Syrp Genie Mini II has just been announced. The new generation of the pocket-sized camera motion controller further enhances functionality of the first Genie Mini. The new Genie Mini II has the ability to create keyframed movement and multi-row panorama. It is also compatible with upcoming feature releases that will include new features. Genie Mini II. Source: Syrp Syrp, company based in New Zealand, has been an innovator in the field of camera motion systems for many years. Most filmmakers will have heard of or even used some of their products. They recently got accquired by Vitec imaging solutions, which is now taking care of their products’ distribution, but the founders are still running the company and developing products, still in New Zealand. It has already been four years since the introduction of the first Genie Mini. This year at NAB Syrp announced their new Genie II app, which controls basically all Syrp products. Now the company announced its new Syrp Genie Mini II. What are the features of this new pocket-sized camera motion control head? Syrp Genie Mini II Genie Mini II basic kit and Pan-Tilt kit with two devices. Source: Syrp Genie Mini II is Syrp’s smallest motion camera control device. Despite its compact size, it can carry up to 8.8 lbs (4kg) of payload for panning and up to 6.6 lbs (3kg) of payload for tilting (centered). These specs along with the dimensions of the Genie Mini II remained the same as with the first Genie Mini. What also stays the same is the maximum speed of 11º per second. In terms of the design of the device, only minor changes were made. Genie Mini II Pan-tilt kit for multi-row panoramas. Source: Syrp What is new with the Genie Mini II when compared to the first generation? There is now Bluetooth 4.2 (the first generation was 4.0) which provides a more reliable and faster connection including the ability to set 10 keyframes rather than 5 and the ability to shoot 5 rows of multi-row panorama instead of 2. It will also enable additional app features, which will come later with free firmware updates. The Genie Mini II now also offers WiFi connectivity and an USB-C port (instead of micro USB). Genie Mini II is compatible with the latest Syrp Genie 2 App and includes a more advanced keyframing setup mode in addition to “simple setup”. This enables shooting more complex motion control movements by adjusting the speed and path of movement to be completely custom. Genie Mini II with the Genie II App. Source: Syrp Multi-row Panorama works when combining two Genie Mini II’s with the Pan Tilt Bracket. It allows creating high resolution ‘gigapixel’ and 360 VR images. A trigger option for move-shoot-move time-lapse is also included. The only trade-off I see with the new Genie Mini II as opposed to the first generation is the battery life. For time-lapse it is now shorter – 15 hours (was 24 hours with the first generation). That is most likely because of increased power draw of the new Bluetooth standard and WiFi connectivity. When shooting video, the claimed battery life is actually better with 6 hours (was 5 hours with the first generation). Genie Mini II animation. Source: Syrp The Genie Mini II will be selling for around $249 US. It is, of course, compatible with the rest of the Syrp product family, like the original Genie Mini, Genie II Linear, Product Turntable,  or Slingshot. What do you think of the new Syrp Genie Mini II? Do you use the original Genie Mini or other devices from Syrp? How do you like their products? Let us know in the comments below.

Do you miss an articulating screen with the BMPCC 4K? There now is a possibility to have the camera’s screen modified in China and get a tilting screen. The modification is non-destructive (reversible) and also adds a USB-C port at the back, between the backside of the camera and the screen. BMPCC 4K Screen Modification. Source: power_cheung The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (further only BMPCC 4K) has been a popular camera amongst (not only) indie filmmakers since its announcement. It offers great image quality for a really low price. If you want to know more about the BMPCC 4K, make sure to check out Nino’s hands-on review. Aside from great image quality with high-bitrate codecs, this camera also introduced an unusually large screen. It features a 5-inch touchscreen with 1080p resolution. However, one of the downsides of the screen is that it is fixed on the back of the camera. No tilting, no flipping out, nothing. It seems like there is an unofficial solution for this downside now. BMPCC 4K Tilting Screen Hack BMPCC 4K Screen Modification – First Prototype. Source: power_cheung A user named power_cheung modified his BMPCC 4K screen by adding a tilting mechanism and posted a couple of photos on a Chinese filmmaking forum, filmaker.cn. In fact, he posted photos of the first prototype already in May 2019. That first prototype seemed to be working, but the design wasn’t so neat. That’s how it is with prototypes. BMPCC 4K Screen Modification. Source: power_cheung Now it seems like he managed to improve the mechanics and design of the modification. He posted new photos of the latest version, which actually looks pretty good. The important fact about this modification, as power_cheung claims, is that it is non-destructive. This means that, if needed, the BMPCC 4K can be assembled back to its original shape with the built-in screen. BMPCC 4K Screen Modification. Source: power_cheung His solution looks very interesting. The screen can be tilted 180° up and serve as a selfie screen for vloggers. The only downside of this is that the image cannot be flipped. There is no such option in the menu, as Blackmagic never counted on using the camera upside down. The screen can also be tilted to face down up to 90°. This certainly makes shooting from very low or very high perspectives much easier, as there is no need for an external monitor. The GH-style flip-out mechanism would have probably been better, but I guess it would have led to a more problematic cable management. BMPCC 4K Screen Modification. Source: power_cheung Another advantage of this modification is that there is now additional space available between the backside of the camera and the screen. Power_cheung even put one USB-C connector to this space to connect an SSD for high-speed recording. From what I understood, he will offer the special chassis for the SSD to fit perfectly in that space. BMPCC 4K Screen Modification with USB-C port for SSD. Source: power_cheung Price and Availability The price of the BMPCC 4K tilting screen modification is between ¥ 1500 and 2050 (chinese juan), depending on the version. This translates to roughly $220 to $300. The two versions are both with an SSD box with an M.2 slot, either with SATA or NVMe protocol. The modification can be purchased here on taobao.com. After purchasing, users need to send their BMPCC 4K to China and let the store perform the modification. They claim the modding will take up to three business days. For non-Chinese residents, there are certain risks of sending the camera to China, for sure – the shipping alone is kind of risky. I don’t know if there is any kind of warranty provided by the modders. They do offer a free replacement service for the life of the flexible cable though. I also believe that such a modification will probably lead to a warranty void with Blackmagic (I don’t know if there is a way to tell the camera has been modified, even after being assembled back to its original shape). Considering the relatively low price of the camera, I think it would still be interesting to have it modded. What do you think about this modification? Do you miss an articulating screen with the BMPCC 4K? Would you consider having something like this done? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.

Edelkrone announced yet another motion control device as an addition to their lineup. The Motion BOX is tiny, modular and impressively versatile. On closer look it is more a system than just a product. Edelkrone just did it again, they lived up to their claim (“reinvent”) once again and have rethought the motion control system. This time, it’s modular, tiny and one component becomes more imortant than ever: the app. Edelkrone Motion BOX The Motion BOX is a 1-axis motion control device with a footprint of 3.90 x 3.75 x 1.48 inches (99 x 95 x 37.5 mm) and a weight of 18.3 oz (520 g). it contains a DC motor with 2 high-res encoders and a Li-Ion battery which powers the device for up to one hour at top speed or up to 48 hours while in timelapse mode. Connectors for charging the device and triggering a connected camera are located on the back, a 1/4″-20 screw for mounting the camera protrudes from the top and a 3/8″-16 mounting port is located on the bottom. That’s it. The real magic is not to be seen with the naked eye. In order to unlock the full potential of the Motion BOX, you’ll need a decent smartphone (iOS 9.0 / Androin 5.0 or later) and the accompanyingg app. And now we’re talking: Precisely repeatable 360° pan shots? Not a problem! A 2-axis programmable pan/tilt head? Yes, sir! A tiny, yet super-accurate tabletop dolly? Certainly! The Motion BOX is designed to play well with other Edelkrone products. Add a second Motion BOX and the Tilt Kit for an additional tilt axis, add a SliderONE PRO and get a fully programmable track-pan solution. Dual high-res encoders assure flawless and precice operation. You can even add more axes to the system such as a turntable for creating stunning packshots. All you need is an additional MotionBOX and the so-called Product Turntable Kit. Create Your Own Setup Whatever shot you want to get done, chances are that the Motion Box can help you getting there. Just bulid you own custom set which fits your needs best. That’s the beauty of a modular system. You’ll be stuck to Edelkrone’s products, obiously, but since these have a reputaion of being well-made and carefully thought out the Edelkrone ecosystem might not be the worst choice here. For starters, Edelkrone have designed 5 setups: 1-Axis pan: That’s the most basic way to use the Motion BOX, because it’s just that: One Motion BOX. If you’re out and about, you might want to add the Edelkrone StandONE for placing the Motion BOX on rough terrain. Also, the FlexTILT Head seems to be an almost mandatory addition in order to align your camera. 2-Axis pan-tilt: This setup incorporates 2 Motion BOXes and the so-called Tilt Kit. This allows you to mount one Motion BOX vertically over another. Both devices will talk to each other via Bluetooth and make use of built-in accelerometers. When used vertically, the Motion BOX knows that it is being used for tilting and adjusts itself. You can also use a single Motion BOX just for tilting, of course. Two Motion BOXes, held together by a Tilt Kit. SliderONE PRO & Motion BOX: When attached to the SliderONE PRO, the Motion BOX will act as a pan axis for your slider. Both units communicate via Bluetooth. Motion Box with SliderONE PRO and StandONE. Table top dolly: This setup contains one Motion BOX and the SKATER Kit. Again, the FlexTILT Head seems to be the most logical addition to this setup, Edelkrone does not suggest using a regular tripd head. However, you can use a magic arm. The angle of movement can be adjusted by simply turning the two outboard wheels. Motion Box with Skater Kit and FlexTILT Head. Turntable: For this setup, you’ll need one Motion BOX and the so-called Product Turntable Kit. Again, the now rotating Motion BOX will communicate with the other devices via Bluetooth, no cables involved. Perfect for fancy packshots. The Kit comes with two pads, one white matte and a glossy black one. The heart of the whole system is the app. With it, you can control all the devices you have for your setup in from the palm of your hand. The Edelkrone App The app becomes the command center for all of Edelkrone’s products. Just like the DJI app or the GoPro app, this piece of software is essential. You can perform all kinds of movements, from simple start-stop movements to sophisticated programmed (and repeatable) movements for FX recording. Each and every move can be transformed in either a timelapse or a stop-motion sequence. Speaking of timelapses, Edelkrone let’s you perform fancy timelapse 2.0 moves such as time-warps or motion-warps. Complicated setups become very easy thanks to this app. Since all the Edelkrone devices are meant to play well together, the app offers pretty cool features while the whole system stays compact, modular and versatile. Differnet screens of the Edelkrone app. The nice thing about apps is that they can easily be upgraded. So whenever Edelkrone comes up with another fancy feature, they can just implement it and your investment pays off a little longer. Conclusion The Edelkrone Motion BOX seems to be pretty cool piece of equipment. It’s tiny, it’s lightweight and it can add production value to your work. Just put it in your bag and forget about it until you need it. For me this seems to be a piece of gear I would always carry around with me, just like my DJI Osmo. It doesn’t take up too much space so if you don’t need it, fine. But if you do, it’s right there. The one thing that worries me a little is the internal battery. Hopefully it can be charged with an external battery while operating. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until the unit is charged again (up to 4 hours) before using it again. That would be a real downside. Pricing and Availability The Motion BOX ships early May but you can preorder it now. Edelkrone offers several kits with a discount. Just head over to Edelkrone.com for all the details. Motion BOX: $299 (pre-order now for $284) Tilt Kit:  $99 (pre-order now for $94) Skater Kit: $199 (pre-order now for $189) Product Turntable Kit: $69 (pre-order now for $65) Links: Edelkrone website Do you think this piece of gear is worth a closer look? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The 9.Solutions Mini C-Pan Arm is a compact and portable solution for achieving versatile camera movements with small cameras. The 9.Solutions Mini C-Pan Arm is a shrunk-down version of the manufacturer’s original C-Pan Arm, a very large contraption that doesn’t seem very portable at all due to its use of heavy counter weights. A folded length of 400mm and a total weight of 1.5kg of the Mini means the this new version promises to be much more aimed towards the traveller photographer or videographer working with small cameras. With a design that is somewhat reminiscent of the Edelkrone Wing, the 9.Solutions Mini C-Pan Arm allows you to make smooth slide shots without the need for rails or a carriage. Its design also allows for curved shots, both in the horizontal and the vertical axis – though the latter requires a ball head or other tiltable camera mount. The Mini C-Pan Arm can achieve a camera travel of up to 700mm, and can take a payload of up to 5kg horizontally or 3kg vertically.  You can check out some test shots in the video below. The 9.Solutions Mini C-Pan Arm is available now from the links below. Are you on the lookout for a portable solution to achieve dynamic camera movements without too much hassle? Could the 9.Solutions Mini C-Pan Arm fit the bill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Starslider is a multi-axis motion-controlled slider with a pan/tilt cradle. Powered by a V-lock brain and an intuitive app, Starslider boasts an easy-to-setup and quick-to-use design, so check out their Kickstarter campaign. The Starslider system is built around a 32″ slider with height-adjustable feet, and a belted carriage with motor entry points on both sides. The heart of the motion control system is a V-lock-powered brain that connects to a series of Ethernet-connected motors, all controlled by an iOS or Android App. Whacking a motor onto your slider (via the brain) gives you mode 1 (or Starslider Linear). You then have options to upgrade your package into dual and tri (triple, treble? insert correct adjective for 3) modes in the Monolite package. All sounds pretty standard and familiar, right? There are plenty of these sorts of systems out there for filmmakers – multi-axis motion control machines with intuitive controller apps. So, what sets this one apart? I find that, generally, a drawback for these systems is ease of operation; the easiest-to-use systems are usually the most refined and expensive. Starslider seems to have aimed for that sweet spot in the market where affordability, refinement and ease of operation are at one. Take a look at the motors. Starslider has gone for a clever bolt-less bolt-on method attaching their motors via magnets. There are also multiple entry points for versatility throughout the system; the slider has a motor point on both ends (that you can mount on the top or the bottom) and the pan/tilt motors can connect from both sides of their respective plates. The app seems to operate as one would hope: set your start and your end points, add keyframes where you want and input duration/intervals/speed to suit: You have the ability to apply bezier curves for smoother moves, loop, save for repeatability, and bulb ramping. The Starslider is suited for both timelapse and live action, with its Stealth Mode for a silent motor aiding the latter. The Control Unit (or brain) is designed with versatility in mind, with power being provided via DC input V-lock, and motor connections happening via Ethernet. The decision to shy away from proprietary cabling or batteries is a huge plus in my opinion. Furthermore, the system features a shutter release port for camera control in timelapse mode, and 12v, 7.4v and 5V outputs for powering various accessories. Some useful spec info: Starslider (5:1 motor/14:1 motor) Horizontal payload: 50/>50kg Vertical payload: 6kg/16kg Upside Down 20kg/>20kg Min Speed 1m99h Max Speed 1m6s/1m21s Resolution 26000 step/m / 88000 step/m Monolite (5:1 motor/14:1 motor) Max Torque 4.5Nm/9Nm Angular Resolution 0.06°/0.02° Min Speed 360°99h Max Speed 360°1.4s/360°3.8s Backlash Gearbox <=1° There’s a few added extras available, such as a flywheel for smooth manual operation of the slider, optional extended slide length, magnetic feet for car-mount use, and the promise of a 4th axis in the future. The packages are priced relatively competitively, and as mentioned I feel this sits in spot where competitive pricing meets ease of use. Prices change according to when you place your pledge, so check out the Kickstarter page for more. As a guide, the Linear Bundle starts at €799.  

A few days ago, German optics manufacturer Schneider announced a new range of full-frame cine prime tilt lenses. This dynamic functionality allows for extended focusing possibilities and tweaking of the depth of field in your shots. Introduced on January 27th, these new Xenon primes from Schneider are the world’s first full-frame Cine Primes tilt lenses. In terms of design, they are basically regular Schneider Xenon full frame primes, just with the added tilt function. If tilt is left at 0°, there is no loss of image quality or sharpness compared to standard Xenon primes. Cine prime tilt test shot – Schneider optics You can tilt the lens element by ±4° while maintaining the field of view. It will be possible to achieve shots with unique focus and depth of field, such as the one you can see above. The tilt is controlled via a standard ring with 120° of rotation that’s operated just like the focus ring. Due to the use of common 0.8 module gear pitch, the Cine prime tilt lenses are compatible with standard follow-focus systems. These focal lengths that will be available from launch are: 25mm T2.1 35mm T2.1 50mm T2.1 75mm T2.1 100mm T2.1 The Cine prime tilt lenses will be available this spring either individually or as a set, and for now only in Sony E-Mount. Will you be tilting and shifting come this spring? Let us know in the comments below!

1A Tools have already made a name for themselves with their MøVi tripod adapter which we reported on here. Now they are back at it by reinventing the wheel, so to speak: Their new 1A Tools Alpha Wheels bring back the wheel controlled panning and tilting shots to modern devices like MøVi gimbals and remote heads. Contrary to actual mechanical wheels, the Alpha Wheels have electronics inside them which allow them to be reprogrammed for all kinds of devices. You can think of it like an input controller such a computer mouse, adjustable for all kinds of uses that allow for two axis movement or adjustment. 1A Tools say that the Alpha Wheels allow much more precise control of pan and tilt compared to the normal remote because you can’t accidentally pan or tilt when you using them, and they are surely right that the controls are not as fiddly. This seems to make sense particularly for narrative filmmaking where the same shot is repeated many times. I am personally not so sure of the argument about accidental pan or tilt because those controls are dedicated separate joysticks on the remote anyway. Although I can certainly see a market for this, the device comes at a price – it’s available for pre-order for $1,800 from their website now. Personally I will stick with my (MUCH cheaper) Freefly Mimic controller (our article / video here) when I need an operator, but I’ll definitely take the Alpha Wheels for a spin when I get a chance …. Check the Alpha Wheels out on the 1A Tools website.