Tech Tips

INDIE TIPS AND TOOLS
By Pauline Rogers

With the independent film community growing rapidly, industry equipment developers are focusing their efforts on what they can do to support filmmakers who are shooting projects that don't often provide trailers for talent.

We're taking a look at a few of the newest tools designed for indie filmmakers - from a revolutionary lens adapter, filters designed for HDV shooters, a smaller HMI light, a tapeless digital camera and instructional DVDs for P2 and Final Cut Pro.

Hopefully, one of the tips and tools in this issue will provide the perfect element that enables the cash-strapped filmmakers to make his or her shooting budget magnum opus.

SONY PMW EX1 CAMCORDER
www.sony.com/xdcam

“The XDDAM EX series, with its full HD picture quality and system, is a powerful tool for boosting quality and efficiency in an array of HD production applications,” says Bob Ott, Vice President of Optical and Network Systems for Sony Electronics. “It is also compatible with a broad range of non-linear editing systems.

“Combined with the ability to capture and transfer footage using ExpressCard technology - the new standard for PC card and interface - I believe this new camera will prove to be a very reliable and flexible compact camcorder for HD video production.”

The new model expands Sony's XDCAM line of tapeless production and acquisition systems. The camera uses Sony's newly developed SxS Pro solid-state memory as its recording medium. The memory card delivers up to 800 mbps of high-speed data transfer, enables non-linear capabilities like instant random access and file-based operation. With two 16gb memory card slots, the camcorder can record up to 100 minutes of high-quality HD footage at 35 mbps, or 140 minutes at 25 mbps.

“The large ½-inch type image sensor can capture images with a shallower depth-of-field, allowing for more creative freedom of expression,” Ott explains. The camera features three 1/2 -inch type Exmor CMOS sensors, each with an efficient pixel count of 1920 x 1080. This allows for a high sensitivity of F10, a signal-to-noise ratio of 54dB, and horizontal resolution of 1000 television lines.