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  • NAB 2013 - Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Brings New Definition to Production - While the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is the Coolest Oxymoron

    Jackson Wong - April 08th, 2013

    Pocket camera with a thin lens attached and jacks on the side
    Blackmagic Design seems to know how to push our buttons, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K are sure to make many people very happy, both producers and viewers alike. "Exciting" hardly seems to do it justice when we hear that a pocket camera will have a Super 16mm size 1080 sensor that can grab 13 stops of dynamic range, capture CinemaDNG RAW and an SD card recorder for Apple ProRes. The second button Blackmagic Design is pressing is for the producer in all of us, get a load of the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K. This camera is a 4k digital film camera with a Super 35 sensor, a global shutter and 6G-SDI for live productions. The large sensor size will allow for a minimal crop factor leading to truly wide shots with wide angle lenses, and there's still the ability to shoot good old HD, zoomed in, without degradation. The EF lens mount will make many interchangeable lens owners pleased.
    Blog Tags:  NAB 2013 Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera CinemaDNG RAW Apple ProRes Thunderbolt EF mount UltraScope high dynamic range

  • NAB 2013 - Sorenson Squeeze 9 Gets Cleaned Up and Faster

    Jackson Wong - April 08th, 2013

    Squeeze 9 user interface with a splash of water on a black background

    Sorenson Squeeze 9 describes a part of video production that is quickly becoming one of the most important topics - your video file. Yes we might call you videophiles from time to time, but this is different, Squeeze 9 is a video encoding software. Unlike the encoders that editing programs might come with, Squeeze 9 is dedicated to this sole purpose. The interface is streamlined, making for a cleaner aesthetic, and evoking the feel of some intermediate/consumer editing programs. What makes Sorenson Media more important for those that have great encoding needs is the response to user requests. Broadcasters asked for close captioning, and so it was done, the industry calls for more compatibility and speed, so in come HTML5 optimization, iOS compatibility and double the speed of Squeeze 8.

    Expect few slow aspects about Squeeze 9, to get faster the software divides the encoding work and takes on a video like a striped RAID works with data. If you need to process high volumes of video, look to the Squeeze Server 2.0, and consider making use of the watch folders which can monitor sources like webcams. At the heart of the software are the well-seasoned recipes for specific final videos, why not try a veteran chef? So search the specs for the file you need to create and see if the right version is available, Standard - $800, Pro $1,000, or Premium $2,000. If you're updating software, upgrades on this long-running product go for $199-$700.

    Blog Tags:  NAB 2013 Sorenson Media Squeeze 9 video encoding software watch folders HTML5 fast encoder Squeeze Server 2.0

  • Canon Introduces the XA20 and XA25 Ultra–Compact Professional Camcorders

    Luis Maymi - April 03rd, 2013

    Canon XA25 camcorder
    Canon shines with its newest XA25 and XA20 camcorders. Features like a powerful image sensor (high sensitivity 2.91 megapixels 1/2.84 inch HD CMOS), wireless connectivity for digital content uploading, weighing only 2.6 pounds and sporting an impressive combination of professional features, makes them ideal for run-and-gun shooters and electronic newsgathering (ENG).
    Blog Tags:  Canon cameras and camcorders

  • NAB Show 2013 to Bring Innovative Technology and Products to Las Vegas

    Jackson Wong - April 03rd, 2013

    Many NAB attendees view an Adobe presentation

    The NAB Show contains sights sounds, smells and products, that will be yours courtesy of your Videomaker editorial team. We'll do our annual awards to highlight the biggest products to know about, and likely touch on some that you'll simply drool over. The biggest companies will be there, including the ones you might never hear about unless you command a workstation in a master control room.

    Blog Tags:  NAB 2013 NAB Show 4K broadcast production plasma light SPROCKIT broadcast camera camera support

  • Video of the Day: "Hacked DSLR vs Parkour"

    Jordan Claverie - April 01st, 2013

    Technology is getting pretty wild nowadays.

    We haven't been able to find out how to do this hack yet, but it's only a matter of time until we write a "how to" article on it. It is more than likely going to be sold as a product in the next six months, so you might as well wait for it rather than doing it yourself and blowing up your camera. Regardless, It looks like an awesome hack and we love the effect you get out of it. 

    Oh yeah, April fools. 

     

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  • Which Camera Support Should You Buy? Jib, Dolly, Floating Stabilizer or Slider?

    Greg Olson - April 01st, 2013

    We all try to make the most out of the gear we have, but every video producer hits points in their career where they become limited by their equipment. Anybody who does video seriously knows it can be an expensive venture, and that it takes time to acquire all the gear we want. The world of camera support equipment is vast and can range from relatively affordable to shockingly expensive. A good tripod is worth it's weight in gold and everyone should have a shoulder mount to get basic handheld shots, but eventually, you're going to want to get some more dynamic shots. When it comes time to plunk down some of your hard earned money on another piece of camera support gear, it's important to know what each piece of gear can and can't do.

    Jibs
    Jibs or Cranes range from fairly compact to huge, but in essence they perform the same function. They give you the ability to add vertical movement to a shot. Of course the bigger the jib, the bigger the move can be. Panning with a long jib arm can also mimic a trucking move, but your shot will move along a defined curve, rather than a straight line. A large jib can also get you some nice high angle shots you wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise, and you can achieve some really artistic shots if you use it in conjunction with a robotic head. Jib or Crane shots are particularly effective when there are items in the foreground that show off the movement.

    Cons: Jibs tend to be large, and while they are great at getting those sweeping grand shots or high angle shots, the can be cumbersome to setup.

    Blog Tags:  Camera Support jib crane Dolly slider Stabilizer Truck pedestal

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