NAB Field Guide

2012 NAB FIELD GUIDE & SPEAKING SCHEDULE

Hello NAB 2012! Danielle and I are pumped for this years conference - not only because we get to to check out all the amazing new products, meet up with old friends / coleagues / fellow filmmakers, but because we will be speaking at both the Steadicam & Lowel booths this year ( more info on that below)

Whether its your first time or you are a NAB show veteran, there are always a ton of fresh / new things to see there and to me at least... the show never gets old :) 

Those who know NAB know that its about one thing: GEAR. Nonstop gear. There are a ton of new / innovative filmmaking tools coming out this year. Sometimes the show can get crazy and when you get home you realize that you didn't get a chance to see something that you were really looking forward to checking out. I would often realize that there were 5 or 10 things that I missed seeing at the show that I had on my list from the start.

Danielle and I thought we would write up a little guide for what were going to be checking out at the show & why, so that if you ever get stuck in one of those "what should I check out next" moments, you can have a good solid list here as reference of gear to check out ( and we partially made this so we can look back on this blog post and make sure we don't miss anything either :) 

For those interested I added the appropriate booth number as well so you can located it on the map. You can also download the @NABShow iPhone app as well that includes maps, booth info, and what looks like a ton of other cool stuff ( I just downloaded it a few days ago ) 

ALSO I will actively be updating the gear list below as well when we are at NAB if we find any "must-see" booths or items of gear while we are there. 

AND listed below are the times / days that we are speaking. Each presentation is approx 30min w/ 10min Q&A. We will be posting updates throughout the show too on our twitter acct. @MINDCASTLE

SPEAKING SCHEDULE @ Tiffen Booth #C8818

DAY 01 Monday - April 16th

  10:15am - Steadicam

2:15pm - Lowel 

Day 02 Tuesday - April 17th

1:15pm - Steadicam

Day 03 Wednesday - April 18th

10:15am - Steadicam/Lowel 

FIELD GUIDE - INTRO

First and foremost there are two places you should stop at first 1) The B&H Photo/Video Booth {C11022} and 2) the AbelCine Booth {C8932} These are two places where you can get a general vibe going for whats new and hot.

B&H

The people at the B&H booth are extremely helpful and they always have a ton of gear to check out and.... MOST importantly (at least in years past) they were one of the only booths that you could buy things from right there on the show floor. They have great and helpful staff and I always love stopping by that booth first. 

AbelCine

AbelCine is the place where we bought our very first video camera from back in the day. Knowledgable & helpfull staff and whom always have great insights into whats coming out next OR they are the first people to actually GET whats coming out next, and in what seems like no time have a "first look" video up on the product and have demo units available to try out. 

FIELD GUIDE - THE GEAR

Steadicam - Fawcett-ExoVest {Booth C8818}

If you are into Steadicam (even in the least bit) you've got to come check this out. It was developed by an amazing operator by the name of Chris Fawcett in collaboration with Garrett Brown / Steadicam. I highly recommend you come by the booth and give it a whirl. I have been rigging people up on it at the Steadicam booth all day today and its got very good reviews by beginners as well as the pros. 

To me, its the vest of vests. I got to try it on pre-NAB and give it a whirl. Its an amazing concept: a front and back mountable vest that works with ANY Steadicam model, yes, you heard that right. Its also much more efficient at weight distribution and you also dont have the side straps / pads like the original style vests so you arms have a great deal more freedom. Another thing is that the belt and top pivot, so its not as ridged as the original / standard vests that come with the rigs. 

What I like most about this concept is that its all about choice. You can go with what fits with your style the best, whether you find the original / standard vest or the new one with back mount capability, its a really great new product that I've seen from Steadicam. If you are at NAB, come by the booth, give me a shout and I will personally give you a demo of it. 

FreeFly Cinema - Cinestar 6 Revolution {Booth OE2380}

One of the coolest filmmaking toys has got to be RC helicopters. We had the opportunity to work with one last March in Alaska filming the iditarod. We had a blast with the chopper and got shots that we never could have got anywhese else or with anything else. I would highly reccommend checking out RC helicopters -- they are unique in the fact that they get shots that a normal full size helicopter can't. When people as me to compare the shot you get some an RC vs a full size helicopter I like to think of the RC as like a giant Steadicam :) 

Tabb Firchau who owns FreeFly cinema and hes a great guy, I suggest you swing by the booth and give him a shout and check out all the cool aerial gadgets that hes got there. 

Angenieux - Optimo 45-120 {Booth C6019}

Angenieux lenses are top of the line PL mount cine lenses. There are many people who swear by these lenses and often entire productions are shot with two or three of them and nothing else ( no primes ) I think that the main reason for this is that once you put one on, its hard to take it off. They have great low T-stops and are sharp as a tack even by prime lens standards. I really enjoyed gettting to use a few Optiomos on some projects this year. One of my favorites bring the 17-80 T/2.8 - primiarly because its very lightweight / zoom and focus are smooth as butter, and its T2.8 which is great for a zoom lens. 

We recently used this lens on a TV pilot that we shot on Alexa, and ARRI just featured a behind the scenes look at that shoot on their website. You can spot this lens being used in the behind the scenes photos in that article. 

This post is specifically about the 45-120mm. I havent tried this lens yet, but I am really looking forward to checkiing it out here at NAB. I can imagine shooting alot of projects with just the 45-120mm and 17-80mm for the entire project without needing to switch lenses much.

Definitely make Angenieux a stop on your list. 

ARRI - ALEXA M {Booth C6737}

I've been following the progress of this camera since images of it began popping up online a little over a year ago and I couldnt be more excited to check it out in person. We've been shooting with the Alexa EV quite a bit and I am very interested to see the same camera body itself in a smaller / more modular form factor  - The Alexa EV is quite heavy on the the shoulders and the M will be a nice solution for lightweight filmmaking. 

Essentailly, the M is a cabeled, extremely compact version of the Alexa with body and head separated. While the main application for this camera looks to be 3d work, I am really interested in this camera for handheld work as well as Steadicam shooting with camera on top and body mounted on the sled as weight. Even though the main body of the camera is still there, I can imagine putting it in a backpack or something with the cable out the top and then shoulder mounting the camera, or putting it on a monopod, slider, or dolly. I am really diggning the move by camera companies to go more modular and I think this product aims towards that goal. 

SPECS 

• 14 stop dynamic range (identical image as original Alexa EV cameras) 

• 800 ISO base sensetivity 

• 5 lbs weight (head section)

• 1-60 fps & 120fps (with software upgrade) 

• Compatable with the ARRI wireless RCU-4 remote control unit 

• Apple Prores 4444 and Avid DNxHD recordable to Sony SxS cards

• Log C - Rec 709 - DCI P3 output options 

Vision Research - Phantom Miro M320s {Booth C7843}

The phantom camera line is the go-to camera line for capturing high speed footage that is cinematic (I say cinematic because some highspeed solutions are geared ONLY towards science applications, where the Phantom line has filmmaking in mind)

The Miro 320s is making its debut at the show and I am really excited for it. Its small size / form factor make it perfect for Steadicam work and also for placing it at unique angles that you couldnt do with a larger rig. 

The 320s is the higher end of the "Miro" line, as they also have the M110, M120, and M310 models that have varying degrees of features / price points. 

Below is a quick list of specs on the M320s

SPECS

• 1,380 fps (yes you heard that correct) @ full 1920x1080p resolution 

• 2,250 fps at 1152 x 1152 square resolution

• RAW recording

• Base sensitivity of 1100 ISO

• HD-SDI output 

• Records to onboard CineFlash 60GB solid state drive

• Plethora of lens mounts to choose from { Canon EOS, PL, Nikon} 

• Runs on readily available Sony BP-U30 and BP-U90 batteries 

• Only weighs in at 3.2 lbs

Lowel - Blender light {Booth C8818}

The Lowel blender lights are our on-the-go choice for protable lighting. They are light, can be battery powered, and the most important thing is that you can adjust the color balance on them to match the lighting around you.

You should definitely swing by the Tiffen Booth to check them out. Our Lowel presentation is also touches on how we use these lights in our lighting tool kit, as well as our lighting philosophy in general, so if your interested in learning more about these lights come check out our presentation @ 2:15pm on Monday - Tiffen {Booth C8818}

SmallHD - DP4 EVF

Without a question the SmallHD booth is a one to visit this year. The DP6 and DP4 are must sees. We shoot with both monitors and have recently been testing out the DP4 EVF version which has been a huge help for shooting outside in bright daylight. We just finished up a shoot in Miami with MLB and we could not have done it with out a proper EVF and the DP4/EVF combo came through for us with flying colors. 

You can find detailed spec lists on SmallHD's website for both monitors. I HIGHLY recommend either renting one of these monitors from @LensProToGo or just downright buying one if you are in the "its time for a monitor upgrade game" the craftmanship, features, and build quality of these monitors are top notch. Apart from these things, my favorite thing about SmallHD is their customer care and service. They continually release software / firmware upgrades for their monitors so you always get the best / most up to date technology feature wise. 

Cinevate - Jib {Booth C8217}

I got a chance to test out a prototype of this rig a few years ago and from the photos it looks like its going to be a hit. Plain and simple, I cant wait to get my hands on this new / updated version. We use a ton of Cinevate products and we have always utilized the unique features that they build into their products and I know this one wont disappoint. 

There are two key features that I like about Cinevate products. 1) care and attention to how the gear functions and 2) build quality... the things they make never break.. I have had an Atlas 30 for over three years. In and out of planes, on concrete, dropped into baseball fields, kicked by football players, placed inside pools for underwater shots, hung upside down in 95 degree weather with 100% humidity with no rust. While the Atlas I have might not look brand new, it still functions that way.  

Also, our good friends at @LensProToGo are supplying all the camera / lens equipment that Cinevate will have at their booth. I highly recommend checking out www.lensprotogo.com They have impeccable service and they will get you the gear you need fast. We've been renting from them for the past three years and they a great group of people. 

Carl Zeiss - Brand New CP.2 Cine Lenses {Booth C9049}

I caught wind of this video just recently on twitter. And it looks like Zeiss will be announcing a entirely brand new line of the Compact Prime lenses ( CP2.) this year at NAB. The best part is... all of them will be at T / 1.5.

This new line looks like it will probably be a hit, as the current CP2's made a big imapact in the market with their PL / Canon mount interchangability and Full Frame sensor coverage.   

I have used the CP2's before, but I prefer the ARRI / Zeiss Ultra Primes in sharpness & toneality and since the CP2's generally were not as fast. However, I am glad to see this new line coming out though and I will definitely go check them out, there is always a need for faster glass. The current crop of CP2's are incredibly light and offer top notch build quality as well, so I expect the same from these and more. 

Steadicam - Zephyr {Booth C8818}

I havent had the chance to check out this particular model of Steadicam yet eventhough its been out for awhile. I shoot primarily with the Steadicam Flyer LE and the Zephyr is a updated version of it with some great addons that are specific to DSLR and small form-factor cameras.

If you are interested in checking out a Steadicam come by the booth because I will be there almost the entire event. Come by, say hey and I will get you set up with trying on a rig... I cant promist anything, but once you put it on... you wont want to take it off. 

Steadicam has been a love of mine for the past 5 years and I consider it a part of how I think when planning out shots. 

Danielle and I will be speaking at the Steadicam (Tiffen) booth as well so come check it out. We will be talking about "The Sport of Steadicam" basically how we've grown and evolved with Steadicam gear and our thoughts / tips / techniques on storytelling with Steadicam. 

ARRI - L7 Fresnel Lights {Booth C6737} 

LED lights are everywhere these days, but the ARRI L7's look like they might hit the sweet spot between the versatility LED's and the quality of a fresnel lens housing. There are three models: Tungsten balanced ( L7-T) , Daylight balanced (L7-D) , and one that is switchable (L7-C)

The light itself is 220w but gives you equivalent of 1000w of light... amazing.

The L7C is switchable between tungsten and daylight and any number / color inbetween for that matter, with full color tinting controls. I found a great video by @abelcine on the L7-C that touches on its unique features 

Another benefit to these lights being LED is that they wont get burning hot, like other tungsten / HMI's do when in heavy use all day on set. 

Redrock Micro - microRemote Wireless Follow Focus {Booth C12033}

This has been a product that I have really been looking forward to. why? because it solves two problems for me... 1) self operating & controlling the focus on the steadicam which I couldnt do before and 2) being able to control from your iPhone.. which means you can plug in anywhere you have the app and be ready to go. 

I have kept my eyes on this product now for a long (seems like it was announced ages ago) but it looks like it may truly be a revolutionary product in both price point and uniqueness (the fact that you can control it via iPhone) 

I have been looking for a good wireless follow focus solution for awhile now and this one looks like it will be right on the money. Ive used devices like the Bartech and Preston before and they are great, but I am looking for something like this that has a small enough form factor that I can pull my own focus on wirelessly. 

Sound Devices - PIX 240 {Booth C2546}

The PIX 240 looks to be THE solution for on-board recording. I own a bunch of Sound Devices gear  for recording audio so I already know that the quality on this is going to be top notch. What I like about the PIX 240 is the amazing feature list: from being a rock solid timecode reader to having the detachable SSD drive with USB 3.0 / Firewire 800 / SATA post built in - it seems to have everything you could ask for and more. @abelcine put together a great hands-on video highlighting the PIX 240 feature list. You should check it out to get a sense of all the amazing things it has to offer. I jotted down a short spec list of the most imporant things - but if you look at Sound Devices website there are a TON more ( too many to list here :) 

SPECS

• Apple Prores and Avid DNxHD onbaord recording

• CF card slot / SSD card slot

• SSD card slot has FireWire 800 / USB 3.0 / eSATA ports built in when you detach it (this feature is simply badass. Love it.) 

• Built-in rock solid timecode generator 

• 5" display with 800x480 resolution 

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Pelican Products - ALL cases {Booth C10337}

Pelican cases are the work horse of the industry. If you buy expensive gear, it makes sense to protect it while on a shoot. We currently own 5-6 cases, but we are looking to expand and get a case for every piece of gear so that we dont run into ANY of our stuff being damaged while in transit. I highly reccommend checking out this booth - they always have new and exciting products and you can always bring your gear with you and find the perfect fit for it in one of their cases. 

O-Connor - O-box Mattebox {Booth }

The O-Connor o-box is at the top of my list in favorite new lightweight matteboxes. The genius behind it is that it comes with robust handles that attach to the bottom, top, and sides, making for great grip points to use when shooting on-the-go and in ultra light set ups. Also cost wise, the mattebox is very inexpensive in a world where most good quality matteboxes are easily over $2000. The O-Box comes right in at close to $1000 - definitely worth checking out if you are in the market for a new mattebox. 

ARRI - Mini Follow Focus 2 / MMF-2 {Booth C6737}

I have used the MMF-1 (the original version) on a ton of shoots and love it as part of my cine-lens kit - its extremely robust and the best feature, I think, is that it can be clipped onto the rails rather than having to slide on.

Normally when changing a Follow Focus you have to disengage it, remove the mattebox from the rails, place follow focus on, and readjust. With the MMF-1 all you have to do is clip it on, adjust, lock and your ready to go. Very cool feature & the main reason in why I bought this unit in the first place. 

ARRI MMF-2 is the new version of the MMF-1 and it was was annouced last year. I am looking forward to checking it out this time around as I missed NAB last year because we were on a shoot. The MMF-2 is essentially the same as the MMF-1, with a few minor tweaks here and there, but the biggest change is the key feature of the ability to swap focus knobs. Check out the graphic below: 

END FIELD GUIDE

Like I mentioned earlier, I will be updating this guide while I am at NAB with any new / cool / interesting / innovative products that I discover while I am there so check here OR come see me at the Tiffen Booth and say HEY! 

So, if its your first time to NAB, have fun, Its an awesome event and if you are a gear head YOU WILL NOT BE LET DOWN... The first year I went my eyes balls hurt from looking so intensely at intricate mechanical things all day. And, the first year I went, I missed alot of things... hence... the reason I am writing this guide. Go slow, pace yourself, and make lists of all the stuff you want to see and get hands-on with

If you have been there before, remember to leave ALL your high limit credit cards at home... because you know it can get crazy, especially on the last day when everyone seems to be offering HUGE discounts on stuff so they dont have to lug it back with them :) 

Comments

[Brian]

i have 2 pix 240's. Best product i have ever owned! SSD with the cradle is the way to go, such a clutch item and the 4 channel AES input are nice touch. Additionally the rec/stop button on the cam will trigger the device while still recording time of day TC on the QT files the pix 240 generates. This was a life saver on there last firmware update that came out 2 days before we left on a 6 week shoot. Multicam shooting without jam synced devices would have been a bear.