Google to announce Android TV

Google is reportedly planning to announce a next generation for its television plans, dubbed Android TV.

According to GigaOm, the platform will be built into set-tops and smart TVs like the existing Google TV offerings, with access to variety of over-the-top services. But, two new evolutions will mark the launch: for one, Android TV will have significant gaming capability. And, it will also reportedly include a content discovery feature called Pano, which organises ‘cards’ that recommend specific content and allows users to browse movies, TV shows and other types of media.

Google to announce Android TV

Detailed look at TIFFEN Filters on the Sony F55 Camera

Sony have created a highly detailed look at the Tiffen filter system on the F55 camera

TIFFEN demonstration video presenting a comprehensive range of filters, shot with the Sony F55 camera and Panavision Primo spherical prime lenses in 4K.

See Sony and Tiffen for more

Detailed look at TIFFEN Filters on the Sony F55 Camera

A Look at the Free Color Vibrance Plug-in

Make Colors that Stand Out in Adobe After Effects: A Look at the Free Color Vibrance Plug-in

Andrew Kramer of Videocopilot takes us through his new (and free) Color Vibrance plugin for Adobe After Effects (Compatible with After Effects CS5, CS6 & CC):

Intense bright colorization can be tricky so we created a plug-in that makes it easy to achieve HOT colors instantly. We even added some helpful matte tools so you can generate alpha channels from stock footage like SHOCKWAVE and give you more compositing control.

Plug-in Features:

Add Hot Colorization with ease

Create Alpha Channels (unmultiply)

Works on Pre-Matted Clips

Eliminate the faded colors when using mask feathering

You can download the plugin here.

A Look at the Free Color Vibrance Plug-in

Sony F55 vs Arri Alexa Skin Tone Reproduction Test

Sony USA compares the Sony F55 to the Arri Alexa for skin tones: This is not a camera comparison, it is a simple demonstration of the skin tones reproduction shooting LOG with the native ISO settings and applying the corresponding LUT’s provided by both manufacturers. No color grading was applied, only matching levels.

ALEXA: LOGC to Rec709 LUT

F55: SGamut3.Cine/SLog3 to LC709 TypeA LUT

 

Sony F55 vs Arri Alexa Skin Tone Reproduction Test

Review of The Padcaster - Turn your iPad into a Production Camera

Here is a quick review of one of the more extreme video rigs available for the iPad.  In this video the guys at The Slanted Lens check out this one-stop rig to turn your iPad into a complete production kit: You can mount it on a tripod, attach microphones, lights, lenses, or other accessories.

Review of The Padcaster - Turn your iPad into a Production Camera

Panasonic GH4 vs Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Dynamic Range Comparisons

Here’s a comparison of the dynamic range between the Panasonic GH4 and the Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K, by Phil Hover:

Testing the two cameras for dynamic range and color. Left is GH4, Right BM. Both UHD, download for full res. Almost no color correction – only saturation added to the BM and one shot had exposure off and was corrected. Before I started I assumed the GH4 would be a little sharper, BM would have more dynamic range, better color, smoother tone. Both cameras were matched for exposure in camera not in post but the BMPC4k looks a little less exposed – could be lens or maybe 400iso on the BM is closer to 320iso.

Conclusion. I’m seeing more dynamic range from the GH4 specifically with cineD. I like the noise performance and look of Natural. CineV dialed down is slightly more contrasty then Natural. CineD slightly better then Natural at the cost of shadow noise. BM has more accurate color but not significantly even with 10bit 4.2.2.

Here’s another test:

Captured on 4-28-14 with the GH4 & BMPC4K for comparison. Slo-mo shots are 1080 @ 96fps and there is a clear resolution loss for those shots. Highlight rolloff seems to be better on the GH4 in the shots around 4:40. I could have under exposed the BMPC4K shots a little more to help.

GH4: CineD UHD, +2 master ped, -2 sharpness, normal curve.

BMPC: Prores 4K film.

Which camera does Phil prefer? He says:

That is a good question. If I had to choose one, the GH4 is more versatile, lighter, better low light, better battery life, great screen & EVF. CineD is fantastic. The color straight out of the camera is wonderful, significantly better then the GH3. Panasonic finally has taken the mojo from their video cams and put it into the stills side. But, I will be keeping both cams because…

The BMPC4K seems to have more detail. The global shutter makes a big difference when you watch the footage at 100%. The GH4′s rolling shutter looks bad when you see micro jitters (wind blowing on the cam in a few shots). I have also seen the rolling shutter issues with helicopter footage posted. Image stabilization might help, using a bigger rig or MOVI type devices. The BMPC4K has shallower DOF from the larger sensor and you can create a better look with the LOG footage. I feel like the BMPC4K is for more controlled shoots where you can rig up or be on sticks (very easy to shoot on support). GH4 is a camera you can grab run with in any environment assuming the rolling shutter isn’t an issue.

Panasonic GH4 vs Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Dynamic Range Comparisons

RagLite to Kickstart World’s First Flexible LED Light Panel

With LED lighting systems growing in popularity for both video and photo use, it’s inevitable some interesting variations of such setups are going to come out. Case in point: behold the RagLite, or as its creators prefer to call it, “the first-ever flexible LED light bank.”

Developed by Chad Soderholm and engineered by Sin Cohen, RagLite uses a flat, lightweight design that is both waterproof and virtually indestructible. By combining a versatile mounting setup with a heat-free design, RagLite seems to offer a much more flexible option for lighting up scenes.

Color-matched to daylight or tungsten, the RagLite should work in almost any environment.

 

As of this writing, the team is just short of halfway to their $25,000 goal,

 

RagLite to Kickstart World’s First Flexible LED Light Panel