameras handle real world shooting environments. Part 01 explored how these cameras handle IR pollution. In Part 02, I tested underexposure. And here in Part 03, I’m exploring the world of overexposure and diffusion filtration. Continue on to watch the 10 minute video, read my summary, and get the downloadable RAW frames from each camera. More »
You might be thinking, how much more light-sensitive can video cameras really get if the sensors don’t get much larger? Well, if you’re Canon, the answer is a lot better. They’ve just announced a new full-frame 35mm sensor that absolutely swallows up light, and it’s specifically made just for video. We may not be seeing it in our cameras just yet, but it’s definitely a breakthrough kind of technology for the world of video, and opens up all sorts of possibilities for available light shooting. Check out the video Canon posted on their site below. More »
There have been a number of reports regarding the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and getting proper infinity focus with quite a few lenses. Earlier in the month we showed you a few videos documenting the issue, and Blackmagic so far has been very responsive, telling us at that point that they were looking into the issue. We now have a solution straight from the company, and it looks like it’s going to be a hardware fix if your camera has already been delivered. More »
A little over a week ago, there was a rumor that Canon would be introducing a brand new digital cinema camera between the C300 and the C100 at NAB 2013. At that time, the C300 was retailing for $16,000 and the C100 could be had for $6,500. In terms of the price difference, it was feasible for there to be a camera in-between (even if spec wise it doesn’t make much sense). Now, Canon has dropped the C300 price by $2,000 until April 30th for both EF and PL models, and it very well could be a permanent price drop. We’ve also got a rumor of a replacement 24 Megapixel camera for the aging Canon 7D. So what does that mean for the rest of their product lines? More »
Sony isn’t about to be left behind in any facet of video technology, be it camera, console, or display. They’ve got a model at every conceivable price point for every person out there. There have been some leaks of a new budget mirrorless camera, and now we finally have our first glimpse. Sony has unveiled the A58, a digital SLT (single lens translucent mirror), and the least expensive E-mount mirrorless camera in their lineup, the NEX-3N. They’re cheap, they’re light, and they’ll render “vivid, ultra-realistic colors” on special OLED displays. Read on for some details and beauty shots. More »
Nikon might have been first out of the gate with the D90, but it wasn’t until cameras like the D7000 that their DSLRs started outputting 1080p, and early last year, they beat everyone to the punch by introducing the D800, the first full-frame DSLR with an uncompressed 1080p 4:2:2 HDMI output for better quality. Now they’ve got a new DSLR, the D7100, which takes most of the features of the D5200, like the APS-C 24MP Toshiba sensor and uncompressed HDMI, and puts it into a more professional and weather-resistant body. The D5200 also does something basically no other APS-C camera in the price range does: it can shoot video that is practically free from aliasing and moire. The D7100, however, has its optical low pass filter removed, so will that mean worse video on the new DSLR? More »
Danny Dodge is a cameraman and cinematographer who has devised what may be the most light-weight and portable curved dolly track system you’ve ever seen. Searching for a way to build the ultimate portable dolly setup, Dodge stumbled upon the fact that a draw string could be used to arch PVC track to any degree he wished. The SnapTrack Cinerails rig was the result. Combining a simple draw string device with seven Cinerails gives you up to eight feet of curvable dolly track that seems primed for low-impact DSLR shooting, weighs under ten pounds, and breaks down/sets up in about a minute. Check out the SnapTrack Cinerails below, and some pre-ordering info if you’re interested. More »
It’s looking like this strange and random problem might finally be no more (or at least so minimal that it won’t be noticed). If you’re a C300 owner, it’s certainly possible you haven’t even noticed it. The issue was related to extremely high contrast scenes where green or purple fringing would appear on edges. I originally wrongly assumed it might be a sensor issue, but it’s clear now that it is probably related to the debayering or processing in the camera. More »
Have you ever had your Canon 5D Mark III freeze after capturing a video up to the time limit? Apparently the Mark III has issues with certain CF cards, regardless of speed, and cameras have been locking up and losing footage. This seems to occur most often once the camera reaches the 30 minute mark. Since the Mark III records to a FAT32 file system on CF cards, the max file size for each clip can only be 4GB, which corresponds to about 12 minutes. Once the camera hits 30 minutes, certain cards have caused the camera to lock-up, losing the previous 12 minute clip in the process. Now we have a petition from users who have been affected hoping for a fix from Canon. More »
When considering lens options for purchase or rental, certain criteria may stand out to you more than others. This depends on what you shoot most often, or what a project demands. Perhaps as a run-and-gun doc shooter, you simply need the extra stop you get with one 85mm lens for the same price as another that doesn’t vignette as badly. Or you gave up a contrast performance you really preferred in favor of the IS lens of greater overall value. But what if money were no object, and focal length and speed were matched? An aspect you’d find yourself evaluating closely is the way each handles its bokeh, or de-focused areas of the image. DigitalRev’s latest Battle of the Bokeh is a comparison between Canon, Nikon, and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lenses in precisely this spirit — with some unexpected results. More »
Is the First 'Instant' 3D Modeling and Motion Capture Camera the Future of CG Animation?
In creating computer generated imagery, reference photographs of real-life objects may assist modeling, texturing, and animating a 3D object. In animation, this practice translates into something called motion capture, or ‘performance capture’ when facial expressions are the focus (see: Avatar). Fixed reference points on an object or surface help artists recreate something virtually, but Microsoft XBox 360′s Kinect technology is actually able to recognize shape and motion on its own, turning you into a full-body video game controller in real-time. The new Lynx A Camera looks to take this a step further. Meet the world’s first ‘point-and-shoot’ camera that can model and capture the geometry, texture, and motion of anything you aim it at, right before your eyes. More »
Some conversations have been appearing recently talking about infinity focus issues with specific lenses and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera. One of the biggest offenders so far has been the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, which is one of the few faster wide options for the EF mount BMCC. Unfortunately, it seems that many people have replicated these issues, and a recent video posted online shows just how bad the situation can be. More »
While the internet seems to be looking for a specific camera from Canon that they haven’t quite delivered yet, their digital cinema cameras — specifically the C300 — fly off the shelves and are consistently the most rented (if you don’t believe me, ask anyone who runs a rental house). That, of course, won’t stop the company from releasing new models, and it seems we may see a brand new camera along with some new cinema lenses at the yearly NAB show in April. Click through for more details and analysis. More »
Upcoming B&H Seminar: 'Making a Movie Without a Hollywood Budget and Big Crew'
Beginning in the summer of 2010, filmmaker Gail Mooney and her daughter took a 99-day journey all over the world to create “a film about people who were making a positive difference.” Opening Our Eyes was the result. The partially Kickstarter-funded film follows eleven subjects across six continents, and went on to achieve accolades such as Best Documentary at the 2012 Orlando Film Festival. Considering the scope and scale of the project, and the budget at which it was accomplished, Opening Our Eyes is a startling achievement — and, through an upcoming B&H seminar with Mooney herself, other filmmakers can learn exactly how it was accomplished. More »
Panasonic's Revolutionary New 'Micro Color Splitter' Sensor Filter Doubles Light Sensitivity
The most common way we get color images with digital cameras is with a Bayer pattern CMOS sensor, but there are plenty of variations on that design being used today. The upcoming Aaton Penelope Delta uses a Bayer pattern over a Dalsa CCD, for example, while the RED EPIC-M Monochrome uses the MX CMOS sensor foregoing color filtration entirely. By their very nature, though, color filters of any kind cut down the amount of light transmitted to the sensor. That’s why Panasonic is developing a brand new type of color filter that will employ diffraction to split up the color spectrum, instead of filtration, and thus will be capable of doubling the light sensitivity of the sensor. More »
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