Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1536513
CAMERA TECHNOLOGY www.postmagazine.com 21 POST MAY/JUNE 2025 INSTA360 UNVEILS 8K X5 360 ACTION CAMERA LOS ANGELES — Insta360 (www.insta360.com) released its new flagship 360-degree camera back in April. The X5 combines high image quality, rugged durability and AI-powered ease of use. X5 features larger 1/1.28-inch sensors and a fast Triple AI Chip system that helps to deliver a dramatic leap in image quality across all resolutions, including 8K/30fps 360-degree video. With PureVideo, a new AI-powered low-light mode, X5 achieves crisp, cinematic footage in challenging lighting conditions. The X5's lenses are crafted from a new, ultra-durable glass, and a re- placeable lens system allows users to swap out damaged lenses on the go. Further hardware upgrades include a built-in wind guard, extended three- hour battery life and waterproofing to depths of 49 feet. The all-new InstaFrame Mode simultaneously captures an auto-framed, ready-to-share flat video and a full 360-degree video to fine-tune later. The Insta360 app has undergone a transformation too, with more intuitive editing tools. X5 also pairs with the Insta360+ cloud service, allowing users to instantly share 360 clips or edit in the cloud. The new X5 is available via the Insta360 official store, Amazon and select retailers. It's priced at $549.99. ZEISS DEVELOPING VIRTUAL LENS TECHNOLOGY FOR VFX WORKFLOWS OBERKOCHEN, GERMANY — Zeiss is in development of a new virtual lens technology (zeiss.com/virtual-lens-tech) that will allow VFX artists to apply an authentic lens look in one step. The company demonstrated it for the first time at FMX in Stuttgart, Germany. The development replicates the visual characteristics and animated behavior of actual lenses on computer-generat- ed content. The Zeiss technology is part of the CinCraft ecosystem, which is dedicated to simplifying VFX workflows. Compared to traditional lens and defocus effects tools, which follow a filter-based approach, the Zeiss technology leverages physically-based lens performance to deliver real optics characteristics throughout each frame's individual lens setting within a sequence. It captures genuine lens character- istics, such as sharpness, focus falloff, cat eye bokeh, chromatic aberration and distortion. As a lens manufacturer, Zeiss is leveraging its heritage in optics to achieve physically correct and cinematically aesthetic lens behavior. At the FMX con- ference, which focuses on animation, visual effects, interactive and immersive media, MPC Paris' head of 2D film, Nicolas Borens, shared his experience testing the new technology. "We are focused on a one-click solution approach, which provides ac- cess to digital lenses, that brings physical lens behavior of real lenses to the digital world of 2D compositing, giving artists the possibility to choose from a digital shelf, just like the DoP does at a camera rental," explains Jonathan Demuth, product manager for the Zeiss CinCraft ecosystem. "Moreover, not being restricted to Zeiss lenses, the technology has the possibility to freely create any lens look, then top it off with additional enhancement add-ons to deliver stunning results." Canon's Wireless Remote Application helps streamline multi-camera workflows by allowing users to control multiple Cinema EOS cameras or XF605 camcord- ers from an iPhone or iPad via wi-fi. The app allows for control over record- ing start & stop, focus, zoom & iris, ND Filters, ISO, shutter, white balance and custom picture profiles, all while viewing the image. Users can create up to five camera groups with up to four cameras in each group. The app runs on iOS 16 and is available for free via the App Store. Cameras supported by the app include the Canon EOS C500 Mark II, EOS C400, EOS C300 Mark III, EOS C80, EOS C70 and XF605.