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.

As HDSLR cameras are used in more professional applications, we find our clients looking for ways to make them fit within a more traditional on-set workflow. One of the first issues we tackled was monitoring. These prosumer cameras have HDMI outputs, but our clients need HD-SDI feeds. Our solution is portable and battery powered. Check out the video to see what we came up with, and click the link to view the HDMI to HD-SDI Kit for HDSLR on our site.

Remember way back when, or well just a couple years ago really, when we only had that one standard video connector? To most people in the US, it was the yellow RCA plug that matched up to a yellow jack on our television. Video professionals had it pretty easy too. Just hook up a single BNC cable from the Video Out port to the Video In port on a monitor. Oh, those were the good old days. Now we have a whole collection of different connectors and video formats, not to mention about a dozen variations of each. So, in what promises to be a lengthy article, I will try to break down all the confusion and describe many of the video connectors that are in use today.

…continue reading All Those Video Connectors