SHOWSTOPPERS. . .

Your A-to-Z of the latest and best in camera, lens, grip, lighting, power, colour and post products as shown at Euro Cine Expo 2023

After a successful premiere in 2022, Euro Cine Expo returned to Munich for its second edition, on June 30 and July 1, 2023. Taking place at different locations around the Motorworld complex, 140 exhibitors displayed their products at

Anton Bauer

“We’re a battery manufacturer and we look to support everyone in the industry,” said representatives from Anton Bauer, who were showing their updated VCLX NM2 block battery. Described as “a big generational leap”, the VCLX NM2 has increased capacity, an IP65 rating to partner with all-weather

Aputure

The Amaran 150c and 300c are the first fullcolour 150W and 300W LED spots from Aputure that combine full-colour RGBWW control, the versatility of optical and softlight Bowens mounts, integrated controls and, most importantly, high-quality lighting performance.

Also new to Aputure are the Electro Storm XT26 and CS15. The XT26 is a powerful point-source LED fixture with 2,600W, whose light output is equivalent to that of 4kW HMIs. Thanks to the motorised bracket, the spotlight can be remotely controlled (pan and tilt). It offers common control options, including Sidus Link

Astera

The German manufacturer has been producing battery-powered, remote-controlled LED lights since 2005. Its design philosophy of, “products by the industry for the industry”, led to the development of 100% wireless LED lighting technologies: the AX9 light, the Titan Tube, and the HydraPanel.

Astera’s most recent product releases are new Fresnel lights in two sizes. The Pluto Fresnel with 80W LED, which is equivalent to 300W Tungsten, has a two-hour maximum running time. The Leo Fresnel with 250W, equivalent to 1K Tungsten, maintains maximum

Atomos

Atomos combined some of its most popular products into one impressive set-up, including the Sumo 19-inch monitor, which offers live quad-channel HD switching/recording. The monitor was placed on top of a production wagon with the Ninja V+ mounted on top, allowing connectivity and streaming with virtually any camera, with smooth workflows.

Paul Latterman, marketing manager for Atomos distributor Riwit GmbH, explained how HDMI users can now connect to Frame.io through the Atomos Cloud experience, which opens the Frame.io Camerato-Cloud workflow to a world of professional video creators using a vast array of cameras.

Also on show was the Atomos Shinobi monitor placed on top of a Sony FX6 camera as well as the new Atomos Shogun Connect, combining portable monitoring and professional RAW the well-attended show, and no fewer than 29 free lectures complemented the exhibition – including a headline seminar from James Friend BSC ASC about his work on All Quiet On The Western Front, for which he won the Best Cinematography Oscar. German DP Armin lighting fixtures, a rapid recharge of 3.5hrs and 48v output. These improvements have been made in response to user feedback, with the aim of delivering power across the board and in any location. www.antonbauer.com www.videndum.com app control, LumenRadio CRX, Art-net and sACN. The CS15 is a 1,500W point-source LED, with output equivalent to a 1.8kW HMI. The CS15 features an IP65 dustproof and waterproof construction. Delivery of both lights is scheduled for late 2023. www.aputure.com brightness for three hours when its built-in battery is fully-charged. Both Fresnels come with the Titan LED engine, which can deliver precise colour temperatures, RGB values, and colours defined by X and Y coordinates from the AsteraApp colour picker. The AsteraApp is designed for fast, efficient temporary lighting setups. “It’s a huge time-saver when setting-up, monitoring or controlling lights”, said Thor Andre of Astera’s after sales technical support team. www.astera-led.com recording, with support for integrated and cloudbased workflows, and Atomos Edit, a cloud-based software for video editing. www.atomos.com

Also in the Electro Storm range, is the new F14 Fresnel. This is an electronic Fresnel modifier with an Aputure mount. Having a large, 14-inch (350mm) diameter lens and a motorised spot/flood beam angle range, that is adjustable from 18° to 45°, the F14 Fresnel complements the new Electro Storm CS15 and Electro Storm XT26.

Franzen also participated in a discussion about his work on the forthcoming movie A Whole Life Euro Cine Expo will return next year between 27th & 29th June 2024. Here are some of the highlights from the 2023 edition. See Shooting Gallery for Euro Cine Expo 2023 extras!

Blackmagic Design

The renowned Australian manufacturer exhibited for the first time at Euro Cine Expo – until now, its products in Germany have been generally shown exclusively by partners – and the focus was on its cameras and post-production gear.

The latest version of the Ursa Mini Pro 12K OLPF camera features a new, high-performance optical low-pass filter (OLPF) that optimises the camera’s 12K S35 sensor. The OLPF reduces distracting artifacts such as moiré effects and aliasing, whilst maximising the preservation of colour and important image details. This improvement to the Ursa Mini Pro 12K especially enhances its suitability in LED volumes, where it has become very popular.

Also on display was the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2. It features a customisable touchscreen for more convenient framing, a larger battery for longer shooting times, and supports

BVB – BUNDESVERBAND BELEUCHTUNG & KAMERABÜHNE E.V.

The BVB, the national association for set electricians, gaffers and grips in Germany is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and takes the position that the life-work balance of freelancers in the film industry needs to be improved. This includes: training and educational programmes that should be financed by both employers and the state; working hours that should enable a normal family life; fees that should be adjusted to living expenses; and job security.

BVK – GERMAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS

Dr Michael Neubauer from the BVK remarked on how the industry is returning to a kind of normality post pandemic and appreciated the attractive and interesting location for Euro Cine Expo, saying that “feedback from exhibitors has been very positive.”

The BVK works a little differently to other societies and focusses on servicing its members with advice about such things as insurance, contracts and pensions. The society currently has around 530 members and hosted a reception during the show as part of a drive to expand its footprint internationally.

The industry is facing new challenges such as

Cineo Lighting

Cineo Lighting, which has been an NBC Universal company since 2019, was started by a small team of lighting professionals who focussed on changing the way LED technology could be applied to production lighting. Cineo has proven that its patented, liquid-cooled system can provide hard LED lighting technology. The Reflex R15 creates a single high-quality shadow at any beam angle, with a flat exposure level across the beam.

Cineo’s patented technology also includes digital beam shaping in hard lighting, and the Quantum series of high-power soft lighting. Cineo has taken

Creamsource

New from Creamsource are various frames for the Vortex8 RGBW LED lights. For the Vortex light itself, a firmware update is now available that allows imagebased lighting, and this is exclusively software-based – a laptop is all that is needed. The update makes it possible to select an image area in a video signal to be used as the basis for image-based lighting. Very cool!

mounting of an optional electronic viewfinder. The camera features Blackmagic’s latest, fifth-generation, colour science. Like its predecessor, it also features the popular cinematic Super 35 image sensor for HDR and a dynamic range of 13 stops, dual native ISO sensitivities and an EF lens mount.

Those interested in post-production were able to take a look at DaVinci Resolve on iPad. Here, the software is optimised for MultiTouch technology and the Apple Pencil, and currently supports Resolve’s editing and colour workspaces.

The manufacturer also showed the latest 18.5 version of the desktop variant of DaVinci Resolve. It features AI-based tools for Resolve FX, text-based editing and speech-to-text transcriptions. Also new is a Resolve FX Relight tool for adding virtual light sources. Three new Timelines menus on the Cut page make editing even faster and more flexible.

www.blackmagicdesign.com www.bvb-verband.de artificial intelligence, with many fears accompanying the penetration of AI into moving image production. Currently, there are discussions everywhere about what this means for our industry. The BVK is working to make sure its members are protected financially and legally, and colourist Felix Huesken BVK hosted a workshop discussing the phenomenon of AI and its applications in film. www.kinematografie.org the Quantum series to the next level with the new Quantum Ladder, which offers 100,000 Lumens of output and touchscreen control. Cineo’s StageLynx software, which is available as a free online app, is capable of programimng over 64K presets and effects.

Germany requires a certified worker to operate a camera crane. This skill, as well as others, can be learned in workshops that the BVB is organising.

“We’re also looking at eco-friendly solutions that we can apply to everyday tasks,” says Warwick Hempleman, a BVB board member. Environmentallyfriendly technologies were introduced to the BVB by gaffer Niels Maier, also the CEO of rental house Maier Brothers Niels Maier, who died tragically and unexpectedly in June 2023 when a small aircraft he was piloting crashed because of a technical malfunction.

Workshops hosted by the BVK were well attended, with one offering thoughtful insights on the current situation in the German rental market and ways to improve opportunities and margins for rental companies.

“This level of customisation makes it possible to create looks and effects that in the past would have involved a lighting console and hours of programming”, says Sean Hise, western regional sales account manager, Cineo Lighting. www.cineolighting.com www.creamsource.com

Dedo Weigert Film

Founded in 1965, initially as a film production company, Dedo Weigert Film now develops equipment that opens fresh and innovative lighting approaches for professionals. Over the course of more than half a century, this Munich-based company has created a vast array of kit. The company has registered more than 80 international patents, ranging from film transport systems to optical devices. The famous Dedolight, which operates on the optical principle of the dual lens concept, earned founder Dedo Weigert a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

“We’re very proud of our capable and

De Sisti Lighting

The Italian company De Sisti, which has been making professional lighting systems since 1982, says it continually invests in upgrading and developing its products to take advantage of the latest technological advances. For the past decade it has focussed on the evolution of energy-efficient LED technology, and launched its Vari-White series of LED lighting as it officially discontinued manufacture of all its earlier Tungsten/HMI equipment.

“With an internationally patented optical system, De Sisti lighting equipment has the most efficient LED Fresnel lights available on the market”, said company

Dopchoice

The Fat-Rabbit, an eight-foot version of a nearlyround Double-Hex Snapbag that folds into its own carrying bag, is the new big brother in the DoPchoice universe. Stefan Karle, a former DP, founded the Munich-based company in 2008, which creates and builds lighting tools to meet the needs of gaffers.

Like the other members of the Snapbag family, the Fat-Rabbit has a highly-reflective interior to evenout illumination as it maximises output. Thanks to its lightweight design, these light refining accessories are easy-to-use and fast to set-up on a wide variety of LED panels.

Film Commission Bayern

Whether film productions are looking for abandoned industrial sites, compelling landscapes, or ancient castles, Film Commission Bayern can help them find the best filming locations in Bavaria.

As an information hub for national and international production companies, Film Commission Bayern acts provides the interface between film productions and authorities that issue location permits. Over many years, the commission has developed an extensive Bavarian network with partners that support film productions on-site, opening all regions in Bavaria to film production. This network gets a boost from the

Fujinon

Fujinon had products in three halls, and product manager Luke Cartwright said the show had been positive, seeing both UK and European customers. The Fujinon lens range was demonstrated across a range of camera systems, with zoom optics including the Premista 19-45, the ZK series, and the super-affordable MK series, such as the 18-55. In fact, the Premista’s were used on All Quiet On The Western Front for certain specific shots, with DP James Friend BSC ASC BSC discussing the film at the show making a neat connection. The other flagship exhibit was the HZK25-1000 Cine Box PL Lens, which brings a cinematic look-and-feel to the experienced R&D team, who, in today’s professional lighting industry, may be one of the very best worldwide for mechanical, optical and electronic design”, said Dedo Weigert.

Notable among recent product releases is the Dedolight Neo Color, which can be synchronised with an LED screen for mixed reality productions, and can also be integrated into the Dedolight Lighstream system. Thanks to a proprietary app, a smart phone functions as a colour picker. If you need a fire effect on the LED screen, the Dedolight Neo flickers in real-time with the same colour. Sehr schön! www.dedoweigertfilm.de

CEO, Fabio De Sisti.

The stars in De Sisti Lighting’s range are the Muses Of Light, innovative LED lighting products developed in close collaboration with Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro IAC ASC and lighting designer Francesca Storaro. Inspired by the nine muses of ancient Greek mythology, this series of high-power Vari-White LED lights replaces traditional Tungsten/HMI lighting equipment. For its 41st anniversary, De Sisti launched v4.1 firmware for VW+C lights that offers improved performance, bug fixes and new features. www.desisti.it www.dopchoice.com location initiative Filmkulisse Bayern, which aims for a closer collaboration between the film and tourism industry.

DoPchoice’s proprietary Snap technology make a gaffer’s life easier when grids are used in a softbox. The Rabbit-Ears make it possible to mount soft boxes in less than three minutes. The soft box fastening system replaces the heavy speed ring standard used for mounting DoPchoice’s Snapbag soft boxes on a light. Available for octagonal, square, and omni-directional soft boxes, Rabbit-Ears are so versatile that a single unit can be mounted on many different brands of LED lighting.

“We support filmmakers throughout Bavaria in all phases of production”, says Film Commissioner Anja Metzger. “This support includes location scouting and tours, as well as logistical services such as searching for accommodation. Moreover, the Film Commission offers an online database with a broad variety of locations that feature different styles, states and eras.” www.fff-bayern.de broadcast zoom lens and caused quite a stir at the show. Hooked-up to a full frame camera the results are stunning! www.fujifilm.com

15-18

SEPTEMBER 2023

RAI AMSTERDAM