Perform Video: January 2014

Friday 31 January 2014

Varavon Armor Pocket Cage for Blackmagic Pocket Camera

The Blackmagic Pocket Camera is no doubt an incredible feat of engineering. As if by magic they have managed to cram a ton of professional features into a relatively tiny body. You get features including a Super 16 sensor with 13 stops of dynamic range, MFT (Micro Four Thirds) lens mount, as well as the ability to capture high-quality lossless RAW CinemaDNG files or ProRes 422. But in some ways the BMPC’s tiny form factor is it’s weakest link. It’s a fact that small cameras are hard to hold still and the lack of sheer weight can make for shaky shots.

Coming to the rescue is Korean photographic and video equipment manufacturer Varavon, who have recently announced the availability of the new Armor Pocket Cage designed exclusively for the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera. The rig comes with a few interesting features, including top handle, hotshoe, and 15mm rail system, and is compatible with the Multifinder Uni LCD viewfinder, which makes it perfect for low-angle and daylight shooting.

The Armor Pocket Cage also comes with a tripod plate that should fit most popular brands. You can pick one up for $317 / €234 from the Varavon online store

Varavon Armor Pocket Cage for Blackmagic Pocket Camera

Nokia says “Goodbye DSLR” in New Lumia 1020 Ad

So apparently it’s now “on trend” to bash the DSLR.

Panasonic are at it: See Here

And now Nokia has joined the war with its Lumia 1020 smartphones advert. The latest commercial from the phone manufacture is making fun of “massive DSLRs” and suggesting that a 41MP Nokia Lumia 1020 can get the same or better shot.

The ad shows photographers with a DSLR body (and a massive 400mm-ish telephoto lens attached) handing the combo off to a stranger to “grab a shot” of the photographer in front of a landmark.

Unfortunately we can’t help but cringe when we watch this. On one hand they create a product aimed at people who clearly care about capturing good photos, yet they create an advert assuming that customers know nothing about what a DSLR is made to do. Maybe a more powerful angle would have been on the co existence of a smart phone camera and a DSLR.

Sorry Nokia but this is making you look a bit silly.

Nokia says “Goodbye DSLR” in New Lumia 1020 Ad

Canon EOS 7D Mark II in Q2

It’s being reported that Cannon are planning on unveiling the Canon 7D mark 2 at the Winter Olympics in Sochi this month. Rumours on North Light Images suggest a Q2 release and Q3 availability. Perhaps the camera will be tested further in Brazil for the World Cup?

We expect to hear more during the Olympics, though any specs mentioned may still be omitted from the final consumer product. Check back at Perform Video for more on this.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II in Q2

Toshiba: '4K television mainstream in 2017'

$Toshiba: \'4K television will be mainstream by 2017\'$

The Japanese firm told TrustedReviews that 3D televisions are on their way out, paving the way for UHD-capable sets in the next few years.

“4K is moving closer to mainstream, much closer, but it’s not quite there yet,” a company spokesperson said. “2014 is going to be a big year for UHD, a lot of other companies are investing in the area and Netflix will start streaming in 4K. “By 2017 it will definitely be mainstream but every year before then it is going to get picked up and evolve faster and faster.”

Toshiba: '4K television mainstream in 2017'

Canon 50mm f1.0 Bokeh Porn

Matt Granger testing the legendary Canon 50mm f1.0 EFS Lens – BOKEH PORN!

Canon 50mm f1.0 Bokeh Porn

Thursday 30 January 2014

Netflix Loses Overseas Rival

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

One of the leading subscription VOD services in the Netherlands has closed its doors within months of Netflix’s arrival in the marketplace. Ximon shut down Wednesday after three years of operation …
See on variety.com

Netflix Loses Overseas Rival

Arri AMIRA Starts At €25,980

While every other camera manufacture is seemingly pushing 4K, you can understand why Arri’s latest release (the AMIRA) has raised a few eyebrows. Shock – horror, it’s only 2K! But putting K geekery to one side the baby brother of the almighty ALEXA is stacking up to be pretty impressive.

The AMIRA shaves off nearly half the weight and width of the ALEXA, you may be surprised to hear that it has no option to shoot raw. With specs like these it’s fairly clear that Arri are targeting the high end broadcast TV market where speed of workflow and established formats are the name of the game (see the specs below). Shooting a TV News feature in 4K raw will still probably get you fired at most broadcasters for at least the next couple years.

So then – onto the price… Well it isn’t exactly what you’d call cheap. Starting at €25,980 for the “basic” package the AMIRA is a serious investment by anyone’s standards. And with 4K lurking around the corner it’s got it’s work cut out to pay you back in time.

With that said, here are CVP’s pricing tiers.

Key features of Arri’s new Amira:

• Ready to pick up and shoot straight out of the camera bag.

(including startup)

• creative liberation through functional, user-friendly design.

• same amazing sensor as Arri Alexa.

• records HD 1080 or 2K (with 4K imager).

• 14 stops (clean!) dynamic range.

• up to 200fps.

• ProRes LT, 422, 422HQ or 444 codecs.

• Integrated, motorized ND filters.

• peaking, false color, zebra.

• OLED viewfinder with extendable LCD on the side.

• comes with a number of preloaded 3D LUT-based looks for fast grading.

Arri AMIRA Starts At €25,980

Connected TV Investment Paying off for BSKYB

BSkyB is reaping the rewards for its investment in connected TV. The company now has 4.4 million connected Sky+HD DVRs installed out of a total television customer base of 10.5 million homes and added 1 million of these during Q2 of 2013 alone. The company says it is now Britain’s biggest connected TV platform, “and with millions of customers yet to connect their boxes, there is still a big opportunity ahead.”

Notably, in its end-December 2013 half year report, BSkyB declares: “We have seen positive benefits from higher customer satisfaction and advocacy from those customers with a connected Sky+HD box relative to the overall base. Meanwhile, investment in expanding our On Demand service and raising awareness of its benefits is driving upsell to higher-tier packages.”

Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive at BSkyB, comments: “Everything that we see tells us that customers love the benefits that come with the connected box. On Demand usage more than trebled year on year and the number of movie rentals through Sky Store [the transactional VOD service] doubled as customers responded to greater flexibility and choice.”

Click here to view original web page at www.v-net.tv

Connected TV Investment Paying off for BSKYB

Sony Pictures Imageworks India To Shut Down

Less than six years after opening, Sony Pictures Imageworks India will shut down, according to a report in Variety. Sony provided the following statement to the trade publication:

“Sony Pictures Imageworks will not renew its lease in Chennai, India when it expires in March. This facility made significant contributions to such productions as MIB3 and the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Imageworks is committed to its headquarters in Culver City and facility in Vancouver, BC.”

Few of the Indian studio’s approximately 100 employees are expected to be relocated.

Sony Pictures Imageworks India To Shut Down

Check Out This 30K Array: Yes That is a 6 RED EPIC Camera Rig

Pictorvision has introduced the newest feature of their popular Eclipse gyro-stabilized system.

So this is officially the most mental camera rig we have seen in a long time. Made up of 6 (yes 6) 5k Red Epics, the Eclipse Multicam Array from Pictorvision is designed to capture the highest resolution Panoramic VFX plate shots on earth.

At the core of the Eclipse’s superior performance is the patented XR Motion Management technology that enables the highest level of stability and popular features such as geo-steering and the ability to look straight down.

The Eclipse’s open-architecture design offers great latitude in camera and lens combinations so when clients made the request to capture more in their visual effects shots, Pictorvision’s engineering team went the next step to develop a stabilized platform for high-resolution plate shots.

The Multicam Array utilizes six off-the-shelf 5K Red Epics (recording to RedMags) in an array 3 across by 2 rows high. A 7th Epic is used in the cockpit as Master Controller. All 6 shooting cameras can be monitored live on one screen or isolated individually. When all six images are stitched together, the result is a seamless 12K (46 Megapixel) image with a 140 degrees horizontal, 60 degrees vertical view, previously unavailable from the air.

Pictorvision offers a set of 6 Canon EF 24mm f1.4L II USM lenses and filter kits or can supply Canon lens mounts to accommodate customer-supplied lenses. In addition to aerial use, the Eclipse Multicam Array can be used on the ground with small cranes via a Mitchell-mount adapter.

Check Out This 30K Array: Yes That is a 6 RED EPIC Camera Rig

Matrox Mojito 4K 10-bit H.264

Matrox Video have announced the immediate availability of 10-bit H.264 intra-frame rendering with the Matrox Mojito 4K quad 3G-SDI 4K video monitoring card for use with Adobe Premiere Pro CC on Windows platforms. The new video card enables realtime monitoring and output of video footage at resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 and at frame rates up to 60 fps (4Kp60).

“With the Mojito 4K card, Matrox leads the way in 4K post-production with Adobe Premiere Pro CC, providing the only solution that offers 10-bit H.264 intra-frame rendering for a complete end-to-end 4K delivery workflow,” said Wayne Andrews, product manager at Matrox.

“Until now, all renders were done at a maximum resolution of 1080; Mojito 4K lets users ingest, edit, render and export in full 4K.”

Key features of Matrox Mojito 4K

4K (4096 x 2160), QFHD (3840 x 2160), 2K(2048 x 1080), HD and SD output resolutions

60 fps frame rate support, even at 4K resolution

2K, QFHD/UFD and full 4K 10-bit H.264 intra-frame rendering for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

SD, HD and 3G-SDI connectivity per SMPTE 259, 292 and 424/425M Level A and Level B mapping

8- and 10-bit YUV output at all resolutions and frames rates

Up to 16 channels of SDI embedded audio support

Bi-level and tri-level genlock input

Single ¾-length PCIe card with five full-size BNC connectors directly on the card bracket

Highly optimized Adobe Mercury Transmit plug-ins for Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe Prelude CC and Adobe SpeedGrade CC

WYSIWYG support for Adobe After Effects CC and Photoshop CC

Price and availability

Matrox Mojito 4K is priced at $1995 US (€1795, £1495)

Matrox Mojito 4K 10-bit H.264

Wednesday 29 January 2014

GH4K announcement on Feb 7

The guys over at 43 rumours are reporting that the Panasonic GH4K may see a release date on Feb 7th 2014.

They say, “According to two trusted sources Panasonic will launch the new 4K Micro Four Thirds camera on February 7.” The GH4k is set to sell for around $2000 and record at 200Mps. The mirrorless cam also features ALL-I intra mode recording.

Click here to view original web page at www.43rumors.com

GH4K announcement on Feb 7

Canon Misses Forecast Amid Camera Slump

Canon Inc.’s forecast for annual net income missed analyst estimates as the world’s largest camera maker stumbles amid slowing demand.

Net income will probably total 240 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in 2014, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement today. That’s less than the 267 billion yen average of 22 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg

Smartphones and tablet computers are adding sophisticated lenses and sensors, eroding demand for Canon’s PowerShot compact models and EOS high-end sets and leading to the first annual drop in shipments of single lens reflex models. The company is promoting cost cuts as it seeks to expand businesses such as medical imaging to sustain profit growth.

Canon expects to sell 7.6 million single-lens reflex cameras in 2014, which is 50,000 fewer than last year, while sales of compact models are forecast to drop 20 percent to 10.5 million units, the company said.

Click here to view original web page at www.businessweek.com

Canon Misses Forecast Amid Camera Slump

Amazing Ken Block GoPro Video

Ever wondered what happens when you mix a whole load of GoPro Camera’s, a fast Ford and an expert driver? Well it looks something like this… Check these amazing shots as in this latest Ken Block Gymkhana video. Every angle has been captured on a GoPro

Amazing Ken Block GoPro Video

Holy F, this is the craziest GoPro video I've ever seen

Is Nikon planning to join club 4k?

Canon have done it with their 4K 1D-C, Panasonic are teasing us with the rumoured GH4K and now Nikon are seemingly joining the 4K race.

Zurab Kiknadaze, Nikon’s European Product Manager has said, “We are aware of the need for, and request for, 4K video…It is a bit tricky, it’s not something that we are purposefully excluding from our cameras; however we need to approach it carefully. There are high-end cameras that produce this but it just puts such a load on the equipment…For us, because consumers are demanding it we are aware of this and will be looking into it for the future.”

So is the future of DSLR video all about 4K? It sure is, and that’s great news for film makers who want to keep using DSLR for production.

Is Nikon planning to join club 4k?

Gravity and ‘Frozen storm 3D Society Awards

If tech credits carry weight, then “Gravity” and “Frozen” have a leg up in the Oscar race for their respective categories.

The Warner Bros. space drama and Disney Animation musical both won multiple honors at The International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society’s 3D Creative Arts Awards gala, held Jan. 28 at Warner Bros. Studios.

The award for best live action Short went to Kafard Films for “Lapse of Time” and the best international entertainment – music Lumiere went to “Des Roar” (International 3D Media Partners).

Other winners included CCTV China for cultural documentary “Guo Mai,” Shanghai Media Group for nature documentary “The Mountain’s Spirit,” and BBC for 3D advertising for the London summer Olympics.

Click here to view original web page at variety.com

Gravity and ‘Frozen storm 3D Society Awards

Are "second screen" TV Apps dead?

Could the buzz around “second screen” TV apps finally be coming to an end? The answer is a firm “yes” from Yahoo who have confirmed it’s phasing out IntoNow, a three-year-old app that automatically recognized what viewers were watching and delivered synchronized content.

Turns out, many people who watch TV really just want to watch TV instead of fiddling with an app in their lap at the same time. Or, if they’re interacting with friends, they’re more likely to commune via Twitter or Facebook rather than a dedicated app.

Yahoo, in a message titled “We’re Out like Walter White” on the IntoNow website, said that “as part of our ongoing efforts to sharpen our focus,” the IntoNow app will stop working on March 31, 2014. The apps for iOS and Google Android have been unavailable to download since Jan. 24.

Yahoo acquired IntoNow for around $20 million in 2011.

Are "second screen" TV Apps dead?

Tuesday 28 January 2014

DTG: 2014 year Ultra-HD gets defined

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Taking what it describes as a “measured and cautious” approach, the DTG, the industry association for digital television in the UK, has suggested that it has the time in the next six to twelve months to define clearly what Ultra-high definition television actually means and what it really means for the UK broadcast industry.

Describing Ultra-HD one of the most exciting things that is going to happen in terms of TV experience in the next ten years, Richard Lindsay-Davies, Director General of the DTG suggested that this was one of main reasons the DTG was determined to get it right.

See on advanced-television.com

DTG: 2014 year Ultra-HD gets defined

NHK Broadcasts 8K Video Over the Air

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Japan’s NHK says it has successfully transmitted 8K “Super Hi-Vision” television signals via a single standard UHF terrestrial broadcast channel over a distance of 27 km.

The field test, conducted on Jan. 20 was performed as a follow-up to a May 2012 demonstration in which the UHD signal was sent slightly more than four km.

See on www.tvtechnology.com

NHK Broadcasts 8K Video Over the Air

Samsung Overtakes Sony in North American UHD TV Market

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Samsung Electronics controlled half of the market for ultra high definition TVs in North America as of December.

According to NPD Display Search on Sunday, Samsung topped the market with a 48.3 percent share in November and 49.8 percent last month.

See on english.chosun.com

Samsung Overtakes Sony in North American UHD TV Market

Dutch court lifts ban on The Pirate Bay after it proves ‘innefective’

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

A Dutch court lifted a ban on The Pirate Bay, ruling that the ban had proven to be “innefective,” reports Tweakers.
See on bgr.com

Dutch court lifts ban on The Pirate Bay after it proves ‘innefective’

Moody's cuts Sony's credit rating to junk

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Moody’s has cut its credit rating on Sony to junk, saying the Japanese electronics giant had more work to do in repairing its battered balance sheet.

See on www.zdnet.com

Moody's cuts Sony's credit rating to junk

Level3 builds cloud-based video transfer

Level 3 Communications has launched a new cloud-based file-transfer platform that simplifies and accelerates the process of sending large video and data loads, such as syndicated content and advertising files, worldwide.

FOX Broadcasting was the first to beta test Level 3′s Cloud Content Exchange which was built to be an alternative to mail service carriers and slow-moving file transfer protocol (FTP) sites to send content to and from locations. It uses Level 3′s extensive worldwide storage platform and global network connectivity, and stores media files in a central, cloud-based library where they can be meta-tagged, sorted and accessed in real time with rapid upload and download speeds.

Could be worth a look if you need to move large video files around the world quickly, obviously this is going to be limited by local speeds.

Level3 builds cloud-based video transfer

Phantom HD-SDI v2010: 22,000 fps at Full Resolution

Made as a tool for research, scientific and engineering applications that require high-resolution images at very high speeds, the new Phantom v2010 camera has the proprietary Vision Research widescreen CMOS sensor and can acquire and save up to 22 gigapixels per second of data. This means that at its full megapixel resolution of 1280 x 800, a photographer can achieve greater than 22,000 fps.

The sensor has 28 micron pixels to achieve enough light sensitivity to support high-speed imaging, and the standard 12-bit depth per pixel gives a high dynamic range. An internal mechanical shutter allows automatic and remote black references.

The v2010 has the common signal connections located on the back panel, including timecode, dual power inputs, HD-SDI, a GPS input, frame synchronization and trigger. The two HD-SDI ports can be configured in several ways. They can act as identical 4:2:2 HD-SDI ports where one port can be set up to provide an optional on-screen display for monitoring the on-camera controls and camera operation. They can also be configured as a single 4:4:4 Dual-Link HD-SDI port.

The camera comes with a Nikon F-mount that also supports G-mount lenses, or it can be equipped with a Canon EF mount, C-mount or PL-mount lens. Users can load 24GB, 48GB or 96GB of high-speed memory and reduce cine save times with the Phantom CineMag function, saving any shot from high-speed RAM to a CineMag in a few seconds.

Phantom HD-SDI v2010: 22,000 fps at Full Resolution

Panasonic asks ‘Why DSLR?’ in campaign by We Are Social

Panasonic is taking a direct swipe at the DSLR in an attempt to promote it’s new Lumix mirrorless camera range.

Teaming up with creative agency We Are Social, Panasonic are pondering the question ‘Why DSLR?’ in a series of humorous videos. The campaign will target popular gadget forums and blogs in order to intercept the journey between online discussions and purchase, with the creations of videos such as Why are DSLR lenses so big?; Are DSLR cameras loud?; and Are DSLRs better for action shots?

The videos, featuring a bodybuilder, an owl and a duel-style shoot-out, aim to answer the top auto-complete Google search queries relating to ‘DSLR’.

Panasonic asks ‘Why DSLR?’ in campaign by We Are Social

Monday 27 January 2014

DSLR Color Profiles for Color Grading – Can you the picture be too flat

See on Scoop.it – DSLR Video

DSLR Color Profiles for Color Grading – Can you the picture be too flat? Phil Rhodes explains the color styles on Canon cameras and how using different picture styles can effect the footage after color grading.
See on filmmakeriq.com

DSLR Color Profiles for Color Grading – Can you the picture be too flat

Zoom iQ5 external microphone for iPhone

One of the biggest problems facing iPhone shooters is poor sound from the internal mic. Over the years we have seen picture quality drastically improve only for sound to remain close to unusable for anything important.

Three months after Zoom Japan unveiled the iQ5 mid-side condenser microphone for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, its North American arm has announced immediate US availability at NAMM 2014. The device makes use of a unique rotating mechanism which allows for left-right stereo recording at CD-quality resolution.

The iQ5 features a unique rotating mechanism which allows for left-right stereo recording …

Situation-tuned Auto Gain presets can be selected, and there’s a built-in Limiter to help …

The Zoom iQ5 is powered by the host iOs device

Up to 40 dB of input gain is available via the wheel at the side

Billed by Zoom North America as the world’s first mid-side condenser mic for iOS devices, the iQ5 contains two microphone elements. There’s a directional mid mic to capture audio coming from the front, and a bidirectional side mic to, well, grab the sounds from left and right. Stereo width can be set to either 90° or 120°, and users can also opt to record the incoming mid and side signals as RAW data for later adjustment via the free companion Handy Recorder app.

The iQ5 contains two microphone elements - a directional mid mic to capture audio coming f...

Could be worth the investment if your are looking to take your iPhone movies to the next level.

Zoom iQ5 external microphone for iPhone

Milky Way Time-Lapse Video: “Ancients”

We’re big fans of Time-Lapse video and recently discovered this incredible Milky Way film by photographer Nicholas Bure. “Ancients” delivers a breath taking view of the galaxy from one of the darkest sites on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. Look out for the 30 second mark where you can see Venus setting below the Milky Way’s central bulge.

Milky Way Time-Lapse Video: “Ancients”

Sunday 26 January 2014

Shoot your own ‘Shark Week’ with this $850 underwater ‘drone’

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Why let scientists have all the fun? OpenROV, an open-source remotely operated mini-submarine, lets anyone explore the ocean’s depths like a pro. And it’ll cost you less than a high-end iPad Air.
See on www.digitaltrends.com

Shoot your own ‘Shark Week’ with this $850 underwater ‘drone’

Saturday 25 January 2014

Check out this DIY Raspberry Pipad

Thinking of buying a new tablet? Disappointed by the latest models? Well why not build your own…

That was the decision made by Michael Caster, the Product Curator and Evangelist for MakerMedia. He decided to make his very own “PiPad” using a $40 Raspberry Pi to power it. If you fancy a shot at building your own DIYpad then you’ll find all the info you need below. It’s not one for the faint hearted but talk about bragging rights if you pull it off!

Click here to view original web page at makezine.com

Check out this DIY Raspberry Pipad

Friday 24 January 2014

Great Drone Footage Collection

What better way to round of the week than a collection of incredible drone footage videos, let em roll…

Great Drone Footage Collection

Mac Pro Unboxing

Usually unboxing videos are a little too geeky for us. On this occasion we just couldn’t help ourselves…

12-core Mac Pro 2013 Unboxing (Cinema Style) [4K]

This is the 12-core Mac Pro with the following specs / package items -

Configuration

• 2.7GHz 12-core with 30MB of L3 cache

• 64GB (4 x 16GB) of 1866MHz DDR3 ECC

• 1TB PCIe-based flash storage

• Dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM each

• User’s Guide (English)

• Accessory Kit

Mac Pro Unboxing

YouTube Unveils New Comment Page

YouTube has revamped its commenting system again, still linking to but not totally removing it from Google+, despite receiving major criticism when it switched the system over to its social arm.

Centralized and Filtered

The new comment moderation system offers creators a dashboard that lets them interact in one place with all the comments their videos receive. Actions remain the same: approve, deny, flag, report, view… you name it.

The other real improvement is that YouTube is allowing creators to streamline actions by setting up filters: approved users, banned users and blacklist. These will work, provided the discussion tab is activated, i.e. the creator allows comments on her/his videos and/or channel.

Approved and banned users is self explanatory. ‘Blacklist,’ however, has more to it than plainly banning a person (already in the ‘banned user’ category): it allows the video creator to select a list of words to act as triggers for comments to be held back and moderated before hitting the page.

Unwanted content, even by an authorized user, will thus be stopped short. Comments can also be held for review, in general, before they get published but the blacklist is likely to help sift through spammy content, on top of Google’s dedicated spam recognition efforts.

Comment Ranking

Google+ will play a major role in surfacing comments. Contributions from people in your circles or from popular personalities (based on their Google footprint) will rank higher in the comments thread, along with your own comments, if you are the creator.

What seems logical from a search perspective seems to make little sense here: the search priorities may not be the creators’ ones.

If anything, Google is also promising to enable features such as in-line replies or expanding all replies. Mix that with the popularity and circles algorithm we just mentioned and you turn comments moderation into a new headache.

It looks like another nightmare is about to begin. Let’s see how Google finally decides to correct this, for real… maybe.

This article was originally published on ClickZ.

YouTube Unveils New Comment Page

GoPro unveils camera kit aimed at bands

GoPro makes some of the most popular cameras out there for recording action sports. Typically when we see video made with one of these cameras it is on YouTube and often has people doing things that are dangerous. GoPro has announced a new camera kit that has specialized mounts for people that want to record their jam session.

The new GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition/Music comes with several mounts designed specifically for use on the stage. Mounts include one that allows the camera to fit on a mic stand with US or European mounts. The camera also comes with adhesive mounts for attaching directly to musical instruments. What might be the most interesting mount looks like a clamp you might use in the workshop. It is designed to clamp onto just about any surface and securely hold the camera in place. It can also be used with other mounts in tandem for more flexibility. The Music camera kit will hit stores this spring for $399.99(USD).

GoPro unveils camera kit aimed at bands

Sony PROduction Awards 2014: Now open

Entries are now open for Sony’s annual film production awards, the PROduction Awards 2014. The awards, now in their third year, are split into the categories of factual, creative, or student, with the winner from each category winning a Sony NEX-FS700RH 4K Super 35mm Exmor CMOS sensor NXCAM camcorder, Sony’s latest UWP-D wireless microphone kit, and access to Ci – Sony’s cloud-based video production and library platform.

Films are judged by an expert panel based on how well the content is shot given the equipment used, whether it’s a high-end 35mm cinematic camera or a smartphone. The judges will also factor in the creativity of each submission and how engaging the idea, content, cinematography, direction and production are.

The 10 judges for this year’s awards include DP, filmmaker and renowned blogger Philip Bloom, documentary filmmaker and head of communications at the Rory Peck Trust, Molly Clarke and the BAFTA award-winning playwright and dramatist Tony Marchant. Last year’s winner in the PROduction Awards student category, Mohammed El-Sehrawy, also joins the judging panel for this year’s awards.

The awards are open for submissions until 10 March

www.productionawards.sony.eu

Sony PROduction Awards 2014: Now open

The awards are open for submissions until 10 March

www.productionawards.sony.eu

Sony PROduction Awards 2014: Now open

Thursday 23 January 2014

Panasonic will launch the 4K GH in February

See on Scoop.it – 4k Cameras

Reports over at Engadget suggest that the Panasonic 4k Gh camera will be heading to a store near you this February!Panasonic fired up the rumour mill by showing off a mockup at CES this year. The good news is that its real and marks Panasonic’s entry into club 4K.Rumours about the GH4K point to 200mbps UHD video and a Micro-Four Thirds chip.
See on www.mirrorlessrumors.com

Panasonic will launch the 4K GH in February

Apple takes big step toward making Apple TV a gaming console

See on Scoop.it – Perform Video

Apple has never really been much of a gaming company but that could change this year. Apparently Apple is planning a major update for Apple TV sometime over the next two months that will add support for Bluetooth-equipped gaming controllers. What’s more, sources say that Apple wants to let users download iOS games directly to Apple TV instead of having to rely on using their iPhone or iPad. A move to put iOS games on the big screen would be a major move into the gaming sector for Apple, which for a long time has stayed away from investing in gaming.
See on bgr.com

Apple takes big step toward making Apple TV a gaming console

Old Spice Is Back With Another Set Of Viral Pranks

The creative team at Old Spice are at it again, that is making hilarious video content that will probably end up going “viral”.

This time around the ad team are making clever use of the Vimeo video Player to create a number of prank websites.

Take, for example, this website for a “Push Up Muscle Shirt”. Click the link, then just let the page sit there for a few seconds. Surprise! The page drops away and it’s the good ol’ Old Spice Man — or, as his mother knows him, Isaiah Mustafa — gently shaming you in the way only he can.

Old Spice aside we were rather impressed by this creative use of Vimeo!

All the other prank sites, each with their own surprise video bit:

Neck Workouts

Solid Gold Bluetooth Headsets

100% Leather Sheets

Protein cologne

Spray tan parties

Brodominiums – condos inside gyms

Bargain tattoos

Soulpatch flavor powder

Old Spice Is Back With Another Set Of Viral Pranks

Netflix Q4 profit up six-fold

Despite worries about stagnating subscriber growth in a saturated market, Netflix grew its fourth quarter 2013 net profit six-fold from a year ago, reaching $48 million, even as its subscriber base exceeded 44 million members worldwide.

The online streaming darling handily beat Wall Street expectations, gaining 2.3 million more US subscribers in Q4 and more than four million overall. Meanwhile, revenue was up 24% year-over-year to $1.18 billion.

In terms of Q1 2014 guidance, Netflix expects to add another 2.25 million domestic customers, setting up an about 11% year-over-year increase.

Click here to view original web page at www.rapidtvnews.com

Netflix Q4 profit up six-fold

Samyang filter holder for the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens

Samyan have just announced a new filter holder for the Samyan 14mm f/ 2.8 lens.

The SFH-14 has been designed from the ground up in standard and V-DSLR cine version. This solves the common problem of mounting the filters on a lens that does not have a filter thread because of specific optical construction. The holder is made of lightweight ABS plastic. The holder comes with double slideways to use one or two filters at the same time. Due to a rotatable construction of the holder, filters can be used both vertically and horizontally.

Specs

Material: ABS plastic, metal;

Weight: 115 g (weight without filters);

Dimensions: 180 x 168 x 45 mm;

Price: 32 €;

Samyang filter holder for the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens