Canada Saves the Day

I just re-installed my Mac OS this weekend and am currently in the middle of trying to get all of my applications working properly again. Wadding through endless plug-ins and downloads is a pain. Even more so when you're dealing with Sony software.

Sony's US software/firmware site is difficult to make sense of and has glaring omissions. Being stuck, once again, trying to get XDCAM codec support for QuickTime Player has left me breathless and bewildered. Luckily our friends up North have a much more sensible support site.

Thank you Canada.

SxS w/ SDHC?

Sonnet, who makes a bunch of cool stuff, just released their SDHC Adapter for SxS Camera Slot. With it you can use itty-bitty SD cards in any Express Card 34 Slot. Like the one found on this camera.


Or even the one found on this camera.


You'll need a very fast SDHC card to be able to use this set-up on an ALEXA. SanDisk and Kingston both just released the fastest SDHC cards on the market. It's possible, but right now these new cards are still not fast enough to record your ProRes 4444 Log C masters. Besides, you'd probably just end up losing these little SD cards anyway...

But on the Sony F3 this could end up being half the price of a comparable SxS card. Then again, Sony's XDCAM EX codec is piss-poor when coupled w/ the F3's imager and ability to record in S-Log gamma. You'd be much better off skipping the SxS cards and XDCAM EX codec and going straight in with the ass-kicking 10-bit Apple codec ProRes 422 HQ via the new AJA Ki Pro Mini.


Or just give it 6 months. Or maybe 12 when Sony releases their newest flash memory cards.

MIA

Yes. I have been "Missing In Action" lately. It's been busy both personally and professionally. I've been working on a new website and business that should launch sometime in March. I promise to Blog more... sorry.

She's Heeeeeeeeeeeere!!!

Arri Feline "Direct-to-Hairball" Attachment Sold Separately.

A DIT Tent that Comes in Camo? Uber-Awesomeness!

This is cool. Paying out $1500 bucks to Village Blackout is not.

So what's a cash-strapped Digital Imaging Tech to do? How about buying a Hunting Blind instead?

Is the Gaffer giving you a hard time 'cause your DIT tent is bouncing more light than his 20x? I suggest getting the Undercover 360 in Mossy Oak.


Working on a feature deep in the heart of Siberia? You won't go wrong with the addition of a Snow Camo Cover.


Shooting on the prairies of Nebraska and you need room for three? Don't sweat it. Beavertail's got you covered. Literally.


By the way, the above is probably the best picture ever taken and/or created in Photoshop.

I bought my camo rig at the Bass Pro Shop in Rancho Cucamonga for a buck and a quarter. It's got windows, a roof flap, and a hook for hanging up any fresh meat. Best of all, I don't have to move out of the wide shot when shooting on a golf course.


Hey! Check out those extras hanging out next to that bush! Nice!


I'm gonna spend the $1375 I saved by seeing Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World at the Academy in Pasadena over and over again 'cause it's the BEST MOVIE EVA! And if you haven't seen it you should be ashamed of yourself for not supporting a studio film chock full of creativity, originality, and awesomenesses.

Own an ALEXA and Put It On Your iPad... For Free!

Don't have 75K in your back pocket? Still at the bottom of the waiting list? Just can't get enough cool toys for your tablet?

Well give it up to ARRI once again. Now you can have your own ALEXA in cyberspace. Or better yet, download the ALEXA Camera Simulator right to your iPad. Now all you'll have to do is figure out how to attach that 27mm Master Prime.

What Does ALEXA's Log C Look Like?

I've been really nutso busy lately and am still deciding how I'm gonna make sense of the ALEXA ASA/Gain test I did a week back. But for now I thought I'd share a short clip of the ALEXA's Log C capture with and without a color-corrected LUT applied. This was a 3D LUT made in the field as a quick reference color grade and not a simple transform LUT. You can really see (even on the small, small screen) how much detail the ALEXA picks up in the shadow areas of the frame (pay close attention to our ladies hair).

ALEXA Log C + LUT from Adrian Jebef on Vimeo.

And check out this article from ARRI's website. It's a quick Q&A with DP Anna Foerster on her experience using the ALEXA for the first time.