Abel Cine Tech’s first rental of the Panasonic GH-1 / Hot Rod Deluxe combination was an unusual one. When this camera and Hot Rod’s PL adapter for it first appeared in prototype form, the internet was abuzz with indie filmmakers looking to use the rig for low budget productions, but our first client saw it as a very different device. Pictured above is the rig with a Hawk 35mm anamorphic prime, a lens so large that it requires a bridgeplate support. Abel rigged out a solution, and the system went out with the DP and Director for a weekend tech scout. The production itself is a medium budget feature to be shot primarily on the RED One camera. The tech scout is also a test of the Lumix GH-1 rig to see if footage blown up to 35mm filmout will hold up well enough to intercut with the RED One. If so, the Lumix will work as both a Director’s Finder during setups as well as a B-camera for the shoot.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

The NULL Lens optical collimation device has been a very popular product. It is the quickest, easiest and most accurate way to set the backfocus on the RED One camera. We have fulfilled all our pre-orders and now have units in stock and ready to ship.

Now, we are introducing the first accessory in the NULL family, the NULL Target. The NULL Target mounts to the front of the NULL Lens and allows easy and accurate backfocus adjustment by projecting a focusing screen onto the RED One’s sensor. Watch the video to see how easy it is to use.

Please note: the NULL Target is still in the prototype phase. We do not yet have pricing or product availability details on this item. Stay tuned for more information.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

We just received the Nexto Video Storage Pro and I’m very impressed with this little box. We are selling the 500 GB version, and the 128GB Solid State version will be available in the future. Check out the video blog and see what it can do.

The Video Storage Pro has low res playback of many different formats. Here is a list of supported formats:

• Panasonic – AVC-Intra 100/50, DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, DVCPRO
  (Note: AVC Intra playback is not yet 100%, this will improve with the next firmware.)
• Sony – XDCAM EX (HQ/SP)
• JVC – XDCAM EX (MP4 format), Quicktime Format in later release
• Convergent Design – XDCAM HD formats (MXF)
• RED – R3D – Next Firmware
• AVCHD – Sony/Canon/Panasonic Flavor – Next Firmware

Look for a firmware release in Quarter 4 of this year.

Update: I tested Red CF Card download speeds and was able to download a 16 GB card in just under 11minutes.

The NULL Lens has begun shipping. We are fulfilling pre-orders first and expect to be caught up before the end of August.

The NULL Lens is an optical collimating tool for the RED One camera. Attach the NULL Lens to the PL lens mount, loosen the clamp screws on the side of the camera’s mount, point at something far away (150’ / 50m) and adjust until the image becomes sharp. It really is that simple. Properly adjusted, the NULL Lens can set the RED One’s mount accurately to within five microns. To see how easy the NULL Lens is to use, please check out our new online instructional video.

…continue reading NULL Lens Now Shipping

Apple has just released a new version of Final Cut Pro and updates to several other programs in Final Cut Studio including Compressor, Color, Motion, and Soundtrack. There are so many updates that you’ll need to go over to Apples site to read about them. Visit their What’s New page for the details. Here are some of the big updates in FCP 7 that make me happy…

…continue reading Final Cut Pro 7 Released

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

The Lumix GH1 is a new digital camera from Panasonic that can not only shoot excellent still photos, but 1080 24P & 720 60P video too. In the video, I show off this little camera and how you can put a PL mount lens on it with the new Hot Rod PL Mount Lens adapter. And to make this combination even cooler, I put a brand new Zeiss Compact Prime on the setup. Check out the video, and come by our office to get your hands on it. Also check out our new HDSLR Specialty Shop, which is growing by the minute.

Doug Percher from International Supplies was nice enough to bring by the Nexto Video Storage Pro unit the other day and let us try it out. In the past, Nexto had shown us their eXtreme ND 2700 and other models that provided a OTG (on-the-go) way of downloading CF, SDHC cards, Memory sticks, and a variety of other flash memory. It’s basically a portable hard drive unit with some memory slots. The card goes in, and with a few clicks, the card is downloaded to the internal drive. This was a great unit for the DSLR market, Red One users, and AVCHD camera owners. But the Video Storage Pro brings this idea to a whole new level. It’s a must have for any tapeless camera owner, P2 & SxS included!

…continue reading Nexto Video Storage Pro