Released last year, the Arri MMB-1 mattebox is a well-made, low cost mattebox that was originally conceived for compact HD cameras such as the Sony PMW-EX1 and EX3. Now Arri has released a group of accessories to expand the use of the MMB-1 for any camera. Watch the video to see how they all work together.
Visit Abel’s Booth C8537 at NAB to see these Arri matteboxes and accessories.
One of my tasks here at Abel is to evaluate new technologies and products so that we can better understand them and better advise our clients. This is the first entry in a series meant to give some insight into how I go about these evaluations. I’ll be concentrating on the process, not the results. Also, I am constantly improving and expanding on my testing techniques, so these will be snapshots into evolving processes. If you will be at NAB this year, feel free to stop by our booth to discuss any of this in person, or if not, make an appointment to see me some time in the office.
…continue reading Image Evaluation Series: Introduction
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about rolling shutters on electronic cameras and how they do or do not affect the image. The popularity of the Sony PMW-EX1 and EX3 cameras has really stepped up this debate. But what does it actually mean? In brief, a Global Shutter captures all of the information from every photosite on a chip all at once. A Rolling Shutter reads off the photosites line by line. But that’s just the beginning. Let me try to clear up some misnomers and misconceptions.
…continue reading The Global Shutter / Rolling Shutter Debate
Sony has just announced the new PDW-F800 XDCAM Camcorder, and you’ll be able to get your hands on it at the Abel booth at NAB. This camera is basically a PDW-700 camera with some upgrades that many of our customers have been asking for. The list of new features that come standard with the camera include: 24p recording, variable frame rate recording (over-crank & under-crank), user gamma modes, dual-optical filters (ND and Color Correction), and SD recording modes. They have also added the ability to record proxy video data directly to a USB memory stick, so your editor can start working immediately with these files.
…continue reading Sony’s New XDCAM Camcorder & Deck
Abel Cine Tech just signed on with Air Sea Land as the exclusive worldwide distributor of ASL Gear. Air Sea Land, through their manufacturing channel, ASL Gear, makes unique solutions for HD and Digital Cinema production. The RIP is a sleek bolt-on connector panel which transforms all of the RED One’s little audio and video connectors into industry standard XLR and BNC ports. The RIB connects to the RIP for remote accessory connection and control. ASL Gear also manufactures unique solutions such as the BLuFISH HD compact underwater housing for the Iconix HD POV (HD-RH1 & Studio 2K) cameras and the Toshiba IK-HD1. Read the full Press Release.
Here is a video from InfoTech reviewing ASL Gear’s RED accessories.
We’re now carrying House of Power products. They make a line of heavy-duty block and belt batteries that weigh only seven pounds. Watch the video to learn more.
In an upcoming “At the Bench,” I’ll be showing you House of Power’s breakout box to power 12v and 24v accessories.
I’ve recently completed final testing on one of our Abel manufactured products: the Breakout Box for the Phantom HD/65 cameras. Our idea for creating this device was to not only expand the capabilities of the Phantom as the top high-speed digital camera on the market, but to help make the camera fit more seamlessly into a high-end production environment.
Here are some of the technical details of this unit:
- Contains 12 volt to 24 volt upconverting circuitry to utilize common 12 volt power supplies/batteries
- Provides two of each 12 volt and 24 volt accessory power ports (1 Amp max. on each 24 volt port)
- Splits off the trigger signal to a common BNC connector
- Allows hot swapping of the 12 volt inputs
- Allows for integration of the Phantom Handheld Rig (Stay tuned for details on this Abel-designed rig, which will be available shortly after NAB.)
…continue reading Design Objectives of the Phantom Breakout Box
