Our Picks

Gunther Machu and Florian Milz at CineD have tested the Alexa 35 and found that it has more dynamic range than any previously tested camera.

The air-to-air team behind Top Gun: Maverick shares a detailed behind-the-scenes look at exactly how they pulled off making the groundbreaking film, including gear choices, challenges, victories, and more.

This summer, hundreds of professional filmmakers in New York City will join forces to create six short films as part of the Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC). A grassroots initiative founded in 2017 by filmmakers Katrina Medoff and Tracy Sayre, WWFC aims to address the lack of women and nonbinary people behind the camera and on screen through a variety of programs, including its signature film challenge. 

ARRI’s first new sensor for 12 years builds on the evolution of the ALEXA family over that period, delivering 2.5 stops more dynamic range, film-like highlight handling, better low light performance, and richer colors. The new REVEAL Color Science takes full advantage of the sensor’s image quality and provides a fast, simple workflow, while ARRI Textures enhance in-camera creative control. Easy operation, robust build quality, new electronic accessories, and a complete new mechanical support system round out the ALEXA 35 platform.

Tonight I was watching the last episode of season 4 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.  I was watching the credits at the end and I saw the cinematography was by M. David Mullen.  The light bulb went off in my head, that's the real cinematographer that answered questions on that forum I used to look at every day.  So I see that you still post here so I just wanted to say that your cinematography for Maisel is MIND BLOWINGLY EXCELLENT.

In cooperation with Kodak, Panavision, and FotoKem, IMAX will develop and deploy at least four new, state-of-the-art film cameras over the next two years — growing its existing fleet of film cameras by 50% — with the first new camera being put into use by late 2023. 

From Ireland to Space and Stops in Between, RED Is Behind the Scenes
The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) Film Expo opened this week with a number of compelling films screening for attendees that originated on RED cameras.
Continuing its leadership in natural history filmmaking, RED is proud to have supported the filmmakers behind 13 of the seventeen films being presented in the New Films category.

Saw it last night. Superb. Didn’t expect it to be so good as I really know the original film and I was fearing some eye rolls on my part but I was fully immersed and blown away by it. The casting was refreshing I thought. Visually spectacular!!!

Legendary cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins was knighted Feb. 1 by Prince Charles at Windsor Castle. He is the first cinematographer to receive this recognition. “The knighthood was an incredible honor that must be shared with my crew and collaborators. They are the reason I have been able to do what I’ve done. It’s a wonderful recognition that we all share,” said Deakins in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter. Joining Deakins at the ceremony was his wife and collaborator, digital workflow specialist James Ellis Deakins. The pair are in the U.K. prepping for Sam Mendes’ England-set Empire of Light.

They finally made a camera that fills all of my workflow demands for a tiny camera (swivel screen, internal recording, etc) however I was wondering if anyone had experience with the footage of this camera? I read somewhere it has 14 stops of dynamic range but I was wondering how people felt about the color science of it? Haven't seen too many side-by-side shootouts with this camera and an Arri sensor.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684244-REG/canon_5077c002_eos_r5_c_full_frame.html

And does anyone know if that fan on the side gets ridiculously loud??? Thanks.

So a show is being originated on some Kodak Ektachrome 100D 35mm.... sure looks great.

Any new breakthroughs or improvements coming out?
Any new scanner options on the low budget front?

Just wondering if anyone has any info on if we're looking at motion picture film price increases come the new year. Seems like its certainly happening for stills but there seems to be no intel out there on motion. Anyone heard anything?

 

Since it has been around for a while, there are a ton of tests from the Alexa Classic and, on eBay, those cameras can be had for not too much more than a new Ursa 12k. My question is if it is still a safe bet in 2021? I am doing this for shooting my own projects and maybe for some friends/colleagues in education if they need corp. videos or whatnot.

A few weeks ago I got in touch with an 88 year old German cinematographer who ran a one man laboratory for 16mm film. He told me he had and Arriflex BL Super 16 which is not a third party conversion but was produced by Arri in the late sixties. The format wasn't very popular at that time and Arri only made about 25 of them. The BL cameras are heavy beasts and since I've been looking for a Super 16 camera that you can carry around with you on walks, I figured that maybe Arri also made an Arriflex ST Super 16 version. And guess what, they did. Again, only about 25 were made. I contacted one of the old Arri technicians and he confirmed the location of one of those cameras. It is on its way to me and as soon as it arrives I will update this post for anyone who is interested. Below a photo of the old beauty, you can see the serial number 25.

Sony Electronics Inc. introduces the VENICE 2, the new flagship model and latest addition to its lineup of high-end digital cinema cameras. Cinematographer Claudio Miranda ASC provides insight and analysis on “The Camera Test,” with a breakdown on how well the Original VENICE and VENICE 2 intercut. Miranda also discusses what he thinks makes the VENICE 2 stand out.

I'm always curious where people get inspiration. The ASC guys love the masters, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Monet and such. I like Hopper but I tend to go to films more as references because I'm terrible with names and finding people's works. What about you? Any personal favorites? Any pieces of work specifically?

 

Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2, a next generation professional broadcast camera with 6K digital film sensor that brings digital film quality to both traditional and online broadcasters.The advanced 6144 x 3456 digital film sensor provides exceptional low light performance with dual gain ISO of up to +36dB as well as 13 stops of dynamic range. Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 also includes H.265 and Blackmagic RAW file formats, Blackmagic generation 5 color science, as well as a USB-C expansion port for external disk recording, and more.

We're thrilled to announce our next live ZEISS Conversation with the ASC's newest member, Alice Brooks! Alice Brooks, ASC, has an impressive portfolio with internationally acclaimed titles such as In the Heights, Home Before Dark, and her upcoming release, tick, tick...BOOM!  This newest feature is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, produced by Ron Howard and is set to premiere at AFI Fest next month.

LEE Filters, a leading manufacturer of high-quality lighting gels and photographic filters and part of Panavision’s end-to-end offerings for image makers, has introduced LEE Elements, an all-new range of high-performance and quick-to-deploy circular filters for photographers and videographers.

Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer on "Rust," and director Joel Souza were shot Thursday in the desert on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western and killed the cinematographer, officials said. The director of the movie was wounded, and authorities are investigating what happened.

A nationwide strike that would have started Monday was averted today when the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) reached a tentative three-year agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for The Basic and Videotape Agreements which affects 40,000 film and television workers represented by 13 West Coast IATSE local unions. 

Will not comment or discuss the film until our friends in USA have seen it. Enough to say I really enjoyed it and the cinematography was great aside from a few needless anamorphic flares that’s pandering to the YouTube generation that equates flares with great camera work haha. Interesting to see no digital cameras in use at all.

With today's dimmable LED fixtures you might think nets are a thing of the past, but Andrew shows how nets are still a vital part of controlling light on set.

 

V-RAPTOR features a multi-format 8K sensor (40.96mm x 21.60mm) with the ability to shoot 8K large format or 6K Super 35. Joining its predecessor, the MONSTRO 8K VV sensor, this unique in-camera option for impactful visual storytelling allows shooters to leverage any of their large format or S35 lenses with the push of a button and always deliver at over 4K resolution.