Month: February 2015

At Photokina 2014 I gave my first impressions of the prototype SLR Magic Anamorphic 2x on the GH4. Now I have a newer version of the lens with me in Berlin to see how it compares to my other anamorphic lenses. Unlike the previous SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x, this is a 2:1 anamorphic, which is the cinema standard (and the look that goes with it).

Read More

Due to feedback from filmmakers in favour of smaller cameras Arri has introduced the Mini – but the timing is very interesting. We are just over 1 month away from NAB in early April. The Alexa Mini is still a prototype and it isn’t due to ship until May. Clearly in the long term development process of this camera Arri aimed for NAB 2015 – so why rush out an…

Read More

It’s well known that DSLR sales are sliding now, following the worrying trajectory of compact cameras. Then I read with great interest Vincent Laforet’s prediction that the era of stand-alone cameras is coming to an abrupt end for the mass market. There was a very key chart in that blog post which you can see above. I believe it speaks volumes about why the mass market is migrating from hardware…

Read More

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/120475177[/vimeo] Ferrari have a DNA. Cinema cameras have a DNA. You have to go back decades to see it evolve into the force it is today. For Ferrari it is the very specific engine sound and the looks. Arri are that spirit to cinema cameras. The DNA of the Sony FS7 is a compromise. Half EX1 and half cinema camera, the ergonomics of the buttons, dials and menus need a complete overhaul in my opinion. So Sony…

Read More

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/119633102[/vimeo] The KineMAX 6K cinema camera is nearing a release and I might have my hands on a prototype soon here in Berlin (I happen to be down the road from my friends at HDVideoShop who are the official European dealer). This is a significantly higher spec cinema camera on paper than anything else under the price of a Red Dragon for now. Kinefinity have just released the first 6K footage…

Read More

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/119331030[/vimeo] The Canon C300 (currently reduced to $11,500) was the $15,000 stalwart of the professional videographer, only recently did it have a compelling rival – the Sony FS7. The Samsung NX1 is essentially a cutting edge 4K Super 35mm sensor in a mirrorless camera, recently given a video oriented firmware update which improves dynamic range and the available image profiles. I was curious to see how the images from these cameras compared and I put my Canon…

Read More