SONY PXW-FS5, IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW: TOM CROCKER, SONY, EUROPE

The Sony PXW-FS5 drew tremendous attention over the 5 days of IBC 2015. This incredibly lightweight camcorder breaks down to an astonishingly small size once handle, side-grip and lens have been removed; with all accessories attached this is a powerful, full featured Super 35mm camcorder in an incre......

URSA MINI WITH B4 MOUNT: VIDEO REPORT FROM IBC 2015

The Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount is designed to replace the existing PL lens mount on Blackmagic URSA Mini PL, turning it into a B4 camera for HD. To install the B4 mount, customers simply take the PL lens mount off where it is normally removed for shimming PL lenses and bolt on the B4 lens mount. ......

JVC ADDS LOG MODE, HISTOGRAM. CINEMA 4K & 2K TO GY-LS300

Recorded at IBC 2015. Gustav Emrich, Product Manager JVC Professional, runs through the latest firmware update to the JVC GY-LS300. New features to include: a JVC “Log” mode designed to replicate the look of film; new Cinema 4K and Cinema 2K recording modes; a unique Prime Zoom feature that us......

BUILT FOR SPEED: CALDIGIT THUNDERBOLT 2 RAID

Note: the test unit in this report is the CalDigit T3 Thunderbolt 2 RAID; this is also available in the larger 4 bay model - the CalDigit T4 Thunderbolt 2 RAID. The T4 features more space than the T3 and even faster transfer speeds. The Caldigit RAIDs are flexible in terms of modes of operation, f......

MTF EFFECT 3: CANON EF LENS REMOTE SYSTEM

MTF have taken an innovative approach to making it possible to use Canon EF lenses on a range of lens mounts. Due to the electronic aperture featured on the EOS lenses, this means external aperture control is needed. With the Effect Mark 3 controller this takes place wirelessly. The results is remot......

RED RAVEN REVEALED: AFFORDABLE 4K CINEMA PACKAGE AVAILABLE IN 3 CONFIGURATIONS

Capturing images using a 4K RED DRAGON� sensor, RED RAVEN reinforces REDs commitment to its core principles. RED was founded on the belief that cinema-quality creative tools shouldnt be in the hands of a few - it should truly be 4K for all.

SONY PXW-FS5: FEATURES AND SPECS.

The Sony PXW-FS5 is the latest addition to the Sony range of professional camcorders with superior creative features and flexible shooting. The versatile grab and shoot style PXW-FS5 provides unsurpassed on-the-go shooting in the most demanding of conditions, with stunning image choices and creative features. Complementing the successful PXW-FS7, this compact camcorder delivers high quality imagery suitable for a range of professional applications from event videography to corporate and online video production.

BLACKMAGIC DESIGN ANNOUNCES URSA MINI B4 MOUNT: VIDEO REPORT FROM IBC 2015

At IBC 2015 Blackmagic Design introduced the Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount which is a B4 lens mount modification for its new Blackmagic URSA Mini PL camera that lets it use broadcast HD lenses. Since URSA Minis launch at NAB, feedback from broadcasters has been overwhelmingly positive, and now they will also be able to use their existing high definition B4 broadcast lenses with Blackmagic URSA Mini.

DAVINCI RESOLVE 12 NOW SHIPPING: INTERVIEW WITH TIM SIDDONS, BLACKMAGIC DESIGN

Blackmagic Design has announced that the final release of DaVinci Resolve 12, its professional editing and color correction software, is now available for download from the Blackmagic Design website.

MTF EFFECT 3 CONTROL UNIT NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

The MTF EFFECT 3 is now shipping and MTF are accepting pre-orders for further units. The new MTF EFFECT 3 controller is now wireless and will retain all of the features that made the MK2 so succesfull, plus the addition of precise focus control.

CANON DEVELOPING NEXT-GENERATION OF 8K IMAGING DEVICES

Canon Inc. announced that it is developing a Cinema EOS System 8K camera and professional-use 8K reference display that will support the production of next-generation 8K video content, along with a still-image single-lens reflex camera equipped with a CMOS sensor featuring approximately 120 million effective pixels. Through the Companys proprietary imaging technologies, Canon provides still and video input and output devices that will contribute to the development of imaging culture.

CANON DEVELOPS APS-H-SIZE CMOS SENSOR WITH APPROXIMATELY 250 MEGAPIXELS, THE WORLDS HIGHEST PIXEL COUNT FOR ITS SIZE

Canon Europe, a leader in imaging solutions, has announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., is developing an APS-H-size (approx. 29.2 x 20.2 mm) CMOS sensor incorporating approximately 250 million pixels (19,580 x 12,600 pixels), the worlds highest number of pixels for a CMOS sensor smaller than the size of a 35 mm full-frame sensor.

AJA LAUNCHES FS3 4K UPCONVERTER AT IBC 2015

AJA Video Systems have launched the FS3, the newest product in the company's line of FS professional frame synchronizers.

SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH XENON FF-PRIMES NOW IN SONY E-MOUNT

Schneider-Kreuznach adds a choice of Sony E-mount to its growing line of 4K Xenon FF-Prime high-resolution digital cinematography lenses. These professional optics are currently offered in 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm focal lengths with 18mm and 135mm coming in 2016.

ARRI RENTALS ALEXA 65 CAMERA SYSTEM GAINS WIDE POPULARITY AND NEW FUNCTIONALITY

Available exclusively through ARRI Rental, the ALEXA 65 has already been supplied to numerous high-profile projects, some using it as the main unit camera throughout production and others using it as a specialist camera for sequences that require extreme levels of image quality.

TELESTREAM UNVEILS EPISODE 7 AT IBC 2015

Telestream�, the leading provider of digital video tools and workflow solutions has shown the latest version of its Episode video encoding software at IBC 2015. Scheduled for release in early Q4 2015, the new version brings bigger performance gains, added format support, and easier to use features.

Make-shift Chroma Key

I flew to Florida for a shoot. The brief was to film many short interviews to camera. I was told to bring lighting and audio gear. I asked if we needed chroma key - "no chroma key" was the answer.

I'm onsite in Miami, scouting locations around the hotel, looking for places to film. The client suggests a few locations outside - I check these out and they are noisy beyond belief. Music blaring, the sound of a DJ, people swimming... Not only that, my lenses are fogging up in the Miami humidity, and the bright sun makes it impossible to stand outside without squinting. This is not a good filming environment.

The client suggests we film inside the hotel - however, they want everyone in one place. We have at least 15 -20 people to record to camera and they don't want us running all over the hotel.

Then the clients says: "Why don't we film this chroma key"

I tell the truth: "I didn't bring my chroma key screen. I was told it wouldn't be needed...."

As quickly as I say the words I come up with a solution.

I'm in a cab on my way to Target. I buy sheets, green, blue, the best I can get which are rich and deep in colour. They didn't have what I wanted so I did the best I can.

I return to the hotel - stands and blue table cloth have been provided. There are several of us on the case to make this work.

For 3 days I film people speaking against the sheets and table cloth. I'm so worried about it not working that I have laptop set up next to the camera/lighting setup - I test every chroma key before filming (I have to know it is going to work).

All done and the results work great. I never would have imagined that sheets and a table cloth would work so well, however, there were a few things in my favour that really helped:

(i) everything was filmed 10-bit 4:2:2 and recorded to an Atomos Shogun recorder. The job was HD. I'm convinced the 10-bit 4:2:2 recording helped me produce really good keys with basic equipment.

(ii) The room was well-lit and I had additional lighting on each of the people speaking. The result was a well-lit, evenly lit, chroma key background. Had the room been dimly lit, or patchy on the chroma key background, I'm sure the results would not have been so good.

(iii) I use Final Cut Pro X for the chroma keys. FCPX does really good chroma keys with the minimum of effort. It is one of the best I have used!

So, always be prepared. Even though I was told no chroma key the client needed chroma key. That's what's it's about, delivering whatever the client needs. I'm very happy I was able to get this done and sorted, and I've definitely learnt for next time how to do a chroma key at short notice with the minimum amount of equipment.

Until the next time,