As we continue to question the need for 4K production across the spectrum, TV manufacturers are wasting no time pushing 4K TVs out to customers. Sony 4K TVs are shipping from Adorama and Amazon with prices starting at $5000. The Seiki 4K 50″ TV is much more reasonably priced at $1445 here at Amazon.com.
While the 4K content I have seen at CES and NAB this year has been gorgeous, I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger on a 4K set. Many HD broadcasters and cable channels continue to pump out 720p programming to content consumers across the nation. Additionally, the compression from cable providers on HD content is terrible. I can’t imagine how bad the compression will be on full 4K content when it starts coming down the content pipe.
Of course, those finishing productions in 4K resolution now have access to 4K TVs to view final products and/or demo content to clients.
Vision Research unveiled its new Phantom Flex4K cinema camera at NAB 2013. The stunner feature is that it captures 4K RAW footage at 1000fps.
I stopped by the Vision Research booth to get a closer look at the Phantom Flex4K and to see some 4K demo footage on a 4K display. Before we get into the build and specs of the Flex4K, check out the below video shot with the Flex4K in 4K. [click to continue…]
4K was certainly the big theme this year at NAB. Whether it was cameras, capture, post or delivery, 4K video was everywhere.
Of course, some manufacturers are further along than others in the 4K development pipeline. Panasonic happened to have a single 4K camcorder under glass. However, this was a working model that was pumping out a 4K signal via a single HDMI 1.4a cable to a 4K monitor next to the display. [click to continue…]
The new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and Production Camera 4K won’t be shipping until July 2013. However, the line to get one starts now.
I expect both of these models to be in high demand. I sat down with a representative earlier today and he said that while the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera will begin shipping in July, they are expecting a high demand that will lead to a hefty backorder log.
In short, if you want one, pre-order it now.
You can pre-order the Blackmagic Pocket Camera here at B&H Photo.
You can pre-order the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K here at B&H Photo.
Alongside the new Pocket Cinema Camera, Blackmagic announced its new Production Camera 4K today at NAB 2013.
The new camera is housed in the same body as last year’s Blackmagic Cinema Camera; however, the Production Camera 4K sports some fancy new innards, including a Super35 format sensor that captures high quality compressed CinemaDNG RAW and ProRes 422 (HQ) files in 4K resolution. It boasts 12 stops of dynamic range and includes DaVinci Resolve color grading software. [click to continue…]
Canon has announced that it will be providing a free update to the EOS 1D C to make the 25p frame rate available for 4K capture in April 2013. This announcement is a result of feedback from the European professional video community.
Stay tuned for word on the official release of the firmware update when it hits.
