Articles written by Videocraft
Articles written by
Videocraft
Brighter, wider, lighter — Litepanels raises the bar with Gemini
Next-generation LED panel delivers precision color control and flicker-free light in a highly portable new form
Canon Announces Its Newest Professional 4K HDR Reference Display Featuring Stable High-Luminance And 12G-SD1 Terminals
The Canon DP-V2411 4K HDR1 Reference Display, a 24-inch display that features stable high luminance and 12G-SDI terminals, ideal for use on-set in broadcasting vans, and in-studio needs.
INTRODUCING X-ONE – EVS’ UNIFIED MULTICAM LIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEM
EVS has announced a brand-new product within its family of live production solutions - X-One. This all-in-one toolset, delivers the signature speed and reliability of EVS technology for live productions requiring six cameras or less. The new system is built with EVS’ software-defined technology foundation and puts all of the capabilities of a control room in the hands of a single production operator – all controlled from the solution’s touchscreen.
DaVinci Resolve 14 now shipping! Massive update with 10x faster editing, Fairlight audio, multi-user collaboration and more!
The free DaVinci Resolve 14 includes all of the same high quality processing as DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio and can handle unlimited resolution media files. However it does limit project mastering and output to Ultra HD resolutions or lower. DaVinci Resolve 14 only supports a single processing GPU on Windows and Linux and 2 GPUs on the latest Mac Pro. If you need features such as support for multiple GPUs, 4K output, motion blur effects, temporal and spatial noise reduction, HDR tools, Lens distortion correction, de-interlacing, Resolve FX Lens Flare, Lens Blur and Film Grain, 3D stereoscopic tools, remote rendering, an external database server and collaboration tools that let multiple users work on the same project at the same time, please upgrade to DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio.
Sony Launches Ultra-Compact, Robust and Waterproof RX0 Camera
Introducing multi-unit, multi-view shooting to create a new imaging experience that has never been seen before
Another beautiful Videocraft baby!
We welcome Charlotte Amelia to the Videocraft family. Charlotte was born late yesterday to Marissa - (Melbourne Reception) - and her husband Steve. We congratulate both of them on the safe arrival of their beautiful little girl.
Sony unveils VENICE, its first 36x24mm full-frame digital motion picture camera system
Anamorphic Capabilities, Interchangeable Sensor, 8-stage ND Filter system, New Colour Management System & Established Workflow Combine into Unique Creative Filmmaking Tool
The World's Fastest Tripod Legs. Sachtler Flowtech 75
Revolutionary New Tripod Technology Simplifies and Accelerates Camera Operators’ Workflows With Instant and Easy Setup, Versatile Height Range, and Exceptional Torsional Stiffness.
FIRMWARE UPDATE: Sony PMWF55 Binary Package V 9.00
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Panasonic announces Australian pricing, additional technical specifications for AU-EVA1EN Compact Cinema Camera
“In our VariCam Cinema Cameras, Dual Native ISO sensor technology opened up a whole new world to cinematographers. It allowed them to shoot, light and work in new ways not possible before,” noted Rob Myers, National Sales Manager, Broadcast, Panasonic Australia. “The inclusion of that proprietary technology in the AU-EVA1 means that they will be able to shoot in bright sunlight or night exteriors without compromising the image quality.” The newly-designed AU-EVA1 sensor is Super-35 sized (24.60mm x 12.97mm) with 5.7K resolution. With an active resolution of 5720 x 3016, the AU-EVA1 delivers more than 17.25 million photosites, nearly double the 8.8 million for 4K DCI (4096 x 2160). By starting at a higher native resolution, the 5.7K sensor yields a higher resolving image when down-sampled to 4K, UHD, 2K, or even 720p. Additionally, the increased color information results in a finer, more accurate finished image.
Panasonic EVA-1 on Broadcast Brains - Live at SMPTE 2017
Interview Round-up It was great to have Rob Myers from Panasonic Australia join us at SMPTE 2017 to chat about the progress on the new Panasonic EVA-1 Camera that we are all eagerly awaiting its release. The native EF lens mount on the camera gives you an inifinite amount of lens that can be paired up with this camera. Pre-order your Panasonic EVA-1 from the Videocraft Website
Videocraft Broadcast Brains - Streaming Schedule
10.45am This morning we will be introducing you to Paul & Kirstine Roadley from Driving Oz with the Black Dog, who are touring around Australia creating awareness and raising fund for suicide prevention and mental health assistance dogs.
Mint Pictures chooses Avid NEXIS storage from Videocraft
Originally founded as North One Australia in 2007 Mint Pictures has produced content for all the major free-to-air networks – Nine, Ten, ABC, SBS and NITV – as well as Foxtel and Fox Sports, and overseas broadcasters, including the BBC. They have also produced content for some of Australia’s leading sporting organisations including Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and Football Federation Australia. Recently the innovative production company decided to upgrade their in-house storage solution and for this they chose the Avis Nexis platform which they purchased from Videocraft. Mint Pictures Managing Director, Head of Programming Adam Kay explained, “We had been running for many years with Avid Media Composer, Symphony and an old Avid Unity Storage system. Around two years ago, Videocraft who have been supporting us for well over 10 years, upgraded all of our edit workstations. So, when we decided to upgrade our storage solution we also turned to them for their help and guidance.” After discussions and consultations with Videocraft Mint purchased an Avid Nexis E2 chassis with 60TB of storage and also installed a new Dell switch to support their infrastructure. Kay continued, “The Unity system we were on was very outdated and was holding us back in a variety of areas. It had little storage, ran hot and was not compatible with many modern computers and connections. So staying within the Avid line-up, Nexis was an excellent choice as an upgrade.”
Avid NEXIS is the world’s first software-defined storage platform that enables true storage virtualisation for any media application. Mint’s new Nexis system delivers significant media performance, scalability, and reliability to accelerate production in their most media-intensive broadcast and video post environments. It also offers them greater bandwidth to accelerate 4K/UHD and finishing workflows, plus new support for Pro Tools collaboration. Kay continued, “Nexis is a cost effective option for a company of Mint Pictures’ size. Its storage abilities and continued use and expansion on the Isis system that preceded it allows us to easily manage workspaces, which is another big plus. As always Videocraft made some key recommendations and walked us through the and pros and cons of choosing different configurations for our specific needs at Mint Pictures. Their explanations and breakdowns were very useful in making our decision.” With their new Nexis in place and running smoothly Adam Kay took the time to reflect on the performance of the new system and how pleased the team at Mint Pictures were with their choice concluding, “Firstly it gives us fast access to media. Then there’s also plenty of space to be able to cut at high res, without having to work with proxy files and we can efficiently organise workspaces according to our needs and the needs of individual productions we have in-house at any given moment. In other words the Nexis performs very well and does what it’s meant to. We’re also very grateful to Videocraft for their help with this purchase and their ever-constant and professional advice.”Panasonic Launches EVA1 Compact Cine Camera with 5.7K Super 35mm Sensor
Panasonic has previewed the AU-EVA1, at Cine Gear Expo 2017 in Los Angeles, over the weekend. This new 5.7K cinema camera is compact and lightweight, tailor-made for handheld shooting, but also well suited for documentaries, commercials, and music videos.
Canon introduces a 4K compact Cinema EOS camera, the EOS C200
Canon announced today the launch of the EOS C200, the latest addition to the esteemed Cinema EOS range. Offering exceptional creativity and flexibility, the new 4K compact digital cinema camera is perfect for a broad range of imaging professionals. As the first Cinema EOS camera to support the new RAW recording format – Cinema RAW Light – the EOS C200 provides the same flexibility in colour grading as Cinema RAW in a smaller file size, enabling filmmakers to record internally to a CFast 2.0TM card. Newly developed Canon Dual DIGIC DV6 processors provide the ability to record internally 4K UHD/50P MP4, 4K DCI RAW and continuous 120fps High Frame Rate (HFR) in Full HD without crop. At the same time, advances in Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus (AF) technology and a new touch screen LCD monitor provide smooth AF operation and effective tracking. [gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" size="medium" ids="https://www.videocraft.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/D195_rearR_1.jpg|Rear View (Right),https://www.videocraft.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/D195_rearL_7.jpg|Rear View (Left),https://www.videocraft.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/D195_back_5_3.jpg|Back,https://www.videocraft.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/D195_main_1.jpg|Front"]
EOS C200 – key features
Internal 4K recording with Cinema RAW Light and MP4 format Continuous 120fps (maximum) High Frame Rate with no cropping at Full HD Up to 15-stops dynamic range (Cinema RAW Light) Professional High Quality image and audio Dual Pixel CMOS AF with touch control and extensive shooting functions Easy operation and flexible configurationCapability drives creativity
The EOS C200 features Canon’s 4K Super 35mm CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 8.85MP, along with the newly developed Dual DIGIC DV6 image processors. As a result, it can deliver Cinema RAW Light recording at 4K DCI 50P internally to a CFast 2.0TM card. It can also deliver 4K UHD recording at 150Mbps, and 2K or Full HD at 35Mbps to SD cards in MP4 format. Supporting up to 15-stops of dynamic range with Cinema RAW Light and up to 13-stops of dynamic range in MP4 (Canon Log / Log 3), the camera is perfect for capturing highlight and shadow details. The EOS C200 is also capable of delivering both slow and fast motion recording at up to 120fps with no crop in Full HD/MP4, ideal for those wanting creative slow motion capture. An ISO range of 100 to 102,400 guarantees excellent performance, even in difficult lighting conditions, such as when quickly switching between locations. The built-in optical ND filters of up to 10 stops provide further flexibility and convenience, allowing filmmakers to shoot in bright light and expand the depth of field control.Advanced operability and ergonomic design
Built for professionals and ideal for single shooters, the EOS C200 features an advanced AF system that provides reliability and accuracy when shooting 4K, as well as a touch screen LCD panel for filmmakers to easily select their subject. For those who need to switch effortlessly between several subjects in a single shot, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF enables smooth AF operation whilst the Manual Focus Assist Function, Face Detection with Face Priority and Face-Only options provide greater creative focus control. The EOS C200’s lightweight body of just 1.4kg is designed for comfortable hand-held shooting and will benefit those who are filming for long periods. The compact size also makes the camera suitable for mounting onto a drone or gimbal. Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity allows for browser remote control and the ability to transfer files via FTP, whilst the camera’s compatibility options mean new and existing accessories can be used, including Canon’s electronic viewfinder – the EVF-V70.Cinema RAW Light for next generation workflows
Canon has worked with several partners to ensure Cinema RAW Light is integrated with various software programs1. As a result, editing and grading of the Cinema RAW Light video format will be supported in DaVinci Resolve of Blackmagic Design. Editing will be possible in Media Composer from Avid Technology, using Canon RAW Plugin for Avid Media Access2. This format can also be processed using a Canon application, Cinema RAW Development3. Support for Cinema RAW Light is also scheduled for EDIUS Pro, Grass Valley’s editing software during 2017. Additionally, a future version of Final Cut Pro X from Apple Inc. will support Canon’s Cinema RAW Light, using Canon RAW Plugin for Final Cut Pro X4.Future Firmware upgrade
Canon’s XF-AVC video format will be available with a future firmware upgrade. This upgrade is free of charge and is planned to be available from 1H 2018.The EOS C200 will be available from late July 2017. To preorder click here
Videocraft supports Driving Oz with the Black Dog
Videocraft is proud to announce its platinum sponsorship of Driving Oz with the Black Dog — an incredibly important year-long campaign to raise money and awareness for Lifeline Australia and mindDog. We have been incredibly lucky to be able to collaborate with our industry partners Sony Australia and Avid Technology to be able to put together a video and photography production package to help Paul and Kirstine and their family document their travels to the remote areas of Australia, raising awareness of these two important organisations.
So what's in the Driving Oz's case of production gear?
With the assistance of David Green, from Sony Australia's Professional Solutions Division, we were able to come up with a kit specifically chosen to work well in the varied climates and locations the Driving OZ team will travel throughout the year. As well as provide tools that can capture the footage and audio at professional broadcast quality. David and the team at Sony went above and beyond to support the Driving Oz with the Black Dog and to support both Lifeline Australia and mindDog. The Driving Oz production kit includes a Sony PXW-X70 Camcorder, Sony A7II Digital Mirrorless Camera, some 4K Sony Action Cams plus a Sony Digital UWP Wireless Microphone package, Sony Monitoring Headphones, Manfrotto Rolling Travel Case and a copy of the industry's best editing software Avid's Media Composer for post production. The package offers them the best in image and sound acquisition in an unbelievably lightweight and compact size — perfect for the Tetris-style packing required for a family to fit their lives into camper/trailer and car for the next year. We will be staying up to date with the Roadley family on their adventures and encouraging our network of industry friends to helps us to help them in raising awareness and funds for this important cause. So please share their story, donate to their MyCause page and keep the conversation open around your workplace, community, friends and family. Why do we need to help Lifeline Australia and MindDog?
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44. The overall suicide rate in 2014 was 12.0 per 100,000 in Australia. This is the highest rate in 10 years. The most recent Australian data (ABS, Causes of Death, 2014) reports deaths due to suicide in 2014 at 2,864. This equates to almost eight deaths by suicide in Australia each day. Most deaths by suicide in Australia are males, accounting for about three-quarters. However, during the past decade, there has been an increase in suicide deaths by females. The suicide rate amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is more than double the national rate. In 2014, suicide accounted for 5.2% of all Indigenous deaths compared to 1.8% for non-Indigenous people. For every death by suicide, it is estimated that as many as 30 people attempt to end their lives. That is approximately 65,300 suicide attempts each year.
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Somewhere in Australia there is a new call to Lifeline every minute. 
mindDog Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help people procure, train and accredit psychiatric assistance dogs. A mindDog comes in many shapes and sizes, and may look different to other assistance dogs experienced by the public previously. Clients of mindDog are supported to find a suitable dog, train and eventually pass a public access test. Just like other assistance dogs, mindDogs are required access to public spaces in order to fulfill their duties. MEET LUNA Luna is Paul’s Mental Health Assistance Dog, MHAD (also known as a Service Dog). Luna is trained through mindDog Australia. Luna has saved Paul’s life by being there when he is really struggling. Luna senses Paul’s emotional/stress levels and responds when required, without being given a single verbal command. To read more about Luna - read her page on the Driving Oz with the Black Dog website We also celebrated Kirstine's birthday with the Videocraft Melbourne team, so there was chocolate cake all around! 
NAB 2017: A Waiting Game
So, after lots of speculation and excitement, the NAB 2017 exhibition opened its doors with the usual crowds flooding in to be first to see all of the new advances in technology in the flesh. Talk of the impending ratification of the ST 2110 standard for IP video, and its variants had dominated discussion, and everyone in the broadcast industry seems all in agreement that these new standards will be the unified way forward.
The 3 most interesting ideas to come from attending AvidConnect 2017
Firstly, this is not an Avid press release! AvidConnect (the annual Avid Customer Association event) is in its fourth year, and while it is a way for Avid to show off some of their new offerings and partnerships, there has always been some really interesting discussions about the industry we work in, and where we are headed. This year was no exception, and I have put together some of my thoughts on what I have seen over the weekend, and how I see this affecting our future. Here are three key points I have taken from AvidConnect2017, feel free to comment!
Firmware Update: Now Available: Avid NEXIS | FS v7.3.2
Avid NEXIS 7.3.2, the latest maintenance release for all Avid NEXIS systems, is now available. It provides resolution to a stability issue with Avid NEXIS client on Avid Interplay Media Indexer. This client side patch is compatible with all Avid NEXIS | FS releases and Avid ISIS v4.7.5 and later.