Friday 28 March 2014

New Mac Pro? Consider these Accessories...

Anybody out there who's serious about video editing will have by now given some thought to the new Mac Pro's and if you've already got your hands on one then chances are you'll be well aware of the issues outlined below.
 
For those of you who are still considering investing there's a few things you'll need to consider in order to get the most of this lightning fast machine.
 
First things first - the new Mac Pro is unlike any other workstation.
 
By now we're all well aware of the specs and if you're not then visit the Apple website here to see them in detail. One thing people have expressed surprise at is the fact that Apple have elected not to include a keyboard and mouse. It's fair to say this has ruffled a few feathers and with the Mac Pro's starting £2,499.00 (inc vat) it's easy to see why customers are annoyed when something considered so basic isn't included as standard but as we said before - the new Mac Pro is unlike any other workstation and Apple is unlike any other company (which is undeniably part of their appeal.)
 
By choosing not to include something as basic as a keyboard and mouse Apple are making a very bold statement which leaves no question about the fact that the Mac Pro is a new breed of workstation  designed to be extremely powerful while remaining as minimalist as possible. This is something Apple fans should be used to and it's important to note that the new Mac Pro isn't just minimalist - it's also highly expandable.
 
"Expandable" is the key word here and while the lack of keyboard/mouse will undoubtedly be an issue to many we're certain it won't hinder sales of the Mac Pro in the slightest. So Apple haven't included a keyboard and mouse. Big deal. They also don't include monitors, Thunderbolt cables, PCI adapters or additional storage as standard which is probably exactly what they'll say to anyone disgruntled enough to call up and complain.
 
Anyone lucky enough to be in a position to purchase a new Mac Pro will no doubt be well aware of the fact that they're going to require additional storage - after all the Mac Pro's are essentially built for working with media whether it's hi-resolution photo's or 4k video. As a result users will need someway of storing (and backing up) all those large files and with no less than six Thunderbolt 2 ports it would be a shame not to make the most of what is undoubtedly one of the fastest interfaces in the world.
 
Here at Planet PC we'd recommend taking a look at some of the newer Pegasus drives by Promise. Built with media professionals in mind Promise manufacture a range of high end RAID solutions which you can view here on our website. We're particularly impressed by the Pegasus 2 with Thunderbolt 2 capabilities which makes this one of the best hard drives money can buy. Admittedly these aren't cheap with the 8TB version retailing at around £1015.00 (ex vat) but as the old saying goes - you get what you pay for. These drives are ideal for a 4k workflow and feature hot swappable drives along with dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy chaining. They also include a Thunderbolt cable which will no doubt come in handy.
 
Another product we'd consider essential for anyone using a new Mac Pro is an expansion chassis. This is due to the fact that the Mac Pro doesn't feature PCIe slots so chances are you'll want to invest in a little box of tricks such as the Echo Express III-D by Sonnet. This device costs just over £600.00 (ex vat) and allows you to connect up to three full size PCIe cards to the Mac Pro. The Sonnet Echo Express III-D also utilises lightning fast Thunderbolt 2 technology and is a great way of increasing functionality by incorporating specialist video capture/audio interface cards into your setup. Obviously no PCIe cards are included but chances are they'll seem relatively cheap when you've finished purchasing everything else.
 
By now you're probably wondering if there's anything else you'll need to purchase to compliment your set-up and believe it or not the answer is a big fat expensive yet. What you purchase and how much you spend will ultimately depend on what you're looking to do. Capture cards and 4K monitors will be standard for some and redundant for others and these is before additional costs such as software are considered. Visit our website at www.planetdv.net and check out all the accessories mentioned within this post along with many more. Alternatively give us a call on 01274 713400 and we'll be happy to talk Mac Pro's and anything else to do with video.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

New Products Now Online!

Here at Planet PC we're busy updating our website all the time - whether it's updating our prices to make sure our customers get the best deal or simply adding new products to ensure our product portfolio remains up to date.
 
Recently we've added some exciting new products from the likes of Decimator Design, Chrosziel,  and Atomos to name a few. Read on to find out more...
 
  
Decimator Design are an Australian company who produce a great range of converters and distribution amplifiers which not only look great but are also built to last.
 
Obviously looks aren't everything and it's fair to say that Decimator Design's products are some of the more expensive out there when it comes to conversion/distribution. There's a good reason for this and with a number of awards under their belt they're hot on the heels of companies such as AJA and Blackmagic.

 
 
We particularly like the Decimator 2 SDI-HDMI converter which features De-embedded analogue audio, down-converted outputs, built in scaling, audio metering and text overlays on the HDMI output.
 
 
Chrosziel 450-R21 Dual Stage Matte Box
  
 
 
German company Chrosziel are best known for their matte boxes and sunshades - and for a good reason. Combining German engineering with rugged functionality, these are ideal for anyone looking for greater control over light angles and lens flare.
 
Here at Planet we've been receiving more and more requests for these lately. Our favourite is Chrosziel's 450-R21 Dual Stage Matte Box which features  a double rotating filter stage, 16:9 mask, two filter holders, a French flag and pivot mechanism for side wings (sold separately).
 
 
The Atomos Ninja Blade
Fans of Atomos will be pleased to hear Atomos have launched their Ninja Blade - great news for anyone who felt left out due to the fact that the Samurai Blade was SDI only.
 
This newest addition to the range is essentially a beefed up Ninja 2 and features a bigger and better screen (capacitive instead of resistive) and features built in scopes/waveform monitors just like the original Samurai Blade. This is great news for anyone who's using a camera such as the Blackmagic Pocket Camera which doesn't have SDI outputs.
 
 
 We're always on the look out for new and exciting products and a big part of what we do involves listening to what our customers want so if there's anything you'd like to see on our website feel free to get in touch either by giving us a call on 01274 713400 or Alternatively send us an email to sales@planetdv.net

Monday 3 March 2014

Blackmagic's Pocket Camera? Here's a Few Things to Consider Before you Buy.

After announcing their first camera back in 2012 it's fair to say that Blackmagic's Cinema Cameras have generated a lot of hype and while most people are still waiting to get their hands on the 4K version (well done if you have one!) the Pocket Camera and original 2.5K Cinema Camera's are now readily available.

The Pocket Camera especially has been talked about non-stop (the irony of which is not lost in this blog post) and it's fair to say that this little cinema beast has certainly been making waves. Obviously this is all well and good but unfortunately for many not only has the Pocket Camera been making waves, it's also been causing some confusion between customers - many of whom aren't sure why or even if the Pocket Camera is right for them. If you're one of those still sat on the fence then this post is for you. 

Would you like some camera with that lens?
First things first - it's not really a pocket camera.

Yes the Blackmagic Pocket Camera might well fit in your pocket but chances are (unless you have pockets the size of rucksacks) everything else required to make it fully functional will not. As a result anyone who thinks it's a great idea to walk around with the Pocket Camera in their pocket is essentially carrying the equivalent of one piece of a very expensive jigsaw puzzle because as great as the Pocket Camera is, it's certainly not designed to be a point and shoot camera.

But it's so cheap?

Blackmagic's Pocket Camera is indeed great value for money. With an RRP of £649.00 (ex vat) there is nothing else in this price range which offers a similar specification to the Pocket Camera. Not only does the Pocket Camera offer 13 stops of dynamic range, it also boasts a Super 16mm sensor, includes the Lite version of DaVinci Resolve and can record in both RAW and ProRes. With these specs and at this price point the Pocket Camera is ideal for anyone who wants to add increased flexibility to their existing kit for relatively little outlay. Note though that we said existing kit. For anyone who already has a main camera along with a rig and some lenses (preferably MFT ones) the Blackmagic Pocket Camera is a very attractive proposition. This is especially true when you consider the fact that a decent lens alone can cost more than the camera and with this in mind it's easy to see why the Pocket Camera and the flexibility it provides appeals to so many.

Where the Pocket Camera gets expensive is when novices or those with a limited understanding of the workflow associated with the BMPCC jump on the hype of the cinema bandwagon. It's understandable that people get exited about new products and it's fair to say that Blackmagic have done a great job of marketing all their cameras. Many of you will be all too aware of earlier issues regarding shipping and waiting lists and while this has been frustrating for many customers it's hard to deny the fact that this has also generated a lot more publicity for the camera's due to the overwhelming initial demand.

This has led to a lot of people wanting a cinema camera when they're not really sure why - a little bit like wanting a sports car without considering the running costs and insurance etc. Here's a few things you might want to consider before taking the plunge:


SD Cards


Whatever you do - don't skimp on these. To put things in perspective you'll be able record just under 40 minutes of footage in Pro Res on a 64GB SD card (even less if you're working in RAW) so chances are you'll need a few. Blackmagic recommend something like the Sandisk 64GB SCXC Extreme Pro (95MB/s) which costs around £95.00 (ex vat) which might seem expensive but if you're working with cameras such as the BMPCC high read/write speeds are essential - just don't forget to label them all.


Alternative Recording Media

Helping the Pocket Camera cut the mustard.
You've probably realised by now that if you want to record on SD cards it won't be cheap whether you're recording in RAW or ProRes. Another issue customers have encountered with the Pocket Camera is the tiny LCD screen with many opting to use an external monitor.

Here at Planet PC we'd recommend looking at using like the Atomos Ninja Blade due to the fact that it provides the capability to record to SSD drives and acts as an external monitor. The Ninja Blade also includes a built in vectorscope and waveform monitor which makes it ideal for use with the BMPCC. At approximately £595.00 (ex vat) the Ninja Blade isn't far off the price of the Pocket Camera but we think it's a worthy investment - especially when you consider how much better SSD's are in terms of value for money when compared to SD cards.

Atomos recommend using specific drives, one of which is the Angelbird AVpro which will set you back around £420.00 (ex vat) for 240GB although there are cheaper alternatives available. Click here for some alternative recommendations.



What about the audio?

The Pocket Camera features a standard 3.5mm jack which would lead most people to believe that using a microphone with the Pocket Camera is pretty straightforward. Unfortunately this isn't the case and to say a lot of customers have had issues with the BMPCC's audio is an understatement. After initial tests we've found that very few microphones work well with the BMPCC although one which does is the Rode VideoMic Pro and costs about £110.00 (ex vat)



External Power

Spare batteries for the BMPCC are relatively affordable but with some users reporting batteries lasting as little as half an hour it's easy to see why many aren't exactly over the moon about carrying around/charging multiple batteries for the sake of a few hours filming. As a result we'd recommend considering an external power source such as a V-Lock battery if you don't already have one. We like this one by Swit which we'd recommend using in conjunction with something like a D-Tap to Pocket Camera power cable by Wooden Camera although at around £430.00 (ex vat) for the Swit V-Lock kit alone (which is one of the cheaper V-Lock options) it's a high price to pay for convenience. Alternatively if you've got the budget you could consider using the Wooden Camera V-Mount - Pocket Camera adapter in conjunction with a cheese plate which would allow you to power the Pocket Camera and externals camera light/recorder at the same time.


Essential for helping your rig take shape
Wouldn't a cheese plate need to be attached to a rig?


It would indeed, as would all the other accessories required to make the Pocket Camera user friendly. We'd recommend taking a look at Shape's Pocket Camera Cage  £350.00 (ex vat) which is machined from a solid piece of aircraft grade aluminium and is ideal for attaching pretty much anything with a threaded screw mount. The cage also includes a top handle and an adjustable rod block for anyone who wants to add accessories such as a matte-box or follow focus. For alternative's check out the likes of Cambo and Edelkrone at www.planetdv.net.





But I can still use my existing lenses right?

That's absolutely correct - that is of course providing they're MFT mounts. If you want to use anything else with the BMPCC you'll need an adapter manufactured by someone such as Metabones. Those of you who already have Canon EF lenses and want to use image stabilisation/auto-focus will need to look out for the Metabones EF-MFT Speedbooster, although at the moment this particular model is notoriously difficult to get hold of. While there are cheaper adapters available the Metabones is one of the only options which allows users to take advantage of the internal electronics within an EF lens which many won't want to be without.


So there you have it. We've only scraped the surface when it comes to the Pocket Camera but fingers crossed this post proves useful for those of you still undecided about taking the plunge, whether you're a seasoned pro or an amateur film maker. Here at Planet PC we agree that overall the BMPCC is excellent value for money, and love the fact that Blackmagic have made this kind of technology affordable enough for the everyman. That being said, the Pocket Camera is certainly not your average camera and requires not only a completely different way of thinking when it comes to filming, but also a different way of working - especially in post production.

If this post hasn't put you off and you'd like to talk more about Blackmagic's cameras or anything else video related then give one our sales team a call on 01274 713400. Alternatively visit www.planetdv.net.