Shimbol Technology is a Chinese manufacturer specializing in wireless video solutions and on-camera monitors/recorders. We first reported about their Shimbol ZO600M wireless monitor, an HDMI-only system with a maximum brightness of 2,000nits, a transmission range of 150m/500ft, and an aggressive price tag of only $399.

The company is now back with its first “monitor-only” product that packs a lot of features at an affordable price: the Shimbol M5.

Shimbol M5 – features

The Shimbol M5 is a 5.5″ on-camera monitor with a maximum brightness of 1,200nits, which is daylight-viewable. The monitor is made entirely out of aluminum, and it measures 146.6 x 87.6 x 26.5mm/5.77 x 3.40 x 1.04in and weighs 278.5g/9.82oz.

The screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and, according to Shimbol, the M5 covers 100% of the Rec.709 color space. Furthermore, the company claims the M5 is color-calibrated in their factory with a maximum Delta E of only 0.6. As a reminder, a Delta E below three is considered imperceptible by the human eye, so the M5 should be perfectly color-accurate out of the box!

On the left side of the Shimbol M5, you’ll find one HDMI input, one HDMI output, and a 6.5-16.8V DC input port. The monitor can take resolutions up to 4K DCI at 25p or 4K UHD at up to 30p. You’ll also find a built-in Sony NP-F battery plate at the back.

At the bottom of the M5, you’ll find a 1/4″-20 mounting point with locating pins. Also, there is a USB Type-C port for firmware updates.

On the right side, you’ll find another 1/4″-20 mounting point, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an SD card slot to load custom LUTs (cube files, 17*17*17 or 33*33*33).

Monitoring functions

The Shimbol M5 has all the monitoring tools you can expect from an on-camera monitor in this day and age, including:

• False color.
• Waveform, vectorscope, histogram.
• Peaking.
• Anamorphic image de-squeeze.
• Masks and framing tools, audio levels.
• As mentioned previously, 3D LUT support.

To navigate inside the menu, you’ll have to use the touchscreen. However, on top of the monitor, there is a power button and three user-assignable function buttons that you can assign to your favorite monitoring tools.

Price and availability

The Shimbol M5 is available now for $169. The monitor comes with a carrying case, a screen protector, a user manual and cleaning cloth, a monitor mount, and two HDMI cables. At this price point, it’ll be a hard-to-beat on-camera monitor!

For more information, please visit Shimbol’s website here.

What do you think about this new Shimbol monitor? Have you already used Shimbol products? What is your go-to on-camera monitor? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

The Sony BURANO was announced in September 2023, and while it is already available for pre-order, the camera will only start shipping in spring 2024. In a nutshell, this impressive compact camera can shoot in 8K at up to 30fps and 4K at 120fps, has a dual native ISO of 800 and 3200, features the same autofocus capabilities as the Sony FX6/FX9, and most importantly, it is the first cinema camera to have built-in ND filters and In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS). You can watch our exclusive interview with Nobutatsu Takahashi-san, General Manager of Sony Cinema Line, to learn more about the Sony BURANO.

Sony BURANO LCD loupe

The Sony BURANO comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD monitor. This monitor has multiple physical buttons around the display and a control joystick, making navigating the menus a breeze. This LCD can also control the camera’s autofocus functions and touch focus.

My colleague Nino had the chance to play with the Sony BURANO during the launch event at Pinewood Studios in London. As he noticed, the loupe that comes with the LCD screen has a mirror design; it is attached to the monitor sideways and can’t be flipped up. This means you have to take the loupe off to use the touch focus capabilities, which is not the fastest on set, especially for a camera designed for a one-man-band operation.

Zacuto Z-Finder for the Sony BURANO

To make things faster and easier, and to avoid having to flip your monitor back and forth, Zacuto released a Z-Finder frame specifically designed for the Sony BURANO. According to Zacuto, “This frame slides into the mechanism on the Sony monitor and locks into place using their hinge.”

Once the Z-Finder frame is attached to the LCD screen, you only have to clip the Zacuto Z-Finder 2.5x loupe. The frame has a red lever at the bottom, allowing you to flip the loupe to access the touchscreen quickly. If you don’t need the loupe, you can snap it off without having to remove the entire frame.

Zacuto mentions that the Z-Finder doesn’t interfere with the Sony mounting arm for the LCD. If you have never used a Zacuto Z-Finder before, it features a 40mm opening, the diopter range can be adjusted from -4 to 0 via the included lens/extender frames, and it has one of the best anti-fog coatings on the market.

Pricing and availability

The Zacuto Z-Finder frame for the Sony BURANO is available to pre-order now for €250/$237,50. A kit with the Z-Finder 2.5x loupe is also available for €594/$565.25. Both products should start shipping in early 2024. As always with Zacuto, non-electronic products have a lifetime warranty.

For more information, please visit Zacuto’s website here.

What do you think about this loupe for the Sony BURANO? Did you already use a Zacuto Z-Finder or EVF? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

Camera movement is a well-established, expressive tool. Done manually or electronically, it’s hard to overstate its importance to the motion-based artistic medium. A dolly is one way to achieve those motion effects. Dolly-based motion, unlike handheld or shoulder-mounted techniques, bears a distinct look. It’s smoother, cleaner, more precise in a sense. Motorized gimbals may provide such a look to some extent, but is limited in terms of gear weight, and can’t be replicated time and time again. Even with its relatively compact design, the new Hyperdolly combines the signature smooth and repeatable movement of a dolly.

Tracked, track-free, or robotic?

Dollies can be divided into three main types. Track-free dollies are quite straightforward: With three wheels attached to the bottom of almost any tripod, they require a flat surface to operate smoothly in most cases. Once set on this kind of surface, they’ll provide smooth motion, but can’t precisely repeat it. Perfect repetition will require tracked dollies. These are more complex contraptions, consisting of a tracked path on which a whilled surface is set. Since the moving surface is set on tracks, it doesn’t need a flat surface. While very smooth and precise, such a system is far more complex and will take more time to set up and move. Robotic dollies combine (some of) the best of both worlds. Simple and quick to set up or pack, the motorized operation, along with dedicated apps, enables repetition, consistent speed, and other tracked-dolly traits.

Enter the Hyperdolly

The Hyperdolly takes the robotic, track-free route. Not much larger than your average mechanical dolly, this one packs quite a punch. Aimed mostly at hybrid gear, it can load up to 12 kg/ 26.4 lbs (tripod and camera). A silent, high-torque, stepper motor will move the entire unit at speeds ranging from 0.7 cm/minute to 27 cm/minute, as it is geared towards precision rather than speed.

The motorized wheel is connected via a geared axis. Controlled manually, it enables extremely subtle and precise rotation angles to be set. The motor is controlled by a 2.4 GHz remote, and can also trigger the camera’s shutter release button to start or stop video or time-lapse. Alongside the dedicated slots for the tripod legs, a tripod head may be mounted at the center for low angles. No final information about the total weight of the kit has been given yet, but it won’t be extremely heavy since it’s designed for single operators and small crews.

Alternatives

There are some alternative systems across the market, ranging from large sliders to after-market add-ons. The closest competitor is probably the Edelkrone DollyPLUS, launched in 2018. The Edelkrone uses a different design, based on two independent motorized wheels, but should serve a similar purpose. The new Hyperdolly boasts a significantly larger wheel diameter, which should make it more tolerant to floor imperfections. It has a simpler design so won’t fold as neatly as the Edelkrone, but may be simpler to repair and maintain. On the other hand, Edelkrone produces various other products that can be synced with the DollyPLUS and significantly expand its capabilities.

Price and availability

Do you see yourself using such a dolly in your future productions? Are there any key features missing in your opinion? Let us know in the comments.

The Hyperdolly launch is due in late November on Kickstarter. The Earlybird price will be $1190, 30% off the full retail price of $1700. The package will include the dolly, remote control, hard case, and tripod mounting straps. As with all crowdfunding campaigns, one should take adequate precaution regarding their pledge. Supporting a crowdfunding campaign is very different from purchasing a product, and we strongly recommend that all our readers read the linked text before pledging to any campaign.

Libec, whose new headquarters and factory expansion we covered not long ago, is a Japanese camera support manufacturer that started their journey more than 70 years ago. They were at the InterBEE trade show in Japan this month to introduce their new products, and my colleague Johnnie was there to ask them about this new tripod.

A lightweight and straightforward tripod

The Libec TH-V is a new, entry-level tripod targeted to all videographers and content creators who use DSLR, mirrorless, and, in general, any handheld video camera. The TH series tripods are cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to use.

The TH-V has a fluid head featuring a 75mm ball and a flat base. Libec calls this a ‘dual head’, and its design aims to be versatile and compatible so that it can be easily used on a 75mm bowl tripod, flat head photo tripod, skate dollies, sliders, etc. The head can be easily changed from device to device by screwing the clamp on and off. The sliding plate is compatible with Manfrotto and Satchler heads and can be attached and released with one touch, speeding up the setup time.

The difference between this model and the previous one is that the drag is now able to control tilt and panning with dedicated friction control knobs separated from the locking mechanism, which makes it easier to change the stiffness of the tripod. The drag also ensures smoother movement and a constant speed while panning or tilting, avoiding wobbly movements during the shot.

Libec has designed this lightweight tripod (3.7kg/8.15 lbs) by using robust plastic combined with aluminum. I know that anytime we hear the word ‘plastic’ in a tripod, some of our worst fears regarding equipment durability arise. Nevertheless, Libec assures us that, leveraging their expertise in plastic moldings, they have struck a balance between hardness and weight, resulting in a durable yet lightweight product that comes at a more affordable price compared to a carbon tripod.

The TH-V tripod will carry a payload of up to 5kg, covering a vast range of cameras from mirrorless to bigger, handheld video cameras. The tripod extends up to 163cm, and its lowest setup is around 70cm. The company is still fine-tuning the tripod’s features, and we might have some additional details soon.

Price and availability

The Libec TH-V will be available in March 2024 following thorough quality control checks and testing procedures to ensure its safety in all possible scenarios. It will cost around $360-370, which includes the tripod, head, and case. The head only will also be available separately for about $200.

What do you think about this new model? Would it be a successful option among the vast tripod offers available? Let us know in the comments!

Accsoon is mainly known for its wireless video solutions, such as the recently launched CineView Nano, the SeeMo HDMI to iPhone adapter, or the more professional-oriented CineEye 2S Pro. However, last month, the company launched its first video sliders and, even more, first motorized video sliders: the Accsoon TopRig S40 and S60.

Accsoon TopRig S40 and S60 – key features

The Accsoon TopRig S40 is a 41cm/16.in motorized slider with a maximum camera travel distance of 22.5cm/8.85in. Its bigger brother, the Accsoon TopRig S60, is 61cm/24in long and has a longer camera travel distance of 42.5cm/16.73in.

Other than their physical length, both sliders have a lot of things in common, including:

• Entirely made out of metal.
• Maximum horizontal payload capacity: 4kg/8.81 lbs. Vertically, the maximum payload capacity drops to 2.5kg/5.51 lbs.
• The built-in motor is powered via one Sony NP-F battery or via the 7.4V-16.8V DC barrel connector. A USB-C port can power small camera accessories. The speed of the slider goes from 0.1cm/s to 5cm/s.
• You can use the sliders without the need for an App via the control buttons and speed adjustment knob. Furthermore, there is a built-in bubble level on the left side of the sliders.
• There is a built-in parallax mechanism that can be adjusted via a knob on the left side.
• At the bottom, you’ll find one 3/8″-16 and four 1/4″-20 mounting points. The top of the Accsoon TopRig S40 and S60 features a 3/8″-16 mounting screw. You can push down that screw to access a 1/4″-20 screw so you can mount any ballhead or fluid head to it.

Pricing and availability

The Accsoon TopRig S40 retails for €285.94/$349.95, and the S60 version is $399. Both motorized sliders will be available soon.

For more information, please visit Accsoon’s website here.

What do you think about these Accsoon motorized sliders? Do you often use motorized sliders? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

The CFexpress 4.0 norm and standard was introduced in April 2023. Memory card manufacturers are slowly transitioning to this latest innovation, which promises a maximum throughput of 4GB/s for Type B memory cards.

Japanese manufacturer Nextorage has been making quality recording media since 2019. The company already has the B1 Pro 1330GB CFexpress Card that was introduced during Inter BEE 2022 and that my colleague Johnnie reviewed here. During Inter BEE 2023, we stopped by the Nextorage booth to learn more about their upcoming CFexpress 4.0 Type B solutions.

Nextorage 1330Gb CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory card – features

At launch, the Nextorage CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory card will be available in 1330Gb capacity. This is usually a sweet spot between capacity and transfer speed.

Regarding transfer speeds, the card can reach a maximum read speed of 3.700MB/s and a maximum write speed of 3.500MB/s. Nextorage claims that the sustained write speed is “only” 3.200MB/s, which is vastly enough to record any flavors of 4K/6K/8K footage in maximum quality at nearly every frame rate you can think of. As a direct comparison, the previous Nextorage B1 Pro 1330GB CFexpress card has a maximum read speed of 1.950MB/s and a maximum write speed of 1.900MB/s.

CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory card reader – features

Nextorage also showcased a new, compact, CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory card reader. This card reader is backward compatible with previous CFexpress Type B memory cards.

At the back of the reader, you’ll find one USB 4 Type-C port, which is also compatible with USB 3.2 Gen1/2 ports. This card reader has maximum transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s, so it is safe to say that your computer/hard drive/memory card will be the bottleneck in the transfer chain, but not the card reader.

External SSD

We’ve gotten very little information about the upcoming external SSD, except that it will be available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, and that it features a 40Gbps USB 4 connector.

Pricing and availability

There is no information about pricing or availability for any of these products as they are still in development.

For more information, please visit Nextorage’s website here.

What do you think about this new CFexpress 4.0 memory card and card reader? Will you start upgrading your recording media to this new memory card standard? Have you already used Nextorage products? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

Camera batteries are usually not as exciting as cameras, lenses, and other pieces of high-end technology. However, they are a serious investment for any filmmaker and content creator, so you can get through your shooting day without worrying about energy. Batteries are the kind of gear you usually don’t notice when they work as they’re supposed to, but they can be serious issues when they don’t.

Whatever your battery mount of choice, whether V-Mount / Gold Mount or B-Mount, batteries are the kind of equipment you can never have enough of. During Black Friday 2023, American manufacturer Core SWX runs multiple special deals on various batteries for mirrorless cameras, cinema cameras, and LED lights.

Core SWX Powerbase Edge Link Black Friday Deals – 20% off

The Core SWX Powerbase Edge Link is the second version of the popular Powerbase Edge, we reviewed. Thanks to a built-in quick-release plate, this 70Wh battery is designed to be attached below your camera. On the battery, you’ll find a built-in status screen and four power output ports: one 5V USB-C PD, one 5V USB-A port, and two D-Tap output ports.

The Powerbase Edge Link can power multiple accessories at once, and with this updated version, you can even combine two battery packs via the built-in V-Lock battery mount, so you have a larger 140Wh battery pack. You can charge the Powerbase Edge Link via a traditional V-Lock battery charger or one of the D-Tap power ports.

Until the end of November, you can get your hands on the Powerbase Edge Link for $223, a 20% saving over the regular $279 retail price.

Core SWX Nano Micro and NEO Black Friday Deals – 20% off

If you’re looking for more “traditional” V-Mount or Gold-Mount batteries, Core SWX also gives you 20% off their Nano Micro and NEO batteries.

The Core SWX Nano Micro is available in 50Wh, 98Wh, and 150Wh sizes. These compact batteries feature a 4-stage LED battery indicator, one P-Tap power input/output port, and one 5V USB-A port. They can be a perfect fit if you’re shooting with a mirrorless camera or a small cinema camera like the RED KOMODO-X or Canon C70.

The Core SWX NEO Slim/Mini are much more “advanced” batteries with a dedicated status screen, an LED gauge, a rubberized housing that is shock/drop resistant, a 16A Peak/12A power draw, and the possibility to monitor the health and status of your batteries via a dedicated smartphone App.

The NEO Slim is available in 98Wh capacity, while the NEO Minis are available in 98Wh and 150Wh capacities. You can get 20% off all battery packs in either V-Mount or Gold-Mount version.

Core SWX Helix Max Black Friday Deals – 20% off

Lastly, you can save up to 20% on the Core SWX Helix Max batteries that were introduced earlier this year. These fully-featured 98/150/276 or 367Wh batteries are available in V-Mount, Gold-Mount, or B-Mount versions.

The Helix Max are native Dual Voltage batteries, which means they can automatically switch between DC 11v-16.8v and DC 22v-33.6v, a handy feature to power LED lights or power-hungry cameras such as the ARRI ALEXA 35.

Similarly to the other batteries, you can save up to 20% on all Core SWX Helix Max batteries from Black Friday until November 30th.

What do you think about these Core SWX special deals? Have you already used Core SWX batteries on a project? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

ORICO is a Chinese manufacturer specializing in data storage, data cables, and power storage/delivery solutions since 2009. The company has been making hard drives and SSD enclosures for a couple of years, and they are now back with a compact and versatile 40Gbps M.2 Smart SSD enclosure.

ORICO 40Gbps M.2 Smart SSD Enclosure – features

The ORICO 40Gbps M.2 smart SSD enclosure measures 130.9 x 49.9 x 14mm/ 5.15 x 1.96 x 0.55in and is made of polycarbonate and aluminum. This enclosure can take a wide variety of M.2 SSDs, including 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 SSDs.

The enclosure is easy to disassemble without any tools needed: slide the transparent lid, open the case, install the M.2 SSD inside, and clip everything back into place.

In terms of cooling, the M.2 SSD lays on a heat dissipation vest, the housing is made from aluminum, and there is a built-in fan to help dissipate some of the heat. According to ORICO, the cooling fan generates a noise of around 19 decibels, which is very low and should be hard to notice.

The ORICO 40Gbps M.2 smart SSD enclosure is compatible with Mac/Windows/Linux computers but also smartphones/tablets, and you can even plug it into your mirrorless camera and record directly to it.

The enclosure has one connection port compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB4, and USB 3.2 Gen 1/2 devices. Theoretically, you’ll be limited by the speeds of your M.2 SSD but not the enclosure itself. Regarding write speeds, you’re looking at around 2.5Gb/s and read speeds of around 2.9Gb/s.

Pricing and availability

The ORICO 40Gbps M.2 smart SSD enclosure is available to preorder on Kickstarter and should start shipping next month. The enclosure retails for $139, and multiple SSD kits are available starting at $229 with a 1TB drive. If you’re interested, hurry up, as the crowdfunding campaign is only running until November 16th at 16:00 CET and is already fully funded.

For more information, please visit ORICO’s Kickstarter page here.

At the end of every crowdfunding-related article, we remind you to please be aware of the risks when backing a project on a crowdfunding platform. Also, please read the platform’s use and remember there can be significant delays when delivering the product. Some projects don’t get delivered at all.

What do you think about this ORICO enclosure for M.2 SSDs? What is your go-to external drive? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

Last year, Chinese manufacturer FEELWORLD introduced the LUT11S, a compact and lightweight director’s monitor with both HDMI and 3G-SDI input/output ports. However, if you don’t need the 3G-SDI capabilities of the LUT11S, FEELWORLD recently released the LUT11H, which has the same display and features but with only HDMI input/output ports.

FEELWORLD LUT11H – features

The FEELWORLD LUT11H is a 10.1″ director’s monitor – or on-camera monitor if you prefer, thanks to its three 1/4″-20 mounting points on the left/right/bottom – that features an 8-bit IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. The display is a touchscreen, which can be used to activate monitoring tools or navigate inside the menu.

According to the company, the display has a maximum brightness of 2000nits, which makes it daylight-viewable. On top of the monitor, you’ll find a light sensor that can automatically adjust the brightness of the LUT11H depending on the light around you.

FEELWORLD claims that the LUT11H supports multiple color spaces, including Rec. 709, DCI-P3, and BT.2020. The monitor has a contrast ratio of 800:1 and a large 170° viewing angle.

At the bottom of the LUT11H, you’ll find two HDMI input ports, one HDMI output port, a 12V DC input barrel connector, and a tally input. The HDMI ports support resolutions up to DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 60 frames per second.

A 3.5mm headphone jack and an 8V DC output port are on the left side. The right side houses the SD card slot to load custom 3D LUTs. Lastly, on top of the LUT11H, you’ll find a power button, three Function buttons, and a menu navigation wheel if you don’t want to use the touchscreen.

When it comes to powering options, you’ll find two Sony NP-F style battery plates at the back of the LUT11H. You can hot-swap the batteries without turning the monitor off, which is handy. FEELWORLD mentions that one F970 battery can power the monitor for around two hours, so two batteries give you around four hours of battery life. Finally, a built-in Sony NP-F dummy battery plate at the back of the monitor should make your life easier if you want to attach a wireless video receiver to the LUT11H.

Monitoring tools

The LUT11H comes with all the monitoring tools you can expect from a professional director’s monitor, including:

• 3D LUT support: you can load up to 50 LUTs.
• Waveform, vectorscope, histogram.
• Anamorphic de-squeeze: 1.25x, 1.33x, 1.5x, 1.6x, 1.8x, 2.0x.
• Zebra.
• Peaking and focus assist.
• False color.
• Image Flip, image freeze, center and safety markers, ratio markers, nine grid, zoom, and pixel to pixel.
• Audio meters.

Price and availability

The FEELWORLD LUT11H is available now for $299. As a comparison, the LUT11S, which is the HDMI and 3G-SDI version, retails for $349.99.

For more information, please visit FEELWORLD’s website here.

What do you think about this compact and lightweight director’s monitor? Do you often bring a large monitor with you on set for your clients? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

Every year companies have amazing deals during Black Friday. Atomos is taking it a step further, and offering Black Month Deals from November 9th – November 30th.

Atomos deals in monitors/recorders – free accessory kit for new Ninja or Ninja Ultra

If you’re in the market for a new Ninja or Ninja Ultra, you get a free accessory kit with your purchase! The (normally $250) accessory kit includes:

• Sun Hood
• Travel Case
• Screen Protector
• (2) NP-F750 5200mAh L-Series Batteries
• DC Power Supply, Fast Charger

The Ninja retails for $599 while the Ninja Ultra is $799. If you want to learn more about either of them, all of the information can be found on the Atomos website.

Zato CONNECT – what it is and what it does

Also in this category is the newer Zato CONNECT, released earlier this year. With a holiday savings of essentially 50%, the all-in-one monitor/recorder with the Atomos Connect system built in is available for $199. If you want to see if the Zato Connect is a good fit for you, all the specs can be found here. What’s great about Zato is the fact that it will upload your footage in the background while you are still shooting, and you can have an editor start working on the footage while you are still on set. Probably the fastest workflow possible – and Zato CONNECT works with frame.io and Sony Ci Media Cloud. With the Zato you don’t need to be worried about your camera having wireless connectivity, because the device can travel with you from camera to camera, and you will always be able to work with this Camera to Cloud workflow, no matter which camera you use.

On top of cloud editing, streaming straight into the web from your camera is also super easy with the Zato CONNECT, and this works through Atomos Cloud Studio as well. Features like picture-in-picture and overlays can be operated directly from the device without the need to go through a computer. Neat!

Atomos Connect – 50% off the Ninja accessory!

Last year, Atomos introduced the Atomos Connect. It started as additional hardware that could be attached to your Ninja systems. With the included wireless antennas, it gives you the ability to upload clips right from your device to the Cloud so you can access your clips from anywhere at any time.

Atomos is also offering a deal for the Connect expansion hardware at essentially half off at $199 until the end of the month, after which it will return to its regular price of $399. It also gives your Ninja an SDI input, which is worth $199 on its own, since that is what an SDI adapter costs. So if you’re considering any of these Atomos items, I wouldn’t wait. You’re unlikely to find a better deal any time soon.

Do you own any of these Atomos products? Give us your feedback in the comments, and help fellow creatives decide whether or not to capitalize on these deals!