4K Point And Shoot!

The new Canon XC10 is a versatile camera, ready to go UHD right out of the box

By David Alexander Willis

As a small fixed-lens camera aimed at those looking for 4K at an affordable price, the Canon XC10 is a handheld UHD camcorder in a body that’s also compact and versatile enough for use with car mounts or professional drone systems. Measuring less than five inches in each direction (4.9×4.0x4.8 inches) and weighing only 2.3 pounds when fully equipped... Read more

Retro 4K

The Panasonic AG-DVX200PJ features the world’s first 4/3 sensor with a fixed Leica lens capturing 4K up to 60p. But will a fixed-lens camcorder be a hit in the modern age?

By Simon Wakelin

Panasonic’s desire to offer the new handheld 4K AG-DVX200PJ with an integrated lens system may seem a step backward in HD evolution, at first glance, but a closer look reveals that the sleekly designed camcorder has merit for a variety of professional uses. Upon its release, the first question asked was probably the most obvious: Why no interchangeable-lens... Read more

Leica SL

The Leica SL-System is a sign of things to come from Leica AG—and perhaps the future of the DSLR form factor

By Jimmy Matlosz

The Leica SL-System taps into many production possibilities all at the same time, and once it’s in your hands, you’re torn on how you want to use it. While my intent was to fully review and test the camera’s video capabilities, I couldn’t resist what the SL offers in the stills format. Considering that Leica is a relative newcomer to the DSLR... Read more

Maxing Out With The ALEXA Mini

A compelling new option for filmmakers, the ALEXA Mini uses the same ALEV III sensor as all other ALEXA cameras

Text & Photography By Jimmy Matlosz

Since its rollout at NAB this year, the ALEXA Mini from ARRI has become one of the most sought-after cinema cameras on the market today. Word on the street is, “Have you seen the Mini?” or “Have you shot with the Mini?” For most cinematographers, the answer is no, and as orders are sent out to private buyers and rental houses, the ultimate question... Read more

Blackmagic Goes Minimalist

The diminutive Micro Studio Camera 4K houses innovative built-in features that make it especially appealing to live productions

By David Willis

Designed as an affordable multiple-setup camera that also offers large-sensor, cinematic capture with live production capabilities, the Micro Studio Camera 4K (MSC4K) from Blackmagic Design is an extremely versatile tool given its size, housing myriad options for reality television, sporting events, live performances, comedy stand-up, educational... Read more

In The Driver’s Seat

With groundbreaking new cameras, ARRI looks to dominate all sectors of the high-end production industry

By Neil Matsumoto

Along with Panavision, ARRI has been the gold standard in the production industry for decades, but the Munich-based company has had a much smoother transition to the digital age than their American rival. ARRI released the Arriflex D-20/21 in 2005, and although it wasn’t an immediate success, cinematographers appreciated that ARRI listened to... Read more

4K Paradise – The Samsung NX500

Hands on review of the new Samsung NX500 – a compact mirrorless camera system that captures 4K and UHD

By Neil Matsumoto

Although a relatively new player to the world of interchangeable lens cameras, Samsung has made waves in the professional photography world, especially with their NX1 – a powerhouse mirrorless camera that contains a Super 35mm sized, 28-megapixel CMOS sensor, a high-speed DRIMe V image processor, and records 4K and UHD video in camera. With a price... Read more

Cinema EOS V2.0

Profiling the new Canon EOS C300 Mark II and testing the EOS C100 Mark II

By Neil Matsumoto

Announced back in 2011, the Canon EOS C300 has been one of Canon’s most successful video cameras since the launch of their Cinema EOS division, and at NAB 2015, they finally upgraded the camera to 4K. The EOS C300 Mark II is targeted at a broad range of shooters (cinema, documentary, event) and contains a new 8.85-megapixel Super 35mm CMOS sensor... Read more

The Digital Film Camera

The 4K AJA CION offers a true cinematic experience in a simple package

By Neil Matsumoto

Founded in 1993 by engineer John Abt, AJA Video Systems, up until now, was known as the company with all of the converters, rackmount frames, I/O cards and, more recently, external recorders (Ki Pro series). Now they’re following in the footsteps of Blackmagic Design, who have had recent success in releasing a number of digital motion-picture... Read more

The Sony FS7 – Cinéma Vérité Style

Sony’s 4K PXW-FS7 delivers the goods for both non-fiction and narrative shooters

By Neil Matsumoto

Up until recently, most non-fiction content was primarily captured by shoulder-mount camcorders containing 2/3” type CCDs (Panasonic AJ-PX800, Sony PDWF800, etc.). Many run-and-gun documentarians or low-budget filmmakers gravitated to compact, fixed-lens camcorders like the Sony PXWX200 or the JVC GY-HM650U. Although all of these cameras deliver great... Read more