The technology to make create instant files directly from a tape-based camera is not new. Many companies have been marketing devices since tapeless cameras first camera out. But as the market becomes more refine, the devices become more intuitive. AJA has been one of the leaders in this market, and their most recent device, the Ki Pro Mini is no exception.

Sound Devices doesn’t sound like a company that would make a splash with a video mobile recording device, but they have in a big way. The Pix 220 and 240 are mobile video recorders that create up to 10-bit digital video files and transfer them to a compact flash of solid state drive. Not only can the Sound Devices Pix record from a tape to make an instantaneously digital file, it can convert resolutions of the file at the same time. The Pix 240 and 220 offers real-time conversion from 1080i...

Examining the Loss of Magnetic Media From Repeated Hard Drive Usage in Video Production

Advancing in technology today means making “less” of something. Camera technology is no different. It started by making the camera tape “less”, and now manufacturers strive to make the camera wire “less”.

Creative Asset Management is a key component of the video performance strategy. Implementing a content management strategy before shooting will help you to optimize your content for video search engine optimization (VSEO) if you intend to publish your content to the web, or for internal use, will help you manage locating, tracking, and building your content library. Whether you’re producing a video to publish for the viral or internal use, on or offline, here are some tips for implementing...

Red Light. Green Light. Red Light. Green Light. Much like the children’s game, video production is a sporadic stop and go ordeal. As a director of photography, when your green light is up, the client wants you to make the most efficient use of your time, and there is nothing worse than equipment failure. The Bebob Rouge ML-120 hot swap adapter can eliminate that moment for the camera battery for the RED camera. The Bebob Rouge ML-120 will take over when the battery dies for 2 minutes, enough...

Video is on track to be the most widely used online application. It’s creating a new standard for corporate communicators in today’s marketplace. When your organization incorporates a video messaging strategy the goal is to achieve optimal engagement and branded influence, but the content of your messaging is what reveals that actual outcome.

Do you ever wish that your camera support gear could multitask like a Leatherman Multi-Tool? With a simple flip of the wrist, a tripod could become dolly track; with another flip, a c-stand. The DC Slider manufactured by Floatcam, with distribution from Matthews Studio Equipment, offers this multifunctional concept to the camera platform. The DC Slider has a platform that can become a Mini Jib with a 63” jib arm.

The way society pays attention to media has changed. Are you shooting content relevant to the change? Going, going and soon to be gone are the days of static non-interactive content. Even in today's traditional television programming, messaging consists of commercials plugged with web inducement to activate engagement in audiences.

Many would agree that the key to successful lighting is control. Ask any freelance director of photography, however, and they will often tell you that control is difficult—if not impossible—to maintain in location production. With Litepanels new ENG camera-mounted lights, controlling light on location should be worry-free. Sola ENG LED Fresnel by Litepanels is a revolutionary...

The evolving landscape of new media has without question fundamentally reshaped corporate communications. Traditional measures for producing video content have new practices to comply with from standardizing production metrics to digitizing archives with streamlined meta-database referencing. Many companies new to the world of video communications are flocking to capitalize on the paramount trend sweeping the web with hopes that producing a video will put their business front and center on the...

Today’s technological world is about balance. People love large, epic technology in their homes, but the small portable for the everyday. Location production is no different. Sometimes location productions warrant a monitor when the camera is locked down, but sometimes the production is too run-and-gun to utilize a monitor. Zacuto has presented a good balance between those two situations with their Zacuto Z-Finder Electronic Viewfinders (EVF). Their line of attachable viewfinders has a 3.2”...

Apple and Intel have developed together a new transfer technology epically entitled Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt transfer technology is currently exclusive to the Lacie Little Big Disk drives. Thunderbolt technology integrates data and display protocol over a single cable, and can allow up to 10GB/second transfer speed bi-directionally from the drive to multiple sources.

Ever find yourself with a media card that was “accidentally” formatted? How about a card that had an error caused by the camera overheating or running out of battery? Don’t pull out your hair thinking all your hard work is lost. There’s a chance your footage or stills can be saved, at least the ones that haven’t been overwritten.

What if I said media transfer could be a simple push of a button? You might think I’m crazy, but Nexto has created a device that makes media transfer nearly effortless. The Nexto DI NVS 2525 is an “On-the-Go” device that can back-up and transfer media without a laptop. The NVS 2525 works with SxS cards, P2 Cards, & with an adapter, CF cards. With the NVS 2525’s “Multi Copy” mode you can simultaneously download video files to its internal 750GB hard drive while downloading to an...

The NAB Show in Las Vegas is the pinnacle of technology release in the film and video industry every year. Cutting edge companies always bring their latest and greatest to showcase and the 2011 show was no different. Here's a review of the most exciting products presented at this year's NAB show.

Are you in the market for a new imaging device? Are you focused on upgrading to a new model or manufacturer but are unsure of how compatible it will be with the digital production technologies you use? Are you concerned that the info you’ve found to compare cameras is unreliably biased? Well, you just hit 2011 Digital Camera Comparison Chart Chicago – Detroit has done all the work for you!

Have you ever found yourself wishing that you could communicate telepathically on set? Panasonic just unveiled a versatile wireless system that could be the answer to your prayers. The system will transmit user-selected metadata from the camera to any smart device. In theory, this would be a way for the director of photography telling the assistant camera operator, “Hey buddy, here’s what I’m doing,” without speaking. Using a WLAN connection, the Panasonic AJ-WM30 wireless module,...

The distinction between corporate web presentation and consumer-driven online content is narrowing. Corporations have gone as far as imitating the candid home-made video style hoping to recreate the viral success seen by funny pets and cute babies candidly caught on cam. Does this strategy work in corporate marketing communications-- or does it generate more buzz for faking a viral video?