The world’s smallest USB-powered broadcast quality micro converters just got a spec bump with 3G-SDI and retain a very affordable price tag.
Converting from SDI to HDMI and vice versa is almost as common as attaching a lens adapter to a Sony camera these days. With the new Micro Converters 3G there is no reason not to have one of those little boxes in your kit – especially at this price point.
Adding to the already impressive and reliable lineup of converters that are easy to use and don’t break the bank, Blackmagic Design added these three new models:
Micro Converter HDMI to SDI 3G
Micro Converter SDI to HDMI 3G
Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G
Blackmagic Micro Converter SDI to HDMI 3G. Source: Blackmagic Design
Build quality
The Converters have a solid housing with strong high quality connectors. The one-directional converters even allow you to actually connect two devices to one source, either before the conversion or after (depending on the model).
Unfortunately these broadcast quality converters don’t offer any mounting points or threads so you will have to attach them with velcro or a clamp if you would like to mount them on your rig.
Features
Aside from converting signals at up to HD 1080p60, the Micro Converters also include SDI re-clocking for longer SDI cable lengths and HDMI Timecode support.
Supported HDMI and SDI Video Formats. Source: Blackmagic Design
The Micro Converter BiDirectional even supports Camera Control so you can for example control your Pocket Cinema Camera with an ATEM SDI switcher with the BiDirectional Converter in between.
You can make changes to the Converters’ settings with the help of “Blackmagic Converters Setup” Software for macOS and Windows.
Power
Power is delivered through USB-C so you will have to bring a power bank. Blackmagic Design also sells a USB-C power supply to plug in a wall socket for $35.
Power Options for Micro Converters 3G. Source: Blackmagic DesignPro-Tip: You can attach some velcro strips on the housing and attach a Blind Spot Power Junkie so you can use standard NP-F batteries to power the Micro Converters and your camera or accessories so you don’t have to worry about changing multiple batteries.
Price & Availability
The Micro Converters 3G are available now for $45 (HDMI to SDI 3G), $49 (SDI to HDMI 3G) and $65 (BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G). The Micro Converter Power Supply is available for $35.
Where to buy: LinkDo you already own a Micro Converter or are you planning on adding one of these to your kit? Do you have experience with the new 3G Blackmagic Converters or older models? Let us know in the comments below.
Meike Global just announcd a new 35mm T2.1 cine prime lens for full frame sensors. It will be available in various lens mounts, including PL, E-Mount, Canon RF and EF-Mount and L-Mount.
The Meike 35mm T2.1 joins the already available Meike 50mm T2.1 and both lenses have some similarities in terms of the image circle (45mm) and also some other specifications.
The new 35mm T2.1 prime is the second one in a new line of fast cine prime lenses from Meike. It’s undoubtedly aimed at the budget-conscious filmmakers out there, but it seems to offer decent build quality and standard features that you would expect when buying a cine lens.
Meike 35mm T2.1. Image credit: Meike
Meike Roadmap
To get one thing out of the way here: Meike is indeed in the process of establishig a complete line of these cine primes: They actually released a roadmap of upcoming focal lengths which stretches well into 2021.
Meike roadmap of upcoming FF cine prime lenses. Image credit: Meike
In total, the complete set will cover 16mm T2.4, 24mm T2.1, 35mm T2.1, 50mm T2.1, 85mm T2.1, 105mm T2.1 and 135mm T2.1. However, if you want to purchase this lens set you need to wait until each and every lens trickled out ouf the factory over the course of almost 9 months from now.
Meike 35mm T2.1 full frame cine prime lens
The freshly released Meike 35mm T2.1 features everything you’d expect from a cine prime lens: 0.8 pitched gears, smooth iris, 330° focus rotation and a minimum focus distance of 33cm. The lens design, according to Meike, is a dedicated one and not just a rehoused version of an existing stills lens.
Image credit: Meike
The Meike 35mm T2.1 sports 14 elements in 9 groups, it features a 82mm filter thread and offers 11 iris blades for pleasing bokeh effects. The dimensions (ø x L) of the lens alter with different lens mounts, please refer to the list below :
PL: ø85 × 102.4mm
EF (Canon): ø85 × 110.5mm
RF (Canon): ø85 × 134.4mm
E (Sony): ø85 × 136.4mm
L (Panasonic): ø85 × 134.4mm
The weight of the lens ranges from 1107~1170g, depending on the lens mount. The field of view is 63.5° diagonally (FF) and 43.2° diagonally (APS-C crop).
Conclusion
If this lens is worth it, I don’t know. Since Meike seems to be in the process of establishing yet another line of affordable cine prime lenses here I sometimes wonder how many more different lenses we actually need for our daily camera work. There are so many different makes and models out there already but this business model obviously seems to be a lucrative one.
Meike 35mm in PL oder EF mount. Image credit: Meike
The Meike 35mm T2.1 sells for $958 and Meike offers a $40 discount on pre-orders placed before Jan 20th 2021. Shipping will start Jan 25th. For now, only the PL and the EF version are available for pre-order, the other mounts will follow a bit later.
Panasonic LUMIX BGH1 “box-style” camera is now approved for Netflix 4K Originals content. At around $1,998, this makes it the most affordable Netflix-approved camera at the moment. Could this be the new “crash-cam” for Netflix productions?
Netflix has a list of cameras that are approved to shoot Netflix 4K Originals content. The exact recommendation for these productions is that “90% of the total runtime of a final program should be captured on approved cameras. For non-fictional content, this threshold may be more flexible. Any exceptions must be discussed with the relevant Netflix project lead.”
The most recent addition is now the Panasonic LUMIX BGH1 which becomes the most affordable Netflix approved camera.
Panasonic LUMIX BGH1 is Netflix approved
LUMIX BGH1. Source: Panasonic
The LUMIX BGH1 is the seventh camera from Panasonic which has been approved by Netflix. It features the same Micro Four Thirds image sensor as the LUMIX GH5S. The whole thing is packaged in a Box-shaped body with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount that, just like the Z CAM cameras, requires an external viewfinder or monitor.
The BGH1 accepts the same batteries as the Panasonic EVA1 and it includes some useful features like dual native ISO, 3G-SDI output, and BNC Timecode input/output.
As with all approved cameras, Netflix has published a Camera Production Guide for the LUMIX BGH1. This guide summarizes the settings and best-practices for capture with the camera on Netflix 4k Originals.
The approved standard recording mode (23.98, 24, 25, or 29.97 fps) is the .MOV 422, 10-bit, ALL-I 400Mbps codec in DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) or UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution with V-Log L picture profile. When it comes to higher framerates, the approval only includes a workflow with an external recorder as the camera cannot record 4K 4:2:2 10-bit video internally with framerates higher than 30fps.
Camera Production Guide – LUMIX BGH1. Source: Netflix
For anamorphic production, the Academy 4:3 modes with a suitable anamorphic de-squeeze monitoring are approved:
4K-A/60p/420/8-L
4K-A/30p/422/10-I
4K-A/24p/422/10-I
One of the reasons for the approval of this camera was probably also the included Timecode input/output via the BNC connector.
Price and availability
The Panasonic LUMIX BGH1 currently retails for $1,998 (around €1,720 plus VAT in Europe) and it is, therefore, the most affordable Netflix-approved camera at the moment. Could the BGH1 become the new “crash-cam” for Netflix productions?
What do you think about the LUMIX BGH1? Did you get the chance to work with the camera already? Have you filmed content for Netflix 4K Originals before? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.
New Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D ultra-wide-angle lens from Venus Optics has been announced. Designed for Micro Four Thirds, this compact lens weighs only 125g (4.4oz), it includes a manual focus ring and automatic five-blade aperture. It supports EXIF metadata, focuses from a 12cm distance, and supports 46mm filters. The lens is available for around $399.
The Chinese lens manufacturer Venus Optics expanded its line of Zero-D ultra-wide-angle lenses with a very compact Laowa 10mm f/2 for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount. Let’s take a short look at its features and specs.
Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D MFT Lens
Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D for MFT. Image credit: Richard Wong
First of all, this lens is very small and lightweight – it is 41mm (1.61”) long and 125g (4.4oz) in weight. This size makes it suitable for lightweight gimbal setups, vlogging, or aerial drone usage. The lens features a 46mm front filter thread.
Laowa 10mm f/2 is designed for Micro Four Thirds sensors, so it offers 96° Angle of view (20mm full-frame focal length equivalent). Its design stems from the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D, but Venus Optics further refined the optical design resulting in a faster aperture.
Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D for MFT. Source: Laowa
Talking of the optical structure, the lens includes 11 elements in 7 groups. The maximum magnification is 0.15x and the minimum focusing distance is 12cm (4.72″). Zero-D in its name implies that there should not be any distortion of the lines at the edges of the image. There are five aperture blades in the lens.
MTF Chart and Optical Structure. Source: Laowa
The lens is equipped with a CPU chip and a motor. Users can control the aperture in-camera and record all the metadata in the EXIF. The focus magnifier will be triggered for easier focus while rotating the focus ring. Because of this, the lens does not even have a manual aperture ring. It only features a manual focus ring.
Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D for MFT. Image credit: Richard Wong
Price and Availability
The Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero-D for Micro Four Thirds is available now for around $399.
What do you think about this new Laowa lens? Would it fit into your kit? What do you think abotu the future of Micro Four Thirds format? Let us know in the comments below the article.
