We Got That Cooke Look

So long, F-stop, hello, T-stop! We shoot with the Cooke miniS4/i 32mm T2.8-22 on a Sony a7S II camera, and the results are amazing.

DL Byron

Have you ever wondered what a one-off cinema lens from a legendary manufacturer looks like attached to a Sony a7S II? After visiting the Cooke Optics factory, we did, so we tried one out. The results were lovely and left us at times amazed by the dimensionality, smooth rendering and quality. A Cooke lens of this type, the miniS4/i 32mm T2.8-22, is normally... Read more

Media Matters

Some recent events within the cinema and video production worlds are causing us to take a fresh look at our shooting media needs

Dan Brockett

Panasonic AU-EVA1 Super 35 Handheld Cinema Camera Some recent events within the cinema and video production worlds have caused us to take a fresh look at our shooting media needs. You know, those cards and/or drives that we use to record our best efforts, dreams and wishes manifested as zeros and ones? Two different relatively earth-shaking events... Read more

Cooke Optics UK Factory Tour

How to get the Cooke Look

DL Byron

A vintage Cooke Optics lens Cooke Optics has been making lenses for 130 years, and their coatings haven’t changed much since the ’60s—that’s what contributes to the Cooke Look cinematographers want on their digital bodies, like RED and ARRI. The coatings are like pixie dust and seen here (decades of them built up) on a flange. The flange holds... Read more

MindShift Gear FirstLight 30L Hands-On Review

The outdoor enthusiast-friendly FirstLight is a perfect choice for photographers on the go

David Schloss

MindShift Gear is a division of camera bag manufacturer Think Tank Photo that’s aimed at creating packs and gear with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. While most camera bags are intended for a working pro who’s transporting gear from location to location, the MindShift line is designed instead for the photographer engaging in activities and braving... Read more

iMac Pro, New iMacs And MacBook Pro Target Photo And Video Markets

Updates to the existing lineup and a preview of the iMac Pro renew Apple’s commitment to pros

David Schloss

The history of Apple is tied to that of the creative professional, after all, Apple is the company that ushered in the age of “desktop publishing” with the original Mac computers, and enabled digital photography and digital videography to blossom thanks to affordable, powerful high-end Macs. Apple’s history with professionals, though, has not... Read more

Sony a9 Image Samples And Autofocus Review

We evaluate the images from the Sony a9 and its autofocus performance

David Schloss

The new Sony a9 camera arrived in a flurry of promises of image quality, autofocus speed and performance. When we tested the Sony a9 at the company’s media event, we found that the camera largely lived up to those promises. In my first testing of the camera, at two different sporting locations, we found that the AF was generally spot on, with the... Read more

Hands-On Video Review: Manfrotto BeFree Live Tripod

A specialized version of the company’s BeFree tripod line, the BeFree Live includes a special dedicated video tripod head

David Schloss

The Manfrotto BeFree Live is a specialized version of the company’s BeFree tripod line, and it includes a special dedicated video tripod head. We like to take the BeFree Live with us on photo and video shoots because of the unique locking collar, which is only found on the BeFree Live model. With a simple twist of a dial, the head goes from completely... Read more

DIY High-Power Video Or Still Light For Under $200

We made our own 11,200 lumen LED lighting solution that’s lightweight and durable. Check out the how-to video.

David Schloss

We’re always looking for ways to save time and money in the studio, so we set out to see if we could create a low-budget but powerful lighting solution for photography and videography. After wandering the aisles of the local hardware store, we found materials that allowed us to create our very own studio lighting hack—an 11,200 lumen light that... Read more

Fujifilm FUJINON MK Series Cine Lenses

FUJINON presents the MK Series to Hollywood at the ASC Clubhouse, discussing the design and challenges of the new line

By David Alexander Willis

The Fujifilm Fujinon MK18-55mm T2.9 and MK50-135mm T2.9 Super 35 zooms for E-mount cameras Attended by cinematographers Nancy Schreiber, ASC (see our interview with Nancy Schreiber, ASC, on her historic legacy in film and television production here), Bill Bennett, ASC, Eric Longden, Joe Slavin and Izzy Pollak, Fujinon Optical had a Hollywood premiere... Read more

SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 6

With infinite remixing at only $199, the Sonicfire Pro 6 software and massive royalty-free library of music tracks and sound effects may be the most capable soundtracking service yet available to indie productions

By David Alexander Willis

Available as a free trial for 21 days, SmartSound’s Sonicfire Pro 6 soundtracking and audio effects program includes a starter pack of 15 music tracks. While that may not seem like enough for most film and video productions, at only $199, the software also offers incredibly complex remixing capabilities as well as numerous song arrangements per each... Read more

Hands On With The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera

From aerial photography to remote control operation, powerful and versatile features in a tiny and extremely capable dedicated video system

By David Alexander Willis

With RAW video capture, the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera is a dream solution for special-purpose video needs, like hiding in a scene or aerial photography. Incredibly compact at external dimensions of only 3.25 x 2.74 x 2.57 inches, the 11-ounce $995 Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera saw some POV usage on a fast-moving commercial for Mountain Dew recently... Read more

Live Multi-Camera Production Solutions

A variety of tools for multi-camera productions allows projection to a live audience for later playback from YouTube and Vimeo and for live streaming

By Noah Kadner

The NewTek TriCaster Mini offers the convenience of a built-in monitor; it’s a complete production switcher at the easily portable size of a cereal box. I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with my good friend and colleague Dave Cerf on researching options for live-streaming productions. A technical adviser for a popular series of live stage... Read more