The race for bigger megapixels has started again with the new Sony R IV at 61MP.

• Unprecedented Highest Resolution and Widest Dynamic Range for α – Alpha System, Combined with High-speed Performance and a Lightweight, Compact Body 
• World’s first 35mm full-frame 61.0 MP back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS image sensor with latest-generation BIONZ X™ image processor
• 15-stop dynamic range at low sensitivities, resulting in smooth, natural gradations ranging from deep shadows to highlights
• High-speed continuous shooting at up to 10 fps with full AF / AE tracking for approximately seven seconds in full-frame mode with an increased buffer memory, and approximately three times as long in APS-C mode.
• 567 focal-plane phase-detection AF points covering 74% of image area and 425 contrast AF points 
• Debut of Real-time Eye AF for movie recording and advanced Real-time Tracking plus Real-time Eye AF for still image recording
• Features an APS-C crop mode delivering stunning high resolution images of 26.2MP
• 5.76 million dot UXGA (Ultra-XGA) OLED Tru-Finder™ electronic viewfinder with outstanding detail, brightness and contrast
• Upgraded connectivity and operability including high-speed Wi-Fi support, wireless PC remote connectivity, FTP wireless transfer, faster data transfer via USB and more
• Professional 4K movie recording functionality including full pixel readout with no pixel binning in Super 35mm mode, S-Log3, HDR workflow support
• Multi Interface Shoe™ with digital audio interface delivers the high-quality sound recording with Sony’s new microphone and XLR microphone adaptor 
• Additional enhancements to the body design include an improved grip and button layout for improved control with compact, lightweight body

Sadly it does not have a full size HDMI socket nor 4K 50p internal filming, benchmarks we have come to enjoy with Panasonic GH cameras.

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

As you may appreciate I am no longer a fan of the GoPro range of products therefore I am selling my GoPro7 with 1 spare battery and a double battery charger (No boxes) for £150 plus special delivery.

The camera is in perfect working order so if you want a bargain send an email to me at smallvideo@me.com

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

The one update feature that caught my eye was the ability to produce smooth apertures, great for video work till you discover that this only applies to one lens the Panasonic 10-25mm f/1.7 LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX.

1. Improved compatibility with the Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH. (H-X1025) digital interchangeable lens.- Smooth aperture control is available during video recording.- [Aperture Ring Increment] has been added with which users can choose the control method of the aperture ring from [SMOOTH] or [1/3EV] in photo shooting.
2. Improved compatibility with the Panasonic Remote Shutter DMW-RS2.- The video REC switch on the Remote Shutter can be disabled in the camera’s custom menu.
3. Improved operational stability- There were cases where the headphone volume did not change in real time when [Headphone Volume] registered in “My Menu” has been changed. This bug has been fixed.

You can download the new firmware here…https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

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

I used this Canon EF to MFT adapter with my JVC LS300 but works well with the Panasonic GH5 (Checked today).

I no longer have my JVC LS300 which is why I am selling this adapter for less than half price. It’s in pristine condition, with original Metabones plastic box.

Send me an email if you are interested to smallvideo@me.com

Note. Postage will be added to the price but will depend on where it is being posted too.

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

In early 2018 I renewed my long relationship with streaming live video thanks to an encoder that for me revolutionised the process – the LiveU Solo, the sort of jobs I had been taking were growing from short corporate streams to day jobs, to festivals and ultimately to this.  The Solo is a reliable system, it’s easy to use with one touch streaming and super fast setup with little tech knowledge required.

But with any good story lets go right back to the beginning, in this case over 20 years ago to the 1990s where as a young chap I worked for a company called OpTex who had just bought a couple of satellite news gathering vehicles.  These vans were at the time cutting edge and I enthusiastically managed to get involved with a number of jobs they were booked on.  These jobs saw me travel as far as Monaco for the Grand Prix, to France for the World Cup and ultimately to Westminster on the eve and during the day of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. 

These satellite trucks ignited a spark, an interest that had been niggling me ever since.  Back in 2018 armed with cameras and my LiveU encoder I was streaming video live to platforms such as Facebook Live and Youtube.  The Solo is a great piece of kit and enables you to bond, i.e combine the data from a number of connections.  The Solo allows you to bond four connections, they are 2x USB modems for 4G SIM cards, 1x Ethernet and 1x Wifi connection.  By using mobile hotspots you can use SIM cards by ethernet and wifi also, giving you a mobile encoder that works on 4x mobile data 4G connections.

I live in Norfolk, it’s beautiful.  As I type I can hear cows in the field behind my garden, pheasants and rabbits wander free, deer eat my neighbours roses and my view is of trees and sky.  I live in a rural location and whilst it is very nice neither high speed internet or reliable mobile signals have made it the half mile from the village to my home.  I knew I wasn’t alone and this limited my ability to stream video locally.  I needed a solution…

It was on a hot and sunny summers afternoon that I pitched the idea to my wife whilst we were relaxing in the garden.  Our young sons played in their paddling pool and into the  conversation I dropped in true Blackadder style that I had a cunning plan.  My plan I explained to my long suffering wife was that I was going to build a satellite van with a difference, the difference being I don’t like vans and I was going to use the smallest car I could find.  Why?  Because it was quirky and fun.  At this stage and in the form of a disclaimer I should add that a Smart car is technically smaller but that was just not going to happen.  Later that afternoon after some convincing I headed off to my nearest Mini dealership to buy a used car.  

I had of course already done my homework and knew the Mini would be an ideal fit.  Road tax, fuel consumption, boot space and especially where I was going to drill holes through  the bodywork were already researched and planned.  As was the specification of the satellite system that was going to be fitted.  It was almost time to put it together.

Many other digital satellite trucks use the hardware system that I use, most commonly the BBC who have a number of vehicles built by the same company that modified and built the system into my Mini.  The satellite system in use is the KA-Sat system which provides a satellite internet connection across Europe, my contract gives me download speeds up to 50Mbs and upload of up to 10Mbs.  It’s a very simple system that works brilliantly.  My wish list for my satellite mini included:  Auto pointing dish, self powered for a number of days without a generator, wifi network, external waterproof CAT5 network port on the body of the vehicle and a router internally.  I can happily say all these specs were met.

Unlike other satellite trucks which have rows of monitors, audio and video mixers, recorders and more the diminutive Mini is setup for far simpler streaming jobs, the boot mounted rack can be fitted with and has been fitted with Blackmagic recorders and television studio mixer if the need arises.  At a recent festival I used a number of cameras to cover the stage, interviews and mixed on a Blackmagic Design desk which fed into my LiveU encoder before sending the stream down a CAT5 cable to the car, parked 50M away which transmitted live to Facebook.

The versatility, quirkiness and reliability of my setup led to the phone call that saw me offered the opportunity to spend three days stranded on an tidal island in the blackwater estuary with 450 female beauticians.  Naturally I said yes.  My job was to work with a video production company who I already knew to provide high speed satellite internet connections to allow them to stream a conference to multiple destinations.  Being on an island and despite the two windows to get on and off each day I knew I needed to be fully self sufficient and have a backup, backup plan.  Like a veritable Tardis I loaded the Mini with spare modems, dishes, other satellite system parts as well as my tent, sleeping bag and other necessary items.

In the end the job went like a dream with me providing satellite internet via the vehicle mounted dish, I also ran a manually setup flyaway dish that provided wifi access to the technical crew and was my backup incase of any technical issues – although it wasn’t needed.  

My satellite Mini is not only a great fit for jobs on islands or in remote locations around Norfolk but also provides a reliable connection in towns and cities where 4G mobile phone signals may be impacted by the number of users in the area, demonstrations, concerts, events etc.  By using the LiveU Solo I can combine 4G data and satellite data to offer a hybrid service where available and reduce satellite airtime costs.  

Further details from www.uplinx.tv

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

Last week we filmed an amateur football cup match and decided to use what we call belt and braces by having a GoPro 7 behind one goal area and a DJI Osmo Action behind the other goal area.

Both cameras were powered by internal batteries with a constant power feed from the USB -C port via a 5000mAh external battery, to make sure that lasted 90 minutes.

All went to plan till half time when I decided to check the Osmo Action. I had tie wrapped it onto a metal fence which was about 6ft high. I tried to reconnect it via my iPhone but would not connect so I pressed the power button by mistake, remembering it was above eye level and I had never used the camera before.

The match stopped for only 5 minutes at half time rather than the usual 15 minutes so caught me on the hop. I had no time to check the GoPro 7.

The match ended 3-1 all the goals coming in the second half I used my GH5S with the Olympus 12-100mm f4 lens (24-200 35mm equivalent) to capture the highlights and fortunately all four goals.

At the end of football match we had the full first half recorded on the DJI Osmo Action (No goals in this half) and 35s of footage on the GoPro Hero 7. I have no idea what happened to the Hero 7 but conducting a test the next day it was fine.

Today I tested the GoPro 7 with its internal battery and it runs for 1hr and 12mins (72m) that would have been one battery per side of football but that would have meant removing the camera from its housing which I preferred not to do as showers were forecast that afternoon. Remember I was using an external power supply.

The DJI Osmo Action which I have only one internal battery runs for 1hr 7mins (67m) so I had no option but to use an external USB battery supply powering the camera via the USB to USB-C cable.

Its very annoying when new technology lets you down. This is a video I produced during 2016 using two GoPro Hero 4 cameras with a constant USB power feed recording for six months. (Footage was offloaded every week).

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

A further update on yesterday’s announcement Apple seems to be throwing everything at this new MacPro. Here is a video that gives you an insight as to what to expect.

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

Nothing comes cheap with Apple and that includes the new MacPro at $6000 which is the starting price of what’s now known as the “Cheese Grater”.

If you want the new monitors (Pro Display XDR) to go with the MacPro then expect to pay $6000 plus $999 for a stand and a VESTA mount adapter is $200.

I love Apple equipment but once again Apple have decided if you are a professional then you are going to pay through the nose for the new MacPro, if you need it.

For further information on specs why not fly over to FCP.CO http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/2184-apple-announce-the-new-mac-pro-pro-display-xdr-at-wwdc-2019

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

Panasonic LUMIX is proud to announce the development of LUMIX S1H, its latest mirrorless camera equipped with a full-frame image sensor. It is the world’s first camera capable of video recording at 6K/24p (3:2 aspect ratio), 5.9K/30p (16:9 aspect ratio), and 10-bit 60p 4K/C4K. Combining professional-level video quality and high mobility of the mirrorless camera, Panasonic will release the LUMIX S1H in Autumn 2019.

Firmware for the S1 has been announced and is FREE, available during July…(See warning below)

The new upgrade also adds the world’s first 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 25/30p internal video recording with no time limit. That means that without an external monitor, you can still achieve an incredibly high level of video quality.

Using the HDMI output, you will also be able to output at 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 60/50p. Up to 96 kHz/24-bit sound recorded internally via the DMW-XLR1 audio adapter.

As well as the V-Log recording, there will also be in-camera LUT application enabling playback of V-Log while or after recording, perfect for making sure you’ve nailed the shot in the field.

Warning Heads Up…The FW upgrade will be $199 for all new S1 owners starting October 1st 2019 

Panasonic LUMIX is proud to introduce a new standard zoom digital interchangeable lens, the LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH. (H-X1025), £1800 which boasts a large F1.7 aperture throughout the entire 10-25mm zoom range with exceptionally high optical performance clearing the stringent LEICA standards.

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

Interesting, yet local police enforcement bodies in the US have invested heavily in DJI.

I do think these headlines are nothing short of propaganda because the US has fallen out with the Chinese yet almost everything built today with electronics involved comes from China.

While the report doesn’t name a specific company, Shenzen-based DJI, which dominates the U.S. and Canadian drone markets with close to an 80% share, according to a market sector report from Skylogic Research, is of utmost interest.

One of my favourite drone pilots Ken Heron was invited to the Splendora, Texas Police Department to see their new drone program.

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