Around NAB CoreMelt announced new plugin packages for FCP and After Effects Mac; ImageFlow Fx 1.12 and CoreMelt transitions. ImageFlow Fx is a set of plugins that deal specifically with still images. You can quickly created complex-looking animations and image manipulations without tedious keyframing. It comes with two free non-expiring plugins called “Continuous Random Pan” and “Filmstrip.” PolyChrome transitions is a 40-plugin package of 10-bit transitions with fine-grained control over parameters. The free trial also includes 4 freebies.

Since CoreMelt plugins are 10-bit, naturally they have written a few white papers on how to leverage these plugins and effects to complete 10-bit finishing workflows in Final Cut Pro. Here’s a writeup on how to finish Red Digital Cinema footage within FCP, retaining maximum color information. For more details on 10-bit codec and effects pitfalls, read this article.

Via Engadget: The ¥17,800 (about $175) DVR-BP features a 1-mm pinhole CMOS camera, mic, 2-hour battery, and 2GB of memory to store all your video deceit at 352 x 288 pixels.

Since it’s introduction several years ago, Redrock Micro has quietly continued to improve and update the MicroFollowFocus. We have previously reviewed the unit and reported on the improved gear lash, dampened wheel, and shaved-down rod support last year. I just got my hands on the latest Redrock Micro Follow Focus revision and noted that this update adds a stiffer support arm to add rigidity to the design. The arm is a thicker steel material, and rises at a 90-degree angle instead of the previous revision’s 45-degree riser. It is noticeably stiffer overall. And I was pleased to note that Redrock hasn’t changed the pricing with this latest update…the Follow Focus bundle with lens gears is still $645. Good form. More detail pictures of the new design below. Continue reading ‘Redrock Continues to Refine the MicroFollowFocus’

Need a sunshade or top flag for your camera, but not quite willing to jump into a full-featured mattebox solution? Here’s a Do It Yourself solution that works with camcorders equipped with a hard lens shade. With a little time, epoxy glue, a inexpensive universal shoe mount, and this el-cheapo french flag, you should be able to put something together without much hassle. Here are the full-size images and a few brief assembly notes. It’ll run you around $31 for the parts, before shipping. Not bad for a simple shade solution.

When Redrock Micro announced development of the MicroX flip unit for the M2 35mm adapter at NAB 2007, the online community was abuzz. Since then the market has been all about flip units; a properly oriented image is rapidly becoming the de-facto standard for 35mm lens adapters. Redrock was pretty quiet about the MicroX while it was in development, but we are happy to report that FreshDV has obtained new information, an exclusive image of the finished product, and a final ship date. With a debut price of $345 for M2 owners (must provide serial number) and $445 for 3rd-party adapter owners, the MicroX begins shipping on March 24th, 2008. Redrock claims the unit provides improved image and edge sharpness and a universal achromat for both SD and HD camcorders. The kit will include the following:

* The microX image flip accessory,
* A new high performance optical achromat designed specifically for the microX
* A riser plate for adjusting your existing microX rod support system to the correct height
* A newly designed reinforced hard mount kit that also provides a “lock down� once your microX is correctly configured
* Access to a step-by-step video tutorial on how to upgrade your system

Redrock has not recommended the MicroX for use with Sony HDV cameras with a filter size of 72mm+ (like the Z1, Z7, FX1, and EX1). A 2nd version of the MicroX is in development specifically for these camcorders, expect a release date to be announced soon. The MicroX is fine for use with the Sony V1, A1, and other - 72mm Sony HDV cameras. For more information on the MicroX, stay tuned at Redrock’s website.

Techthoughts has pointed out a handy little audio tool that can help save 3.5mm audio ports from death by cord snaggage. Whether it’s a laptop, camera headphone jack, or the front of your Mac tower, 1/8″ mini jacks can be particularly susceptible to damage when cords are accidentally yanked. We’ve all done it. The Replug device is a $18 break-way inline adapter that might just save your ports. Looks like a great solution to a common problem.

At long last Redrock Micro has announced a ship date for the MicroMattebox. They have stated that production units will start shipping on April 15th to the first 50 “ticket” reservation holders (I believe that means those who paid the deposit last fall), and remaining reservation holders would get “priority access and preferential pricing to the microMatteBox before it becomes generally available.”

Here’s my take on that; the demand for a relatively low-cost mattebox with this sort of featureset is undoubtedly very high, and has been for years thanks to the explosion of 35mm adapter use. Couple that with the fact that RED One reservations are currently being fulfilled and shipped at a high rate, and the spike of MicroMB orders that is likely to follow NAB 2008…what this adds up to is that Redrock Micro is going to be very busy getting these units out. Here’s hoping they hit their announced ship dates without any further delays. Final specs on the unit can be found here, it’s looking like a very well thought-out and useful mattebox design that offers a host of features previously unheard-of at this price-point.

UPDATE: Full reservation-holder pricing details and info from the press release can be found below: Continue reading ‘Redrock Announces MicroMattebox Ship Date’

“Annnnnnnnd wake!” This is pretty far off-topic, but I had to share it. The Directors Edition Digital Alarm Clock from ChinaVision is a digital clock designed to look like a high-end film slate. And yes, you mark the slate to stop the alarm. Sweet!

Specifications:
* 24 Hour Clock Display (Military Time), Hour, Minute, Second, Deci-Second Display
* Date Display (Day, Month, Year) 10 Minute Alarm Length
* Clapper Motion to End Alarm
* Built in Wall Mount and Destop Hinge
* Dimension: 185 x 225 x 26mm (LxWxD)

I must have one. Get yours here for $36. Oh, and a FreshDV t-shirt goes to the first person to hack the clock to display real data for use on-set.

(via PVC)

Sony’s HVR-Z7U is finally in stock at B&H, pre-orders should ship out in the order they were received. We have previously covered this camera thoroughly here. And if you’ve missed the first Z7U user reports you should definitely read the comments on this recent post, particularly in regards to it’s reported lack of rolling shutter vertical skew. That is good news indeed.

I just noticed that B&H dropped their price on the PMW-EX1 camcorder. It was previously listed at $6699.00 and has been recently reduced to $6,449.00 (and is currently marked “In Stock”). This is a great development for a camcorder that is still in high demand. New EX1 buyers should also remember to take advantage of the 8GB SxS card rebate (PDF) and also the EX1 + Accessories rebate. We’ve been been doing a series of EX1 reviews and tests, click on over for more info on our results.

The Sony HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U interchangeable-lens camcorders are two very interesting offerings for 2008. Offering 1080/24p HDV to tape as well as to CompactFlash media via an accessory recorder, they look to be a great way to bridge the gap between the reliability and simplicity of long-format tape production and the convenience of solid state media.

B&H is now accepting pre-orders on the Z7U, listed at $6,299.95. At this time you can also pre-order the S270U, listed at $9,299.95. As with the EX1 release you should note that orders will be filled in the order they are received. And as with the EX1 release, I anticipate an initial shortage of camcorders.

Both record 1080 HDV @ 24p and 30p via three 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS Exmor imagers with a claimed 1.5 lux rating. Other recording formats include 1080i, DVCAM, and DV. Both downconvert HD to SD via Firewire and can simultaneously record to CF card in either HDV or SD resolutions. Additional output options include HD-SDI/SD-SDI (with embedded audio and TC) on the S270U and uncompressed HDMI output on the Z7U. If you’d like to keep tabs on these two unique camcorders, watch our continuing coverage here.

Apple has announced updated MacPro computers with eight-core standard configurations and a new system architecture. The systems consist of two Quad-Core Xeon chips running at up to 3.2GHz. The case will handle up to 4TB of internal storage. No high-definition burner option from Apple yet. They state in HDV rendering tests that the new 8-core 3.2GHz Mac Pro is:

* Up to 1.8x faster than Power Mac G5 Quad
* Up to 1.4x faster than Mac Pro Quad-core 2.66GHz
* 1.2x faster than the previous-gen Mac Pro 8-core 3.0GHz

Stated performance gains are even higher for HDV Encoding, ProRes Rendering, ProRes Encoding, and AE CS3’s Nightflight benchmark. See for yourself here. The Apple Store is updating right now, but I imagine will repoen soon for those that are looking to upgrade soon. A standard eight-core config will cost $2799.

Thanks to a tip from Joel Peregrine, I just ran across the Modo Steady 585 multi-purpose device from Manfrotto. This thing is a very unique little stabilizer/tripod/gizmo for sub-2 lb camcorders. It weighs just over a lb and supports up to 1.7lb max capacity. You can use it as a “gliding” stabilizer (reminds me of the Steadicam Merlin), a chest brace, and in low and high tripod modes. There is a video of the Modo in action at modo.manfrotto.com.

Guess what killer camcorder weighs 1.2 lbs? Yup. The $689.95 Canon HV20. To enhance the gliding effect, pick up the Schneider Optics .55x Wide Angle Adapter. The lens weighs just 4.8 oz and can be reversed and used as a fisheye. Sweet! You’ll just need a 58mm-43mm ring to adapt it to the HV20.

A slightly cheaper (and much heavier at 1.1 lbs) option is Canon’s WDH43 0.7x WA lens for the HV20. Note that you would be technically overloading the Modo Steady device with this lens on the HV20. Since the lens reportedly weighs over a pound, I am unsure if it would work at all with the Modo Steady + HV20.

Sony’s whole-lotta-not-much camera in “professional” shoulder-configuration camouflage is in stock at B&H for $1600. Just in time for Christmas, kids!

We mentioned the paper launch back in August when real specs and numbers seemed shaky. Unfortunately, those specs don’t seem to have improved in the ensuing months. The HD1000U is still an uuuugly, underpowered 4 lux behemoth that looks walks and talks like a pro shoulder camera, but doesn’t even include basics like XLR or full-size cassettes. To be fair, I suppose there may be a place for this model in some applications (particularly considering the price point). However, I personally feel the camera has been basically crippled out of the gate and (with the exception of DVCAM) doesn’t include any real tools or features that shooters demand.

Are we missing the boat here? Where do you see this camera taking hold in the industry, if at all?

UPDATE: Apparently no DVCAM.

The guys over at Letus have had a very busy fall. First they announced the shiny new Letus Extreme, a 35mm adapter with built-in prism flip and a mere half-stop of light loss. By most reports, the Extreme has been very well-received in the video community. Not content to rest there, Letus has just announced the Letus35 Mini, a 1lb 9oz compact lens adapter designed for small cameras with a filter size under 43mm. Weighing just half of it’s big brother Extreme, the Mini should be able to be used without rods or additional support, though a custom support bracket is available. As with the Extreme, Letus states that this adapter has “absolutely no vignetting” and excellent edge to edge sharpness. Mount options include the Canon FD, Nikon AI, Canon EF (EOS), Pentax K mount, Minolta MD or the optional PL mount and OCT19 mounts. Check out this image for a side-by-side size comparison of the Mini vs. Extreme.

I’m told that a supply of adapters are currently in stock and available to ship in the next 3-5 days, the price is listed at $1,099.00. Just in time for Christmas…you can put it on your shiny new Canon HV20 camcorder. Put those two together and you’ve got a 35mm lens adapter and HD camcorder for under $1900.00. That is incredible. Independent filmmakers rejoice!

We previously mentioned the Extreme here. If you are interested in seeing some beautiful Letus Extreme footage, definitely check out what Phillip Bloom shot recently on the EX1.