4 minute read
A whole stack of stories to run you through at the end of the week covering everything from a potentially relocating Sundance to the new Leica D-Lux 8.
Let’s start with the Leica D-Lux 8 as it’s a nice looking bit of kit and reflects the surge of interest in compact cameras currently underway. It’s releasing on July 2 for $1595 and, while it doesn’t add much to the previous D-Lux 7 (in fact, it uses the same sensor and lens combination), it is going to be available from retailers in volume rather than requiring a visit to the likes of eBay. So, that means you get the same 4/3” CMOS sensor offering 22 MP (effective 17 MP), the same Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 f/1.7–2.8 ASPH lens (35mm camera equivalent to 24-75mm), but you do get loads of design tweaks that make its ergonomics a bit cleaner and easier to use.
The DaVinci Resolve Live Tour is heading to Europe in June and it’s making stops in three major cities; Madrid, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Designed for both new and experienced users, the tour offers a program of specially curated content from what are billed as some of the creative industry’s biggest names. A dedicated Expo Zone will mean attendees can get hands on with the latest cameras, Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve panels, keyboards and consoles with third party manufactures including HP, AMD, Dolby and Dell all on hand to offer advice on building the ideal DaVinci Resolve system.
Dates and tickets are as follows, with the normally €50 tickets available for €25 via the following links: Madrid, June 6 (Discount code - DRLIVEM); Amsterdam, June 14 (Discount code - DRLIVEA); and Berlin, June 20 (Discount code - DRLIVEB).
The $99 Hobolite Iris is a small, portable, continuous LED light for photography and content creation that features optical modifiers and coloured gel filters that spark creativity and joy in the art of visual storytelling.
With the company’s usual stylish retro camera design, weather-resistant aluminium body and versatile optical modifiers - including a functioning aperture ring - this new bi-colour portable light has a colour range from 2700K to 6500K and high CRI and TLCI ratings of 96+, ensuring that colours are rendered true to life.
Also on the lighting front but a tad more expensive, the $2995 new Pro-D3 from Profoto is an industrial grade monolight that comes in two versions featuring 750Ws or 1250Ws of power. It has an impressive 11 f-stop flash power adjustment range, 0.1 f-stop precision, and introduces three distinct flash modes.
In default ECO mode, flash parameters are optimized for color consistency and maximized equipment lifetime. BOOST adds an extra boost of power, while FREEZE delivers the shortest flash duration for razor-sharp splashing liquid and fast action shots. It also has an extremely power efficient LED-modelling light that shines brighter than a 400-Watt halogen lamp with only 15% of the power consumption.
ZEISS has released v2.0 of its ZEISS CinCraft Scenario camera tracking system, which can now also be used for tracking with selected lenses from most popular cinema and broadcast lens brands. “Up to this point, CinCraft Scenario had only been usable by productions working with ZEISS and ARRI/ZEISS lenses”, says Christophe Casenave, responsible for Cinematography Products at ZEISS. “With this release, we make our camera tracking system available to many more users including broadcasters.”
Users can now utilize templates for over 90 lenses from more than 10 lens series that allow for skipping the recording of lens distortion by offering pre-calibrated lens characteristics.
Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced Grip Rail, designed to offer a better way to mount equipment on location, in the studio, or on the fly. It's a rugged aluminium lightweight telescoping grid pipe system that makes it quicker, easier, and safer to brace and hang cameras, lights, or backdrops, incorporate into a wall spreader, build overhead frames, and much more. The system can secure up to 60lbs/27.2kg in the horizontal (when properly supported on two ends), and 120lbs/54.4kg in the vertical position. Grip Rail is available in two pipe diameters: 1-1/4" (42mm) and 1-1/2" (48mm). For easy adjustability, both versions are available in either Small: 2ft-3.5ft/1m or Large: 3.5ft-6ft/2m lengths. For more length, Grip Rails can be coupled together thanks to the new Matthews double-ended Junior Pin. Pricing starts at $199.
Portkeys has launched a new entry-level 7-inch monitor, the HD7H. Priced at a fairly jaw-dropping $99, the lightweight monitor tips the scale at only 278g/9.8oz. It features a 7-inch display with a maximum brightness of 1000 nits. The panel has a maximum resolution of 1280 x 720, it covers 75% of the Rec.709 color space, the contrast ratio is 1000:1, and it has a 178° viewing angle thanks to a frosted screen with anti-glare coating.
The Sundance Film Festival is potentially looking for a new home. Deadline reports that its established home of forty years, Park City, Utah, is now jockeying with Atlanta, Athens, Savannah and a dozen more cities to be the new location of the festival. Potential new homes range from New York State to Santa Fe in New Mexico. Park City though is not giving up without a fight and is mooting an expansion into Salt Lake City to better address the overcrowding and rising costs that have become an increasing problem in recent years.
Also looking to the southern states is real-time 3D and virtual studio specialist Brainstorm, which has opened a new office and demo studio in Austin, Texas. The new space features a large LED volume and Green Cyclorama powered by Brainstorm’s Virtual Production and 3D Graphics products.
The Demo Studio showcases just what can be done with Brainstorm’s technology, providing broadcasters, production houses, filmmakers, corporations, and educational institutions with an immersive demo environment.
Avid has introduced what it says is a ground-breaking series of micro-certifications through a new collaboration with learning partner Post Super. The Avid/Post Super co-branded courses and micro-certifications draw upon real-world experiences and best practices. Each module is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of their role within the broader post-production ecosystem, equipping them with the tools and insights needed to navigate complex projects with confidence and precision. Register interest here.
And finally, one that fell down the back of the sofa. The Megadap EFTZ21 adapter allows photographers to seamlessly adapt Canon EF lenses to Nikon Z cameras, both full-frame and APS-C, opening up new possibilities for creative expression and unlocking 150+ new EF lenses to Nikon Z camera users. Price is $249 and availability is immediate.
Tags: Production
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