Toolkit: August 2024
Posted on Aug 9, 2024 by Samara Husbands
From a pair of Aputure products to Canon’s radical EOS C400 and some truly EPIC lenses, we round up August’s best new gear
Core SWX Launches MoXIE Solo for smooth Portable Film Power
New from Core SWX, the MoXIE Solo is a compact, portable energy solution designed for film and video production. Delivering 3.6kW AC output with simultaneous DC outputs, the design features a robust aluminium cage and wheels for enhanced durability and mobility, while the five-inch touchscreen display allows for easy control.
With pure sine wave power, it provides a smooth, consistent current – ideal for high-end cameras, audio gear and lighting systems. It also includes two power tap 14v outputs, USB-C PD and USB-A ports, catering to modern energy needs like charging mobile devices and performing firmware updates.
Designed to fit right next to light stands or tripods, the MoXIE Solo’s silent operation eliminates the noise of gas generators, reducing tripping hazards and ensuring a seamless production environment. This versatile, reliable power source is perfect for any professional film set.
Aputure Debuts INFINIMAT & Sidus Pro
Aputure has recently launched two trailblazing products promising to revolutionise lighting for filmmakers: the INFINIMAT and Sidus Pro. The INFINIMAT series features pixel-mappable RGB light mats with full-colour tunability, inflatable diffusion and can connect multiple mats to create larger panels.
These flexible, weatherproof mats come in various sizes, from 1x2ft to an expansive 20x20ft, offering fantastic versatility and high output for productions large and small.
The Sidus Pro ecosystem includes the Sidus One and the Sidus Link Pro app. Sidus One – a powerful universal transceiver – enables connection to any CRMX-enabled light, while the updated Sidus Link Pro app allows cue-based control of multiple lights with zero delay.
This combination provides filmmakers with an intuitive, latency-free control system which simplifies lighting set-up and operation. With these innovations, Aputure continues to push the boundaries in enhancing creativity while simplifying technical challenges.
ARRI Announces Hi-5 SX Wireless Hand Unit
ARRI has announced the Hi-5 SX – a budget-friendly, single-axis addition to its premier Hi-5 wireless hand unit line. Designed to manage a range of single-axis tasks, the Hi-5 SX offers compatibility with any camera and lens, maintaining ARRI’s reputation for robust and sophisticated equipment.
The Hi-5 SX shares the ergonomic design and intuitive touchscreen interface of its three-axis sibling. The standout feature is its upgradability via software licences, allowing users to expand its functionality as needed. New licences include the Hi-5 SX Plus, enhancing lens mapping and user interface options as well as the Hi-5 SX All-Axis, enabling full three-axis control.
The unit’s durability guarantees reliable operation in harsh conditions, while its swappable radio modules cater to different set-ups and regions. With shipping starting 1 October, it will offer an accessible yet advanced tool for filmmakers at all levels.
Cinelex SKYCAST Revolutionises Wireless DMX Control
Cinelex has stepped up the Art-Net app-based lighting control with the introduction of the new SKYCAST, enabling direct to CRMX wireless DMX control from an iPad, iPhone or laptop. The SKYCAST is available with either USB-C (SKYCAST-C) (iPad/iPhone) or USB-A (SKYCAST-A) (laptop) secure connectivity. It opens a new world of accessible and efficient CRMX wireless DMX lighting control to those using apps like Luminair, Blackout and MADRIX.
SKYCAST is simple to use: connect to your device, sync with any DMX-capable lights using a SKYNODE or the light’s integral LumenRadio CRMX, then open your app or the SKYCAST’s built-in web browser interface to get dynamic and seamless wireless DMX control.
Venus Optics Introduces laowa Argus T1 Cine Series Lenses
Venus Optics unveiled the Laowa Argus T1 Cine series – the world’s first ultra-fast T1 aperture cine lenses – available in focal lengths between 18 and 45mm. Compatible with full-frame, Super 35 and Micro Four
Thirds formats, the lenses are offered in mounts for Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z and Fujifilm X. Key features of the full-frame lenses include a rapid T1 aperture for great low-light performance, shallow depth-of-field and dreamy bokeh. The Super 35 optics offer a wider angle of view and a close focusing distance of 9.84 inches, while the Micro Four Thirds versions boast a compact design and superb sharpness at T1. All lenses in the series minimise chromatic aberration and feature low focus breathing and consistent colour rendition.
Astera Unveils Versatile LunaBulb for Film & TV
Replicating the appearance of a conventional bulb, but levelling up quality and control, Astera’s LunaBulb is a nifty new solution for film and TV production. Debuting at Cine Gear LA, it draws 3.5W and is available with an E26, E27 and B22 fitting – screwing directly into an AC-wired bulb socket.
Users can adjust both white levels (1750-20,000K) and colour (RGB, mint and amber, with RGB, HIS, XY and filter gel colour selection options), providing stunning, flicker-free lighting in various settings. Built around Astera’s Titan LED engine, LunaBulb can easily convert from a classic bulb – ideal for practical lighting – to a slimline bulb, which can be inserted into different lamps and spaces.
The lights can be wirelessly controlled via Astera’s CRMX app, through BTB link or using the brand’s White and FX Remotes. Configuration is achieved via the LunaBulb PrepCase (which holds up to eight LunaBulbs). The PrepCase is also offered as a PrepInlay, granting users the flexibility to build the inlay (without its surrounding protective box) into their own set-up, be that a flight case or other custom unit.
The battery-powered PrepCase and PrepInlay offer up to an hour’s runtime or indefinite use with a Titan Tube charger, allowing efficient pre-configuration of bulbs before arrival on-site. Each bulb features a CRMX chip for DMX address auto-assignment and pre-configuring dimming and colour. Users can control bulbs via the app for groupings and effects, or use the Bluetooth Bridge for broader set control. Furthermore, an IP44 rating ensures outdoor usability. Purchase options include kits or individual components for scalable set-ups.
Epic Additions to the Viltrox Lens Range
Viltrox has expanded its widely renowned EPIC series with two new anamorphic lenses: the 100mm T2 1.33X and the 25mm T2 1.33X Cine lenses. These additions join the popular 35mm, 50mm and 75mm primes, enhancing the range’s versatility for filmmakers.
The EPIC series is celebrated for its impressive image expression, retro colour reproduction, constant 1.33x squeeze ratio and minimal focus breathing – delivering consistent optical performance across all focal lengths. These new anamorphic lenses continue this tradition, offering stunning visual quality with a constant aperture and seamless integration into any cine set-up.
Whether capturing sweeping landscapes or intimate close-ups, the Viltrox EPIC anamorphics are designed to meet the demands of modern cinematography while evoking a classic aesthetic.
Canon Launches EOS C400 Cinema Camera
To much fanfare, Canon has launched its EOS C400 cinema camera, featuring an RF mount and the advanced CN7x17 KAS T lens. This addition to Canon’s line-up is designed for versatility, catering to everything from indie cinema and documentaries to live broadcasts and newsgathering. The EOS C400 is Canon’s first high-end RF mount cinema EOS model, representing a leap forward in the EOS R system.
It boasts a compact yet powerful design – equipped with a 6K full-frame back-side illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, offering 16 stops of dynamic range. This advanced sensor technology ensures exceptional image quality even in poor lighting conditions, thanks to Canon’s innovative triple base ISO technology.
Filmmakers will appreciate the EOS C400’s array of in-camera connectivity options, including genlock, return input and a 12-pin lens terminal, making it ideal for live multicamera productions. Its compact form does not compromise on features, maintaining a high level of functionality typically found in larger cameras.
The EOS C400 also introduces Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, providing comprehensive 100% sensor plane coverage for swift and precise AF. This feature is especially beneficial for solo operators in dynamic environments, with capabilities for face, eye, body and animal detection and tracking.
Canon’s CN7x17 KAS T lens – compatible with both RF and PL mounts – complements the EOS C400 perfectly. It provides a 7x optical zoom and focal length range of 17-120mm, ideal for production scenarios such as live sports and documentary filmmaking.
The brand also announced a firmware update for the EOS C300 Mark III, introducing 12-bit Cinema Raw Light formats as well as an auto ISO feature for better workflow flexibility and seamless transitions in shifting lighting conditions.
Hollyland Releases Pyro H 4K Video Transmission Kit
Hollyland has launched Pyro H – an HDMI-only video transmission kit capable of delivering 4K video at 30fps. Utilising dual 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, Pyro H supports up to four receivers, ensuring stable, long-range monitoring up to 1300ft with low latency of just 0.06 seconds.
Key features include HDMI loop out, UVC streaming for live broadcasts and Smart Channel Scan for optimal performance. Pyro H’s cutting-edge technology and versatility make it a game changer for filmmakers and production crews, addressing the need for reliable, high-quality video transmission on-set. \
This feature was first published in the August 2024 issue of Definition.
