Digital video capture devices are omnipresent in our culture, and the average viewer’s subconscious understanding of what constitutes quality video is more informed than ever. Nearly everyone has a high-def capable (often 4K) camera in their pocket these days. With such a powerful imager so close at hand, more complex cameras need to reach ever higher and higher peaks of image quality. One of the many things that cinema cameras do to differentiate themselves is to offer high-latitude, extreme dynamic range gammas, like Log. However, “hybrid” gamma settings like Canon’s Wide Dynamic Range gamma, have distinct benefits too, especially in the remote production world.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, AbelCine has released our standard suite of scene files for the Sony PXW-FX9. The names of these scene files will be familiar to anyone who has been downloading and using them with other popular cameras over the years. We have done our best to keep the looks faithful to the original files created some 15 years ago.

The Academy Color Encoding System, better known as ‘ACES’, is a comprehensive Color Management System (CMS) specified and made available by AMPAS, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With version 1.2 on the horizon, I thought now was a good time to look at the current state of affairs, as well as what to expect in future releases.

We sat down with DP Terry Zumalt and 1st AC Devin Keebler on Netflix's Last Chance U, a series that follows players from junior college football teams as they compete to reach the next level.

In our tradition of providing scene files for the latest professional cinema cameras, we have created a collection of scene files for the Sony PXW-FX9. These files are based on the looks AbelCine has been creating for many years and are designed to fit a variety of common shooting scenarios.

One of the major technology trends in 2020 continues to be HDR. As you may also know, Netflix has instituted a requirement that all original programming be finished in HDR (the Dolby Vision flavor, to be exact) — not unlike their 2015 edict that all original programming be shot with cameras from a growing list of bodies that capture at least UHD 3840x2160 natively. While a full primer on ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting HDR’ is beyond the scope of this article, I wanted to highlight one camera particularly well-suited to HDR capture (as well as satisfying the Netflix resolution requirements): ARRI’s ALEXA Mini LF.

As with so many other brands in the past, AbelCine has compiled a new camera chart for easy comparison of the features and specifications of Sony's various camera models. For this reference guide, we have chosen to focus on the current generation of camera systems for the sake of clarity and brevity. While many of these camera bodies are in their second generation, the chart's list of features strives for inclusivity, making it unnecessary to recall details of old models that have carried over, as they are still listed here.

The ALEXA Mini LF builds on ARRI's wireless control technology, which was introduced to the ALEXA line with the ALEXA SXT W. Each new ALEXA camera has advanced this capability, and the Mini LF is no exception. In this blog, I take a look at the various options available for wireless camera control and discuss the benefits of each.

Any time a new compact lightweight camera like Sony's PXW-FX9 comes out, camera assistants and operators have to spend a fair amount of time thinking about how to kit it out. To that end I recently spent some time myself evaluating and analyzing the different accessories on offer for the new camera. I also conferred with our rental department to get the perspective of a typical camera house environment and use that to compare against the more specialized needs of an owner-operator or low-budget filmmaker. Combining this insight with my own experience as a 1st AC and documentary camera operator helped me create this accessory guide, which, while not all-inclusive, should serve as a good starting point for any new FX9 owner.