Teradek Cube at PhotoCine Expo

The wireless gear and gadget category is really heating up at next weekends PhotoCine Expo with the addition of the Teradek Cube. The Cube is a small hot shoe or rail mounted device that broadcasts high quality video remotely.

From the Cube web page:

Cube™ is the first of it’s kind, a camera-mounted HD network video encoder. Cube™ captures live video directly from the camera, encodes it using advanced video compression and streams it over ethernet or WiFi up to 1080p@23.98/24/25Hz , 1080i @ 50/59.94/60Hz, 720p@50/59.94/60Hz. The ability to stream HD video over IP from such a small device is unprecedented and provides users with a wealth of previously unimagined applications. Now anyone with a HD video camera can broadcast live video, all that is needed is a WiFi access point to a LAN, WAN, or broadband Internet connection. If WiFi is unavailable Cube™ features a 10/100 ethernet port.

Being able to send full HD video to an iPad sounds great to me. The Cube can also be used to stream live broadcasts over the internet. Stay tuned, we might try that out at the show.

More information is available on the Teradek website. Until then, check out this video from PhotoCine Expo speaker … Continue Reading

DSLR Wireless Monitor Debuting at PhotoCine Expo

Photographer Robert Benson has been making waves on the intertubes recently with his garage built wireless monitor rigs and he will be showing them in person at the PhotoCine Expo.

From Roberts DSLRWirelessMonitors site:

Recently I saw a need for something in my line of work, so I made it: A wireless monitor that takes the still or video feed from a DSLR or video camera and sends it to a wireless, battery-powered monitor.

The device, consisting of a transmitter, receiver, and color 7″ monitor, takes the feed that normally appears on the back of your DSLR (like the Canon 5dmk2), and transmits it wirelessly to one or more monitors, which can be used by the art director on a shoot, DOPs, assistants, remote cameras, cameras on cranes or dollies, or anyone else who wants to see what the camera is seeing. It sends this video or still photos with no delay.

This wireless kit came out of a need in real world shooting, and I didn’t see anything else really available. Not at a reasonable price at least. There’s the HD CamWave which sends an HD signal wirelessly to a monitor, but the price starts at $6000. HPvideo.tv makes a 7″ wireless monitor for $2800.

Robert’s wireless monitors come with several different options costing between $199 and $319. Expo workshop instructor Snehal Patel has one of Roberts wireless monitors and told me that Robert really listens to feedback to quickly improve his products. As I said in the intro paragraph, this is a garage built device and as such, your expectations for fit and finish as well as construction/build turn arounds should be adjusted accordingly but you can’t beat a wireless client monitor for $200.

Go to DSLRWirelessMonitors to see videos of this great little device in action and be sure to get your tickets to next weekends PhotoCine Expo to see all the cutting edge gear and hear great speakers.

Panasonic unveils micro four-thirds video camera

Come December, you’ll be able to buy one of these strange new beasts: a micro four-thirds video camera from Panasonic.

The AG-AF100 series is being pitched at professional filmmakers. It will be available with a bunch of m4/3 lenses but will also accept traditional cinematic lenses with an adaptor.

… Continue Reading

More new gear: Canon G12, Nikon D7000

As of today, there are 100 days left until Christmas Day, and the camera manufacturers are doing their utmost to ensure we have plenty of new stuff to choose from when it comes to buying gifts for ourselves our loved ones.

The endless Nikon/Canon games of cat and mouse are ongoing. Last week there was the Nikon P7000, a rival to the already out-dated Canon G11. Canon coolly responded this week with a gorgeous looking G12, which can record video at 1280×720, 23.9fps.

In the DSLR arena, the two of them are fighting out with Canon’s new EOS 60D and, new this week from Nikon in direct response, the D7000.

… Continue Reading

DIY LEGO Follow Focus

This is hilarious. After seeing some of the cheap follow focus units on the intertubes, I have often said that I could make one like that from my old LEGO gear kit that could even be motorized it since I probably still have my lego motor in my parents attic. It looks like this intrepid DIY’er put together what the rest of us have only talked about. The blog posting is in Chinese but the parts breakdown is in english. Let the LEGO rig construction begin! Just don’t be surprised if your client’s embarrassed when you show up to a paying gig with a home built rig made up from kids toys. Check out the story here.

Zeiss Announces Two New CP.2 Lenses and Mounts for Nikon, Sony Alpha and Micro Four Thirds

Today at IBC, Carl Zeiss announced two new lenses in the CP.2 lineup as well as the anticipated but still appreciated news that the interchangeable mounts will soon work with Nikon, Sony and Micro Four Thirds HDSLR’s.

In 4th quarter of 2010, ZEISS Compact Prime CP.2 lenses will be available with F-mount. The Compact Prime CP.2 series, presented last April, were the first lenses developed especially for shooting with HDSLR cameras. Since then, the lenses have been highly sought after by cinematographers and film photographers alike. In addition to the PL-, EF- and F-mount, Carl Zeiss will soon also be offering the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses with Micro 4/3 and A-mount.

Rich will be showing the CP.2 line in the Zeiss booth at PhotoCine Expo so be sure to check them out in person. Richard will also be on the panel “Everything You Wanted to Know about Lenses for HDSLR Cinema” so get your tickets before it’s too late. … Continue Reading