Well, it’s NAB season and bigger sensors, better sound quality, and cheaper prices are once again all the rave. This is the time of year where companies can announce their cool new gear that they’ve been working feverishly on around the world. To reward companies for their great achievements and to help you separate the spectacular from the mundane, Videomaker will be handing out their first Best of NAB awards next week at the show in Las Vegas. Here is our list of categories:

• Best Computer
• Best Camcorder
• Best HDSLR
• Best Lighting Gear
• Best Microphone
• Best Monitor
• Best Software
• Best Tripod or Camera Support
• Most Innovative
• Best of Show

As you can see, we’ll be giving out awards for everything from hard drives to camcorders so stay tuned to check out our blogs and see which companies are doing the moving and the shaking this year!

Just wanted to point out a very important award show coming up: The Annual Society of Camera Operators Awards. Which is an award show that honors the unique contributions of camera operators in the cinematic experience. Here’s a little more from their press release.

Will Arnot, SOC (Milk), Stephen Campanelli, SOC (The Changeling), Robert Gorelick, SOC (The Dark Knight), Kim Marks (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Martin Schaer (Eagle Eye) are the finalists in the feature film category of the Annual Society of Camera Operators (SOC) Lifetime Achievement Awards Camera Operator of the Year competition. The recipient will be named during the awards celebration at the Leonard Goldenson Theater of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on February 21, 2009.

“The Camera Operator of the Year Award enables our peers and the industry to realize the importance of the Camera Operator’s contribution to the Cinematography, the Director’s vision and the story to make the films the success that they are,” says SOC Past President and Awards Event Producer David Frederick, SOC. “It establishes an arena where individual contribution of below the line crafts are recognized and awarded the credit due.”

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Dark Knight are also nominated this year for Cinematography Achievement awards by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for their Directors of Photography.

“Camera Operators have long since remained the quiet force behind the lens in support of the Director of Photography and the Director. It is now, more than ever, important that the Operator is recognized by the industry and the public for their critical contribution to the success of every film or television program,” adds Frederick. The process of selection, nomination and final choice of the winner falls upon the shoulders of the active members of the Society of Camera Operators. “The SOC has shown its support and charity to the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for more than 20 years. This contemporary contest helps to draw more attention and attendance to our event that is a principle fundraiser to aid in the treatment of Children’s eye care. It is a noble and worthy effort by the members of the Society which is in turn graciously supported by the industry sponsors of the event.”

For more details on the event and the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles please visit www.soc.org