Today was a 4K day and a lot more testing, I was a tad disappointed in my 4K shots till I discovered that I was viewing them in HD. After switching the output to 4K the pictures jumped out of the 55″ Samsung QLED TV.

I tried the face detection (FD) this afternoon and it works a treat, once again there are 3 flavours of FD…High, Middle and Low. So far I have only tested it in the High position.

I will be interested to see how face detection performs in the other two positions.

A note for using face detection you need eyes, nose and a mouth in your frame, I hid my mouth and it no longer had the square box round my face.

A further note you also need to set up a User Switch to activate it off and on. I used User Switch 7 on the 550.

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

Spent the morning with the JVC HC550 at a local bird sanctuary.

You get 3 flavours of 4K 50p, Apple ProRes 422 HQ or Apple ProRes 422 or Apple ProRes 422 LT since firmware V.0110. Recording in 4K 50p you have to use the SSD drive there is no backup onto SDXC at 4K 50p.

I made such a basic error last night ingesting 4K footage with a USB-C cable that had USB 1 at the end and could not understand why my 1 minute of footage was taking 2m 37s to ingest till I woke up this morning and had a eureka moment to make sure my USB-C cable was indeed USB 2.

I assumed all USB-C cables were the same as USB-C is so new it must be USB 2 compliant…sadly they are not.

There you go I was lucky with the Scottish weather this morning to get a couple of hours filming in HD.
Tomorrow it will be the turn of 4K 50p assuming no rain off.

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

Yes finally I can reveal we have the latest Connected Cam from JVC the GY-HC550 to produce a video review.

Any questions send them to hdwarrior@me.com and I will endeavour to answer them in the review.

Meantime I will get to know the camera and all it has to offer and hopefully start filming by the weekend.

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

“Age 34, I’ve been an airline pilot for 12 years. My tenacity, my creativity and my desire to achieve a global perspective of our world have allowed me to fulfill my nomad dream. For many years, I’ve been creating videos, in an endlessly quest for beauty. Finding key words, brainstorming and creating stories to captivate your emotion is my passion. Sharing my dream with my 300 000 followers is my number one goal.”

This video is best seen on a smartphone or a standalone Virtual Reality Headset. I have contacted Guillaume asking him about the 4K cameras he uses, its a Sony A7 III with a 14mm lens. Note : Do not use this video link to watch the footage in VR use the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=guillaume+laffon

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

While browsing the internet for video info from CES this caught my eye. An electric car from Sony. It’s not surprising to see Sony having a hand in the newest electric car technology as a great part of this falls into Sony’s remit.

As you can see the Sony electric car is full of cameras probably HD cameras. If Sony were even more inovative you could add a few HDMI ports to allow you to blog live from your car…as long as you don’t take your eyes off the road.

Love all the screens in this car though great as long as they don’t break down.

As an additional safety measure, internal sensors will monitor facial expressions and body language to gauge concentration and alertness. Sony says that the sensors are also for comfort, and will adjust the temperature as needed.

Edit car…now there is a thought. Have a link from a laptop or iPad in the back of the car allowing editing facilities.

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

Live from CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Panasonic has launched three of the industry’s smallest and lightest 4K 60p camcorders: HC-X1500, HC-X2000 and AG-CX10. Packed into a compact body to offer the mobility and portability demanded by professionals, the new models enable high-quality 4K 60p recording and achieve high-spec optical performance with a Wide-Angle 25mm Lens and 32x i.ZOOM (4K recording).

Interesting features from these small professional camcorders like 4K 50p and 10bit 4.2.2 internal recording with 1/2.5 type (inch) MOS Sensors.

The CX10 and the X2000 are almost identical apart from the CX10 has micro P2 for a more professional recoding codec.

An optional Handle Unit (VW-HU1) is easily detached and equipped with a 2-channel XLR Audio Input, audio control, and LED light. Operation of the zoom lever attached to the Handle Unit maintains a constant zoom speed, which can be set in 7 steps from the menu.

I think Panasonic have excelled themselves with this new line up of smaller 4K camcorders. Giving what many of us have been asking for DSLR sized camcorders with a professional zoom recording 4K 50p, 10bit 4.2.2 internally.

The Venus Engine, the same technology used in the LUMIX cameras is incorporated in these camcorders. This enables 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording with a maximum 29.97p in UHD and a maximum 59.94p in FHD.

When set for 10-bit recording, the cameras can output 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-bit over HDMI. The HEVC recording (LongGOP/10-bit 4:2:0/MOV) is also supported for recording 59.97p at a bit rate of 200 Mbps. As for file formats, in addition to MOV, MP4, and AVCHD, the AG-CX10 also supports P2 MXF for Broadcast applications. The AVC-Intra100/50 codec support is planned for the future. Recording by all P2 formats requires a microP2 card.

In FHD mode, slow-motion recording at 120 fps (for 59.94 Hz)/100 fps (for 50 Hz) is possible. 10-bit recording is supported, and full-frame images with the image area uncropped are obtained even at high frame rates. Autofocus can also be used even during Super Slow-motion Recording.

The cameras have both SDI and HDMI outputs except the X1500 which looses the SDI output.

The HC-X1500, HC-X2000 and AC-CX10 all support 4:2:2 10bit Internal Recording and the new, high-efficiency HEVC codec, and built-in Wi-Fi supports HD Live Streaming without additional equipment.

In addition, the AG-CX10 supports the broadcaster-targeted P2 MXF File Format. Ethernet HD Live Streaming and an NDI|HX(*5) compatible IP connection function are equipped, and connectivity is provided for use as a live camera.

The new models will be available to purchase at the following recommended retail prices Inc. VAT: AG-CX10 at £2,299 RRP (available from April 2020), HC-X2000 at £1,849 RRP, and HC-X1500 at £1,449 RRP (both available from March 2020).

Here is a introduction video from Holdan, sadly it does not show us any video footage.

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

I finally got my BlackMagic (BM) ATEM mini and here are my findings.

First thing to remember DO NOT put an external mic into any of the mic input ports on the back of the ATEM mini and expect synchronous sound.

This was my first mistake, fortunately I was running all 3 GH5s with SD cards so this was not an issue.

You must set the main camera as your sound source in my case with the Panasonic XLR unit on the GH5.

There are 2 ways to preview your incoming shots the 1st is to set up your ATEM mini via the software via a laptop the second is via a second monitor with a loop through HDMI socket. There is no multi preview on the ATEM mini as it stands.

The 1st way relies on the USB-C output (Webcam out) via a computer so in my case not a practical way of doing things.

I have two BlackMagic Video Assist 4K monitors, using one as a preview and one as a recorder. The preview monitor only allows you to preview one camera but thats better than nothing.

I am not recording anything LIVE and all the 3 cameras are setup and static. A live recording would present a lot more difficulties in terms of preview. It has been suggested that BM may develop a multi camera output for the ATEM mini via software that would be a big improvement but as long as the lighting stays the same and you are not filming a theatre production the ATEM mini is a great tool.

It upscales all HDMI inputs to your chosen output via the BM software, in my case 1080 50p.

Although I have not used it yet it seemingly has a terrific chroma key facility once again driven via the BM software.

To work the software you need the following ports. A spare USB socket and an ethernet socket. Dont worry if your laptop does not have an ethernet socket as you can buy an ethernet to USB adapter online for about £15.

The only cable that comes with the ATEM mini is the 12v power adapter.

You have to supply your own USB to C adapter cable and the ethernet cable if you want to control the ATEM mini from your laptop.

The software also gives you access to the audio with a lot more control than you get with the ATEM mini itself. The controller is well made and does not come across as a cheap £300 mixer. To me this is a scoop at the price for anyone producing any form of HD programming.

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By activating LUMIX S1 with Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU2, you can enjoy best-in-class 14+ stops V-Log with your LUMIX S1, as well as many other advanced video functions for use in a professional setting.

Please remember I have an original unopened box from Panasonic, this arrived after I sold my S1. Save a massive £80 off the price of the same box from Panasonic. This has now been sold.

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Sony has announced that its Simple Live Streaming service, a new proposition for users to streamline the process of acquiring live content, will be available from today. The additional workflow flexibility for its palm-sized 4K HDR professional camcorders, the HXR-NX80 and PXW-Z90, can be accessed via a free firmware upgrade to enable content creators to shoot wherever and however they want. 

With Wi-Fi connectivity, Simple Live Streaming enables high quality live streaming to major video sharing websites and social media platforms such as Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook with a single camcorder. Offering simple operation, it further enhances the remote delivery of content quickly without compromising on image quality. 

Norbert Paquet, Head of Product Management for Sony Professional Solutions comments: “The introduction of Simple Live Streaming for the HXR-NX80 and PXW-Z90 streamlines the overall workflow, from shooting to live distribution. Equipped with Simple Live Streaming, the camcorders will have online sharing features, further empowering content creators to concentrate on what they do best – storytelling on the go.”  

NOTE…The “Simple Live Solution” is achieved by combining the MCX-500 multi-camera live producer (£2,199) and the RM-30MP remote commander (£ 1,018 ) to provide multi-camera based simple live production. When a user needs to expand live streaming to multiple camcorder operation, the HXR-NX80 and PXW-Z90 camcorders can be connected to MCX-500 via SDI or HDMI – enabling livestreaming onto social media platforms with rich live features such as tally, title and transition.  

Users can access the free firmware upgrade from 12^th December 2019. For more information, please visit pro.sony.eu.  

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Expanded compatibility with Profoto wireless transmitters- Profoto wireless transmitters “Air Remote TTL-O/P” and “Profoto Connect-O/P” can be used.* All functions may not be available depending on the situation.

Improved AF performance- [AF-ON: Near Shift] and [AF-ON: Far Shift] functions have been added. [AF-ON: Near Shift] preferably focuses on a subject nearby while [AF-ON: Far Shift] preferably focuses on a subject far away.- Focus Peaking function is available in any AF mode.- It is possible to set continuous AF on the live view screen in Creative Video mode or in other video recording mode when the video recording area is displayed.

Other added functions- [AWBw] has been added to WB mode.- [Highlight Weighted] has been added to metering mode.- [Exposure Offset Adjust.] has been added to Custom menu, which enables adjustment of the standard exposure value for all metering modes.- [0.5SEC] has been added for an option of [Duration Time (photo)] in [Auto Review].

Other improvements- AE can be locked with the [AF/AE LOCK] button when ISO Auto is set in M mode.- [MODE1] has been added to the Live View Boost function, which increases the frame rate for smooth image display to enable easier manual focusing.

Improved operational stability- There were cases where Backup Recording using the Double Card Slot Function stopped during writing. This bug has been fixed.- There were cases where the images shot vertically did not rotate on playback. This bug has been fixed.- Operational stability of image stabilizer has been improved. (When [Image Stabilizer] > [E-Stabilization(Video)] and [Boost I.S.(Video)] is ON. ).

Here is the URL https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

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