NAB 2019 Summary

So NAB 2019 draws to a close. As ever NAB (and particularly Las Vegas) is draining but full of experiences. On the way into the convention was the Nu Leaf Marijuana shop offering convention attendees 10% discount. On the Wednesday there was a homeless man wandering around the show with a trolley filled with carrier bags and rubbish, but he had a badge, so nobody stopped him. Anyway back to the kit. Let us have a brief look at the big ticket items on show this year. It wouldn't be me if I didn't comment on the Arri Mini LF, so here goes: Fundamentally the Mini LF is the Alexa LF in a smaller body, so same sensor. The sensor has the same three sensor modes, so still has the original issues with Full Frame requiring larger than standard FF Lenses, UHD requiring lenses with a bigger image circle than 36.35mm so standard wide Super 35mm lenses vignette. No progression there. Arri have incorporated Codex Compact Drive Bay on the side of the camera. The only issue with this is that the camera is still using ArriRAW with more than double the data rate of Sony RAW and Arri is only 12 Bit where Sony is 16 Bit. Sony also have XOCN which has been widely adopted by Film Makers across the globe due to it's amazing quality and smaller than RAW file sizes. Arri have addressed the ND filter issue and incorporated a motorised Filter Mech. Only 4 filters at 0, 2, 4 and 6 stops against the Venice's 0 - 8 stops in 1 stop increments. The Mini LF is some way from delivery despite Arri taking pre orders from last week. For the same money you can get a Venice/Cine with the Rialto Extension Kit now. Sony Venice V4.0 Sony have confirmed that V4.0 and the HFR Option will be available in June as promised. It is worth saying that the Venice will require a hardware upgrade for V4.00. This will be done FOC by Top-Teks. Lenses Of particular interest are the Fujinon Premista FF Zooms. Top-Teks will be selling these despite previous doubts. The name is a combination of Premier, Fuji's Ultra High Quality Super 35mm Zooms, and Vista as a nod to Vista Vision. The 28-100 is T2.9 throughout, has an image circle of 46.3mm and weighs in at 3.8kg. The 80-250 is T2.9 up to 200mm then T3.5 and weighs the same. The 28-100 will launch first with the 80-250 delivering late this year. For pricing and pre orders please contact the sales team. Canon Sumire, the Japanese name for flower, purity or lovely! The Sumire come in the same focal lengths and Maximum Apertures as the CN-E primes and use similar bodies. That's where the similarity ends. The Sumire Primes have a lovely roll off and don't have the hard resolution of the CN-Es. With different coatings and colour the Sumire Primes will hold their position in the Cine market very well, at a good price. Leica were showing the Leitz Primes, 18 to 180mm, all T1.8, 46.5mm Image Circle. Interesting to note, the 18mm Leitz Prime is only 600g lighter than the Premista Zoom! Zeiss showed the Supremes, 15mm, 18mm, 150mm and 200mm due next year. Lighting  Lots and lots of lighting, so I'll pick two of interest. Gemini 1 x 1 from Litepanels. Basically a half sized Gemini 2 x 1 with all the functionality, but the reduced size means it can be run from a standard camera battery. Aladdin 2 x 1 RGB Wireless Links Teradek launched the 4K Wireless System. I'm not really sure what this is about. For monitoring I'm not sure you'd want 4K wirelessly? Hollyland Syscom 421. This is 4 Wireless Transmitters with a single receiver. We continually get asked for this for low key multi camera events. There's plenty more detail on the above products and of course a lot more products to discuss. These we will share over the coming weeks.