The Anvil – Hands-On The Blackmagic URSA

Blackmagic’s URSA weighs a ton, but delivers a professional 4K RAW workflow

By Neil Matsumoto

For the past few years, Blackmagic Design has been the most forward-thinking company in the industry, creating innovative cameras, software, i/o devices and more. After purchasing DaVinci Resolve five years ago, in 2012, they released the Blackmagic Cinema Camera—a box-like camera that featured a 2.5K sensor and could capture CinemaDNG RAW files,... Read more

The DSLR Evolution

DSLR, mirrorless and compact camera innovations have created a new generation of accessories for motion capture

By Clint Milby

Back in 2008, Canon released the EOS 5D Mark II, which forever changed the way we shoot video. It was an act of rebellion, as novice and pro shooters alike traded their dedicated video camcorders in lieu of video-enabled DSLRs. Thus, the DSLR Revolution was born, and with it, an entire universe of support gear. Fast-forward six years, and DSLRs are... Read more

Sony a7S

Could the $2,500 compact camera be the king of dynamic range and sensitivity?

By Neil Matsumoto

Main Features Of The Sony a7S • Full-frame image sensor (35.8×23.9mm) • Wide ISO sensitivity (ISO 200-409,600) for movies • Captures 15.3 stops of latitude • Captures XAVC S files at 50 Mb/s • S-Log2 gamma expands dynamic range by up to 1300% • Can output UHD (3840×2160)... Read more

Workflow Special: Stepping It Up

The Nikon D750 delivers a better video experience than its predecessors

By Neil Matsumoto

In the stills world, one can argue that Nikon is the gold standard in the industry, with professional photographers coveting their camera bodies and Nikkor lenses. In terms of their sensors, Nikon currently occupies six of the top 10 positions in the DxOMark.com sensor ratings scale, which is based on performance in color depth, dynamic range, low-light... Read more

Compact Broadcaster

You may have read reports that the camcorder is dead.

By Lisette Rose

You may have read reports that the camcorder is dead. After all, the masses are now shooting video with their mobile phones, and the rest are shooting motion with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Even with vast improvements in DSLR technology, if shooting video is your primary function, a camcorder is still your best bet, offering features... Read more

Last Action Hero

GoPro lives up to its name with the release of the 4K HERO4 Black

By Neil Matsumoto

GoPro was founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman, who was looking for a cheaper way to capture pro-quality surfing shots. Thanks to the rise of social media and digital camera technology, GoPro is now a public company worth billions, and even has aspirations of becoming a media company, as well. The micro action cam has put our new "selfie" culture... Read more

The DSLR Evolution

Back in 2008, Canon released the EOS 5D Mark II, which forever changed the way we shoot video.

By Lisette Rose

WOODEN CAMERA 4K MOD + PL MOUNT; REDROCK MICRO RETROFLEX Back in 2008, Canon released the EOS 5D Mark II, which forever changed the way we shoot video. It was an act of rebellion, as novice and pro shooters alike traded their dedicated video camcorders in lieu of video-enabled DSLRs. Thus, the DSLR Revolution was born, and with it, an... Read more

Sony a7S

For photographers, mirrorless cameras have come a long way.

By Lisette Rose

4K In The Real World

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 offers a plethora of pro video features

By Dan Brockett

KEY SPECS • 4K video recording in Cinema 4K (4096×2160/24 fps) and QFHD 4K (3840×2160/up to 24/25/30 fps in MOV/MP4) • 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS Micro 4/3 sensor • VFR (variable frame rate up to 96 fps in 1080p) time-lapse shot/stop-motion animation capability built in • Professional... Read more

Hands-On With The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

The hard-to-categorize 4K camera is a “pro” camera, but lacks many pro features

By Neil Matsumoto

Main Features • Contains a Super 35mm-sized 4K sensor (21.12×11.88mm) • EF mount only • Captures UHD (3840×2160) and full HD (1920×1080), but not DCI 4K (4096×2160) • At this time can only capture ProRes 422 (HQ), not CinemaDNG RAW • 12 stops of latitude •... Read more

When Worlds Collide

Nipros enables live broadcast shooting with 4K digital cinema cameras

By Dan Brockett

At first glance, it seems an incongruous pairing. Imagine shooting a live worldwide broadcast with a dozen RED EPICs, perhaps two handheld Canon EOS C500s and an ARRI ALEXA on a jib arm. Why would you attempt such a thing? The production parameters of live television are generally about as far away from digital cinema production as you can get. Shooting... Read more

Amira Up-Close

Can ARRI’s new doc-style camera capture a new style of nonfiction cinematography?

By Neil Matsumoto

In the cinematography community, there’s cause for celebration anytime ARRI releases a new camera. Founded in Munich, Germany, by August Arnold and Robert Richter in 1917, ARRI has been on the cutting edge of camera and lighting technology for almost 100 years. Cameras like the ARRIFLEX 16BL, SR, 535 and ARRICAM have been workhorses for cinematographers... Read more