I Can't Believe It's Not Film™ - A Digital Cinema Discussion

 Yesterday we held an open forum for cinematographers, editors, colourists, and other interested parties to check out the latest and greatest gear from all kinds of suppliers, including some generously loaned Epic Ms from Deakin University.

For us it was a chance to get feedback from the industry about what works and what doesn't, and I think on the whole everyone came away with a better understanding of their options in the digital realm.

On display were:

• An Epic M in "micro mode" with a Zeiss CP2 prime lens, a Red onboard 5" touchscreen monitor, and a Teradek Cube HD transmitter
• An Epic M in studio mode, with an Angenieux 17-80, Red's new "Bomb" EVF and a SmallHD DP6 onboard 5" monitor, and a Boxx HD transmitter
• An Alexa Plus on a Steadicam, with a Red 17-50 compact zoom, Arri CLM2 motors and cmotion handunit, and a Teradek Cube and Camwave HD transmitters
• A Sony F35 with docked SRW1 recorder, and a 12mm Zeiss Master Prime
• A Red MX with SSD module, with a Cooke 5/i prime lens, and a Red onboard 5" LCD and EVF.
• A Sony F3 in an MKV AR stabiliser, with an Angenieux 15-40 zoom
• Our Instant Rushes system, being driven automatically from the micro Epic M and the steadicam Alexa, recording rushes as each camera rolled and streaming on demand to multiple iPads.

Plus, Angela from The Local Taphouse drew up an amazing "matched beer" list for us that you have to see to believe.

More photos from the day are up on our Facebook Page.

Finally, I'd like to thank our friends at Hubgear and Video Australasia for providing additional equipment for the day, and a special thanks to Deakin University for bringing along two Epic Ms and allowing us to kit them up.

We're considering putting on events like this regularly, so if you have any ideas as to what you'd like to see in an environment like this please get in touch and we'll do it all over again soon.

New Sensible Digital Cinema instalment goes live.

The Cooke 5/i Primes

A surprisingly effective demonstration of the Cooke 5/i Primes in low light. Inspiration Studios second installment of Sensible Digital Cinema.

 or the you tube link: click here

10,000 Paper Planes

We provided camera and support for Ross Coulter's fantastic installation piece which will be in a gallery later this year.

A Red MX with a Zeiss 12mm Standard Speed was mounted on a motion control head in the centre of the room to allow 12 full 360° rotations while tilting from ceiling to floor while thousands of paper planes were launched into the room.

Eight Canon 5Ds were also placed around the room for alternate angles.

Here's a sneak peek at the aftermath:

"Woodley" wraps

After 7 weeks and over 6.5TB of footage, Australia's first TV series on the Arri Alexa has wrapped. Woodley will be airing in the second half of 2011 on the ABC. We're proud to have been a part of this amazing show and can't wait to see it.

Sensible Digital Cinema: The Arri Alexa