It seems like in trying to reach out to more than just professional editors, Final Cut Pro X might have lost their main clientele of professional editors. Released in late June 2011, some are calling FCP X Apple’s biggest mistake
It’s not that the software has bugs (...
Filmworks Manufacturing has been in existence since 2003 for all repairs, refurbishments, upgrades, designing and manufacturing of all Film equipment in the motion picture, television and theatrical industries.
Filmworks is involved in the full spectrum of Grip, Lighting, Specialized equi...
Charles Maxwell is an experienced underwater cinematographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Charles has been a keen diver and lover of the marine environment for 40 years. He began a career in underwater cinematography in 1987 when he assisted French Television in filming Le Souffle du ...
Letus Ultimate 35mm Lens Adaptor
The LETUS35 Ultimate Adapter Kit makes it possible to use 35mm camera lenses on Video Cameras. This adapter allows the video camera to have access to prime lenses that create a shallow depth of field. This adaptor can be used on the SONY PMW EX 1 XDCAM, P...
Full-HD Camcorder With SxS PRO Recording and interchangeable lenses.
Overview
The SONY PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX offers all the great features of the SONY PMW-EX1XDCAM EX in a new semi-shoulder design. In addition to this new design the camcorder also features an interchangeable lens system, genlock, ti...
XDCAM EX - New Generation HD Recording System.
Overview
SONY PMW-EX30 - XDCAM EX New Generation HD Recording System. Offering two SxS PRO memory card slots, a 3.5inch high resolution LCD screen and a wide range of analogue and digital interfaces including HD-SDI input, the PMW-EX30 has been...
Fully solid-state P2 HD handheld camcorder.
Overview
The Panasonic HPX171 is equipped with three advanced 1/3-inch 16:9 CCDs and a high-performance digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing to deliver broadcast-quality, independent frame recordings. The Panasonic ...
Panasonic AJ-HPX3700
Full HD P2 Varicam with 100Mb/s DVCPROHD and AVC Intra recording.
Overview
The Panasonic VariCam 3700 is the new flagship camcorder from Panasonic Broadcast, offering full native 1080 x 1920-pixel acquisition and independent frame recording with 10-bit/4:2:2 sampling. The P...
SD/HD 2/3inch P2 solid state Varicam.
Overview
A fully solid-state implementation of the highly regarded DVCPRO HD VariCam, the Panasonic VariCam 2700 offers 2/3-inch native HD resolution 3-CCDs and produces cinema-quality, independent frame, 1080 and 720 images with 4:2:2 10-bit sampling in AVC...
This revolutionary camcorder is available now for Hire and Demonstration…
PMW-EX1 Camcorder Guide (PDF)
The SONY PMW-EX1 is the first in a new range of professional HD products which record onto memory-based SxS ExpressCard media. Designed from the ground up to exploit the u...
Next Generation of HDV products from Sony
Sony have announced their latest generation of HDVT production technologies which includes two new camcordersthat feature interchangeable lens systems, native progressive recording capabilities, increased sensitivity for low-light conditions, hybrid so...
Award winning LCD Monitor
With unprecedented performance and accuracy rivalling the best CRT monitors, the new BVM-L230 displays Full-HD Native 1080 x 1920 resolution. The LCD screen has a high frame rate capability and a 10-bit driver for smooth greyscale and colour transitions. It also benefits...
Just what we needed, another new camcorder from Sony and with a confusing product code to boot ! The HDW-790P (not to be confused with the DVW-790WSP) was launched by Sony at NAB this year. It records HDCAM pictures in either 1080/50i interlace or 1080/25P progressive modes and uses three 2.2 millio...
At Last a LCD monitor that looks as good as a CRT !!
Sony redesigns and expands its range of LMD professional video monitors at NAB 2007 with the launch of four one-piece models. BVM-L230 breaks industry ground in post-broadcast productions; LMD-2450W and LMD-2050W offer multi-format signal capa...
The Panasonic AJ-HDX900 produces the high-quality HD content that's in growing demand as HD production and broadcasting continue to expand worldwide. This new camera-recorder uses the DVCPRO HD format, with its long track record and proven reliability in broadcast use. Able to recor...
HDW-790P For 2007, SONY has introduced the HDW-790P, the successor model to the HDW-750P. This new camcorder records pictures in either 1080/50i interlace or 1080/25P progressive modes, and joins the SONY HDW-730S and SONY HDW-F900R in the HDCAM line-up.
Overview The SONY HDW-790P features an ext...
Visual Impact / 422 Solutions
LTO4 Package
Overview
Acquiring tapeless media has significantly increased workflow turnarounds within the film and television industry, however it has also opened up a sign...
subheadgreytext">Sony'snew flagship CineAlta camera the F23
SONY has launched the SONY F23, the newest member of the CineAlta™ range of digital 24P systems which supports 4:4:4 1080 x 1920 RGB imaging. Developed following feedback from production professionals in digital television a...
When Visual Impact, HDHub and Sony launched the Sony HVR Z7E camera they did comprehensive tests to evaluate the camera. It was the world first 1/3 inch sensor camera with interchangeable lenses.
Latitude, Gain and noise was analysed using a Sony lightbox, Macbeth colour chart and Astro waveform ...
Arri D-20, SONY F900 HDCAM, SONY HDW-750 HDCAM, SONY PDW-350 XDCAM HD,Panasonic HVX-200, SONY HVR V1E, SONY PMW EX-1 XDCAM EX
On 17 & 18 Feb Visual Impact, Cine HD and Media Film Services got together in the Media Hive Studio in Cape to start shooting comprehensive camera and format compariti...
MAGUS UNDERWATER SERVICE
Magus Visual in partnership with Charles Maxwell (Underwater Video Services), the award winning underwater cameraman from 'The Blue Planet, produced by the BBC / Discovery Channel is offering a comprehensive underwater digital service in South Africa.
We offer camera ope...
The 'Sony HVR-Z1E'
Sony Seem to have done it again! The HVR-Z1E or Z1 as it is now known, is taking the world by storm with over three thousand units sold by NAB. This is the third palm size Hi definition camcorder to hit the streets, behind the JVC HD-10(a 60i only camera) and Sony's own domesti...
The 'Panasonic AG-DVX100 DV Camcorder'
Panasonic AG-DVX100 masters progressive production. The view from the front line.
Many producers, directors and cameramen have long been looking for a DV camcorder that allows the look and feel of regularly broadcast formats. In the past Mini DV cameras hav...
XDCAM EX camcorder - Key Concepts and Camera comparisons (PDF)
The first camera in the XDCAM EX range, the SONY PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX camcorder employs 3 x " CMOS sensors with 1080x1920 pixels capturing native 1920x1080i/P and and 1280x720P formats in 35Mbps (HQ mode), and 1440x1080 in 2...
The 'HDV HandyCam' HDR-FX1E (Domestic)
At Last It's Here !
The Mini DV/HDV 1080i Camcorder.
What will it do for you? Well give you an ache in the wrist as it’s quite a large bulky camera, but allow you to achieve High Definition (HDV format) at a fraction of the cost.
Other than that you...
The 'J-SERIES Enhancements'
SONY ENHANCES J-SERIES OF COMPACT VIDEOTAPE PLAYERS WITH i.LINK IEEE-1394 INTERFACE AN TIME CODE
We now have our answer, there is a J3 replacement. SONY has added Firewire and time code outputs to bring the standard definition machine in to line with the HD vers...
The SONY HDW-730 S
The HD for SDTV high definition camcorder.
Small lightweight news & documentary camera in the same vein as a SONY DNW 9 WSP or SONY BVW 400 AP in that the camera has a single filter wheel instead of split Colour Correction and ND filters.
The SONY HDW 730 S an IT CCD bloc...
The SONY DVW-M 2000 P
The NEW Digital Betacam Recorder with Multi-Format playback Including; Optional High Definition Up-Conversion.
Size
It's smaller and lighter than a DVW-A500P which helps for any rental company as it's not a back breaker to lug around.
Multi-Format
The SONY DVW-M2000P wil...
Durban Wild Talk Africa is an international film festival and conference which takes place annually in Durban, South Africa. It attracts the global wildlife, travel and cultural filmmaking industry by offering a forum for networking, debating and negotiating with commissioning editors, distributors ...
What every cameraman and assistant should know or Guidelines for Camera Gear check procedures:
The camera term gear check refers to the procedure of checking the equipment rented from a hire company in advance to avoid embarrassing and costly delays on set.
There are variations in the process depe...
Do you have pixel errors on your camcorder? Then don't worry all is not lost.
Most Broadcast and Professional camcorders have built in pixel correction circuits. These are activated by black balancing the camcorder.
If you want to check your camcorder warm the unit up by leaving it switched on f...
These stills taken on the HD feature "Promised Land" shot in South Africa prove to demonstrate the value that an engineer or digital grader can add to a production.
The visual tools of digital cinematography aim to support and magnify the underlying psychological message the director and DOP are tr...
The NEW Sony XDCAM Line Up
Professional Digital Disks have arrived..!
Write to Disk not Tape with all the speed and flexibility. Down load faster than real time using standard network connections. Write text and EDLs back to disk. No need to re-record picture and sound data. This means th...
The Data Video Hard Disk Recorder and Intervelometer.
True time lapse recording, using Data video's hard disk recorder and intervelometer.
At visuals (Broadcast Equipment) we are constantly asked for an inexpensive quality time lapse recording system and up to now our only solution has been either...
The NEW Sony DSR PD 170P
The DSR PD 170 P has arrived..!
Essentially there is not much difference between the PD 150 and the PD 170.
Zoom on the handle with a slow and slower zoom, not much help and not programmable.
Larger handle on the top of the camera, It is more comfortable.
Focus wheel ...
Insure the camera menu has been preset by the hire company to factory condition before performing the following checks.
The check list is a guide only; any queries should be addressed to the Hire Company supplying the equipment.
Checks with Production and Post Production.
Check with production an...
HD tips and grading in camera.
It is important to consult your camera hire facility before you start the production.Great care must be taken when manipulating the camera menu.Factory shipped menu has an all round nice set-up, this will allow reasonable Post grading of the pictures.
There are set...
Neil ThompsonImage Creation GroupSony Broadcast & Professional UKJuly 1999
1 Introduction
This guide aims to provide some of the information not covered in the user manual relating to the set-up menus in the new Sony '700 series Digital Betacam camcorders. Some recommended menu settings are ...
There can be a lot of confusion surrounding the set up of audio with respect to both analogue and digital video tape recorders. This is mainly for the analogue interfaces and the meter 0 reference points. To simplify the situation, the subject should be broken down in to two areas.
(i) Firstly,, th...
Get the most from your equipment on location.
Original Picture.
Shadow detail decreased by 15%.
Shadow detail decreased by 20%.
Shadow detail decreased by 35%.
Shadow detail increased by 25%.
Shadow detail increased by 50%.
&nb...
The Panasonic DVX 100 P
As far as DV based cameras go this is a nifty little beast. It almost has everything.
DV recording 25 fps Progressive (similar to film motion). 25 fps Interlaced (50i Same as PAL TV). Pre-settable Timecode. Clear scan eliminating the flicker on screens (most freq) Ga...
The Sony HDW 750 P.
We found after testing that this is a very nice camera.
It shoots 25 PsF or 50i @ 1080 x 1920.
The camera is smaller and lighter than the Sony F900 with option to put a radio mic or sandwiches in rear slot. One of the features we really like are the board options.
Picture C...
Painting the Image(PD 150 or VX 2000)
Treat the camera as tungsten film 3200 K. (The daylight temperature is 5800 K) Go to the custom preset menu (back of the handle) and change the sharpness (detail) -2 change the saturation (colour) to -3 then on the white balance change to preset 3200k (set to...
The Digital Film Camera
HDTV (High Definition)
The Digital Film Camera - Take a look at our latest HD shoot in South Africa "The Promised Land"
High definition is the closest digital format to film we have at the moment.
The format delivers 1125 by 1920 pixels per line (active pixels 1080 vert...
OK Kids...Here's the low-down.
There is a lot of confusion surrounding wide screen, but if you look at it carefully it's fairly simple if you have a tall forehead and a PhD behind your name.please use links for specs and confusion.
The Dirt
If you are going to shoot a ...
Small, soft, fast, cheap, DV cameras along with various options to edit your stuff.
No one can argue the price to image quality ratio is excellent.
Tape stock is cheap and small, you could have a box of 5 in your pocket and you would not feel it.
Shooting abroad
Lots of production people take ...
The 'J3 Viewing Bay' trolley
With the release of the J-range of machines from SONY and in particular the J-3, valuable desk space everywhere has been set free.
It has even allowed us at Visual Impact to provide Digibeta play back from a viewing trolley which hasn’t used a combination of RS...
But it doesn't look like film...so what, here is a surprise...it's not film!
Dynamic Range, Latitude, highlight-handling VIDEO, is it that bad?
This technology needs to be embraced and used to its best ability.
There are numerous ways to achieve fantastic "looks" on Digital Tape be it High Defi...
First, be prepared to a slower working condition, everything slows down when it gets cold.
Film gets very brittle and razor sharp. Load magazines in warm condition if possible. If possible, 35mm cameras need to be loaded in warm conditions; otherwise a lot of patience is needed if they are loaded...
The Multi Camera PPU
High Quality professional multi camera PPU at Visual Impact is based on the TX7 triax systems.
The most frequently hired system is shown below but both smaller and larger kits are available on request.
We have listed below the most commonly requested Multi camera PPU set up...
The Multi Camera PPU
High Quality professional multi camera PPU at Visual Impact is based on the TX7 triax systems.
The most frequently hired system is shown below but both smaller and larger kits are available on request.
We have listed below the most commonly requested Multi camera PPU set up...
An Introduction to High Definition.
What is HD?
Hi Definition (HD) is not film. HD is a new tool in the palette available to Cinematographers.
Hi Definition is the closest digital format to film we have at the moment. The format delivers 1125 by 1920 pixels per line (active pixels of 1080 vertica...
Lens future proof.
Yes that is a HD lens on a DVW 790 WSP.
Looking at the Canon HD 16x8 and the 21x7.8mm lenses on HD is sort of standard.
We checked the HD lenses on the DVW 790 WSP, there is a resolution difference.
Nothing great and out of this world but it is sharper.
We also checked the ...
MSW 2000P IMX Edit Recorder
The most Flexible NLE Source VTR.
At Last one Machine for all Beta half inch Tapes.
The IMX VTR is the most cost effective and versatile non-linear source machine to date.
Playing your old SP archive into your NLE in SDI form, maintaining the original quality.
If y...
MSW 900P MPEG IMX Digital Camcorder
The New SONY 900 progressive camcorder, not the SONY F900 HD, this is the PAL (625) progressive or interlaced, 16:9 or 4:3 camcorder with 2/3” chip and more resolving power than a SONY DVW 790! but its MPEG II @ ML (4:2:2,50 Mbits) so bit rate is not as g...
The 'Sony DSR-450WSP Camcorder'
In 2008 Sony stopped production of the hugely popular DSR-570WSP, leaving the popular middle ground market in a state of flux. Fear not, as the long awaited replacement camera has arrived.
Designed to be kind to the planet, the new 'green' DVCAM widescreen camcord...
The 'AV Bridge'
Aspect Ratio Conversion, Frame Synchronisation, Standards Conversion, Detail Enhancement and Audio Processing.
The 'AV Bridge' not perhaps the best product name when the product is aimed at the broadcast market, and at Approx. R225 000 fully loaded (price subjected to change, exc...
The DSR-570WSP Sony's DV-CAM camcorder.
The DSR-570WSP Sony's DV-CAM camcorder which supersedes the DSR-500WSP has a hidden secret. At first glance the new camera's only difference is it's blue rinse! Sony has ditched the grey for a subtle dark blue metallic paint job.
Looking closer there are ...
Key Features(PVM-L2300, PVM L2300,PVML2300)
Key Features(PVM-L2300, PVM L2300,PVML2300)
• 12 Bit Display Engine
• Wide CCFL backlight
• High Quality I/P conversion
• Pricing: £9,500 UK List Tentative
• Availability: March 2009
The SONY BVM-L170 reference LCD monitor extends the multiple award winning technology of the SONY BVM-L230to a 17-inch screen size and is the first in the range that can be powered with 24V DC - allowing outdoor operation.
SONY BVM-L Series reference LCD monitors supersede the acclaimed Sony BVM-...
HVR-MRC1K (HVR MRC1K, MRC1K)
Key Features
• Compact Flash recoder
• Docks directly onto HVR-Z5E, HVR-Z7E, HVR-S270E
• Connects to other cameras via i.LINK
• Can record SD or HD while camera records HD to tape
• Support for “133x” + faster Compact Flash...
HVR-Z5E vs HVR-Z1E
Compare the new HVR-Z5E with its famous predecessor.
• Sensor: 3x 1/3“ ClearVid CMOS Sensor with Exmor Minimum illumination 1.5lux
• Lens: Fixed 20x zoom Sony “G” Lens
• HYBRID: Yes - CF memory recorder optional
• Progressive: True PR...
SRW-5100(SRW 5100, SRW5100)
Compare the new HVR-Z5E with its famous predecessor.
Key Feartures(SRW-5100, SRW 5100, SRW5100)
• HKSR-5001 Format Converter
• HKSR-5802 Digital Betacam & HDCAM PB
• HKSR-5103 880Mbps and RGB PB£TBC
• HKSR-5105 HDMI/i.LINK O/P &poun...
F35
Key Feartures(F35)
• Uses a single large CCD sensor with an RGB stripe filter.
• Only one CCD, but 3 x as many pixels.
• Resolution similar to F23.
• PL lens mount
• Sensor size similar to 35mm film
• Depth of field therefore similar to 35mm film
&...
Key Feartures(HDW-650P, HDW 650P, HDW650P)
• 2/3-inch HD 3x PowerHAD FX™ CCD
• 14-Bit A/D Converter
• 1080 @ 25p & 50i
• D/C, Pic Cache& Slow Shutter as standard
- Pricing: £26,180.00 UK List Tentative
- Availability: October 2008
Overview(HVR-Z5E, HVR Z5E, HVRZ5E)
This exciting new camcorder from Sony will be launched at IBC this week; it has many new features and is well positioned within their HDV range of ‘hybrid’ camcorders. Basic details and features are below, but if you want to be one of the fir...
Anything Goes!!
The Universal Interfacing Solution.By Bob Wright - Video International
The Problem
In the modern broadcast and facilities environment there are a multitude of interfacing problems. There are so many old and new video formats to deal with that interfacing between different format...
BBC WiScape WiCam Digital Radio Camera Systems
BBC WiScape is changing the way broadcasters view the business of capturing the action from news and sporting events.
With our WiCam family of digital radio camera systems, WiScape offers a comprehensive solution to deliver high-quality footage whic...
