Cameras

Thursday, March 06, 2008

PMW-EX1: XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1 for Mac Released

Adam Wilt | 03/06- 05:07 PM

Sony has released XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1, software used to import XDCAM clips into QuickTime and Final Cut Pro. This version fixes a bug where PMW-EX1 recordings made with CLOCK-mode free-run timecode were not being properly imported, and it is qualified to run both on OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.x.

Cameras • Editing • Post Production • (1) Comments • Most recent comments by: Greg Boston, • Permalink

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Red One Unboxing - Part 1

Mike Curtis | 03/02- 07:20 AM

Fedex delivered my Red, #417, on Monday to my friend’s house since I was out of town (as pre-arranged with Red). The plan had been for me to drive over, set it up, and shoot some 4K footage of his kids (twin boys). Didn’t quite work out that way, but read on.

I got over there and started unpacking everything - and there’s lots to it! I had three boxes of stuff from Red.

Cameras • (6) Comments • Most recent comments by: Simon Sommerfeld, Scott Gentry, Simon Sommerfeld, Scott Gentry, Jon Atack @ Capitol Studios Paris, Stephen, • Permalink

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

PMW-EX1 Update 2

Adam Wilt | 02/27- 09:58 AM

• Adam Van Voorhis of Boston Camera says that the EX1 does indeed supply Y/C video, using the same VMC-15FS cable that works on the HVR-V1.
• Reader Mark Weiss ran a formal audio analysis for line-level inputs, with interesting results.

My EX1 review has been updated with these tidbits. 

Audio • Cameras • Hardware • (3) Comments • Most recent comments by: Christopher Ruffell, Adam Wilt, Christopher Ruffell, • Permalink

Monday, February 25, 2008

Dynamic Range and the RED One

Chris Meyer | 02/25- 02:17 PM

Stu Maschwitz (he of The Orphanage, Magic Bullet, and The DV Rebel’s Guide fame), is one of my go-to resources when I want greater insight on digital film production workflow and its corresponding correct practices.

He recently wrote an excellent article on his ProLost blog about Digital Cinema Dynamic Range, in the context of learning how to use a RED One camera in way that would give him the same latitude of exposure control that we would expect when working with film (or other digital cameras).

Click here for the short version
Click here for the long version (and you really should read the long version – it’s very instructive)

Cameras • Lighting • Post Production • Production • (0) Comments • • Permalink

Monday, February 25, 2008

Half-color Fashion: Why Project: Runway looks “thin”

Art Adams | 02/25- 06:00 AM

Today I had an interesting conversation about bit depth with my toaster.

“So, tell me,” said Harold the Civil Toaster (not civil as in kind, but because he spent some time in civil service), “why the color palette of Project Runway looks familiar without my being able to place where I’ve seen it before.”

Naturally, my jaw dropped in surprise. My toaster almost never asks me cinematography-related questions. Mostly he just complains about life and politics. He’s a crusty old fellow.

“I thought the same thing. The colors looked familiar, but also not--almost as if they were too thin or something.”

“Exactly,” said Harry. (He’s very informal as appliances go.) “The colors have the subtlety that I’m used to seeing in footage shot on Panasonic cameras, like the SDX-900 or the Varicam, with accurate secondary colors--something that’s hard for most video cameras to do, although Panasonic does it quite well.”

“I worked with a sound person the other day who’d done some time on Project Runway.” I took a tray of real butter out of the refrigerator. Harry frowns on margarines and all fats that are solid at room temperature. “He confirmed that the show was shot on SDX-900’s, but at 25 megabits per second (DVCPro25) instead of 50 megabits (DVCPro50). I think it’s safe to say that a lot of the information that’s not being recorded in DVCPro25 is color information.”

“That’s strange for a fashion show, isn’t it? You’d think they’d want to emphasize the colors more.” As toasters go, Harry is more thoughtful than most. “Is it really just about economics?”

“I s’pose. You get twice as much tape time, but yes--the colors drop off dramatically. DVCPro25 is essentially the same as DVCAM, and neither of us like how that reproduces colors.”… more »

Cameras • Lighting • Production • (4) Comments • Most recent comments by: Jim Bisnett, Laptoper, Steve Bradford, Bruce A Johnson, • Permalink

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Sticky: Traveling with batteries, Pro Apps Updaters, etc.

Adam Wilt | 02/24- 04:21 PM

• FAA rules on lithium battery transport
• Apple Pro Apps - save those updaters!
• PMW-EX1: XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1 for Mac Released; fixes CLOCK-mode timecode import bug.

Cameras • Editing • Post Production • Production • • Permalink