Micron Technology today announced that it is discontinuing its Lexar® retail removable media storage business. The decision was made as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to focus on its increasing opportunities in higher value markets and channels.

The Lexar portfolio includes memory cards, USB flash drives, readers, and storage drives for retail and OEM customers.

Micron is exploring opportunities to sell all or part of the Lexar business.

The company will continue to provide support to existing customers through this transition period. Customers should contact their Lexar sales representative to discuss specific requirements.

I’d like to thank our team members and partners for their contributions to the Lexar business. As difficult as this decision is, the company is making this adjustment in its business to ensure it continues to be well-positioned for the future.

HDW : Sadly we have come to rely on Lexar 1000x as the leading manufacturer for use with our GH5s in 4K 50p and was the first card of choice. Long before the new v2 software appears for the 400Mbps upgrade to the GH5 we will lose the ability to purchase the only card on the market suitable to sustain its speeds the Lexar 2000x SDXC speed 10 U3 card. I know most GH5 users have come to rely on their Lexar media and will be a great loss.

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Finally I have finished my review of the Panasonic FZ2000, I already own an FZ1000 so why buy the 2000.

I soon discovered with the FZ1000 that it was an exceptional HD video camera but with a lot missing. Panasonic took on board the criticisms of the 1000 and produced the FZ2000 with some surprises.

First surprise was the addition of ND filters which is a major bonus when filming at a shutter speed of a 50th.

Thankfully they also included the long overdue headphone socket, I do not like the micro HDMI socket so lets hope the FZ3000 includes a full size HDMI  the same as the GH5.The other major update was a properly positioned tripod screw hole, my FZ1000 has an adapter seen above, moving the screw hole to where it now is on the FZ2000.

The SD card slot was also in the battery compartments on the 1000 while its been moved to a more accessible place at the side of the camera.

Panasonic even added a new thumbwheel on top of the FZ1000 making manual adjustments a lot easier.

Thoughts for the FZ3000…4K 50p, 4K 25p 10 bit 422, FHD 10bit 422, full size HDMI socket, higher resolution EVF and dual card slots and the addition of the XLR unit as seen on the GH5.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

No one seems to have a price for the new Panasonic EVA-1, the new Super 35mm 4K 50p camcorder with Canon EF mount.

So lets start with the competition…The Panasonic GH5 with 12-60mm lens and XLR unit.

This specs of the GH5 are almost identical to the EVA-1 less the Super 35mm sensor and Canon EF mount. We all know Panasonic are never going to match the GH5’s price so what about the Sony FS5.

The Sony FS5 is what the EVA-1 is directly in competition with in my opinion and as you can see its twice the price of the Panasonic GH5. The EVA-1 still beats the FS5 on specs alone.

The BlackMagic mini URSA Pro is about the closest to the EVA-1 you can get also sporting a Canon EF mount and Super 35mm sensor.

What about the Panasonic EVA-1 on price, simple no more than £5,499 to compete with its direct competition.

So when Panasonic say the EVA-1 is less than £6,179 or 8,000 dollars for their sake it better be a lot less than £6000 or it will not compete with the present competition.

In case Panasonic are not listening, there is a general downturn on video sales thanks to BREXIT so a camcorder at a competitive price would be useful.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

This guy combines high speed filming, time lapse, hyper lapse, motion control, long exposures and ultra high definition to create the most amazing videos. Here’s his new trailer for awaken, watch on youtube in the highest resolution your computer will handle. Releasing in 2018

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

I went to Blind Spot’s HQ in the West end of Glasgow during the year to see the new “Tile Light” they were developing. The one thing that does not come across is how bright this wee LED light is.

Billy showed me the new Tile Light…A single surface emitter technology is powered by embedded high-density blue emitting LEDs that excite a layer of phosphor diffusion.

Open the window on to the world with the Tile Light. A portable, battery powered light for cinematography. With a large beam angle of 120 degrees the Tile creates a large even pool of light that makes everything look it’s best. Combine beauty, flexibility, portability and strength.

The lads, James Campbell, chief cartographer, Billy Campbell chief explorer and Alan Easdale chief inventor.

Everything you get in the box.

Lights
– 1 x Tile Lamp
Included accessories
– 1 x Remote Dimmer
– 1 x Dimmer Extension Cable
– 1 x International AC
– 1 x Battery Adapter
– 1 x Battery (NP-f550)
– 1 x CTO Gel
– 1 x USB Battery Charger
– 1 x Ball Mount
– 1 x Hot Shoe Adapter
– 1 x Lamp Bag

Billy “It’s been one heck of a journey for us here at Blind Spot Gear, true to our word it was only short wait from when we last saw each other. Our brand new groundbreaking TLCI-92 trans-technological fusion ‘Tile Light’ is finished. We took delivery of the first batch last week.”

Further info from https://www.blindspotgear.com/tile

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Only last week a drone was caught flying too close to Gatwick Airport and led to the closure of the runway forcing five flights to be diverted, this type of irresponsible behaviour is not acceptable. The sooner drones have the ability to auto transmit their owners details the better.

An airport spokesman said the runway had been closed for two periods on Sunday – of nine and five minutes – after the drone was sighted.

Easyjet said four of its flights were diverted, while British Airways said one aircraft was diverted to Bournemouth.

Other flights were put into holding patterns as a precaution. Sussex Police is investigating.

Despite present drone regulations in the US, identifying the operator of any given drone in the sky is nearly impossible, making it difficult for law enforcement to deal with drones that are being misused. To address this issue, the Federal Aviation Administration has developed the new UAS Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which just recently wrapped up its first meeting.

According to the FAA, this initial meeting was used to discuss law enforcement concerns related to drones, to present regulations concerning drone tracking and identification, as well as possible legal issues and air traffic drone management. Existing drone ID tech was reviewed, and ‘preliminary…identification parameters’ were created.

Chris on Arran chose a very quiet place to fly his drone while I was producing my Panasonic FZ2000 review

Speaking on the behalf of unnamed sources, Recode reports that law enforcement agencies are concerned about their inability to identify drones from the ground; this concern has reportedly delayed an FAA proposal related to flying drones over people. The FAA is said to be using this committee to develop a system in which law enforcement will be able to identify a drone from the ground, addressing the agencies’ concerns.

Such a system may involve the drone itself broadcasting its identification to a law enforcement system, enabling police to ID the drone’s operator or, at the very least, its owner. Such an identification system would likely require small non-commercial drones to be registered, however, marking a deviation from current drone regulations.

At the moment, only commercial drones must be registered with the FAA.

In November 2016, the UK’s drone code was revised and updated to help pilots ensure they fly their gadgets safely. The revised code consists of five basic rules.

• Don’t fly near airports or airfields
• Remember to stay below 120m (400ft) and at least 50m (150ft) away from people
• Observe your drone at all times
• Never fly near aircraft
• Enjoy responsibly

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For the lucky ones who have bought into Blackmagic’s 7″ Video Assist 4K we now have scopes. Blackmagic Video Assist features high speed SD card recorders for HD or Ultra HD recording in incredible 10-bit 4:2:2 quality ProRes, DNxHD and DNxHR files in Quicktime and MXF formats. Blackmagic Video Assist works with any camera that needs better quality monitoring and professional format file recording!

The 7” Blackmagic Video Assist 4K with HD and Ultra HD recording, low noise balanced analog mini XLR mic inputs, a built in speaker and more, featuring 3D LUTs, false color, focus peaking and 6G-SDI and HDMI connections so you can add professional monitoring and recording to any camera!

When you update your Video Assist 4K to FW version 2.5 all you need to do is touch the Histogram and that will enable the new Scope features as shown above.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Some people are speculating a GH5 type camera but not at a GH5 price ! Here is the info Red users got on line on Tuesday evening…boring it ended up being a mobile phone.

Stay tuned for further information on the 6th of July.

This is going to make you empty your pockets of your $1600 for the new mobile…NOT !

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

I just bought a second hand Video Assist 4K to use with my Panasonic GH5’s. I love the Video Assist 4K thought to be truthful they are heavy on battery power, I tend to use them on mains power when I can. Stupidly like many companies they use the Canon LP-E6 Lithium-Ion batteries that are not beefy enough for the job instead of using good old Sony “L” batteries.

Both my site partners H Preston Media and Production Gear sell these monitors.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Spa challenged me to experiment with a unique medium: photography through a liquid lens made of Spa water. Although liquid lenses are not new, they have not been used for photography up until now. For this project a one of a kind camera was built by the scientists at Etulipa.

The camera works as follows: a drop of Spa water is placed on a glass slide with telfon coating to prevent the drop from spreading and becoming flat. An electric current shapes the drop in order to focus the image. Via a 45 degree angled mirror light is directed into the lens while an industrial film sensor captured the image.

Mini-documentary:
Director: Maarten Groen (DPPLR)
Featuring: Robin de Puy
DP: Myrthe Mosterman
Concept: Rienk de Vries, Niels Bredemeijer (JWT Amsterdam)

SPA – The Purest Picture from DPPLR on Vimeo.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions