Sony recently dropped off the FS700 for us to do some tests. At AbelCine, we’re always trying to see how a camera performs so we can give the best recommendations to our clients. We reached out via Twitter to see what you all wanted to know, and I tried to get in as many tests as I could in the short period of time we had the camera in-house. 

With so much to cover, we broke down our tests in to three different sections – Low Light Performance, Dynamic Range, and Slow-Motion. Each piece includes some video from the camera, which also gives you some idea of its performance. Check out the videos in the full FS700 article, over on the Resource section of our website. Make sure to scroll to the bottom, where I answer more questions about the camera. 

We hope you found these useful. Were there other tests that you wanted to see? Let us know in the comments!

AbelCine worked with cinematographer Jim Geduldick to test and collect footage using the new, ultra-compact Phantom Miro high-speed camera.

Jim’s passion for extreme sports led him to produce and direct a test shoot at Camp Woodward. This unique camp focuses on action sports and digital media, making it a natural choice for the project. The shoot really put the Miro to the test with many shots requiring handheld work, tight spaces and low light setups. The Miro’s ISO rating of 1100 allowed Jim to shoot a night scene with all LED lighting – five Lightpanels 1×1 kits and five Switronix TorchLED Bolts. Jim used the AbelCine PCU, a simple, no fuss solution for controlling all the main camera settings such as black balance, white balance, playback, trim, trigger and save. On set, Jim switched between an EF mount and a PL mount on the Miro, which meant a lot of choice when it came to glass. The newly released Canon EF Cinema 14.5-60mm T2.6 Zoom in EF, Canon L Series Set and Arri / Zeiss Ultra Primes were all used on the shoot. Jim told us that he thought Canon did an excellent job with their new Cine zoom, and he was impressed by the great fall off, sharpness and minimal breathing of the lens.

The new Miro M320S made its debut at NAB in April. The camera can capture over 1500fps at 1920×1080. Its low light capability (1100 ISO) allows it to produce very high quality images at these extraordinary frame rates.

To learn more about Jim Geduldick’s experience with the Phantom Miro and watch behind-the-scenes video and teaser footage, check out this article in the Resource section of our website.

Last year, MYT Works introduced several slider systems, which are also convertible into small camera dollies or hi-hats. At NAB 2012, they expanded their offerings with a range of camera motion and positioning tools. An adjustable leg support system allows placement almost anywhere and new supports allow for under-slinging. A motorized motion control system can be added to any MYT Works slider system. Additionally, a unique expanding plate allows for fine-tuned height adjustment. Watch the video to learn more about what is coming soon from MYT Works.

Today, Convergent Design’s Gemini 4:4:4 has been officially certified as an ARRIRAW recorder. In a previous blog back in February, we mentioned that a unit with the ARRIRAW option was at ARRI in Munich awaiting approval – now the Gemini has officially passed ARRI’s tough certification process. This is big news for the small, low-cost recorder. The update is available via a simple firmware upgrade and key purchase. In the upcoming firmware, the ARRIRAW recording mode will be available, but images will have a watermark until a key is purchased for $2,995. The key will be available from AbelCine in the near future.

Additionally, the Gemini has several free updates coming that many people have been waiting for:

…continue reading Gemini 4:4:4 Fully Certified for ARRIRAW

Sony has been working hard on the F65 and has now announced some major updates to the camera. In the current beta version of the F65 firmware, SR Codec (HDCAM SR format) recording has been enabled in addition to F65RAW.  The current firmware has some limitations and a few fixes were requested, so this is definitely a welcome update. Sony also announced a new download option for SR Memory cards – the SR-D1 is a small card reader which gives direct access to the cards via eSata or USB 3.0. This is a great, less expensive option for anyone using SR Memory cards. Going back to the firmware now, here is a quick run down of what is coming in the new 1.5 firmware:

…continue reading Firmware Updates to the Sony F65

Here’s something for you to try out over the weekend: our popular Field of View comparison tool has been updated with the latest cameras from this year’s NAB show.

I’ve added the latest Canon cameras including the C300, C500, and 1DC. The C300 and C500′s sensor is almost exactly the same size as Super 35mm film; at 24.6×13.8mm it has a 28.2mm diagonal. The 1DC can record in both HD modes and in a 4K mode. The HD mode uses the full frame sensor area just like the 5D Mark III, however the 4K mode uses a smaller APS-H mode, like the 1D Mark 4. All these options are now available in our tool. 

Additionally, I’ve added the Blackmagic Digital Cinema camera to the list, which has a sensor size somewhere between Super 16mm film and a 4/3rd sensor like on the AF100. At 15.8×8.9mm it has a 18.14 mm diagonal, which leads to a fair bit of cropping when compared to Super 35mm and full frame sensors. The Blackmagic Camera can record in both HD (ProRes, DNxHD, and uncompressed) as well a full 2.5K 12-bit Raw format. The Raw data is captured in Cinema DNG format at a resolution of 2432×1366, however the captured image area is the same, so you should get the same field of view in either mode. The Blackmagic camera is now available for preorder from AbelCine. 

Adding to the list of updates from Sony, the NEX-FS100 has also been granted new functionality via firmware version 2.0, available directly from Sony. The much-anticipated update includes the ability to switch between NTSC and PAL recording, saving and loading Picture Profiles, and full support for the Sony LA-EA2 E-mount to Alpha mount adapter. 

Although you cannot save or load individual Picture Profiles from the FS100, you can now save all of your profiles to an SDHC card or Memory Stick via the Camera Profile option in the Others menu. This will also allow you to save or load other camera settings, including all menu settings and assignable button options. This is especially useful in a multicamera environment, as you can quickly ensure each camera is configured identically with one menu setting. 

…continue reading Sony Releases Firmware v2.0 for FS100