Here’s a glimpse at what I think are the big winners at this year’s trip to “mecca”.
: : A new company called Colorspace is finishing a prototype 4:4:4 / 4:2:2 DFR (digital field recorder) called the Icon. The proposed product has a metal chassis, mil spec connector between the hard drive and the base unit, it runs on a AB battery and has an LCD screen that runs the system and can be switched to either side of the unit. The Icon records DPX files with meta data. It looks promising.
: : Ah, the Red camera from Oakley. Through out the show, a lined formed around the tent just to get in – we waited an hour to get in. When there we had a chance to see a short film shot by director Peter Jackson using two alpha versions of the camera and projected on the Sony 4K projector (and it didn’t catch on fire or even smoke). Impressive is an understatement. They also introduced a software package called RedCine. It offers cropping functions, primary color correction and file transcoding to whatever codec your computer’s QuickTime software happens to be installed with. We were also introduced to the workflow by way of Final Cut Pro 6. It’s only a matter of time before 4K is available on FCP.
: : Abel Cine is offering for sale and rent the Phantom 35 & Phantom 65 – a 35mm & 65mm sensor camera that runs at 1000 f.p.s. and 125 f.p.s., respectively. If incorporated judiciously, you’re looking at an impressive A unit camera in with a very small footprint.
: : Given how much I love LEDs, here’s a new cable cross over with blinking LED warning lights. Nice.
: : As a sign of the times, Lowel is introducing a new softbox with fluorescent lights. With the California state initiative to ban incandescent lights by 2010 looming, I wonder if this is where all the manufacturer are heading.
: : This item might be my “best in show”. Element Labs is offering LED lighting panels whose color and color temperature can be adjusted by way of a computer (and hopefully soon, on the unit itself). The advantage of their units is that they don’t just incorporate RGB elements but also a cyan and orange element to more complete the color mix. The company has made event lighting for some time now and currently offer for f/tv use a Kino-style 4′ bank, the panels alone, and a brick that can be used as an eye-light or stick-up light.
+ + +
And now it’s time for your moment of Zen (Jay, this one’s for you)…
Comments (0)