Preview: Cine Gear Expo 2013

Cine Gear Expo, an expansive annual showcase for the best in production gear and accessories, kicks off tomorrow afternoon at The Studios at Paramount in Hollywood. If you're going, you should know that there will be no entrance to the expo from the front gate on Melrose — instead, park in one of the Paramount Parking Structures on Gower, Van Ness and Lemon Grove. (Parking is limited, so carpool if you can!) Visit the event's official web site for more info on getting there and getting in.

 

Here's a sample of the new gear you'll be able to see and hear about at the event.

 

Anton/Bauer

Anton/Bauer will be showing the Cine VCLX line of batteries and chargers for powering cameras and lighting equipment, which recently won Sci-Tech Oscar. Also new is the Dionic HD Logic Series battery, which A/B says will run a 30-watt camera, monitors, and accessories for more than six hours. The new Gold Spectrum Wireless Series, which includes the AB-HDRF Kit and AB DIrect VI handheld receiver monitor, is a collaboration between A/B and Integrated Microwave Technologies aimed at reality TV, ENG, OB and live-event videography. Finally, A/B's new QRC-4K-S Gold Mount [pictured] attaches to Sony's F5 and F55 cameras (including the ACS-R5 recorder), and the QRC-HM-J Gold Mount is a pouch-style 7/14 adapter for JVC's GY-HM600 and GY-HM650U. www.antonbauer.com

 

Atomos

 

 

 

Atomos is bringing the first production units of its new $1295 Samurai Blade field recorder and monitor to CineGear. Introduced at NAB last month, the Blade is a camera-mounted waveform monitor and recorder that uses standard 2.5-inch HDDs or SSDs. It has a five-inch 1280×720 IPS touch screen (the company calls it the SuperAtom IPS Panel), standard BNC connectors, and waveform functions including a vectorscope with zoom and RGB/luma parade. www.atomos.com

 

Cinedeck

 

 

Cinedeck will be demonstrating the role of the Cinedeck RX in an on-set DIT workflow implementing QOS servers as part of a cart from Bigfoot Mobile Systems. Also new is enhanced RS422 deck control for the Cinedeck MX and RX3G in both master and slave modes. www.cinedeck.com

 

Gamma and Density

 

 

Color-management specialist Gamma & Density plans to introduce ExpressColor for iPhone during a CineGear Master Class at the Mole-Richardson Screening Room from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 2. The app will feature a simple set of color wheels, hundreds of preset looks, the ability to measure exposure changes in f/stops, a built-in calibration tool for Rec. 709 color, the ability to export 3D LUTs and CDLs, and even the ability to share a look via Facebook, Twitter, or Dropbox. 3cp.gammadensity.com

 

Kodak

Kodak is hosting two discussions with cinematographers as part of this year's conference. First, cinematographer Giles Nuttgens, BSC (Midnight's Children, What Maisie Knew), will be interviewed about his work at the Paramount Theater at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, May 31. Then, cinematographers Eric Alan Edwards (Lovelace) and Rachel Morrison (Fruitvale Station) will appear at The Sherry Lansing Theater to discuss their work on independent films that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, June 1, at 11:45 a.m. www.kodak.com/go/motion

 

Matthews Studio Equipment

 

 

 

MSE is bringing along the Matthews Max Menace Arm, which won its creator, Richard Mall, a Sci-Tech Oscar this year, as well as the new LazySuzy [pictured], a device that allows DPs to quickly change a camera's position within a 25-inch diameter circle without moving the dolly, tripod, or car-mount rig it's on. Also in the booth will be the Makalu System remote head package, the Matthews Slider, the Wireless FloatCam Motion Control support, and the UnderslingLITE. www.msegrip.com

 

MTI Film

MTI Film will be present at the Sony booth, showing sample workflows that include its flagship Cortex::Control Dailies system for on-set review, dailies procesing, archiving, and deliverables. MTI is hooked up with Sony since it boasts broad support for Sony formats, including the new XAVC format as well as Sony Raw and SR Master. MTI will also show StreamViewer, a new iPad app for dailies review. www.mtifilm.com

 

Radiant Images

Radiant Images is updating its Novo camera with the Novo 2K, which now shoots uncompressed RAW. The Novo, co-created with View Factor Studios, is meant as a step up from the GoPro Hero3 with more features that pro shooters need. For instance, the Novo allows users to manually dial in their apertures, controlling their own exposures. Radiant Images is also launching a new iOS app allowing customers to access detailed comparisons of the production cameras it carries. www.radiantimages.com

 

SIM Digital

SIM Digital's CineGear booth will also host reps from the company's Bling Digital unit as well as its recently acquired PS Production Services. The company is also hosting a Cine Gear After Party with food, drinks, and live music at its remodeled offices at 738 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, starting at 4 p.m. on June 1. Take a moment between bites and gulps and dance steps to check out the demonstration of an end-to-end workflow similar to one being implemented for the AMC series Hell on Wheels. The shindig is co-sponsored by Fujinon, Shape, Pro K Solutions, ALT Systems, Rosco Laboratories, Tecads, and Zeiss. www.simdigital.com

 

Sony

Sony is sponsoring a screening of director M. Night Shyamalan's new film, After Earth, in 4K, along with a panel discussion featuring unnamed "special guests." Admission is limited to those with Cine Gear badges, at least while seats remain. The show begins at 6:15 p.m. in the Paramount Theater. More info on Sony's events at Cine Gear is online at the Sony Pro Blog. blog.sony.com/2013/05/sony-at-the-2013-cine-gear-expo/

 

This is just a tiny fraction of the techie wonders that will be on display at Cine Gear this weekend. Follow the links below to see a full list of exhibitors and to peruse the complete seminar schedule.