For a long time DJI have ruled the drone market but with increasing problems in the USA accepting electronics from China the USA are fighting back with this amazing drone.

American drone manufacturer, Skydio, has announced the release of the Skydio 2. A more compact, lightweight, autonomous drone with a superior camera, compared to its predecessor, the R1, it is going after the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and Air markets.

The Skydio 2 retails at a competitive price point of $999. A 12MP camera, mounted on a 3-axis gimbal and built around Sony’s IMX577 1/2.3” CMOS sensor with Qualcomm’s RedDragon™ QSC605 technology, can deliver up to 4K/60p HDR video. Using 45 megapixels of visual sensing from six 200° color cameras, the drone can detect obstacles in every direction and avoid them. This is Skydio’s foundation for truly autonomous flight, an ‘Onboard AI’ that powers the ‘Skydio Autonomy Engine.’

The drone can reach a maximum autonomous speed of 36 mph and can remain in the air for 23 minutes with up to 3.5 km wireless range. To compare, the DJI Mavic 2 series can fly up to 45 mph remain air bound for up to 31 minutes. Nevertheless, Skydio is also selling the fact their latest release is 50% smaller, lighter, and quieter than the R1.

SENSOR TYPE Sony IMX577
1/2.3” 12.3MP CMOS SENSOR ACTIVE PIXELS 4056 (H) x 3040 (V) LENS APERTURE f/2.8 LENS FOCAL LENGTH 20mm (35mm format equivalent)

LENS DEPTH OF FIELD 1m – ∞SHUTTER SPEED electronic shutter 1 to 1/1920s ISO RANGE video 100-3200

Photo 100-3200 IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSOR Qualcomm QCS605GPUAdreno™ 615CPU64-bit octa-core Kyro™ 300DSPHexagon™ 685, 2x HVX RESOLUTION and MODES

3840×2160 30 fps
3840×2160 60 fps
3840×2160 48 fps
3840×2160 24 fps
1920×1080 120 fps
1920×1080 60 fps
1920×1080 30 fps
BITRATE 100 Mbps
VIDEO FORMAT MPEG-4 (AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265)
STILL RESOLUTION 4056×3040 (12 MP)STILL FORMATS JPEG, DNG (RAW) STILL MODES Single, Interval DYNAMIC RANGE 13 stops
STORAGE Removable Micro SD Card
UHS Speed Class 3 / V30

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The Sony FX9 seems a much improved camera over the FS7 especially the colour profile and the autofocus.

HDW “Its Sony’s colour profile that has put me off all their cameras and is why I no longer own any Sony camcorders nor photographic cameras.”

Sony has cracked the autofocus on the FX9 making it very usable especially for older camera persons with blurry eyesight.

I love the skin tones on the FX9 a lot more natural and this will make a great 2nd camera for Sony’s Venice.

Sony “The fast hybrid AF system encompasses phase-detection AF and contrast AF for a fast and smooth AF response capable of precise subject tracking. The AF settings are customisable in addition to being highly accurate to help you personalise the camera to your individual needs and projects. This is perfect when trying to establish your very own signature filmmaking style that can distinguish you from a pool of already highly skilled professionals. The FX9’s wide AF coverage features a maximum of 561 points split between 94% points in the horizontal direction and 96% in the vertical direction.”

For further information on the Sony FX9 why not go over to Philip’s blog post at http://philipbloom.net/blog/fx9/

SONY PXW-FX9 TEST SHOTS from Philip Bloom Reviews & Tutorials on Vimeo.

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Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR is an ideal upgrade for cameras, as it’s super bright 2500nit display is bigger than the tiny displays found on consumer cameras, plus you’re also adding professional focus assist features and better quality file formats. The innovative touchscreen LCD user interface provides incredible control. On screen, there are dedicated buttons for play, stop and record, plus a mini timeline for scrolling through your recordings. You can even image swipe to jog! The LCD includes a heads up display of timecode, video standard, media status as well as audio meters. Scopes can be enabled via the touch screen as well as focus and exposure assist. There’s also an extensive range of settings all controlled from the large LCD. Plus you can load and save 3D LUTs! Price £815

Sony UWP-D26/K33 (UWPD26/K33) UWP-D26 ENG UHF Wireless Kit, includes URX-P40 Portable Receiver, UTX-B40 Belt Pack, UTX-P40 Plug On, Lavalier Microphone . The demand for high quality audio is increasing as high resolution content becomes prevalent in the video production industry. Today’s content creators are faced with the challenge of capturing high-quality audio quickly, reliably and with limited resources. Offering superb sound quality with digital processing, reliable RF transmission, true double tuner diversity reception and friendly features, the UWP-D series is an ideal partner for ENG (electronic news gathering) and EFP (electronic field production), as well as documentaries and weddings. The UWP-D26 package includes the UTX-B40 bodypack transmitter, UTX-P40 XLR plug-on transmitter and URX-P40 receiver, plus accessories. Digital Audio Processing for High Quality Sound
Advanced digital audio processing technology by Sony assures high quality sound with improved transient response performance. A new [optional] digital audio interface enables direct digital sound recording with many Sony professional camcorders and Alpha interchangeable lens cameras via the SMAD-P5 Multi Interface MI shoe adaptor. Price £764

ARRI Orbiter Ultra-Bright, Tunable and Directional LED Fixture Light. Please Note: Versions may become available
Orbiter is an ultra-bright, tunable and directional LED fixture from ARRI. All systems in Orbiter are completely new and designed with versatility in mind. Orbiter’s new six-colour light engine delivers a wide-colour gamut and outstanding colour rendition across all colour temperatures along with industry-leading, smooth dimming 100% to 0%. With its changeable optics, Orbiter can transform into many different types of lampheads including projection (profile), open face, soft light, and other future possibilities. Orbiter’s state-of-the-art technology and versatile design makes it an optimal lamphead for today and for the future endless possibilities for updates, configurations and enhancements. 
A Wide Variety of Changeable Optics
Changeable optics is the core innovation in Orbiter. With a wide variety of optics to choose from, Orbiter transform into the perfect light for your application without sacrificing beam, outputm or colour quality. Price TBA

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The most spectacular camera was Sony’s full frame FX9 and finally Sony have redesigned their colour science to match Venice a good move in my opinion. £10,000.

Sony also announced a 28-135mm f4 lens for the FX9, at £12,300 with FX9 its not a bad price for this range of lens.

Canon announced the C500 Mk2 5.9K Full Frame Digital Cinematography Camcorder with EF Lens Mount. At £14,166 this will be a hard camera to sell against the new Sony FX9.

At £255 this 1080p switcher must be the bargain of the show, remember you will also need to buy an external recorder like the Blackmagic video assist.

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 Sony today unveils the PXW-FX9, its first XDCAM camcorder featuring an advanced 6K² Full-Frame sensor and Fast Hybrid Auto Focus (AF) system. The new flagship camcorder offers content creators greater creative capabilities to capture stunning images that truly resonate with audiences. 

Building on the success of the PXW-FS7 and PXW-FS7M2, the FX9 uniquely combines high mobility with an advanced AF system, impressive bokeh and slow-motion capabilities thanks to its newly-developed sensor. The FX9 also inherits its colour science and Dual Base ISO 800/4000 from the VENICE digital motion picture camera and represents the ultimate tool of choice for documentaries, music videos, drama productions and all-round event shooting. 

The FX9 was designed in close collaboration with the creative community and is another example of Sony continuously evolving its proposition to innovate with the customer and market needs. The camcorder benefits from the versatility, portability and performance expected of an FS7 series “Run & Gun” style camcorder, while also offering High Dynamic Range and Full Frame shooting features.

“Today’s content creators require a camcorder that is agile, versatile and customisable to their specific creative needs, yet also offers superior performance and image quality. With the new FX9 we are striking the perfect balance between agility, ergonomics and powerful features, offering content creators the complete toolset to achieve their full artistic intention,” explained Norbert Paquet, Head of Product Management at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “At Sony, we consistently listen to our customers and every product, solution or service we unveil has always been developed with their specific needs in mind. Our latest flagship camcorder is no different and we are excited to see how it will help content creators to go make tomorrow.”

Powerful features for creative content creators

The newly-developed 6K Full-Frame sensor offers wide dynamic range with high sensitivity, low noise and over 15 stops of latitude that can be recorded internally in 4K³ 4:2:2 10bit. Oversampling by the Full-Frame 6K sensor allows professionals to create high-quality 4K footage with impressive bokeh effects through shallow depth of field, while wide-angle shooting opens new possibilities for content creators to express their creativity. This means that every scene captured looks true-to-life whether it’s shot in broad day light or in the middle of the night. The camcorder can also capture content up to five times the slow-motion speed with FHD 120fps shooting.

With the same colour science and Dual Base ISO 800/4000 as the VENICE camera, the new sensor can also create softer and more alluring facial tones.

The enhanced Fast Hybrid AF system with customisable AF transition speeds and sensitivity settings also combines phase detection AF for fast, accurate subject tracking with contrast AF for exceptional focus accuracy. The dedicated 561-point phase-detection AF sensor covers approximately 94% in width and 96% in height of imaging area, allowing consistently accurate, responsive AF tracking, even with fast-moving subjects while maintaining shallow depth of field. 

Limitless creativity and flexibility

Inspired by the high mobility “Run & Gun” style approach from the FS7 series of camcorders, the FX9 offers content creators even greater flexibility thanks to Electronic Variable ND Filter. This allows more creative effects for content creators and instant exposure level changes depending on the filming environment – even when it’s moving from an inside space to outdoors or while filming in natural light conditions. By recording image stabilisation information and using it on the Catalyst Browse/Prepare⁴ option, content creators can capture incredibly stable visuals even in handheld mode. Sony is also working to encourage other third party none-linear editing tools to adopt this functionality.

The FX9 comes with a range of customisations and expansion features. These include compatibility with the new UWP-D series of wireless microphones via Multi Interface Shoe™ (MI Shoe) with digital audio interface, the XDCA-FX9 extension kit enabling 10bit S35 4K 120fps and 16bit RAW output⁵ compatibility with Sony BP-GL and BP-FL series batteries, D-Tap, RJ-45 interface and stable “Dual Link” streaming by using two carrier lines, as well as DWX slot-in type digital wireless receiver commonly used in broadcasting settings⁵. The FX9 will also be compatible with the newly launched E-mount lens FE C 16-35mm T3.1 G, which uniquely balances full manual operability for movie shooting and auto-control functions.

“Based on our ongoing conversations with customers, partners and the wider industry, we at Sony understand the needs of today’s creative storytellers – from the world’s top cinematographers, to documentary film makers, music video directors or broadcasters. What they all need is a flexible camera that allows them to tell their own unique story, no matter the environment they operate in. Our next-generation FX9 not only captures stunning visuals with life-like image quality, but it also offers advanced AF features and customisation options. This makes it the ultimate creative tool for modern content creators,” concludes Norbert Paquet. 

The FX9 will be available towards the end of 2019 and on display at the Sony stand (A10, Hall 13) at IBC 2019 from the 13^th – 17^th September. Cost body only £10,000

Lets have a closer look at the FX9 with Nino Leitner from Cinema 5D

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Masters of optical innovation, STC, expands their ground-breaking Clip Filter series, announcing a brand-new range of in-body filters for Panasonic LUMIX camera series.

STC’s latest announcement is certain to delight filmmakers and photographers alike as the new range is compatible with not only the Panasonic Lumix M4/3 camera system but also the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC) and the small-yet-perfectly-formed Z Cam E2 4K Cinema Camera. This, fifth-generation series from STC focuses on superior quality with its manufacture, producing imaging results that speak for themselves. With more than a decade of market-leading R&D leading to the series, the structure of these Clip Filters has been improved and optimised to perform better than ever. The Panasonic M43 Clip Filter is designed to sit on the front side of the shutter mechanism and as such, will not affect the Ibis anti-shake function and with its perfectly sealed structure, will also protect the camera’s sensor from dust.

The new Clip Filter Series for Panasonic LUMIX, Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC) and the Z Cam E2 4K Cinema Camera Includes:

• Sensor Protector Filter
• Neutral Density (ND) Filter: ND16 (4-stop) – ND64 (6-stop) – ND400        (9-stop) – ND1000 (10-stop). ND8 (3-stop) coming mid-October
• Infrared (IR) Filter: 590nm – 720nm – 850nm
• UV-IR Cut Filter: 625nm reduction 
• Astro Filter: Multispectra Multi-Band Interferometric Filter                                

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IBC the best video show in Europe will start on Friday the 13th September 2019.

For those lucky enough to attend the show this year we finally get to see the new JVC GY-HC500E a camcorder that has been a long time in production.

Why not head over to Hall 12 stand F31 and meet John Kelly and the JVC crew. Remember and ask him about the special deal that ships with this camcorder, tell him you read it first on HD Warrior.

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Atomos is excited to announce co-development with Panasonic of RAW over HDMI from the brand new Lumix S1H to the Atomos Ninja V 4K HDR monitor-recorder. The RAW update will be available free on the Ninja V when released by Panasonic.

“We are very proud of continuing to develop new ground-breaking technology with a company of the caliber of Panasonic. We are both highly committed to the democratisation of filmmaking for creators, and the ability to transmit RAW over HDMI from the S1H to a Ninja V is a major leap forward in this endeavour,” said Jeromy Young, Atomos CEO.

As the world’s first full-frame mirrorless camera capable of 6K internal video, the Lumix S1H combines the quality of professional cinema-grade video cameras with the size and photo capability of a mirrorless, making it the perfect companion with the Ninja V.

“The leading brand of external monitor-recorders is definitely Atomos. Both companies have a very good relationship and we have been providing 4:2:2 10bit HDMI output recording for the Lumix GH series for years. We are very proud to be developing RAW output via HDMI with Atomos for the S1H,” said Panasonic at their launch event in LA.

Added Young: “Our advancements in screen technology now allows creators to accurately monitor RAW video in real-time as it would be viewed in the home or cinema for perfect preservation of creative intent. Our pristine custom Atomos HDR screens are second to none in colour accuracy and representation of brightness from RAW signals. When combined, these advantages create a dream workflow for filmmakers.”

The new Lumix S1H will be shown working with the Ninja V at the upcoming IBC show in Amsterdam from 13 September at the RAI Hall 11.D25, more information on the combination will be available during the show.

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Is it a video or a stills camera and why are we getting so many variations of the same camera as the S1 was the “video version”

I have to say that the extra video features on the S1H make it very appealing and for once Panasonic has given us a tally lamp so you can see when the camera is in record mode, I do hope they bring this feature into the GH6.

The S1H is a 6K monster running at 25p (UK) with 4k 50p 10bit internal recording onto dual SD card slots. This is a welcome addition as my previously owned S1 had one SD card slot and one XQD card slot.

• Capture 6K/24p, 25p (3:2 aspect ratio), 5.9K/90p (16:9 aspect ratio), and 10-bit 50p 4K/C4K
• Includes an impressive 14+ stops of dynamic range
• Features a 24.2-megapixel full-frame imaging sensor
• Comes with V-Log/V-Gamut compatible with “VariCam” Look
• Users can enjoy unlimited recording time in all capture modes
• Offers Body I.S. (Image Stabiliser) for hand-held filming
• To accommodate continuous shooting a near-silent cooling fan has been developed
• 6K footage can be used to create high-res 4K videos or for cropping images to 4K
• Dual-Native ISO sensitivity
• L-Mount system has been integrated into the camera design for extra compatibility
• The camera body has a rugged magnesium alloy design delivering high-level professional reliability
• Dust, splash, and freeze-resistant down to -10 degrees
• Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) suppresses moire
• Incorporates large displays consisting of a rear monitor, live viewfinder as well as status LCD that offer high resolution and visibility
• Waveform Monitor and V-Log View Assist are available
• Users can choose from Relay Recording, Backup Recording, and Allocation Recording
• The durable shutter can last about 400,000 cycles and features an external Fast Flash Synchro
• Multiple customisable Fn buttons
• Double SD memory card slot
• Compatible with the 7.4-V 3,050mAh high-capacity battery for long recording times of up to 2 hours

I do love the newly designed swivel LCD for once a designer has remembered the HDMI port and given us an LCD that clears this port. (Please bring this design into the GH6).

At £3,599 you get a lot of camera for your money but the main thing that put me off the Panasonic S1 was the extra weight, the cost of lenses and no 4K 50p in full frame mode (Once again missing from the S1H). The biggest single item that lets this camera down is the autofocus in video mode.

Kriss from WEX has a great video on YouTube all about the new features.

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Selling second hand a Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 Canon fit Art lens with a Metabones Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster XL 0.64x, both in full working order with original box for Sigma lens.

As usual why not email me with your offer to smallvideo@me.com, preferably bank transfer I will give you my bank details when we strike a deal.

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