ARRI has released the latest Software Update Packet (SUP), v5.0 for the ALEXA and ALEXA Plus cameras. All new cameras will ship with SUP v5.0 installed, and it is available as a free download from the ARRI website for all current ALEXA owners. SUP 5.0 is a major upgrade for the ALEXA cameras, with several important new features and useful improvements.

New features of SUP v5.0 include (for both ALEXA & ALEXA Plus):

High Frame Rates

Access to the new High Speed License

With SUP v5.0, you can now purchase a license through the ARRI website which allows the camera to shoot from 60fps – 120fps and record to ProRes 422HQ on the new Sony 64G SxS Pro cards.

ProRes 4444 recording up to 60fps

The new Sony 64G SxS Pro cards have much higher sustained data read/write capabilities than the 32G SxS Pro cards. This allows the ALEXA to feed up to 60fps of ProRes 4444 to the cards with no dropped frames or file corruption. In previous firmware releases, ProRes 4444 was limited to 40fps and you needed to capture in ProRes 422 HQ or below to record 60fps.

ARRIRAW and HD-SDI 4:4:4 recording up to 60fps

ARRI has developed a unique dual-link 3G signal path so that ARRI Partner recorders can capture up to 60fps of full uncompressed ARRIRAW or 10-bit HD-SDI 4:4:4 in full resolution progressive signals. Codex has released software to enable their Onboard recorder to capture ARRIRAW and HD-SDI 4:4:4 over this protocol.

…continue reading ARRI Releases New ALEXA Firmware 5.0

The back up and archiving of acquisition media is a critical topic that may not be sufficiently understood by many productions. Some productions only consider archiving options after the project is complete, while others believe that the back up of original material onto additional hard drives is sufficient. Neither of these approaches, however, utilizes the organizational and long-term advantages of a proper archival system.

In the first of an on-going series of Technical Resource papers on asset management, we discuss the differences between data back up and archiving, and their related technologies. Read the full article here.

AbelCine also offers a number of solutions to help archive and manage your media, including products from Cache-A and BRU.

The new PRG TruColor Foton light uses a unique technology called “remote phosphor.” An internal light source strikes a crystal impregnated with rare earth elements that then glows brightly. The large surface of the emitter allows for a precise mix of the phosphorescent material for accurate colors across the visible spectrum. By physically separating the phosphor plate from the light source within the unit, heat management keeps the material from baking and changing color over time. The Foton delivers accurate colors and does so for the life of the product and it is also flicker-free.

The AbelCine Foton kit includes a set of three interchangeable reflectors (wide, medium, flood), barndoors, and an AC power supply with a gland-seal waterproof connector. The light fixture itself is sealed and water resistant. The Foton consumes only 30w but is equivalent in output to a 150w tungsten light. It is fully dimmable with no color change and no flicker.

Watch my video for more on the Foton and remote phosphor lighting technology.

ARRI announced today that Avid’s DNxHD recording codec would be supported in all ALEXA cameras. The format is planned to be offered as a paid software license to be released with the free ALEXA Software Update Packet (SUP) 6.0, scheduled for January 2012. Upon initial release, the  license will offer DNxHD 145 (1920×1080, 8-bit) and DNxHD 220x (1920×1080, 10-bit), with the free addition of the recently-announced DNxHD 444 (1920×1080, 10-bit) in the spring.

Apple ProRes has been a purchasable option for SxS card onboard recording for more than a year. Soon the ALEXA will offer either or both recording formats to more comfortably fit into a production’s workflow. DNxHD 220x has a similar file size to that of ProRes 422HQ, so it should take up about the same amount of space on an SxS card (21 minutes on a 32G card).

For more info, read Arri’s full press release.

Our client Emery Wells at Katabatic Digital has created a handy memory usage calculator app for the iPhone. KataData is a storage and runtime calculator with more than 100 camera and record format options, including cameras from ARRI, Canon, JVC, Panasonic, RED, Sony, and Vision Research. If you plug in a runtime, it will tell you the memory needed, or you can plug in a memory amount and it will tell you how much runtime it allows. Switch cameras or codecs and it will calculate a new corresponding memory amount or runtime; this is useful when transcoding material or when shooting with a different format on a B-camera. Calculations can be stored in a log which can be adjusted and edited, then emailed to the production office or post house. It’s a great tool for any data wrangler, DIT or AC.

KataData is available for $4.99 in the iTunes Store.

We are always looking for ways to accessorize cameras so they are even more functional for our clients. Our latest design for the F3 is a ProVFM Viewfinder Mount Kit that enables the use of a professional electronic HD viewfinder with the camera.

The ProVFM Viewfinder Mount Kit allows a Sony or Panasonic 1920×1080 HD viewfinder to be mounted to the F3. Using a proper HD viewfinder on the F3, you can comfortably handhold the camera, as well as judge focus and exposure.

…continue reading F3 Solutions: AbelCine ProVFM Viewfinder Mount Kit

Recently, Jonathan Miller of Hive Lighting stopped by our showroom to demonstrate a prototype of his new Hornet light. Hive lights employ plasma to produce a very bright and efficient light source. Plasma lights, which work on a similar principle to how the sun produces light, are twice as efficient as traditional HMI lighting, with a truer daylight balance. They produce a flicker-free light, making them ideal for for high-speed photography. Hive lights can be DC powered and are extremely flexible to set up.

Hive lights will be available to purchase in Spring 2012.

Watch my video to learn all about this exciting new technology.