Tag Archives: professional

Lytro Illum Camera Refocuses on the High End

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When the first Lytro camera was announced, it looked pretty cute, but it was impractical because of its limited options. It was basically just a plaything. Now, however, Lytro wants to change this with the release of a camera designed for professional and prosumer shooters.

lytro illum light field cameramagnify

The Lytro Illum captures photos as an interactive window, instead of just a static cross-section of reality. It comes with a 40-”megaray” light field sensor, almost four times the resolution of the original Lytro. Below is a sample of some interactive images shot with the camera. Be sure to click around to see how the refocusing feature works:

The new camera has also got a 30-250mm 8x optical zoom lens, a constant f/2.0 aperture, and a high-speed shutter, which is capable of freezing motion under a variety of different circumstances. Sounds intriguing.

lytro illum backmagnify

After capture, you can adjust aspects of images that are usually fixed, like focus, tilt, perspective shift, and depth of field. The Illum will be launched this July for $1,599(USD), and you can pre-order one now over on the Lytro website at an introductory price of $1,499, with just $250 down.

lytro illum sidemagnify

The guys at VentureBeat spent some time with Lytro CEO Dr. Ren Ng to get a demonstration of the Lytro Illum, and shared this video of the interview:

[via FStoppers]

Sony offers pro 4K camcorder for $6,500: the PXW-Z100 with 10-bit, 600Mbps video

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Sony announces $6,500 PXWZ100 4K camcorder with 10bit, 600Mbps video

Other than a smallish 1/2.3-inch sensor, Sony's new PXW-Z100 4K camcorder should push all the right buttons for pro shooters. Though it shares a sensor (and body) with the newly launched FDR-AX1 prosumer model, everything is upmarket from there. It'll record 4:2:2 10-bit (billions of colors) 4K video at up to 500/600Mbps at 50p/60p using its new XAVC format and high-speed XQD memory cards. By contrast, the FDR-AX1 uses XAVC-S, capturing 60fps 4K at 150Mbps in 4:2:0 8-bit color. HD is also recorded at 10-bit at a healthy 233Mbps for 50 or 60 fps video, compared to 50Mbps for its prosumer cousin. You'll be able to output 4K video at up to 60fps via HDMI to a compatible BRAVIA monitor, and a remote control WiFi adaptor is included. All that's missing is the shallow depth of field you'd get with a larger sensor -- but a lot of shooters are so over that.

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Via: NoFilmSchool

Source: Sony

Apple debuts Logic Pro X with redesigned interface, new Drummer feature

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Apple debuts Logic Pro X with redesigned interface, new Drummer feature

Logic Pro faces some stiff competition from the likes of Pro Tools, but Apple's hoping to bring a few more music professionals into its camp with a fairly major revision of the software. Available today for $200, Logic Pro X brings with it a whole new interface that Apple's Phil Schiller says is "designed to streamline the process of creating professional quality music," along with a number of new features. Those include Drummer, which draws on performances of some well-known session players and recording engineers to provide realistic drum tracks, as well as Waves Tune-style pitch editing with Flex Pitch, Track Stacks to collapse multiple tracks or create layered instruments, and the Arpeggiator MIDI plug-in. Also launching today is the free Logic Remote app for iPad, and a major update to the Main Stage live performance application (it will set you back $30). Additional details can be found in the press release after the break.

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Source: Apple

Canon outs VIXIA HF G30 camcorder with premium optics, XA20 and XA25 for pros (updated)

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Canon outs VIXIA HF G30 camcorder with WiFi Remote, XA20 and XA25 for pros

While the image of the amateur camcorder user still revolves around a parent recording baby's first steps, Canon knows that at least some of us want high-quality footage without venturing too far into pro camera territory. Witness its new VIXIA HF G30, which rolls in image quality and control that are still rare outside of big shoulder-mounted cams. It includes a larger CMOS sensor than its ancestors, a new DIGIC DV 4 processor and an equally fresh 20X (26.8-536mm equivalent), f/1.8 lens; together, they should cut back on visual artifacts, improve stabilization and produce a gentler depth of field effect. Canon is also expanding its WiFi support to include DSLR-like remote control of the camcorder through the web browsers of most modern devices. The upgrade rounds out with a handful of firsts specific to the G series, such as dual recording in AVCHD and MP4 as well as a 3.5-inch, OLED touchscreen. Be prepared to sacrifice some time and money for the upgrade in home video quality, though -- Canon doesn't ship the HF G30 until June, when it will cost a not-quite-pro-level $1,700.

If you really do make a living from moving pictures, Canon also has a pair of compact pro models that share the same underlying technology. Both the XA20 and XA25 (pictured after the break) carry the same 20X lens, DIGIC DV 4 processing, WiFi and OLED display as their home-oriented cousin, but throw in pro-level expansion such as XLR microphone inputs and holders, independent audio level adjustment and (on the XA25) SDI connectors. The two will ship later in June and should carry premiums that lift their official prices up to $2,699 and $3,199, although we're seeing them on Canon's site for $500 less -- we've reached out and will let you know how much they cost in practice.

Update: Canon tells us that the real pricing sits in between. The XA20 will cost $2,499, while it will take $2,999 to call an XA25 your own.

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Source: Canon (1), (2), (3)

YouTube partners with vendors for paid translation service

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YouTube partners with vendors for paid translation services to 36 languages

Last year, Google began offering a "request translation" option for YouTube, letting you or others muddle your way through video caption creation. If you don't want to leave it up to strangers or the vagaries of machine translation, Mountain View's now offering paid, professional services through two outfits, Gengo and Translated.net, in 36 languages. Once you've created your video and added a caption track, you'll be able to see an estimated price and create an order, after which your vendor of choice will send the translation directly to YouTube. Once approved, it'll be live on the site, ensuring no misunderstandings of your latest opus.

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Source: Creator's blog

Sony unveils price for PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 CinaAlta 4K camcorders

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Sony unveils price, footage for PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 CinaAlta 4K camcorders

Looking for a hearty new camera rig to spice up your next indie film? Start saving: Sony finally went live with pricing for its PMW-F5 and PMW-F55 CineAlta PL-mount cameras. Following an LA screening of professionally shot 4K and HD footage, Sony mentioned that the high-end camcorders can be had for $34,900 and $19,400, respectively. The steeper priced PMW-F55 has a sharper edge, of course, and can natively shoot 4K, 2K or HD footage through a global shutter. The (comparatively) less expensive F5 can handle 4K video too, but needs the help of the AXS-R5 RAW recorder (a $6,300 add-on) to pull it off -- it also has a narrower color gamut and a rolling shutter. Roll on past the break for a full list of prices and accessories.

Continue reading Sony unveils price for PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 CinaAlta 4K camcorders

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Sharp’s first 4K 32-inch IGZO LCD is destined for Japanese workstations

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Sharp's first 4K 32inch IGZO LCD is destined for Japanese workstations

We've been waiting to enjoy the promised extra detail and low power consumption of IGZO-based LCD panels for a few years now, and they're finally starting to appear. The latest on the docket is Sharp's new PN-K321 monitor, built for professional use with 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) plus HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and what Sharp claims is the industry's thinnest frame at just 35mm thick. With an expected price of 450,000 yen or so (about $5,500 US) when it debuts in February 2013 it's still too pricey for our desks but if you're doing CAD work you may be able to design a budget it can fit into. We're seeing them in phones, tablets and now monitors overseas, here's hoping we'll see plenty of these high pixel density yet power-sipping panels with US release dates at CES in January.

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Source: Sharp Japan

Panasonic launches tweaked AG-AF105A MFT pro camcorder with 10-bit HD video

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Panasonic launches AGAF105A tweaked pro camcorder with 10bit video output

Panasonic has just launched the AG-AF105A pro camcorder, an updated version of the AG-AF105 model, and for lovers of fine color gamut, there's good news. You can now output 10-bit HD video through the live view SDI port to an external recorder, boosting the color range to a billion hues and 1024 shades of grey. That addresses one of the main gripes with the previous $6k, 8-bit camcorder: it had to live in a world of Red Scarlets and Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera MFTs, which already have deep color. The revised model also brings a new PS recording mode with 25Mbps data rate, full HD progressive modes (1080/60p, 1080/50p), higher fidelity 16 bit LPCM audio and enlarged focus assist. It'll hit shelves on November 15th in Japan (there's no mention of an international date yet) with pricing up to the dealer, so sharpen up those haggling skills if you want one.

Continue reading Panasonic launches tweaked AG-AF105A MFT pro camcorder with 10-bit HD video

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Panasonic launches tweaked AG-AF105A MFT pro camcorder with 10-bit HD video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony goes Red-hunting with PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 pro CineAlta 4K Super 35mm sensor camcorders

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Sony goes Redhunting with PMWF55 and PMWF5 pro CineAlta 4K Super 35mm sensor camcorders

Having seen some of its high-end cinema camera thunder stolen by the likes of Red and Arri, Sony has just launched a pair of CineAlta PL-mount cameras with brand new Super 35mm sensors: The PMW-F5 and PMW-F55. Though both pack 4K CMOS imagers, there are some major differences -- the higher-end PMW-F55 has a global shutter, wider color gamut and can capture 4k, 2k or HD video internally, while the PMW-F5 records 2k and HD natively with a rolling shutter (4k requires an optional RAW recorder, as discussed below).

Depending on the level of quality you want, there are several ways to capture video to each camcorder. MPEG-4 H.264 video or Sony's SR MPEG-4 SStP can be recorded onto Sony's new SxS PRO+ media, or if RAW quality is desired, there's the new AXS-R5 Access Memory System for 2K / 4K RAW capture -- which will also work with the current NEX-FS700. Using the latter system, the PMW-F5 is capable of grabbing up to 120fps slow motion RAW HD video, while the PMW-F55 can capture 240fps at 2k, putting it squarely in Epic-X territory. The new camcorders will arrive in February 2013, and while Sony hasn't outed pricing yet, it'll likely be well under the flagship 4k CineAlta F65's formidable $65k sticker. Check the PR after the break to get the entire technical skinny.

Gallery: Sony F5 / F55 pro camcorders

Sony F5 / F55 pro camcorders

Continue reading Sony goes Red-hunting with PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 pro CineAlta 4K Super 35mm sensor camcorders

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Sony goes Red-hunting with PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 pro CineAlta 4K Super 35mm sensor camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony teases ‘4K, HFR’ F-series pro camcorder for October 30th event

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Sony teases '4K, HFR' F-series pro camcorder for October 30th event

Sony recently teased its high-end CineAlta brand and 'TheNewF,' implying a high-end PMW-F3-like camcorder could be coming at an October 30th event. It's now taken some of the suspense out of the announcement on Facebook, saying the upcoming camera will have 4k resolution, broadcast-level 50Mbps data rate, 4:2:2 color space and high frame-rates. That means it'll likely be a professional product on par with the last F-model, but we'll have to wait and see if it'll retain features like the PL lens mount and $16k price tag. We'll be there on the 30th for the full scoop, so stay tuned.

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Sony teases '4K, HFR' F-series pro camcorder for October 30th event originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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