Top Black Friday Deals for Filmmakers – Part 1: Cameras, FilmConvert, MZed. Ideally you come from the filmmaking industry, have a technical mind and are interested in nerding out about new camera gear, fuzzing over things that matter to filmmakers and content creators alike, and have a talent and lust for writing.
The E2 already received a firmware update version 0.95 that you can download here. The Atomos Ninja V will receive a firmware update later in June 2020. Both of these firmware updates are free. The PortKeys LEYE is very compact, with dimensions of only 106 x 70 x 78mm. Most of the device is made of plastic, except for the metal rear cover.
One full-size HDMI input on the right side that can take signals up to 4K30p. B&H Buy link: FUJIFILM X-T3 Camera Body Kit with Accessories Was: $1,499.00 Now: $1,299.00 (Savings: $200.00).
Once you switch the power button on, the monitor takes around five seconds to boot up until it is operational. A quick word about the dummy battery that came with the top handle. There’s nothing revolutionary here, it’s a classic D-Tap to Canon LP-E6 dummy battery, but the cable has the perfect length to power a monitor attached to the monitor mount.
A top handle to power your camera and accessories. Nikon Z 6 is the first full-frame mirrorless camera from Nikon – it is the “all-arounder” within the new Z system. It features 24.5MP CMOS sensor and can record UHD 4K video at up to 30fps and full HD at up to 120fps – all in H.264. The camera can also output RAW signal via HDMI, so this could be the perfect camera to use with the Ninja V to capture in ProRes RAW.
you’re still getting based on the reach of your “old” articles if you continue to write regularly for the site, it’s all very transparent – loyalty is welcome and awarded. Buy link: Nikon Z 6 with FTZ Mount Adapter and Bag Kit Was: $2,243.90 Now: $1,696.95 (Savings: $546.95).
PortKeys has just announced the launch of a new 5.5″ on-camera monitor: the PortKeys LH5P. This HDMI-only (in/out)monitor is made out of aluminum, it is daylight-viewable with a maximum brightness of 1700 nits, and it can control your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K wirelessly. Let’s take a closer look at it!. One small cinema camera with a cage (Canon EOS C70).
Edit: just after completing this review, Z CAM introduced a new firmware update (V 0.88) featuring ZRAW (internal RAW capture, partial debayer, supports up to 4096×2160@30fps initially). We might take a closer look at this ZRAW firmware in the near future. On top of the P6, there are four control buttons to quickly access your favorite functions, an On/Off switch, and four buttons to navigate through the menu. To mount the monitor on your camera, there is a 1/4 20″ mounting point at the bottom and one on the right side.
At the rear of the monitor, you will find the battery plate to power the PortKeys P6. The design of the battery plate is similar to the SmallHD 701, and you can use Sony NP-F batteries on the left side, or Canon LP-E6 on the right side. Also, you can power it with an external battery via the DC barrel input port. CVP offers free LUMIX 25mm f/1.7 lens (!), free 3-year Panasonic LUMIX warranty, and free accessories with a GH5 purchase.
The sweeping images we see on movie screen are first visualized by looking through a camera, but the second step before anything rolls is to view them through a larger monitor. While planning a trip to the Indian jungle to film a short documentary about Pench National Park, my colleagues at cinema5d challenged me to leave my standard gear at home and take the new cinema camera Z CAM E2 instead – would it be up to the task?.
Portkeys has just launched a new lightweight 5″ on-camera monitor: the Portkeys PT5. This monitor can take HDMI input/output signals at up to 4K DCI at 24p or 4K UHD at up to 30p, it has a maximum brightness of 500 nits with all the monitoring tools you need to control your image properly, and it retails for only $169. So let’s take a closer look at Portkeys’ most affordable monitoring option yet!. As Jarred said, RED shipped the first batch of pre-stormtrooper Komodos in custom colors to few lucky customers. The first color seems orange to me, but RED calls it “Grossman Gold”. Every batch of these pre-release cameras that get shipped out will have a different color. It seems like the next one will be yellow.
On the left side, the P6 features two HDMI ports (input/output) that accept 4K signals. Also, in the middle of the HDMI ports, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack output. At the bottom of the monitor, there is a DC 7.4-24V barrel input/output port that you can use to power the monitor or power your camera. Finally, there is a USB-A port for future firmware upgrade, loading your own LUTs, or charge your smartphone (5V output). PortKeys OEYE-3G EVF with 1080p Resolution Announced.
Bottom: one camera control mini-USB port, a 5-pin motor camera control port that doubles up as a DC 7-24V power output port. There’s also a 1/4-20″ mounting thread and a USB Type-A port to update the firmware of the LH5P, load your LUTs, or power it. Volta Cinema Top Handle Review – Elegant Way to Power Accessories.
It is powered via a single Sony NP-F style battery, and you can use the power output of the BM5 to feed your camera via a dummy battery. Also, you can power it with an external battery by using the Lemo port on the monitor. PortKeys LH5H – Ergonomics and Powering Options.
The camera control settings page to control your camera. The Volta Kit is available now and includes the top handle, two batteries, a battery charger, and a NATO rail for €140.00. The monitor mount will cost you an additional €40.00. You can purchase an extra pack of Volta36 batteries for €50.00.
The menu itself is straightforward and well structured, also custom presents for the function buttons are available. However, some of the settings require deeper dives (changing the frame rate for example), hence doing that in the heat of the action does not work so well. But best of all, if you get a pair the Teradek 4K Monitor Modules (one TX and at least one RX) and an ARRI camera (available now) or a RED camera (software update coming soon), you will be able to fully control the camera from your wireless monitor. This is a huge win for high-end drone pilots, shooters in remote locations, or DPs who just wants to drop their ISO or change ND from video village.
The camera supports recording in ProRes 422 HQ/Normal/LT as well as H.265 and H.264 codecs. It records directly onto CFast cards and also includes time-lapse modes. However, on the Porkeys PT5, I found that even at maximum brightness, the image doesn’t shift a lot, and blacks are still pretty dense. I guess it’s mainly because the PT5 has a full brightness of 500nit only.
Peaking, zooming, and audio meters. Once you’re inside a page, the parameters at the bottom of the screen will change. Then, all you have to do is click the setting you want to change and do your thing.
In a lot of ways, the Portkeys PT5 reminds me a lot of the SmallHD 501, which is still to this day my favorite 5″ on-camera monitor. It’s compact, lightweight, with good battery life, and it just feels like it’s part of your camera. The good thing is that the PT5 is a fraction of the SmallHD 501’s price, and it even has a way better battery life, but it doesn’t have SDI input/output ports. So you can’t have the cake and eat it too. The user interface consists of two pages. When you start the monitor, it shows you your image or the Portkeys landing page if no source is connected. If you touch the screen, the image scales down a bit and the Function settings page pops up on the sides of the display. All your monitoring tools are on this Function page.
The Portkeys BM5 III WR is available now for €517. When you order it, you’ll have to choose the correct control cable for your camera, if you want to control it wired. As you can see, the P6 is fully packed with all the essential tools. The only drawback of PortKeys’ monitors is the user interface, which is not the most intuitive near beautiful out there, but it gets the job done.
The Volta Cinema Top Handle immediately caught my attention when I first saw it. From what I saw, I found this product brilliant, with a simple design and a clear mission: power your camera or accessories via the handle. Other companies have tried this, albeit arguably not as elegantly. The user interface of the PortKeys LH5P is not its most significant strength, to say the least. When I purchase or review a product, I never read instructions (like most filmmakers, I am assuming), which means a product must be intuitive. I think you should be able to give a monitor to any camera assistant and everybody must be able to make it work without reading a book. That is not the case with the LH5P.
RGB and Luma waveforms, histogram, false-color and zebra. the height of the small dividers could be higher so small objects doesn’t move inside the bag.
Buy link: Nikon Z 6 with FTZ Mount Adapter and Bag Kit Was: $2,243.90 Now: $1,696.95 (Savings: $546.95). The HDMI cable is relatively thick, and while I prefer slim cables, VIDEOGEAR at least provides you with a way to connect the monitor to a camera.
A monitor of this size and weight makes a lot of sense to use with a small and lightweight battery, like a Canon LP-E6 pack (around 50g). With the battery mounted, the total weight of your setup is about 250g, which is not massive on top of your camera rig. One thing to be aware of is the fact, that for ProRes no in-camera playback option is available (firmware version 0.86 at the time of shooting). I hope this changes with a future firmware.
E2-S6 S35: $3995 available in PL, EF and M4/3 mounts. According to the company, they had to use “an off the shelf 0.8A x1 or 0.6A x 2 PCB for the charger to sit within the Micro USB specification (2.1A x 5V = ~10W total, minus the loss in efficiency).” This results in long charging times. To fully charge two batteries, it took me close to eight hours.
Among the people who got the first Komodo was Phil Holland and Philip Grossman. They both started posting first thoughts and answering questions about Komodo quite quickly. Phil Holland made a special thread on REDuser where he shares his findings on Komodo. Philip Grossman posted already several sample clips and comparisons with his RED Helium 8K on his Youtube channel. A top handle to power your camera and accessories.
One HDMI input and one HDMI output port supports resolution up to 4K DCI at 24p, 4K UHD at up to 30p, FullHD at up to 60p. PortKeys, the Chinese company specialized in on-camera and field monitors, has just announced a new camera accessory: the PortKeys Universal Handle. This handle allows you to control your camera and adjust settings. It is compatible with all major brands/cameras on the market, including Z-Cam, Blackmagic Design, RED, Canon, Sony, and so on. Let’s take a closer look at the PortKeys Universal Handle!.
… and smartphone filmmakers / content creators. If you have a professional video tripod with a fluid head or light stands, you have another option on both sides of the Flexloader L.
CVP Buy link: Sony a7 III Camera Body Was: €1,710.35 Now: €1,564.83 (Savings: €145.52 – CashBack). We are using a new test method based on a high frequency, quartz & microcontroller based strobe light at 300Hz. As the sensor readout happens from the top to the bottom, we are getting a sequence of black and white bars from the strobe.
Check Field, Guides, Center Marker, Grids. Control Any Camera with the PortKeys Universal Handle.
However, on-camera monitors are not your traditional computer display. Most of the time, you can’t use a probe or spectrophotometer to adjust your on-camera monitor. Atomos has just announced that the Atomos Ninja V 5″ HDR monitor-recorder will support ProRes RAW recording from the Z CAM E2. The Ninja V will be able to record 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW at up to 4K60p. We caught up with Dan Chung from Atomos to learn more about it.
I think soon we will start seeing third party accessories for Komodo from other manufacturers as well. On the , here are the built-in tools.
I guess that most filmmakers will be covered. It is also possible to connect the LH5P to a Tilta Nucleus N/M wireless follow focus to pull focus via the monitor. The same type of battery can be used for the Portkeys BM5 monitor as well which is a big plus, and I needed all the spare batteries for the monitor, as its power consumption was quite high.
As a direct frustration with Tilta’s Nano motor which required a very specific input to perform well, I decided to have a go at designing a solution. Oskar joined me again so this time we actually ended up launching an Indiegogo campaign. At the time we didn’t have much of a prototype but the idea was clear: Someone had to put some high-capacity cells inside a top handle since it was such a mandatory piece of kit. Why not us?. PortKeys HS7T Metal Edition: all-metal design.
Jarred’s other company Global Dynamics United (GDU) has been producing accessories for other RED cameras for a while already. The company now officially announced some previously teased special accessories for the RED Komodo. But, as usual at CineD, we review every product equally and point out the things that can be improved. I have no doubts that the products and accessories will continue to get better over time.
The top flap features three meshed pockets: two small ones (12.5 x 11cm/4,92 x 4,33in) at the top and a large one at the bottom (23 x 17cm/9 x 6,7in). The HS7T Metal Edition still features a 7-inch 8-bit IPS display with a maximum resolution of 1920×1080 and a viewing angle of 178°. The screen has a contrast ratio of 1200:1 and it can reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits. This is not as bright as the BM5 (2200 nits), but it starts to be usable under bright sunlight.
Next are the shoulder straps that do have two adjustments settings. The first one, like every backpack, is the length of each strap. In 4k DCI mode (4096 x 2160) the crop factor of the Z CAM is about 1.9, using the speed booster gives a crop of 1.35 approximately.
The fact that the Black Mini is a lightweight on-camera monitor makes it a lovely experience if you’re operating handheld or on a tripod/gimbal. It doesn’t add too much weight nor bulk to your setup, which is nice. RED Komodo is the new Super 35 6K cinema camera that features a very small form factor. RED shipped out the first batch of custom-colored pre-release cameras in Grossman Gold color. The first hands-on tests and sample footage from Komodo users as well as first accessories are appearing.
you consider yourself a filmmaker – maybe you are a creative young person starting out, or a professional in the industry who has worked for many years already, aiming to get more involved in the blogger / journalistic scene – becoming a writer for CineD sounds like the right thing to do for you. Exposure tools: RGB and Luma Waveform, Zebra, False Color, Histogram.
The build quality of this pouch is lovely and an excellent addition to the global package. tell us who you are, what you do, what you enjoy writing about most – and why you think this is something for you.
RED Komodo Update – First Cameras Shipped, Footage Samples, Accessories. In this discounted set, along with the camera, you get SanDisk 32GB extreme PRO UHS-II SDHC memory card, Watson 2000mAh battery pack, Watson compact AC/DC charger for NP-FZ100 battery, and Ruggard Journey 24 DSLR shoulder bag.
Last week, we were the first to report about a new company named PortKeys and their BM5, a field monitor capable of controlling your camera. Ahead of NAB 2019, the company just announced another exciting product, the OEYE-3G EVF. Let’s take a look at this exciting new EVF. Anamorphic de-squeeze, color temperature.
Once you switch the power button on, the monitor takes around ten seconds until it is operational, which is acceptable. Check Field, Guides, Cross Hair, Grids.
Three New Z CAM E2 Cameras Introduced – 6K With Super 35 Sensor and 6K Plus 8K in Full Frame. Add the special promotion code at checkout.
In total, you can put up to twelve monitoring tools on the sidebars. Then, when you’re set, all you have to do is press an icon to enable/disable this tool. In addition, you can long-press on a shortcut to change it or remove it from the side. As you can tell, even my iPhone 11 is more significant than this monitor! Indeed, the Portkeys PT5 has dimensions of only 136 x 72 x 17mm for a weight of 130g/0.28lbs. I was shocked at how light it is when I took the PT5 out of the box; it weighs almost nothing, mainly because the casing is made of ABS plastic.
In theory, this combo should work very well. The Portkeys BM5 monitor (for detailed specs see our article here) is a 5” FHD monitor which allows via a separate cable to display and change settings in the camera’s menu on the touchscreen – on our early prototype this didn’t work though and a newer firmware wasn’t yet available. The charger uses a standard micro USB PCB, and it can be charged with a plethora of devices, including wall plugs and power banks. To maximize the charging speed, it requires a minimum of 2.1A 5V connection.
The monitor mount was designed for use with the SmallHD 5 series and the Portkeys BM5 but it will work with most other monitors that have 1/4″-20 mount holes on the bottom of the monitor. To use a Sony NP-F battery, slide it to the right. I already said it for Portkey’s monitor, but I love that battery powering option.
For BMPCC 4K/6K users, you can even control your camera wirelessly. You don’t need the additional BT1 Bluetooth module with the LH5H, as it is built-in inside the monitor. It means that you can control your BMPCC 4K/6K wirelessly out of the box!. SDI, HDMI and USB inputs are all available on the OEYE-3G as well as both SDI and HDMI outputs. You can send 4K DCI signals at 24 frames per second through the HDMI or 4K UHD at 24/25/30 fps, but the SDI input port is only able to accept 1080P signals at up to 60 fps. The HDMI and SDI ports allow for cross conversion as well.
Manfrotto PRO Light Flexloader L carrying capacity. To install it, you have to open the battery compartment and slide the monitor mount in place. Then, close the battery cap, and that’s pretty much it. The fit of the monitor mount on the handle is very snug, and there are no ways to lock it in place.
Portkeys recently released an updated version of its famous BM5 monitor that can control your camera: the Portkeys BM5 III WR. This new model features a bigger 5.5″ display with a maximum brightness of 2200nits. It has a built-in Bluetooth module to control your camera, and an implemented wireless camera control for the RED Komodo. Let’s take a closer look at it!. Once you switch the power button on, the monitor takes around ten seconds until it is operational, which is acceptable.