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Blackmagic Video Assist 4K UnBoxing and the GH4

Blackmagic Video Assist 4K UnBoxing and the GH4 copy

The new Blackmagic Video Assist 4K was introduced at NAB2016 this year and is now available. Quite a lot of features for the money: UHD 4K recording, SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs, Mini XLR audio, ProRes Proxy, LT, Standard and HQ recording, Canon LP-E6 batteries, a mental frame all with a 1080p touch display.

Watch this to see it on a GH4 and some early tests. This is the first video and covers some of the basic operation. There will be more that cover cards and audio.

The Blackmagic Video Assist 4K can be ordered through Adorama for $895.00

 

Shot with the Video Assist and GH4:

NAB is Over – An Overall Video Report

NAB

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention just concluded in Las Vegas.  One of the reasons I go to NAB is to meet up with old friends and make new ones. It was great to see them and compare notes.  I saw the latest and greatest.  I will be filing some 20+ reports.

I saw trends at the show that are encouraging to frugal filmmakers.  The technology is getting better.  Also, Micro Four Thirds saw a significant new camera from Black Magic Design.  One guy had a GH3 on a steady cam like rig.  4K was everywhere.  In the Sony booth was four 4K cameras.  Another trend was the use of Global Shutters in cameras. A global shutter is like the shutter on a motion picture camera.  It exposes all of the image at once so there is no rolling shutter and skew unlike the standard CMOS sensor.  Alas, my GH3 does not have a global shutter.  My next camera probably will.

The rig used for my video reports was just me, my GH3 with the Lumix 12-35 f2.8 Power O.I.S. lens, head phones and the Rode Video Mic Pro.  Nothing else or no rig. Very few traveled as light as I.

Get your GH3 here and check out the Lumix G X 12-35mm f2.8 Pro Zoom here while they stay in stock!

This is the first report that I recorded from NAB 2013.

Frugal Will Be At NAB This Year, Will You?

NAB

Frugal will be t NAB this year, will you?  That's right it is that time again when to get out your walking shoes.  There are miles of exhibit floor to explore for to interview exhibitors about the latest and greatest for the Frugal Filmmaker.  Monday thru Wednesday we will be wandering the halls.

A little background on the NAB show.  The National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas is the biggest media convention of the year.  NAB is one of the biggest conventions to hit Las Vegas.  91,000+ media and entertainment professionals from 150+ countries; 63 delegations attend. They spend over $20.7 billion (USD) in purchasing power. With over 1,500+ Exhibiting companies and 805,000 net square feet of floor space this convention is huge.

Every industry employs audio and video to communicate, educate and entertain. They all come together at NAB Show for creative inspiration and next-generation technologies to help breathe new life into their content: Broadcast, Digital Media, Film, Entertainment, Telecom, Production/ Post-Production, Education, Houses of Worship, Advertising, Military/Government, Retail, Security, Sports, IT and more.  A few years ago the show was opened up to all media producers as we use some of the same gear.  Now I would say media is more important than broadcasting.

There is a twitter hash tag for the post content: #PostChat  for the show: #NABShow  another: #NAB2013

Follow frugal on twitter at: halfmac  On Facebook too.

Does Image Stabilization work when shooting movies?

FF Intvu

Does Image Stabilization work when shooting movies? This question was asked on DV.net.

Yes, I wish more lenses had it. All this excitement over primes and none except the EF 100 Macro has it. Canon needs to turn the EF 24-70 f2.8 into an IS lens. I have the EF 24-105 f4 IS for that reason alone.

IS is one of the best inventions for video shooting. My use of it goes back to Sony's TR-101 Hi8 camera. I got shots with that camera I could not get with my Betacam.

Now with HDSLR's it is essential to have IS lenses because of the CMOS rolling shutter. I have had to edit a few videos where rolling shutter ruined shots I needed because the camera was handheld. This would not have been a problem with IS. I turn the IS on and it goes away.

I usually use my Canon 60D with out a rig for hand held. All of my reports from NAB for this site were done with the 24-105 with IS turned on. I also handhold my EF 70-200 f4 IS as well.

Also when using the 640×480 crop mode in the 60D IS is a great help because the image is so magnified. This was shot on a heavy DV6 Satchler tripod.

Here I am with my handheld rig. The camera is mounted on a CamCaddie which I brace against my body. I also have a Hoodman Loupe on my flipout LCD on my 60D.

@ Hoodman Booth 3