AJA, Panasonic, Sony in 360 Seconds

• AJA Releases Enhanced System Test Lite v17.0.1

• Panasonic Unveils Ultra-Compact LUMIX S 100mm Macro Lens

• Sony Develops Advanced XR Content Creation System

Hosts: Philip Grossman, host and co-producer at Visionaries; Mary Ann Seidler, owner of First Light Media and consultant for multiCAM Systems and Telos Alliance; and Maria Kholodova.

Production – TKT1957 LLC.

Maria: AJA’s new System Test Lite v17.0.1, now available on the macOS App Store, offers enhanced UI and multi-terabyte disk system support. It’s tailored for video production, providing accurate SSD performance assessments and customizable parameters for unique workflow emulation.

So Philip, can you take us through this?

Philip: Yes. It’s a great tool. To be transparent, I work with several companies involved in drive development and storage. We frequently use this tool. While the accuracy of these tests is sometimes questionable (I hesitate to use the word “suspect” due to its negative connotations), it does provide a ballpark reference for system speed. Of course, performance depends on what you’re doing, the size of the files, and whether you’re editing versus just reading files. It’s a simple tool to use, helping people understand real-world performance versus manufacturer claims. For example, when a manufacturer says your disk will deliver 3.6 gigabytes per second and you only get 2.1 gigabytes, it helps in troubleshooting. I often use it to troubleshoot cables and drive systems. It’s a handy, free tool, so I recommend it to anyone wanting to assess their drive’s performance. Other tools like those from Blackmagic and Adobe also exist, and they all fall within a similar performance range.

Maria: Great. Moving on to Panasonic. Panasonic launches the world’s smallest and lightest LUMIX S 100mm F2.8 MACRO lens, featuring a new optical design, Dual Phase Linear Motor, and excellent mobility. Ideal for detailed close-ups and medium-telephoto portraits, it offers silent operation and minimal focus breathing, enhancing both photo and video production.

So Philip can you run us through this as well?

Philip: Yeah. It’s based on the Micro Four Thirds format, which is growing in popularity. I’ve always had mixed feelings about this format. Personally, I prefer the 35mm full frame or Super 35 for video. However, the appeal of tiny cameras using the Micro Four Thirds sensor is undeniable, especially as they’re achieving higher resolutions and better image quality. Now, with a series of lenses that can compete with full-frame capabilities, it’s even more appealing. When you consider the RF, EF, or Nikon mounts, there are thousands of lenses available, including third-party options. More and more lenses are being made for the Micro Four Thirds format, although they are fewer in number. There are a few cinema-style Micro Four Thirds cameras out there, so this new lens adds to the versatility of that system. It’s certainly interesting.

Maria: Sony announces a new spatial content creation system featuring a high-quality XR head-mounted display and specialized controllers. Aimed at revolutionizing 3D content creation, the system integrates 4K OLED Microdisplays and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform, promising enhanced real-time rendering and immersive experiences for creators.

What are your thoughts on this?

Mary: I am. Philip, I’ve got some questions about it. How much of a difference is this going to make, and how many other players are in this category?

Philip: So, we’ve had Oculus and other headset manufacturers in the past, primarily geared towards gaming, engineering tasks, and some entertainment. However, there hasn’t been a full ecosystem for the production of content for these devices. It used to require two cameras with an ocular distance setup, which was technically challenging. Sony is essentially the second major player in this space, following Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro, expected at the end of this month or the beginning of February. These ecosystems assist in the development of content for the cameras. We’re still in the early days of discovering all the potential uses. Engineering and training tasks, as well as some entertainment applications, are great fits. You can have a 120-inch screen experience in your room by just putting on a headset, although they still look a bit cumbersome. It’s encouraging to see another competitor striving to reach the benchmark set by Apple’s Vision Pro. My gut tells me there’s going to be a surge in the market for this type of content and these devices as they figure out how to create compelling content, similar to the early days of cell phones. From a layman’s perspective, what you’ve learned, does this interest you?

Mary: Well, it would be interesting. What you mentioned and what they showed in the video is their focus on different engineering tasks. For someone who really needs visual feedback, it would be hugely helpful to visualize something in an immersive 3D environment.

Philip: Yeah, definitely. It’s something to keep an eye out for, for sure.

Maria: That’s all the time we have today. Thanks to our experts – Philip and Mary! And don’t forget to comment on the news we’ve discussed. See you next Monday at the same time!

Production – TKT1957 LLC.
Broadcast on January 15, 2024.

Media Partner – Cine Gear Expo.

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