“Pursuit” is storm chaser Mike Olbinski’s latest work (and it’s shot with Canon gear)

Mike olbinski

I featured previous works by Mike Olbinski, a talented videographer with a passion for chasing storms all over the United States.

PURSUIT (available in 4K and 8K) is Mike’s latest work. And it’s stunning and jawdropping, the way we are used by his movies. Writes Mike:

This past spring was a tough one. Supercell structure and beautiful tornadoes had been very hard to come by. In fact, the tornado in the opening of this film was the only good one I saw this entire year. I had been on the road longer than ever before. Driven more miles. I was away from my family for 12 straight days at one point, and when I got home, I had to tell them I was going back out 24 hours later for June 12th. It was just too good to pass up. It promised to be a day that I could get everything I had been hoping for this spring and I had no choice. My wife understood, even though I knew she wished I stayed home. And I wished it too

Blu-Ray discs are available here. The music is by Peter Nanasi. You can follow Mike Olbinski on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Mike used two Canon 5DSR’s along with Canon 11-24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 135mm and Sigma Art 50mm lenses, and Manfrotto tripods. The final product was edited in Lightroom with LR Timelapse, After Effects and Premiere Pro.

Canon Introduces Free Firmware Upgrades for Three 4K Professional Display Models

DP-V1710
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Canon press release:

New Firmware Delivers Enhanced Digital Cinema Camera Connectivity and Improved Shooting-Assist Functions for HDR Video

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 20, 2017 – Demonstrating Canon’s continued commitment to supporting the digital cinema and television broadcasting industries, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc., will make available free firmware upgrades for three of its professional 4K displays—the DP-V1710, DP-V2410 and DP-V2420 in June 2017.

New features include:

Enhanced connectivity with Canon digital cinema cameras

The new firmware updates permit 4K RAW video captured using the EOS C700 or the EOS C700 GS PL (scheduled to be released July 2017) to be viewed directly on the display using only a 3G-SDI cable, without the need for an external transitional device. The firmware also makes possible the acquisition of all image data from video captured using the EOS C700, EOS C700 GS PL as well as the EOS C300 Mark II, enabling the display of image setting values from the connected camera and metadata.

Furthermore, these updates enable the display of the cinema aspect ratio 2.39:1 for specialized shooting using a digital cinema camera equipped with an anamorphic lens. The addition of these new features delivers enhanced user convenience when confirming images during shooting.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III doing 4K video with Magic Lantern wasn’t an April Joke

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I am sure most of you thought it was a clever April joke when a1ex of Magic Lantern team told the world on Saturday that they have made 4K video working on the EOS 5D Mark III.

Well, it turned out to be a very clever “April joke”, i.e. using the April joke hype to push a ground-breaking advancement of the Magic  Lantern hackers. Because that’s what it is: a ground-breaking advancement. Magic Lantern delivered the proof of concept that it is possible to get 4K video on an EOS 5D Mark III.

However, as cool as it is (it is), it’s a proof of concept, not even a working alpha version. There are many issues to solve before you can get working 4K on the EOS 5D Mark III. The main issue appears to be the fact that the EOS 5D Mark III can write to the memory card with max. 100MB/s, which will not allow for 4K@24fps (at least not more than a few seconds). The other big issue is surely overheating.

And there is also another exciting news. The EOS 5D Mark III may never do professional 4K video, but it may soon do 3K video with 24fps and 14 bit – this should produce a data rate of approx. 90MB/s, doable for the EOS 5D Mark III’s Output pipeline. Well, if these aren’t exciting news.

These are the video modes that can be activated with the latest ML hack:

  • 1920×960 @ 50p (both 1:1 crop and full-frame – 3×3 pixel binning)
  • 1920×800 @ 60p (same as above)
  • 1920×1080 @ 45p and 48p (3×3 binning)
  • 1920×1920 @ 24p (1:1 square crop)
  • 3072×1920 @ 24p (1:1 crop)
  • 3840×1600 @ 24p (1:1 crop)
  • 4096×2560 @ 12.5p (1:1 crop)
  • 4096×1440 @ 25p (1:1 crop)
  • Full-resolution LiveView: 5796×3870 at 7.4 fps (128ms rolling shutter).

A1ex writes:

This is only a very rough proof of concept. It has not been battle-tested and has many quirks. Some of them may be easy to fix, others not so. In particular:

* It feels quite buggy. I’m still hunting the issues one by one, but it’s hard, as Canon’s LiveView implementation is very complex, and our understanding on how it works is still very limited.

* Write speeds are high. For example, 10-bit 4096×2500 at 15 fps requires 180 MB/s. 1080p45 should be a little more manageable at 111 MB/s.

* Canon preview is broken in most modes; you need to use the grayscale preview in the raw recording module.

* High-resolution modes (in particular, full-res LiveView) may cause trouble with memory management. This is very tricky to solve, as we only get 3 full-resolution buffers in LiveView, with restrictions on the order in which they must be freed, and lots of other quirks.

* Since these settings were pushed to limit, the risk of corrupted frames is high. If it happens, decrease the vertical resolution a bit.

* When refreshing LiveView settings, the camera might lock-up (no idea why). Pressing MENU twice appears to fix it.

What do you think? Isn’t this exciting, and incredibly cool? To learn more about the latest Magic Lantern hack, head over to the ML forum or visit the website.

Canon Introduces One of the Smallest and Lightest 4K Resolution Laser Projectors (REALiS 4K600STZ)

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Canon press release:

REALiS 4K600STZ Pro AV LCOS Projector Combines Canon’s Outstanding Image Quality and Advanced Features with Low Total Cost of Ownership

MELVILLE, N.Y., November 22, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today unveiled the latest of its innovative technology with the debut of the REALiS 4K600STZ Pro AV Laser LCOS Projector. At only 57.3 pounds, the REALiS 4K600STZ is among the world’s smallest and lightest native 4K laser projectors, making it ideal for a wide range of markets and applications including simulation, museums, art galleries, planetariums, higher education, medical education and training.

The REALiS 4K600STZ projector reproduces exceptionally detailed images with outstanding color accuracy thanks to a combination of core technologies and features including:

  • Native 4K Resolution of 4096 x 2400 which is larger than both QFHD and DCI-resolution, the 4K standards for TV and digital cinema respectively. The expanded vertical resolution (2400) is particularly important for those applications, like simulation and training and design/engineering, which may require larger vertical display areas.
  • Laser Phosphor Light Source which offers an extended operation time up to 20,000 hours or more1, quick start-up2, omnidirectional projector placement, and a wide range of colors – all helping to greatly enhance the user experience, installation process and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • 6000 lumens with up to 10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio3 helps ensure content appears bright with deep black and brilliant white levels, as well as excellent gradation.
  • Canon’s renowned LCOS Technology with AISYS-enhancement and advanced Color Management System for producing content with exceptional detail and color accuracy – ideal for those industries/applications like museums and galleries with the highest image quality requirements.
  • Genuine Canon 4K Lens for consistent clarity and color throughout entire projected area; the lens also includes a special Marginal Focus function which can be used to help ensure content projected on the peripheral portions of domed surfaces remains in focus – a benefit especially important to those in the simulation, training and educational fields. The 4K600STZ projector is also able to deliver a virtually consistent level of brightness throughout its zoom range, thus helping to provide even greater placement flexibility.
  • Powerful Dual Image Processing Engines for uncompressed 4K 60p playback, and optimal upscaling of 2K video and other non-native 4K resolution content.
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Canon announce UJ27x6.5B IESD 4K premium lens

UJ27x6.5B IESD
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 You can download the product brochure here. Canon press release:

Canon launches the UJ27x6.5B IESD

Sydney, Australia, 6 September 2016 – Canon today announces the launch of the UJ27x6.5B IESD, a 2/3” lens for broadcasters needing outstandingly high resolution and contrast in 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) workflows. Offering resolving power beyond 4K and a 27x optical zoom, the lens is an essential tool for a range of professional broadcast environments. The new addition will join the UJ86x9.3B to expand Canon’s ‘4K Premium’ lens range and will bridge the optical zoom gap of current ENG, studio and field box 4K HDR lenses, meeting the needs of today’s broadcasters.

UJ27×6.5B IESD – Key Benefits

  • Premium 4K optical quality lens for high end broadcasting
  • UD glass and fluorite elements to reduce distortion
  • High-contrast, low-ghosting lens ideal for HDR images
  • Reduced focus breathing thanks to CAFS technology
  • Enhanced design for easy handling

Resolving power beyond 4K, providing superior quality 

The UJ27×6.5B IESD is able to deliver exceptional performance that surpasses 4K resolution, thanks to Canon’s expertise in optical design. High contrast and high resolution is maintained from the image centre to the edges and is consistent in all wavelength regions of the B, G and R channels as well as in the wide frequency bands from HDTV to 4K, and even beyond.

The use of fluorite and UD glass, along with Canon’s lens coating and anti-reflection technologies, provides exceptional control over ghosting and flare; ideal for shooting outdoor sport.

Incredible zoom ratio, offering the ultimate flexibility 

Professionals capturing content for broadcast, whether working in confined studio spaces or large outdoor areas, want a lens with the upmost flexibility to capture a variety of scenes. Built on feedback from broadcasters and cameramen around the world, the UJ27×6.5B IESD features a 27x optical zoom, perfect for shooting sport where a mix of close up shots of the audience and long pan shots of the action is required. The lens also provides the ability to quickly change focus without losing viewing angles and, following Canon’s technological advancements to the inner focus system, focus breathing is kept to an absolute minimum. Whilst the lens has an impressive 6.5-180mm focal length, the built-in 2x extender doubles the telephoto power, yet still maintaining exceptional resolution beyond 4K.

Stylish design combined with ease of operation 

The UJ27×6.5B IESD is Canon’s most stylish and intuitive 2/3” lens to date, thanks to its new design and easy handling. Additionally, the lens’ 20-pin connector ensures it easily integrates into existing environments.

Availability 

The UJ27×6.5B IESD will be available from June 2017. Prices will be set at dealer discretion.

For more information 

Download the product brochure here.

A Bit of Everything (mixed reality, EF-M 28mm Macro, EOS-1D C , EOS-1D X Mk2, and more Canon news)

Canon Empowers Dealers with the Canon Business Services Platform – Canon USA

Canon Introduces uniFLOW Online, Extending Document Capture and Print Management Capabilities to a Wider Range of Customers – Canon USA

Canon Announces the Latest Version of ADVANCE Cloud Portal with Expanded Functionality and Extended Scanning Capabilities – Canon USA

Canon U.S.A.’s Teleretinal Solution on Display at American Association of Diabetes Educators Annual Meeting – Canon USA

Using the Canon EOS-1D C in the Alaskan Wilderness to Capture a Short Film in 4K – Fstoppers

[German] Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM – D-Pixx

[German] Quartalszahlen veröffentlicht: Canon kämpft mit schwindenden Kameraverkäufen – Photoscala

How Brazil is trying (and failing) to keep drones away from the Olympics – The Verge

GoPro Hero 5 allegedly appears in leaked video – The Verge

Exclusive: EyeEm Wooing Flickr Users, Opens Up Web Uploader to Everyone – PetaPixel

Below: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Review – The red list project [German] – Canon Schweiz