Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/511209
www.postmagazine.com 25 POST MAY 2015 ■ QUICK LOOK Canon XC10 — Compact, lightweight and versatile; delivers 4K, full HD video and 12-megapixel still images; built-in function to extract eight megapixel still images from recorded 4K video; includes one-inch 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, with a 10x wide-angle zoom lens with a 2x digital teleconverter and optical image stabilization; incorpo- rates Canon's proprietary DIGIC DV5 signal processor. Canon C300 Mark II — Second gener- ation Cinema EOS 4K camera system; 4K/2K/full HD internal and external recording (including 4K Raw output); new 10-bit Canon Log 2 gamma; expanded dynamic range of 15 stops; improved dual pixel CMOS autofocus; focus assist engineering; CFast record- ing technology. ARRI'S ALEXA MINI The next camera up is Arri's (www.arri. com) Alexa Mini (list price $36,000 to $45,000), the company's different but very good take on what I would con- sider a very cinematic lineage. With features like a carbon housing, the Mini weighs in at a scant five pounds, making it a really strong choice for heli or long gimbal shoots where weight can really start to make a difference as the day wears on. The Mini records in-camera ProRes, Arri Raw to CFast 2.O cards or an external Codex record- er. The Codex can handle up to four Minis, giving a director some interest- ing shot choices. Again, images gen- erated from the Arri Alexa Mini lived up to the legendary Arri name. If you haven't shot on an Arri camera before, here's the perfect place to start. Check out some impressive footage from The Balloonist at www.arri.com/ goto/0415/balloonist. ■ QUICK LOOK Arri Alexa Mini — Equipped with a 4:3 sensor; automatic de-squeeze mode for anamorphic productions; frame rates of 0.75-200fps; records ProRes or uncompressed Arri Raw either in-camera to CFast 2.0 cards or to specially-designed external Codex recorder; can record 4K UHD Pro- Res images, facilitating realtime 4K UHD output and simple pipelines for high-resolution deliverables. BLACKMAGIC DESIGN'S URSA MINI Call me crazy, but this next entry really caught my attention. Even though Blackmagic Design (www.blackmagic design.com) is calling this camera the Ursa Mini, it is anything but mini in design, functionality or performance, for a price that won't set you back. List for the Ursa Mini 4.6K EF comes in at $4,995 and the PL version at $5,995. To be honest, that kind of pricing would make almost any indie shooter or director just flat out sing. Add in the Super 35 sensor and away you go. Shooters can also go from tripod to handheld with the shoul- der mount, something this long-time shooter found to be a really great add. The viewfinder was really easy to look at and the on-screen controls menu was easy to navigate. Dual XLRs for audio, built-in stereo microphones, and the ability to record ProRes or RAW. Seriously, dollar for dollar, this camera has some get up and go. Think of the Ursa Mini as a solid choice for the indie producer/director/shooter who needs a terrific camera with a lot of flexibility that won't kill the budget. Oh, and one last note: It makes beautiful pictures! ■ QUICK LOOK Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini — Com- pact and lightweight Super 35 digital film camera; balanced for handheld use; features 4.6K image sensor; captures 4608x2592 pixels; switchable global or rolling shutter; up to 15 stops of dynamic range; a large five-inch fold out viewfinder; dual RAW and Apple ProRes recorders; available in four mod- els — can choose either EF or PL lens mounts and 4K or 4.6K image sensors. JVC'S GY-L300 The JVC (www.pro.jvc.com) GY- LS300 Super 35 (list $3,995) is one of the most compact, yet feature laden 4K camcorders I saw at the show. True to form, JVC loads up with everything an indie director would want. With several different lens adapters, this workhorse can become a formidable tool for documentarians and directors lensing indie projects using almost any lens in the bag. A really sweet feature from JVC that makes it possible for a shooter to get a real sense of what they are shooting is called Variable Scan Mapping tech- nology. This adapts the active area of the Super 35 sensor to provide native support of PL and EF mount lenses. Additionally, the camera has one of my favorite features, dual XLR inputs. And, not to leave anyone or anything Canon's compact XC10 The lightweight Arri Alexa Mini AJA's (www.aja.com) CION, which is shipping, received a Version 1.2 firmware update at NAB. The camera is designed for 4K, Ultra HD 2K and HD production, and can capture in the 12-bit, ProRes 444 codec. CION ($8,995) now supports external recorders from Convergent Design and Atomos, and can be outfitted with both vintage and modern lenses, including those from Panavision.