Today, our friends Paul Berner and Neil Munroe from Hi-Def Pictures came by to check out the Sony F3 and our new HDx35 Optical Adapter. The adapter allows the use of 2/3″ lenses on Super 35mm-size sensor cameras like the F3, ALEXA and RED One. Paul and Neil put the adapter on the F3 with an Angenieux 2/3″ Zoom Lens and took some quick shots outside our shop in New York City. They shot 1080 24p footage, as well as slow motion footage in 720p. We were all impressed with the results, and we think you will be too. Watch the video above to see what they shot.

Note: Camera was set to default picture profile settings, and a slight gamma shift was added in post.

Neil Munroe (left) and Paul Berner from Hi-Def Pictures

A tweet from Sony (@CineAltaNews) revealed that new firmware for the F3 is on the horizon. As I mentioned in a previous video, the new firmware will enable simultaneous live HDMI and HD-SDI output. This is great news because it will enable use of electronic viewfinders such as the Cineroid or Zacuto Z-EVF, while also sending out an SDI signal. Another change to the firmware is the ability to use the Slow&Quick knob to move through the menus. This will be a great option for anyone frustrated by the small menu wheel on the back of the camera. Look for this free firmware update to hit Sony’s website soon – XDCAM EX Micro Site.

Broadcast lenses are available in high zoom ratios with wide apertures in a relatively compact size, making them desirable for many large-sensor camera users. Designed and built for AbelCine by IB/E Optics, HDx Optical Adapters mount between a B4-mount 2/3” lens and a large sensor camera, expanding the projected light to cover the image area. HDx Optical Adapters are available in three versions to fit different camera models. Read on to learn all about the family of adapters.

…continue reading NAB ’11: HDx Optical Adapters

Outsight has dramatically expanded their range of Creamsource LED lights. The product line now includes more efficient daylight models (spot or flood); full tungsten units (spot or flood); the Bender models, which are both daylight and tungsten (spot or flood); and Doppio units, which have nearly double the number of LED emitters for greater output (available in tungsten or daylight, spot or flood). These options are available in a half-size Mini-Creamsource line as well. Check out the video for a preview, and stay tuned as we launch the entire, expanded Creamsource line.

Our NAB booth included the PMW-F3 with the new S-Log firmware from Sony installed. I was very impressed with what the new mode added to the camera and was delighted to show it off to guests in our booth. Some of our friends at Next Level Pictures stopped by, and I gave them a short demo. They were so impressed with the effect that they asked to take the camera out for a quick test, which I agreed to. Twenty-four hours later they came back with a plan to take Vegas by storm, and the result was an amazing test of the F3 and S-Log. Cinematographers Khalid Mohtaseb, Jonathan Bregel, Timur Civan and Vincent Laforet joined forces with a fantastic production team lead by Brad Burke to shoot the piece.

For this shoot, the F3 was combined with the new Angenieux 45-120 lens, Cooke Panchro/i lenses, Zeiss Ultra and Master Primes, Miller Tripods, a Kessler Crane Slider, OConnor and Element Technica accessories and the CineDeck Extreme. Watch the video above to see the test results.

Go to Next Level Pictures to learn more about how the project came together, and all the folks that helped make it possible.

Note: The camera was set to output 1080p 23.98 RGB 4:4:4 video in S-Log to the CineDeck, and record to the SxS cards with the Rec709(800%) LUT applied.

Angenieux just unveiled a new Optimo Super 35mm lens, which features a zoom ratio of 2.7x, T2.8 aperture, and weighs only 4.3 lbs. This new lens compliments Angenieux’s two other lightweight Optimo lenses, the 15-40 and 28-76 zooms, and has the same balance point for easy lens changes on a steadicam. The 45-120 has a unique optical design that keeps a long zoom lens in a very small package, making it perfect for handheld work and close-up shots. Watch the video above to learn more about the Optimo 45-120mm lens.

Sony’s new SR-M9000 camera builds on the SRW-9000PL platform by adding a built-in SR memory recorder that records to SR cards at up to 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 in S-Log. Watch my video as I detail some of the specifications of this new camera.