Sony Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line

Sony is unveiling the newest addition to its industryleading XDCAM HD4:2:2 line – the PMW-200 camcorder. This new model is the only professional handheld camcorder in its class with three 1/2 -inch Exmor™ CMOS sensors and full HD 4:2:2 50 Mbps recording. The versatile new camcorder is designed for any type of professional shooting, from broadcast and newsgathering to education and corporate production. It inherits the performance, ease of use and accessories of Sony’s PMW-EX1R camcorder, which has become a de facto standard for professional video production.

“The new PMW-200 is one of the most versatile handheld camcorders we’ve ever developed,” said Tatsuro Kurachi, Director, Marketing and Product Management, at Sony Electronics. “Incredible flexibility and high-end recording capabilities like HD4:2:2 are becoming more important to pro shooters at every level of production in terms of workflow and picture quality. The PMW-200 camcorder demonstrates our commitment to developing the right tools that meet and exceed the needs of professionals.”

The new camcorder is the latest example of Sony’s continually expanding XDCAM HD 4:2:2 line-up both for optical disc and SxS memory card systems. Designed using Sony’s advanced sensor technology and building on decades of experience, the PMW-200 camcorder answers the industry’s desire for a 4:2:2 50Mbps camcorder that uses three 1/2 inch type sensors. With other handheld 50Mbps camcorders on the market featuring 1/3 inch sensors, the PMW-200 camcorder’s 1/2-inch sensors mean it’s designed to perform exceptionally well with excellent sensitivity and great detail even in challenging lighting conditions.

A variety of recording formats such as 50Mbps/35Mbps MXF, 35Mbps/25Mbps MP4 and DVCAM are available for a wide range of applications and workflows. The PMW-200 camcorder offers a powerful Slow & Quick motion function to capture footage at 1 fps to 60 fps in 720p mode, and from 1 fps to 30 fps in 1080p mode, giving users enhanced creative flexibility. An immediate playback function lets operators view their shots rapidly and easily, without the need for external converters or processing on nonlinear editing systems.

The PMW-200 camcorder is armed with a 14x zoom lens with auto focus and image stabilizing capabilities. The lens is also equipped with three independent rings for zoom, focus and iris adjustment, plus greater precision through indications of ring positions on the LCD screen to give users a high level of operational comfort and control. Focusing on subjects and reviewing recorded footage is made easy with the full-color 3.5-inch WVGA (852×480) LCD panel.

The PMW-200 camcorder also comes with an invaluable 15-second cache recording feature, a function unique among handheld camcorders. Its internal memory can capture images even before the recording button is pressed (maximum of 15 seconds), allowing users to record important moments that would have otherwise been missed. Genlock and timecode interfaces on the PMW-200 camcorder make it a breeze for use in multi-camera operations and entry-level HD studio applications. The camcorder also gives users greater flexibility in choosing recording media, operating with Sony’s professional SxS Pro™ and SxS-1 technology (two slots) as well as SD cards, Memory Stick media and XQD cards (adaptor required). A Wi-Fi remote control (adaptor required) for the PMW-200 camcorder enhances flexibility for studio or on-location use. This remote control function is scheduled to be available by December 2012 through a free firmware upgrade.

The PMW-200 camcorder is planned to be available in September 2012.
No Australian RRP has been set as yet.

See web link for more details:  http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/27714/sony-pwm-200-three-1-2-inch-exmor-cmos-hd-4-2-2-50-mbps-xdcam-camcorder-pmw-200.html

Rotolight Anova 2 LED (Bi-Colour) LED Flood Light

The World's Most Advanced LED Floodlight

Rotolight proudly introduces the next generation of studio lighting systems with the launch of the Anova^TM 2 LED EcoFlood: the world's most advanced LED studio floodlight.

Anova 2 is a revolutionary bi-colour LED floodlight with a super-wide 110-degree beam angle which provides a gorgeous soft light output that eliminates hard shadows and hotspots. The Rotolight Anova 2 delivers 1000-watt equivalent output whilst using 93% less energy than a standard tungsten bulb with virtually no heat, and also includes a V-lock plate for battery operation on location as standard.

Anova 2's bi-colour LED system is capable of accurately reproducing white light from candlelight through to full daylight in 10-degree Kelvin steps, with a real time colour temperature display. The Rotolight Anova 2 also features full wired DMX control and built-in WiFi as standard, allowing wireless remote control of brightness, colour temperature, and system settings via an iPhone or iPad, using the Rotolight Magic Eye^TM App (available separately from the iTunes Store).

Rotolight’s new Magic Eye^TM App allows users to accurately ‘sample’ both the colour and intensity of ambient light using any iPhone or iPad; The Anova 2 will then accurately reproduce it. This revolutionary technology will also enable users to remotely sample colour temperature and transmit that across the world to the studio, enabling synchronization of colour both on location and in the studio. In the fader page, users will be able to control multiple lights, and store/recall scenes, with transitions, wirelessly.

Ideal for Chroma Key Work

Key Features

• Bi-Colour - Accurately reproduces any colour of white light from candlelight through to full daylight in 10-degree Kelvin steps.
• 110 Degree Beam Angle - Unique super-wide spread eliminates hard shadows and hotspots with gorgeous soft light output and signature Ringlight effect.
• Revolutionary Magic Eye App Technology - Uses iPhone/iPad App to accurately sample both colour temperature and intensity, and wirelessly transmit and recall settings across the world to Anova 2, enabling replication of lighting conditions from location to studio. (Magic Eye is available for purchase from the iTunes store.)
• EcoFlood Technology - Anova 2's 1000W-equivalent output uses 93% less energy than a standard tungsten bulb with virtually no heat, and includes a V-lock plate for battery operation as standard.
• WiFi & DMX - Includes built-in WiFi and wired DMX allowing wireless remote control of brightness, colour temperature, and system settings via an iPhone or iPad.
• Tessellating Design - Anova 2's unique shape allows users to create a huge honeycomb array of Anovas for larger projects (using T-Plate connectors and custom yokes).

Rotolight Anova 2 is now Available at Videoguys Australia.

see web link:  http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/25587/rotolight-anova-2-led-bi-colour-led-flood-light-pro-kit-rl-an2.html

MicW i-Series iOS Microphones for iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad

Known for its perfectly clean sound, quality craftsmanship, and lightness of styling, MicW prides itself in designing and manufacturing high quality, high performance microphones for a wide range of audio measurement and recording applications. MicW microphones and accessories are the right choice when you demand the best in your measurements and recordings for voice, instrument, broadcast, film and video productions.

We are proud to release the new i-series range  of microphones for  Apple iOS devices, including iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad and some other portable devices.

The i-Series line offers outstanding performance for audio measurement, recording, and broadcast use. MicW is leading the industry in developing, manufacturing, and marketing professional mini microphones at this level of performance.

Main Features

• Professional: Uniquely designed recording and measurement microphones in sturdy metal housings.

• Plug and Play: No need for additional power, just plug a mic in the earphone socket and it’s ready to perform.

• Available as a Class 2 measurement mic: Convert your mobile device into an audio measurement tool.

• Superior EMI protection: Special designed to reduce Electro-Magnetic Interface (EMI) from mobilephones. 

Example Applications
Real time analyzer for SPL and FFT used for concerts, events, home, and industry measurement and recording.
General recording for voice and instrument, interviews, conference meetings, and rehearsals.
High sensitivity recording for ENG, voice and instruments, broadcasting, and other dedicated sound recording.




i-Series in Now available at Videoguys Australia!

see web link: http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodSearchResults.asp?strBrand=336

MANFROTTO ANNOUNCES GAME CHANGER SYMPLA HDSLR MODULAR VIDEO RIG SYSTEM

SYMPLA is a professional modular video rig system that extends and complements new cameras, allows for stable support and framing, supports essential accessories features, offering versatility and high performance as well as comfort, safety and much simpler and faster set up than existing rigs.

SYMPLA is built for flexibility and speed, so you can change anything and everything easily and quickly: hand grip positions, counterbalance, camera body, lens, accessories, filters, light-shielding angle; shoulder-supported, hand-held, or tripod/monopod-mounted… whatever you need to get the shot, the second you need it.

SYMPLA is quick to fine-tune, so even when you need to make changes to your rig on-location and mid-shoot, SYMPLA’s minimal locks and tool-free adjusters will let you get back to shooting quickly.

Thanks to our revolutionary camera remotes which fit the rig handgrips, SYMPLA allows precise fingertip control of framing and camera functions without losing the grip position and keeping your eyes on the frame, helping you capture stable, usable, creative footage. And SYMPLA can quickly be extended: whether you start from one of our kits, or from single components, you can build the exact rig you need for the shot, as soon as you need it.

Manfrotto Sympla is available from Videoguys Australia.

See web link:  http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodSearchResults.asp?strSearchType=OR&strSearch=Sympla&srchID=&SubSearch.x=0&SubSearch.y=0

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Cinema Camera

 

NAB 2012, Las Vegas, USA - April 16, 2012 - Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Cinema Camera, a revolutionary digital cinema camera design that includes powerful features such as super wide 13 stops of dynamic range, high resolution 2.5K sensor, built in high bandwidth SSD recorder, open file format support, color correction with full version of DaVinci Resolve and a built in LCD with metadata entry, all in an attractive compact design for only US$2,995.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2012 booth at #SL220.
Many current generation video cameras suffer from a "video look" due to a limited contrast range, a maximum HD resolution sensor, poor quality optics and lenses, the use of heavy video compression for file recording and poor integration with NLE software metadata management. With these limitations, they cannot be used for high end work or feature films.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera has been designed to eliminate these problems so customers get a true feature film look, and at an affordable cost can shoot high end television commercials, episodic television programming and feature films.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera

Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a super wide 13 stops of dynamic range, large 2.5K sensor, a built in SSD recorder that has the bandwidth to capture open standard CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes and DNxHD files, a built in capacitive touch screen LCD for direct metadata entry, standard jack audio connections, built in high-speed Thunderbolt connection, 3 Gb/s SDI output, a refrigerated sensor for low noise, and is fully compatible with extremely high quality Canon EF and Zeiss ZF mount lenses.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera also includes a full copy of DaVinci Resolve for color correction and Blackmagic UltraScope software for waveform monitoring. UltraScope can be run on a laptop connected to the camera via a Thunderbolt connection.
One of the most important features of the camera is its super wide dynamic range of 13 stops, allowing feature film quality images. Commonly people focus on more pixels, however often this just creates a higher resolution, but still "video" looking images that suffer from highlight and black clipping that limits details. Blackmagic Cinema Camera's wide dynamic range eliminates this problem and provides film quality with dramatically more detail retained in black and whites in the image. Once the shoot is complete, the included DaVinci Resolve color correction software can be used to adjust images and take advantage of this extra range in the images. The high quality EF and ZF lens compatibility also helps create sharp and cinematic images that look incredible.
To eliminate the damage that low bit depth and high compression video storage creates, Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a fast SSD recorder. The built in SSD recorder can record on fast solid state disks the full sensor detail in 12 bit Log RAW files in the open standard CinemaDNG format. These files can be read by all high end video software. The full 2.5K sensor data is stored in the files completely uncompressed because the SSD has the speed to store video data at the required rate. Then this high quality file can be color corrected on DaVinci Resolve for the same high quality result currently only possible on cameras costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera has been designed as the perfect companion to Final Cut Pro X and Avid Media Composer NLE software. Unlike other cameras, which require the use of custom video file formats that are not compatible with popular NLE software, often making the post production process a nightmare, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes absolutely no custom video file formats, and every file type included is open standard. It records into CinemaDNG format for RAW files, ProRes and DNxHD for HD resolution files compatible with Final Cut Pro X and Avid Media Composer.
The built in large LCD display makes focus easy, and allows playback of captured files. Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a built in microphone, as well as external jack based mic/line level balanced audio connections. When playing back recorded clips, a speaker is built in, and there is an included headphone socket, as well as embedded audio on the SDI output and Thunderbolt connection. The SDI output includes all camera data such as timecode, transport control, shutter angle, color temperature setting and ASA information overlaid in attractive anti aliased fonts.
For easy metadata entry, the built in LCD features fast and responsive capacitive touch screen technology. When the user taps the display with a finger, a data entry window called the "slate" appears. This lets the user enter shot information just like typing on a smart phone. This data is then stored in the files so can be accessed by NLE software when editing content later. Metadata is compatible with popular software such as Final Cut Pro X and DaVinci Resolve. All camera settings can be changed on this touch LCD, such as frame rate, shutter angle, color temperature, dynamic range, focus assist settings and more.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes an innovative industrial design built from solid machined aluminum metal which results in an attractive but rugged design. All of the camera, recorder and display have been shrunk down into a lightweight design thats very portable.
"This is one of the most exciting products we have ever created and its been a work in progress for a very long time," said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. "Ever since I was a telecine engineer back in the 1990's I have wished that video cameras would include features that allowed them to perform creatively similar to film. However current digital cameras are too heavy, way too expensive and need costly accessories to work. We felt there was a need for a camera that delivered these features in a design that's optimized for professional video shoots, as well as being a compact, elegant design that's easily affordable. We think we have achieved that!"

Blackmagic Cinema Camera Key Features

• High resolution 2.5K sensor allows improved anti aliasing and reframing shots.
• Super wide 13 stops of dynamic range allows capture of increased details for feature film look.
• Built in SSD allows high bandwidth recording of RAW video and long duration compressed video.
• Open file formats compatible with popular NLE software such as CinemaDNG 12 bit RAW, Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD. No custom file formats.
• Includes no custom connections. Standard jack mic/line audio in, BNC 3 Gb/s SDI out, headphone, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, LANC remote control and standard DC 12-30V power connection.
• Capacitive touch screen LCD for camera settings and slate metadata entry.
• Compatible with extremely high quality Canon EF and Zeiss ZF lenses.
• Supports 2.5K and 1080HD resolution capture in 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps.
• Thunderbolt connection allows direct camera capture via included Media Express software and supports live waveform monitoring via the included Blackmagic UltraScope software.
• Includes a full copy of DaVinci Resolve 9.0 color grading software.

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Cinema Camera will be available July 2012 for A$3195 inc GST from Videoguys Australia.

See web link:  http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/25633/blackmagic-design-cinema-camera-cinecam26kef.html

Videoguys Australia has been serving the Pro video and Pro Video markets for more than 14 years. Through all those years our goal has been to earn the trust of our customers and provide them with sound, solid advice.

New NXCAM Super 35mm sensor camcorder and the world’s first rain and dust-proof camcorder launched to the professional market.

Sydney – 23 March 2011: Sony today revealed two new professional camcorders in the NXCAM™ line-up based on extensive customer feedback. The NEX-FS100P is a new E-mount professional camcorder equipped with a Super 35mm sensor and is a further addition to Sony‟s 35mm line-up. The HXR-NX70P is the worlds first rain and dust-proof professional HD camcorder and is ideal for use in unforgiving environments. Sony‟s expanding NXCAM line-up, including the existing HXR-NX5P, provides a superb solution to many shooting applications.

 

The NEX-FS100P – Digital Super 35mm made accessible
Originally announced in November 2010, Sony can now reveal the full specifications of the new NEX-FS100P. The NEX-FS100P is equipped with an “Exmor” Super 35 CMOS sensor specifically designed for shooting moving pictures, ideal for commercials, corporate and music videos, as well as action scenes in budget drama for example. This high sensitivity, large format sensor is capable of producing footage with shallow depth of field similar to that of a film camera for a new level of creative expression. The sensor also features the optimum effective pixel count for shooting HD moving images. At a high 50fps in all-pixel scan mode, this allows images to be captured with less colour aliasing, jaggedness and rolling shutter effect than typically experienced with DSLR cameras, while providing the sensitivity to shoot at a minimum illumination of 0.28lux*1. Another advantage of "Exmor" technology is minimal noise when shooting low-light scenes.

The SEL18200 lens supplied with the NEX-FS100PK enables shooting in illumination as low as 1.5lux when using a fixed shutter speed of 1/25, auto gain and auto iris.

“The NEX-FS100P NXCAM Super 35mm camcorder enables budget content creators and videographers to experience a new level of creative expression” said Nick Buchner, Senior Product Manager, Professional Solutions Division, Sony Australia and New Zealand. “Sony has responded to professional user feedback to create this new camcorder with a powerful feature set and an ergonomically designed body and accessories offering real flexibility in use.”

 

The NEX-FS100P adopts the Sony E-mount interchangeable lens system. Its very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) allows various Sony A-mount lenses to also be fitted via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). It is also possible to attach a huge range of other lenses, using third-party mount adaptors*2. With such flexibility, users will be able to experiment with numerous creative options by exploiting the characteristics of different optics. The NEX-FS100PK lens kit model comes supplied with the E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS zoom Lens which gives users optical SteadyShot™ and auto focus. The NEX-FS100P accepts affordable and readily available Memory Stick PRO Duo™ or SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. It is capable of recording images at various frame rates providing the added creative freedom of Slow and Quick motion in full HD. The camera operator can simply adjust the frame rate without using converters or editing software. The grip, handle and hybrid LCD viewfinder are detachable also making it ideal for handheld scenes and shooting in confined locations.

The HXR-NX70P – World first dust-proof and rain-proof professional HD camcorder
Sony has created the HXR-NX70P, an ultra-compact camcorder that allows journalists and filmmakers to not only capture footage in rain and dust conditions, but also store it on a 96GB internal memory.
Nick Buchner, Senior Product Manager, Professional Solutions Division, Sony Australia and New Zealand, commented: “Journalists and filmmakers will travel to some of the most remote and dangerous locations in pursuit of a story. We wanted to respond with a camcorder that, like them, can stand up to the rigours of the world‟s most challenging conditions. The internal memory feature will be a huge benefit to these types of users, as when you are miles from anywhere, you don‟t want to be worrying about having to find an extra memory card!”

The main unit of the HXR-NX70P has been proven to reach dust-proof and rain-proof performance requirements specified by IEC60529 IP54. Sudden rain or dust will not affect the operation of the camcorder, making the HXR-NX70P ideal for the most inhospitable of environments.
The HXR-NX70P incorporates an “Exmor R” CMOS sensor to deliver superior quality low-light footage and enhanced manual controls give the precision journalists need for shooting professional quality HD content. CinemaTone technology captures stunning footage with deeper, more film-like colour tones and the wide angle Sony G lens can take in more of the action with sharp images and brilliant, accurate colour. The optical SteadyShot image stabilisation with Active Mode also compensates for greater degrees of camera shake than ever before to deliver smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto perspectives. A built in GPS receiver makes the HXR-NX70P an ideal choice for journalists and documentary makers as it gives them the ability to „geotag‟ footage when on location.

 

The NEX-FS100P and PK version and the HXR-NX70P are tentatively expected to be available from July.