Arri has published a great list of applications for the iPhone, sorted after Camera Lighting Production Sound Reference.

Been a bit quiet on this blog, mainly because of work-load. Plus, I’ve been promoted to admin over at reduser, so I tend to spend computer time there.

It’s been a week now since the latest announcement by RED, and mostly people are very happy with the new information. Currently though there is some discussion about the naming of their new electronic viewfinder, the BOMB EVF. Some people tend to worry that the naming might cause problems at security checks. Matt Gottshalk promptly suggested an alternative name, the Warm Squishy Love Monster EVF, which inspired me to do a quick photoshop mock-up:

Since that wasn’t peaceful enough, Andrew Clemson also asked for a furry version. I just had to oblige:

Finally got some time to do a new showreel, featuring only shots done on the RED one camera.

Below you can see it in SD quality, or go to Vimeo for the HD version. Enjoy!

The Anne Frank museum has publicized the only existing film footage showing Anne Frank. In this film you can see her leaning out of the window.

War is such a waste.

July 22 1941. The girl next door is getting married. Anne Frank is leaning out of the window of her house in Amsterdam to get a good look at the bride and groom. It is the only time Anne Frank has ever been captured on film. At the time of her wedding, the bride lived on the second floor at Merwedeplein 39. The Frank family lived at number 37, also on the second floor.

Anne Frank Museum home page. (via)

About 2 years ago RED scrapped their plans for a mattebox. Yesterday Jim posted the following render, which gives food to the hope that the announcement for late October might just include in this picture (click on it for full size).

Looks like carbon fibre with 2 rotating 4×5.6 trays, enough holders for eyebrows on all 4 edges, and option to clamp it onto the lens.

This was a busy night with Jim showing a couple of new renders from the upcoming EpicX 5k camera. What is so special about this camera – besides its technical specs – is its modularity. You can use it as a very small, lightweight system (ideal for run-and-gun shoots), or build it up into pretty much any configuration you can imagine.

Lego taken to the next level

There will be a number of battery options on the new camera. As promised, most equipment from the RED One period will be compatible with both the Epic and Scarlet. To use V-lock batteries, there will be a module for batteries – which will take 2 batteries at a time, for extended running times; especially taken into consideration that the new cameras will draw less power.

more…

Tom from Timespace has just posted his latest timelapse movie – where he has perfected his homemade dolly moves:

He has posted a number of how-to/behind-the-scenes clips on how he achieved those amazing pictures: more…

Enjoy:

Every few years I treat myself to something special, traveling in style that only one airline can provide. An airline that prides itself in being an agent of market forces, and the cleanest, easy-to use pricing structure. Where you are never far away from a smile, where your personal comfort is…

Ok, enough of the irony. Today I traveled Ryanair, something I had promised myself long time ago that I would never do. After all they did destroy my laptop (thankfully just a Vaio) and almost made my whole family miss a flight. Anyway, long story short, I am always amazed how a 1 Kroner ticket ends up costing much more than that. In the spirit of helpfulness and sharing, I would like to present this list to Mr. Leary, or whatever the name is of that Ryanair boss.

10 ways Ryanair could extract more money from their passengers

1. Want an experienced pilot? That’ll be 20 quid extra, sir.
2. Safety belts take 1 pound coins to open.
3. Life vests can be rented for 5 pounds per hour.
4. Seats where you are less likely to die are 50% extra.
5. Charge for oxygen consumed during the flight.
6. Surcharge of 5 pounds if you do not buy a Bingo ticket.
7. Charge 50 pence for every second you need to get off the plane.
8. Falling asleep and not listening to the announcements? 10 pounds, madam.
9. No change will be given.
10. Charge 10 pounds for every piece of luggage that did not get damaged during transport.

I finally got around to conduct a casual lens test for all the Contax Zeiss lenses I own. I shot all lenses wide open, at 2.8, 5.6, 8 and closed at 16 or 22. I moved the camera, so as to keep the framing similar. On the 2 zooms I own, I tested these on both ends and in the middle. I also tested a few lenses with a 2x extender.

In the end I chose a 150×150 frame, cropped these in Graphic Converter into high quality jpegs (@90%). Then I sorted all crops according to their f-stop. During the next days I’ll post the results.

Today I start with 5.6, which is the stop that should be the sweet stop for most lenses (i.e. 2 stops down from wide open). This should give a good indication of how the lenses perform optically. I opened up all cropped jpegs, without knowing which one belonged to which lens. Then I ordered them as to how good they resolved the text – this step is of course up for discussion, but gives a general idea. more…