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.

Zeiss has just recently launched two new ZE lenses, an 18mm T3,5 and 21mm T2,8. For those of you unfamiliar with Zeiss SLR lenses, please allow me explain a bit.  Zeiss makes a range of beautiful full frame SLR lenses and they come in a variety of mounts. They break down like this -  F bayonet (ZF), EF bayonet (ZE), K bayonet (ZK) and the traditional M42 screw threads (ZS). So these new ZE lenses are Canon EF mount and work fantastically on the Canon 5D Mark II and the new Canon 7D. I am especially fond of the ZE lenses because they are designed for manual focus control and have very little breathing. This is a real benefit for anyone shooting video on an SLR. With a geared ring they can easily be adjusted to work with a follow focus, and the focus ring stops in both direction for easier pulls. The 18mm and 21mm look great and will be especially nice on the Canon 7D which has a crop (APS-C sized) sensor.

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On Thursday, August 27th, Abel presented an Emerging Technology Workshop to a full house at our New York City office. The event, produced in cooperation with HD Expo / Createasphere, focused on a new generation of affordable and flexible acquisition tools.

In the first session, Andy Shipsides gave an overview of two new solid-state JVC cameras, the HM700 and HM100. A highlight of this session was the screening of footage by Director of Photography Don Lenzer from Children of Abraham, a recent documentary shot with the HM700. Smokey Forester, the project’s producer, was in attendance.

Andy and AJA’s Jay Ignaszewski then unveiled the very first AJA Ki Pro off the production line! The session highlighted ProRes recording and other breakthrough capabilities of this anxiously awaited device. Andy and Jay also discussed the creative impact Ki Pro can have when used on compact, as well as larger format, cameras.

To round out the evening, Andy teamed up with Jem Schofield, of theC47.com, to discuss how HDSLR cameras are changing the landscape of HD video. Jem and Andy delved into the specifics of a couple of these HDSLRs, namely the Canon 5D Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix GH1, and showed off some of the accessories designed to make the most of their video capabilities.

The workshop ended with an informal hands-on session. Attendees were able mingle, play with the gear and chat with the manufacturer reps.