Once again Sigma produce one of their magnificent ART lenses, this can come in Canon, Nikon or Sigma with an added converter MC11 it can be used on a Sony E mount camera.

Cost will be around 1588 Euros.

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

I decided this camera is so good it deserves its own blog post.

• 20MP 1″-type BSI-CMOS sensor
• 24-480mm equiv. F2.8-4.5 lens
• Depth from Defocus AF
• Large electronic viewfinder
• Fully articulating LCD
• Built-in variable ND filter
• 4K video capture (DCI/UHD)
• 10-bit, 4:2:2 output over HDMI
• Headphone socket

Just noticed the new position for the SD card slot…a lot better.

A host of other exciting features 

• 3.5mm Microphone Jack / 3.5mm Headphone Jack

The 3.5mm microphone jack is for high-quality audio recording using an external microphone and the 3.5mm headphone jack enables monitoring recording audio while shooting video real-time.

• Easy Wireless Connectivity via Wi-Fi with Smartphones

The LUMIX FZ2000 integrates Wi-Fi connectivity (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) to offer a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing with easy operation.

While offering several new stills-related features (such as focus stacking), the FZ2500 is really all about video. It shoots both Cinema and UHD 4K, can output 4:2:2 10-bit video over its HDMI port, supports V-Log L recording (for an extra $99) and much, much more. In essence, the FZ2500 is the little brother to the DMC-GH4 ILC, which is one of the most capable video capture cameras on the market.

Finally looks like Panasonic have taken advice from end users by positioning the tripod mount further along the camera.

• Optional Accessories

A variety of optional professional accessories including External Flash (DMW-FL580L, DMW-FL360L, DMW-FL200L), Stereo Shotgun Microphone (DMW-MS2), LED Video Light (VW-LED1), Remote Shutter (DMW-RSL1), 67mm PL Filter (DMW-LPL67) and MC Protector (DMW-LMCH67) are also offered for more creative freedom.

Sadly it seems Panasonic have missed a trick as most people at the show can’t tell us if the newly designed XLR unit will indeed work with the FZ2000.

First official picture of the new headphone socket thanks to Charles Woods who was at the show.

Just over a year ago I found myself on a film set filming the Spirit of Edradour, I had to have a camera that was almost point and shoot for behind the scenes so plumbed for the Panasonic FZ1000 and what a great choice I had made.

Edradour…behind the scenes from Philip Johnston on Vimeo.

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

Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC), a global storage technology and solutions leader, today unveiled its SanDisk^® 1TB terabyte (TB) SDXC™ card prototype at the world’s leading trade fair for photo and video professionals. With increasing demand for high resolution content, such as 4K and 8K, the company continues to push the boundaries of technology with solutions that support the exponential growth of data-intensive production demands.

“Showcasing the most advanced imaging technologies is truly exciting for us,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product management, Content Solutions Business Unit, Western Digital. “Sixteen years ago we introduced the first SanDisk 64MB SD™ card and today we are enabling capacities of 1TB. Over the years our goal has remained the same; continue to innovate and set the pace for the imaging industry. The SanDisk 1TB SD card prototype represents another significant achievement as growth of high-resolution content and capacity-intensive applications such as virtual reality, video surveillance and 360 video, are progressing at astounding rates.”

Since the introduction of the record-breaking 512GB SanDisk Extreme PRO^® SDXC UHS-I Memory Card at Photokina 2014, Western Digital has proven it can nearly double the capacity in the same SD card form factor using proprietary technology. Higher capacity cards expand the possibilities for professional videographers and photographers, giving them even greater ability to create more of the highest quality content, without the interruption of changing cards.

“Just a few short years ago the idea of a 1TB capacity point in an SD card seemed so futuristic – it’s amazing that we’re now at the point where it’s becoming a reality. With the growing demand for applications like VR, we can certainly use 1TB when we’re out shooting continuous high-quality video. High-capacity cards allow us to capture more without interruption, streamlining our workflow, and eliminating the worry that we may miss a moment because we have to stop to swap out cards,” said Sam Nicholson, CEO of Stargate Studios and member of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Western Digital will be demonstrating the SanDisk 1TB SDXC card prototype and showcasing its newest offerings at Photokina, Hall 02.1 Stand A014.

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

α99 II features a 35mm full-frame 42.4-megapixel. Approximate effective pixels, back-illuminated CMOS sensor that delivers high-resolution image while providing high sensitivity, minimised noise, and wide dynamic range. Its wide standard ISO range 100-25600 is expandable to even wider ISO 50-102400.

• Internal 4K UHD recording to APS-C format with full pixel readout, no pixel binning
• XAVC-S format with up to 100 Mbits for 4K resolutions
• New ‘Slow and Quick’ mode: 1 fps to 120 fps (100fps in PAL countries)
• Video features: picture profiles, TC, clean 4:2:2 HDMI out, S-Log2 & S-Log3 with monitor LUT, zebras
• 5-axis SteadyShot
• 3-axis tiltable LCD screen
• 42.4 megapixel full frame 35mm Exmor R CMOS sensor
• Hybrid Phase Detection AF system
• 79-point dedicated phase detection AF sensor
• 399 focal plane phase detection AF points
• up to 12fps continuously
• Translucent Mirror Technology, meaning no moving mirror
• 5-axis SteadyShot (same as in the a7R II)

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

Here it is after all the rumours the Panasonic GH5 has been announced. No price as yet or date for delivery but 10bit 422 at full HD is stunning as is 4K 50p (not 10bit I have been told.) and dual card slots.

Panasonic today announced that it is in development of a new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) Camera LUMIX GH5 that is capable of recording smooth, high-precision 4K 60p/50p and faithful 4:2:2 10-bit 4K video for the first time in the world^*1. It also features ‘6K PHOTO’ which extracts approx.18-megapixel still images from ultra-high-quality video with approx. 9 times the pixel count of Full-HD. The new LUMIX GH5 is scheduled for commercialization and introduction to the global market in early 2017.

Panasonic has been committed to the development of innovative digital cameras under the theme “Create a New Photo Culture in the Digital Era.” The world’s first Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera LUMIX DMC-G1 was introduced in 2008 and the subsequent DMC-GH1 achieved the world’s first Full HD video recording in 2009.

By advancing Panasonic technologies, such as digital signal processing and heat dissipation, and packing them into the compact, lightweight body of a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, the LUMIX GH5 enables 4K 60p/50p and 4:2:2 10-bit 4K video recording, which has never before been achieved. With this unprecedented video recording performance, Panasonic aims to further capitalize on the strength that it has achieved in the film production industry.

In the LUMIX GH5, the conventional ‘4K PHOTO’ function is dramatically advanced to form ‘6K PHOTO’ which lets the user cut a still image out of ultra-high-quality approx.18-megapixel video with approx. 9 times the pixel count than Full-HD. Taking advantage of its high-speed, long-time burst shooting capability, spur-of-the-moment shots can be saved in beautiful photos with higher resolution that complies with larger-sized printing by substantially increasing the resolution from approx.8-megapixel (4K PHOTO) to approx.18-megapixel (6K PHOTO). Furthermore, approx.8-megapixel 4K Photo images can be captured at a super-fast 60 fps.

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

The Canon EOS M5 is the newest – and flagship – addition to the growing family of Canon mirrorless cameras. Bridging the gap between mirrorless cameras and DSLRs by mixing a compact and lightweight body with the latest in camera technologies. A high quality APS-C and advanced DIGIC 7 processor combine to help produce great imagery. Highlights of the M5 are:

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 7 Processor helps capture 14-bit RAW images as well as Full HD 60fps movies.
• 5-axis image stabilisation
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF for faster autofocus – even during 7fps continuous mode
• Smartphone connectivity and image transfer via Wi-Fi, NFC or low energy bluetooth all in-built.
• 3.2″ LCD Touchscreen with ClearView II Technology
• Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with high-definition OLED display

The M5 comes on the heals of the Canon XC15, not so sure Canon know what they are doing in the market at the moment with all these “video” enabled photographic cameras. PS. In case you need one…Once again there is NO headphone socket on this camera and no 4K ?

 

 

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

Finally Sony appear to have listened to the end users who desperately need a wide angle servo zoom lens for the FS5 and the FS7. The original lens of this type is quoted as a full frame /ASP-C lens while this new lens is being touted as an APS-C lens only ?

Offering film makers a powerful new creative tool, Sony has developed an advanced Super 35mm / APS-C format power zoom lens that starts at 18mm wide angle and extends to 110mm at the telephoto end (27mm – 165mm equiv. in 35mm format[ii]). The new lens has a 6.1x high zoom ratio, even with inner focus, and maintains a constant F4 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range for beautiful depth of field effects and stable exposure control.

An ideal companion to a wide range of α cameras, from the PXW-FS7 professional camcorder to interchangeable-lens cameras such as α7 series and α6300, this G LensTM delivers image quality that will satisfy even the most demanding of professional users. It consists of 18 elements in 15 groups, including 6 aspherical elements and 3 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and features a 7 blade circular aperture design. This highly intricate design delivers extremely high resolution image quality and is particularly suited to professional 4K movie shooting.

The E PZ 18-110mm F4 G OSS is only the second lens to benefit from Sony’s Smooth Motion Optics (SMO) design and construction, which has been developed to eliminate unwanted image shifts while making adjustments during movie shooting. SMO addresses three particular aspects of lens operation that can have a significant impact on movie quality: Focus Breathing, where shifts in angle of view during focusing are minimized by an internal focus mechanism; focus shift, where small shifts in focus that can occur during zooming are eliminated by precise focus tracking adjustment, and Axial shift, where axial image shifts during zooming are minimized by a constant length design.

The high level of operability and quiet operation of the new lens makes it a compelling proposition for its integration into professional movie production environments. Its three separate rings give control over focus, zoom and aperture, with optimal torque for a satisfyingly responsive, professional feel. Both servo and responsive manual mechanical zoom are fully supported and the zoom ring direction is switchable to match individual user preferences. Additionally, the lens length remains constant during any changes, making it easy to use with matte boxes and other lens accessories. Also, in a first for Sony α lenses, a 0.8mm pitch focus gear is built right onto the ring, providing direct compatibility with standard focusing accessories.

Optimum optical performance and operability is complimented by a dust and moisture-resistant designi, making the lens ideal for location use. Extra versatility is afforded by Optical SteadyShot technology that provides in-lens image stabilization during handheld shooting. The lens also features a compact and lightweight[iv] design making it a truly mobile solution. Additional flexibility is afforded when used with the SEL14TC and SEL20TC teleconverters for 1.4x and 2.0x extension of focal range.

The E PZ 18-110mm F4 G OSS Super 35mm / APS-C power zoom lens for professional movie-makers and photographers will available in North America from November 2016, priced at approximately $3,500 US / $4,500 CA. Note : CVP have this lens priced at £4,088 ???

Hands On With Sony 18-110mm F/4 from cinema5D on Vimeo.

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

Panasonic introduces two new 4K models in the professional field the UX180 and the UX90, while the domestic side bring us the XC-X1.

The lesser Panasonic AG-UX90 (AGUX90) 4K Handheld Camcorder has UHD 30p recording and a fixed 15x Optical Zoom Lens and a price point of £2500.

The Panasonic AG-UX180 (AGUX180) 4K Handheld Camcorder with UHD 60p recording and a fixed 20x Optical Zoom Lens and a rice point of £3160

The (domestic) Panasonic HC-X1

• Wide-Angle 24mm Lens and Optical 20x Zoom
• High-definition 4K 60p/50p Images with 1.0-type MOS Sensor
• The Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.)
• IR Shooting
• Intelligent Auto Focus
• Double SD Memory Card Slot
• Price £2160

As far as we are aware the only difference between the UX180 and the HC-X1 is the SDI socket (UX180) so if you don’t need SDI the obvious choice must be the HC-X1.

Why do companies do this ? Your guess is a good as mine, but it still give all of us a choice and thats no bad thing.

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

Holdan Limited, a UK based trade-only distributor specialising in broadcast, professional video and streaming technology, today announced it has been acquired by Midwich.

Midwich is a specialist audio visual and document solutions distributor to the trade market with operations in the UK and Ireland, France, Germany and Australasia. Holdan is the leading distributor in the UK and Ireland and has enjoyed rapid growth in mainland Europe. It holds distribution agreements with Blackmagic Design, Panasonic Broadcast, Teradek, Datavideo and many other specialist manufacturers.

Allan Leonhardsen of Holdan commented, “Although we expect business as usual for the foreseeable future, we do see this move as evidence of the growing convergence of broadcast and AV technology. Importantly, there is tremendous cultural synergy between our two organizations which help us to work together to bring new and truly innovative solutions to our respective customers.”

Stephen Fenby, Managing Director of Midwich noted:
“I am delighted to welcome the Holdan team to the Midwich Group. We have admired the expertise and reputation of Holdan for some time and look forward to working together in the future. We recognised some time ago that the broadcast and professional video markets are a natural adjunct to our traditional audio visual activity. Having made some headway in penetrating these markets ourselves, we believe that the expertise and focus of Holdan will give Midwich the ability to provide a more comprehensive value-added service to our customers in the UK and overseas. Similarly, Midwich’s vast reach into the audio visual market provides Holdan’s vendors with an opportunity to expand further into a growing segment.

In line with the Holdan’s long term succession plan, Chris Daniels has stepped down as Holdan’s managing director, but will continue with the business on a full time basis before retiring in 2017. Allan Leonhardsen has become Holdan’s managing director with immediate effect. Allan joined the business in 2003 and has been the sales director for the past twelve years. Kieron Seth becomes sales and marketing director, adding sales to his previous marketing responsibilities.

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While recording one of our new “One Roving Cook” programs a new 5.7″ HDMI0-SDI bright monitor arrived from Spain. We soon got it working for us using the HDMI input.

It has HDMI and SDI and a headphone socket, uses Sony NP-F L type batteries.

As you can see the monitor is far brighter than the LCD on the JVC LS300 giving my cameraman Scott a major advantage for focusing.

As of quality, this monitors feature a well detailed full HD native resolution at 1920 x 1080 with a contrast ratio of 1000:1, with up to 600 NIT’s of luminance. The first model of the Loyal series now available, is a powerfull compact 5.7 inch monitor, resistant as it is housed on a metal lighter chasis, and weights only 297 grams or 422 grams full equip including battery.
The chassis provides buttons for access to the GUI on top os the monitor, including a wheel for better manage those settings, as well as a some user customizable button to direct access almost any feature.

Loyal series comes with a lot of functionality as well as dedicated Assist and Exposure tools including False color, Histogram, Peaking, RGB parade, Waveform, Zoom and more.

Other useful tools inlcuded in Loyal series are: Audio Meters, Audio Gain, Color Bar, Markers and the ability to change aspect ratios.
5.7 inches is one of the sizes most demanded by users, as 5 inch might be a little small and 7 inch might be too much big, this 5.7″ compact monitor will meet most user demands, having a width like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, so, keeps in your hands or in the pocket of your cloth or jeans, while having a viewable area and a resolution (402 PPI) enought for you to get the most from your camera. As well as can be used to playback your recorded clips from your DSLR or camcorder, as it have a nice contrast and 169 degrees of viewable angle. An in all, plus 2 video inputs and 2 video outputs acting like a Mini Converter, plus an audio speaker and headphone jack (well suited or cameras that lacks audio like Sony a6300), will make Loyal 5.7″ by Cinemartin, one of the most selling monitors in the upcoming time. Check the friendly price on the official website at http://cinemartin.com/monitors/5inch/loyal/

I have been very impressed with this 5.7″ monitor, the colours are very true as is the ability to check both focus and exposure.

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