KitPlus | Articles

4K at NAB

by Bob Pank Issue 89 - May 2014 The long term NAB veterans will be well aware of just how quickly new technologies can come and go in the television industry. For instance, only a couple of years ago, 3D was still the hot topic, now it has gone quiet, but not altogether gone away. So it is good to report that 4K had another very good NAB, probably...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2014

Game Set Match

by Nico Lewis & Jon Ridel Issue 89 - May 2014 Sports events such as the Super Bowl, the Winter Games in Sochi and the Wimbledon Championships are among the most prestigious jobs for broadcast companies. The larger the event, the more viewers it reaches and consequentially, the more complicated and important the communication system becomes. Without...

Submitted by Nico Lewis

Published 01 June 2014

Shooting in secret

by Kieron Seth Issue 88 - April 2014 Now showing on Channel 4 is Endemols new and highly popular Secret Eaters series. Based round a fixed rig production, the series uses newly developed mobile fixed rig technology and incorporates a number of recently introduced technical innovations, vital for fast turn-around TV. Secret Eaters is one of a string...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 May 2014

When the going gets tough

by Will Strauss Issue 88 - April 2014 When working in the field, the kit we use has to withstand a fair old battering. And Im not just talking about the cameras, viewfinders and those expensive lenses. While glass still needs protecting, these days so does your laptop, your storage, your memory cards: the lot. They all need bags, cases and toughene...

Submitted by Will Strauss#

Published 01 May 2014

23 Countries, 93 Load-ins, 106 shows

by Rob Wick Issue 87 - March 2014 Woo what happened there then? Sixteen months of my life gone in a pole swinging, rain drenched, popstar grabbing haze. The Polecam held its own though. I was touring with the band Muse, using the slip-ring narrow head with the Camera Corps HD Camera on the end. I also purchased a rain bag for the back end and the w...

Submitted by Rob Wick

Published 01 April 2014

Cutting the cord

by Will Strauss Issue 87 - March 2014 Wireless cameras are not new. In fact, they date back to the 1970s. But its only been in the last ten years that this technology has really blossomed, with engineers working out how to adapt the digital terrestrial transmission technology so that it can be used efficiently for programme-making. From that tippin...

Submitted by Will Strauss#

Published 01 April 2014

How to work without batteries

by Julian Hiorns Issue 86 - February 2014 Camera and monitor batteries - what\'s not to like? They\'re portable, rechargeable and easy to use. Well, actually, there are some drawbacks. Batteries can be heavy, expensive to replace and difficult and costly to travel with, as airline passengers know all too well. This last issue has become particularl...

Submitted by Julian Hiorns

Published 01 March 2014

Bob Pank looks at the size of 4k

by Bob Pank Issue 86 - February 2014 The television industry has had many new technological eras in recent years. Only two years ago we were still a 3D era; the latest of the many that have surfaced and sunk over the years of cinema, making it recurring fad. Now 4K / UHD is firmly grabbing the attention of equipment manufacturers as well as product...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 March 2014

Ask the Experts: Wireless microphone systems for cameras

by Tobias von Allwrden Issue 86 - February 2014 Wireless microphone systems for cameras are used by ENG crews and reporting teams as well as for TV and film shootings, where compact size, low weight and unobtrusive miking are particularly important. A professional camera receiver like the EK 3241 is designed according to the Unislot or Sony standar...

Submitted by Tobias von Allworden

Published 01 March 2014

Speed and accuracy in post

by Walter Kummli Issue 85 - January 2014 Walter Kummli is an experienced editor and director of Inhouse Productions Ltd, based in Basel, Switzerland. Since its inception, all editing at Inhouse Productions Ltd has been carried out using EditShares powerful non-linear editing system, Lightworks. Founded in 1999, Inhouse Productions Ltd offer organis...

Submitted by Walter Kummli

Published 01 February 2014

Lighting our way at IBC

by Simon TillyerIssue 82 - October 2013 One of our duties at trade shows is rolling a camera rig around the various halls whether it be Las Vegas, London or Amsterdam and interviewing exhibitors. Having done this for a few years now we get to use different kit at each event, a deliberate decision, in order to test it out in a real world use and in...

Submitted by Simon Tillyer

Published 01 December 2013

Dick Hobbs on the bake off!

by Dick HobbsIssue 83 - November 2013 The taste was that of the little crumb of madeleine¦ which my aunt Lonie used to give me, dipping it first in her own cup of real or lime-flower tea. Like most of us, the only Proust I have read is his section in the dictionary of quotations to look up the famous line about baked goods triggering memories. Marc...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs.

Published 01 December 2013

Rising to the occasion

by Kevin CookIssue 83 - November 2013 I must admit I wasnt really in the market for a camera crane until I set eyes on the iFootage M1 Mini Crane. Sure, I love seeing craning shots in a film - and I understand perfectly how these types of shots give the viewer an additional and otherwise unavailable perspective to A scene but it all seemed like a l...

Submitted by Kevin Cook

Published 01 December 2013

Leading digital cinematography seminar with Matt Siegel

by Matt SiegelIssue 83 - November 2013 Multiple-award-winning film producer and cinematographer Matt Siegel chose a Leader LV5381 four-input multi-SDI monitor for use during his recent seminar on Digital Cinematography at The Maine Media Workshops. Designed for emerging cinematographers, the course explained the advantages of using digital technolo...

Submitted by Matt Siegel

Published 01 December 2013

The UKs PTZ explosion

by Kieron SethIssue 83 - November 2013 The advent of broadcast quality, remotely controlled PTZ cameras has had an enormous impact on television production in the UK. Not only can cameras now be discreetly placed in virtually any location but they can also be operated a very small team of technicians. This combination of creative freedom and the si...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 December 2013