Review: Panasonic AG-HPX370 1/3” 3-MOS P2 HD Camcorder

The Panasonic AG-HPX370 (US$11,700 list; $9,200 street price) is a 1/3” 3-MOS shoulder-mount HD camcorder with interchangeable lenses. It records everything from 480i to 1080p in 10-bit AVC-Intra 50/100 and 8-bit DV/DVCPRO50/DVCPROHD formats, with variable frame rates in 720p. Its MOS sensors capture a true 1920x1080 image with remarkably high sensitivity and low noise; and its “rolling shutter” skew is comparable to other affordable high-quality CMOS cameras like the PMW-EX series Sonys.

(1) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Charles Angus,

The Sony NEX-VG10—The End of DSLR Video?

Being hailed as the new sheriff in town with aspirations to kick HDSLRs out of the video market, the Sony NEX-VG10 with its interchangeable lenses and larger chip may just herald the end of professional applications of DSLR video. However, a closer examination seems to indicate it may still lack some of the key features so endearing to those of us who shoot with HDSLRs.  So before you go running to ebay or your local pawnshop with your HDSLR you might want to consider the NEX-VG10’s limitations. 

(4) Comments: • Most recent comments by: RobManfredo, Simon Wyndham, Charles Angus, Zen Violence Films,

Arri Alexa and Far Red: A Problem That’s Already Been Solved

Last night I had the chance to—finally!—touch an Arri Alexa at Chater Camera’s Alexa preview party. And, being a curious sort of fellow, I decided to run some impromptu tests. IR tests are the easiest to do so I quickly did some—and in the process learned some interesting things about Alexa.

(5) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Art Adams, David Williams, Art Adams, Art Adams, Gary Adcock,

RED MX IR Tests: The New Sensor is Similar to the Old Sensor

RED says that their new sensor is more resistant to IR contamination than their original sensor. This test shows that, while there may be an improvement, IR is still an issue. Fortunately all the usual IR filter solutions work just fine.

(2) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Art Adams, JamWright,

IR Cheat Sheet, Updated to Version 2

At long last, an update to my fabled IR Filter Cheat Sheet. Not every camera responds the same way to IR; make sure you have the right filter for the right job.

New Quad Cores: iMac or Mac Pro?

New Quad core Macs: high end iMac or low end Mac Pro?

Apple today announced new Mac Pros (coming sometime in August) and new iMacs (available now). Both have available Quad Core (4 processor) models. The iMac has a built in screen which the Mac Pro lacks, but the tower has scads of easy expandability. Which to buy?

Read on for the deets and analysis.

(4) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Mike Curtis, Charles Angus, Mike Curtis, Dimitri LaBarge,

Innovation and Cinema 4D Part One: William Dudley and Peter Pan 360°

The SIGGRAPH conference is a week in which groundbreaking, innovative and inspiring uses of computer graphics are celebrated. Curious about the variety of uses that are found for Cinema 4D these days, I profiled a couple of innovators whose stories fit this theme.

The first of these is Peter Pan in the “threesixty° Theatre, currently being staged at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco under an enormous Cirque du Soleil style big-top tent, with a twist: the circular tent top doubles as a surround-projection environment, so that when Peter flies Wendy and her siblings to Never-Never… more »

Innovation and Cinema 4D Part Two: William Dudley on Virtual Sets

In the second and final part of this interview, I chat with visionary production designer William Dudley about the usage of projection and computer generated spectacle in a live setting. (Click here to read and listen to the first part.)

CINEMATOGRAPHER VS. PRODUCER video as an afternoon diversion

Here’s a fun little 2:48 video that’s been making the Twitter rounds (NSFW as there’s some language so be warned) so for those readers who aren’t on Twitter, the embed is after the jump. It’s called CINEMATOGRAPHER VS. PRODUCER, (make with the xtranormal animation website) is a fictional discussion of the lovely DSLR world we live in and even has a nice laugh in there for editors too! Sadly, it’s kinda based in reality.

(3) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Simon Wyndham, Rowland, Rowland,

Amazing Guy Walks Across America video

There’s been a great new “viral” video making rounds recently, Guy Walks Across America. It’s currently at over a half million views on You Tube and will likely continue to rise as it’s buzz grows. It’s kind of like a stop motion / time lapse and is quite an amazing accomplishment technically. There’s a behind the scenes video as well that offers a glimpse into how they achieved the effect. It’s embed after the jump.

(1) Comments: • Most recent comments by: Matt Jeppsen,

Review: Magic Bullet Colorista II

Colorista. It’s one of those indispensable tools for those doing serious Final Cut Pro work. If you’re color correcting and finishing in your FCP box then the built-in 3-Way Color Corrector becomes merely adequate in comparison to the image quality you can crank out of Colorista. And Colorista has always worked in your other host applications as well (Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Avid Media Composer) so that rounds out its usefulness. But one thing that has always been missing from Colorista is secondaries, something you’d often find yourself wishing for. With more »

Big Fish Audio: Club Hip Hop

This bargain-priced collection (list price: $49.95) from producer Mike Kumagai delivers an edgy take on hip-hop: The drums are lo-fi and slammin’ with an in-your-face filtered and gated kick; the synth basses are alternately reedy or squelchy; the keys, clavs, and strings are often shrill and urgent. The songwriting triggers thoughts of mutant funk with a pseudo-ethnic overlay. In other words, you’re not going to fall asleep listening to these tracks.