When we launched our blog in 2009, our goal was to share the expertise of our technical staff with our clients. Our instructional and “At the Bench” videos have become a popular feature of CineTechnica, and now we’ve made them even easier to watch on the go.

In addition to being accessible on YouTube and Vimeo, the great majority of the videos on our website and blog are now iOS friendly. This means you can keep up with latest video posts from our AbelCine experts on your iPhone, iPad or other mobile device from the set, or anywhere you have internet access.

Visit blog.abelcine.com/tag/video on your iOS device today.

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Earlier this week we posted “The Bicycle” – the short film shot by DP John Inwood to test Zeiss’s Compact Primes. Check out the gallery above for some behind the scenes shots of the crew working with the RED One, the Lumix GH1, and of course, the Zeiss lenses. Additionally, you can click here for more info on Zeiss’s new CP.2 lenses.

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Yesterday, Abel teamed up with Canon to help celebrate the release of its highly anticipated firmware upgrade for the 5D Mark II. Throughout the day clients brought in their cameras, and technicians from Abel and Canon performed free upgrades. Multiple Canon cameras were set up on the showroom floor, fully rigged-out with various audio and stabilization accessories. This gave our guests a chance to try out the various HDSLR setups for themselves. In the evening Abel was bustling, as the formal presentations were standing room only. Jon Fauer, editor of the Film & Digital Times, started things off by discussing how HDSLRs have impacted the industry. Ed Meyer from Canon gave a thorough review of all the new features in the newest 2.0.3 firmware – including 1080 24P. The evening concluded with Abel’s own Andy Shipsides giving a run through and demonstration of the various accessories made for HDSLR filmmaking. After the sessions, Canon representatives and Abel staff were available for discussion and, of course, showing off the cameras. Check out our gallery of images above.

Thank you to everyone who made our “party” a success!!

We recently rolled out an upgrade to our website, www.abelcine.com, that includes many new features, including the ability to process international orders. Now, for the first time, our international customers can purchase items directly through the website using fast and secure Google Checkout.

Many of the features we included in this update came directly from client feedback and are designed to improve your shopping experience. To learn more about all the recent upgrades, click here.

Abel Cine Tech is now part of the Twitterverse! Stay on top of all our news, events and product announcements by following Abel on Twitter. You’ll also know when there is new technical content posted on our website, and don’t forget to subscribe to our dedicated YouTube and Vimeo video channels.

Follow us at twitter.com/abelcine today!

Do you Tango? Students who attended last weekend’s workshop hosted by Abel LA and taught by veteran instructor and respected operator Peter Abraham of Tiffen Steadicam now can! The hugely successful two-day workshop gave students the opportunity to learn hands-on the techniques of flying a camera on a Steadicam Rig. The workshop focused on the fundamentals of setting up a rig, including proper vest adjustment and how to balance a sled. Students were then taught real world techniques such “Tango” and “Don Juan” and tried their hands at flying cameras using the Pilot and the Flyer LE systems, rigs that can handle smaller to mid range cameras ranging from the EX1R to the RED. The class culminated with a long test scene that included navigating doorways and stairs. By the end of the weekend, students were Certified Steadicam Operators and most had discovered sore muscles they didn’t even know they had!

Stop by Abel Cine Tech LA, and Joe Guilfoyle, who was among the newly certified, will be happy show you his “Tango” technique and get you into a rig of your own. For more information on future Steadicam workshops, visit their site, thesteadicamworkshops.com.

Being the gear-head tech nerd that I am, I never thought it possible for me to overload on crepundia electronica (aka tech toys), until I found myself wandering through the 100+ booths at CES devoted to iPhone accessories. It hit me that CES really differs from “pro” technology shows such as NAB or IBC in its focus on marketing: trends, positioning, and hype. That’s not to say that this is a bad thing – a lot of what was shown at CES will soon come to market in a big way, and will directly influence how many of us conduct business or spend our leisure time.

Many have reported that this CES was all about 3D. I would say it was more about profitable 3D. Manufacturers have been showing 3D tech at trade shows for years, but, for the most part, the technology hasn’t changed very much. So, why is 2010 poised to become the “Year of 3D”? Because now there is a way for manufacturers to make money off of it. And this should be a good thing for all of us.

…continue reading Why 3D Will Finally Stick Around