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.

Sony has released a new free firmware update 3.0 for their top-of-the-line mirrorless cameras, Sony a7 III and Sony a7R III. This update adds an interval shooting function for time-lapse, enhances real-time eye AF performance and adds real-time animal eye AF. Animal-eye-AF – one of the new features of firmware 3.0. Source: Sony To ease the pain of endless waiting for the a7S III, Sony is improving their current flagship cameras. They have just announced the new firmware version 3.0 for the Sony a7 III and the Sony a7R III mirrorless cameras. The “basic allrounder model” a7 III is currently one of the most popular full frame mirrorless cameras for filmmakers (check our article with sample footage). The Sony a7R III is the high-resolution model, primarily aimed at pro photographers, but it is also very capable of video recording (see our a7R III review). Which new functions does firmware 3.0 bring? Firmware 3.0 for Sony a7 III and a7R III – New Features While Sony’s a7 III already sports one of the best continuous AF systems on the market, Sony is working on further improvements. The new firmware version 3.0 brings Real-time Eye-AF. It is an AI-driven, enhanced eye detection system, based on the results of machine learning. Sony’s new autofocus system can detect—and focus on—the human eye, even if the subject is looking down, if it is partially blocked in the frame, turning or backlit. This feature is available in AF-C mode with a simple half-press of the shutter button. The next new feature will appeal especially to all “wildlife” filmmakers and photographers. With the new 3.0 firmware, Sony brings Real-time Animal Eye AF. The AI-driven subject recognition allows the updated cameras to detect and track animal eyes. According to Sony, this is the first step in a robust animal-tracking AF system. Please note that the feature currently works with dogs and cats, only. More animals will be supported in future updates. Sony is working on increasing the range of animals recognized by the system as, well the system’s ability to track their movement. Last but not least, this new software adds a built-in interval timer, enabling users to easily capture and create time-lapse movies. The new feature can be set to anywhere between 1 and 60 seconds, with a total number of shots from 1 to 9999. Automatic exposure tracking sensitivity is available and can be adjusted to “High”, “Mid” or “Low” in order to reduce changes in exposure. This is especially useful in situations with changing lights – time-lapse in the city or during sunrise, sunset, etc. Other improvements found in firmware version 3.0 for the a7 III and a7R III cameras include: support for Sony’s wireless remote control RMT-P1BT, the ability to assign the “Menu” button to a custom key and general stability improvements. Sony’s a9 should also get a new firmware version 6.0 during summer 2019, which will include the same functions like this 3.0 update for the a7 III and a7R III. The animal eye tracking feature will also be available for the Sony a6400 via a firmware update. The new firmware version 3.0 is available now and it can be downloaded for free from the Sony website. Click here for the a7 III firmware or here for the a7R III firmware. For a quick guide on how to update your Sony camera, click here. Are you a Sony a7 III or a7R III user? How do you find the new firmware update? Is any of the new features vital for your work? Let us know in the comments underneath the article. Source: Alpha Universe, Digital Photography Review

Back in 2016, the Timelapse+ VIEW intervalometer was a huge success on Kickstarter (read our coverage here). However, the man behind it, Elijah Parker, doesn’t stop once the product is out of the door. He keeps adding features and extends the range of supported cameras. The highly popular FUJIIFILM X-T3 is now among them. To pull off a so-called holy grail shot is one of the more complicated things to do when shooting a time lapse. This technique is used to create beautiful day to night transitions (or night to day obviously). Due to the massive change of light, much more dynamic range your camera could possibly handle, you somehow need to adjust camera settings while shooting which is not an easy thing to do. Timelapse+ VIEW The VIEW intervalomter by Timelapse+ is a tiny device which makes all of this happen. It analyzes the shots already taken by the camera it is tethered to and adjusts settings over time. It offers image previews, a histogram and touch free gestures plus a glove-friendly knob on the side. You even can preview your time lapse while the camera is still recording. For this to work you need the accompanying smartphone app for the VIEW. With it you also can program so-called focus ramps. That means you can program focus pulls while shooting a time-lapse. How cool is that? The FUJIFILM X series of mirrorless cameras, including our mirrorless camera of the year –the FUJIFILM X-T3– is fully supported by the VIEW. The X-T1 X-T2, X-T3, X-Pro2, X-H1 and GFX-50s are all supported for fully automatic Holy Grail time-lapse with the VIEW Intervalometer. When combined with AF-capable lenses the ​X-T2, X-T3, X-Pro2 and X-H1 are supported for the focus ramping feature. Focus Ramping Implementing this focus ramping feature for FUJI cameras was a bit of a challenge for Elijah because Canon and Nikon cameras work differently in terms of processing focus data. He needed to come up with a solution which would work on FUJI cameras, too. The process involved some technical terms such as relative and absolute focus commands, limitations in motor movements, issues with accuracy.. you get the idea. In the end he came up with a reliably working solution and that is all that matters, isn’t it? The Timelapse+ VIEW intervalometer already supports a broad range of DSLR and mirrorless cameras and now the FUJI X series is part of that family. Other popular cameras include the Canon EOS R, the Nikon Z 7 and the Sony A7 III. The above video is from 2017, featuring the X-T1. Since then, Elijah managed to add support for all the other X series cameras, too. The VIEW is currently $419 (with GPS) or $399 (without GPS). Links: Timelapse+ | Changelog (GitHub) Do you already shoot timelapses with your X-T3? What do you think of this intervalometer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

As motion control systems for small cameras have proliferated, that industry has still not achieved widespread cross-compatibility, a quality which may free users to further exercise their own judgment and creativity, but which undeniably presents challenges. PINE looks to change this, and it’s a project aimed in a fascinating direction. The project surpassed its €40,000 funding goal on Mar 22, 2018, and is now available for pre-order through Kickstarter or directly on their website.   To Be or Not to Be (Proprietary) Proprietary vs. openly compatible — this is a complicated debate that has persisted in numerous technological industries. Whether in computer operating systems, video codec designs, or the choice of connection protocols in film equipment, tech industries have witnessed a constant struggle between the merits of top-down control and those of bottom-up creative and operational freedom. Proprietary… This running stalemate remains unresolved simply because there are serious pros and cons on each side. Tightly controlled systems can be more reliable and simpler to operate. Their discouragement of tampering and improper setup can make them more viable for both rental and resale life-cycles. Proprietary environments also encourage a certain type of market competition, because an innovation adds value to a companies’ own ecosystem more exclusively (though this point faces some interesting qualifications). …Versus Openly Compatible However, proprietary systems are also more subject to cascading break-downs that are not field-reparable. The operational simplicity of closed technology can fiercely backfire in the field. Not only are users generally locked out from understanding the inner workings of proprietary systems, they are encouraged not to try. Economically, openly cross-compatible industries are like fertile soil. They are more friendly to start-ups entering the field, because a new offering of one component can come to market with far less initial capital than an entirely new proprietary system. What to conclude? As in many cases, we are faced with a stalemate only in the abstract. When a particular product comes into focus, things get clearer. PINE is designed for universal compatibility with motors and other devices. PINE: A Universal Motion Controller Camera motion control systems are an excellent candidate for becoming more openly cross-compatible. They are a simple application of established, time-tested technologies, and their main components, the stepper motors in their pan-tilt and slider motors, are generally bought off-the-shelf. The communication protocols between the controllers and motors are relatively simple. This means that users of pieced-together motion control systems would only need moderate technical expertise, and such expertise would be empowering rather than needlessly burdensome. Furthermore, the possible applications of motion control are so numerous that creativity would thrive if users could construct piecemeal systems more freely. According to the creators, PINE, a universal motion controller, “can be connected to any slider or pan-tilt unit with stepper motors,” can control various camera models, and connects to iOS and Android devices PINE’s creators are careful to emphasize that it is not a full motion control system, but a controller that is widely compatible with existing pan-tilt heads and slider motors. Focusing on this aspect of motion control exclusively has allowed the creators to pack in a lot of interesting features and focus on build quality and professional connections. PINE’s professional Hirose connections Features PINE’s features are to include: 4x rugged Hirose HR10 motor connection ports, with adapter cables available for motors with different connection ports. (Importantly, these connectors contain a pin designed for a mechanical limit switch, which, with compatible equipment, could save your motors from accidental damage.) 2x Camera Trigger Ports Smartphone/Tablet control on iOS and Android, but with a fail-safe protocol that will continue your project even if your device dies or disconnects Expandable to as many axes as you want via Bluetooth Low Energy 4.1, with a claimed range of up 100 meters or 300 feet Compatibility with “almost any motorized slider or pan-tilt unit on the market” Its program modes are to include: Giga-Pixel photography 360° 3D scans Video Time-Lapse Live Astro Turntable Intervalometer PINE’s developers have numerous details about these features and functions, as well as example videos, on their Kickstarter page. In case you are in the market for a more full motion control kit, Black Forest Motion have partnered with the makers of the Nic-O-Tilt head to offer a very nice system in keeping with this same focus on open compatibility. The motors attach together using widely compatible, built-in Arca-Swiss plates and receivers, further encouraging users to think outside the box when piecing various components together. Of course, you can also choose from a large and growing selection of motion control products from other vendors based on the details of your particular needs. After all, that’s the whole point of PINE. Conclusion The idea of openly cross-compatible motion control systems is an intriguing one. It is undeniable that ensuring predictable functionality with a plethora of motor devices is a unique engineering challenge, and only time will tell if Black Forest Motion can pull it off. But if they do pull it off, or if they inspire other manufacturers to pursue cross-compatible strategies, I believe we would all have them to thank. What do you think? Is PINE’s ambition to connect to and enhance existing and future motion control components a worthwhile pursuit? What would a product like this mean for your motion control workflow?

Edelkrone – known for its innovative, slick, durable and user-friendly camera motion accessories – has unveiled the SliderONE Pro, the advanced and more versatile version of the SliderONE. SliderONE Pro – What’s New? Although the Pro version is pretty similar to the original version, there are some significant improvements: Built-in motion module, as opposed to the original SliderONE that had a separate motor unit. The new version offers improved motor speed and integration with the slider.  5cm of extra travel, which can be a major advantage if you need camera motion for macro shots. More powerful coreless DC motor with improved position control capability. Increased incline capacity. Thinner and lighter body. Improved vertical layout and time-lapse app features. Interface Watch the product demo below: Time-Warper and Motion-Warper One of the coolest new app features is the time and motion warper. With Time-Warper, you can change the speed of time, but without changing the slide speed. Motion-Warper does the opposite, means time-lapse speed is constant, but the speed of camera motion is changed. The operator controls both warpers using the same interface. These great options reward filmmakers by helping them unleash their creativity when shooting time-lapses, delivering some very cool-looking shots. Watch the video below for further explanation about the Time-Warper and Motion-Warper: The SliderONE Pro also has an increased incline capacity, which allows cool motion shots in the Y-axis. Increased incline capacity The slider is capable of moving as slow as 27 μm/Sec (micrometer per second). Although that’s super accurate and more than enough for most applications, the older version was even slower than this, offering movement down to 10 μm/Sec. For the full specs, check out the picture below: SliderONE Pro Spec Price: $590 (battery not included). It seems that Edelkrone has nailed it again with a super useful product that matches exactly the needs of the independent filmmaking community. The main advantage is that this product will allow you to deliver good and professional results in one-man-band production scenarios. Also, this product is robust enough to handle larger cameras than just DSLRs, such as those from RED and other heavier cameras. Personally, I’m not a fan of sliders because I feel they somehow limit creativity. However, I do see myself using the SliderONE Pro when macro shots are needed. Would you use this product in your productions? Let us know in the comments!

In comes another product by Edelkrone! The company seems to be on a fast-paced and never-ending quest for the most innovative device to add engaging motion to otherwise dull and static shots. Let’s see what the self-sliding, programmable SurfaceONE is capable of! Sliding moves are cool. Or wait, are they? Maybe you want to check out Nino and Li-Lian’s latest episode of cinema5D Essentials on that topic. However, adding motion to your shots is almost always a good idea. But what if you are on location and that bulky camera slider with all its tripods and extra stuff is still in the back of your car? Maybe something more compact could be the right solution. Edelkrone SurfaceONE The SurfaceOne is a relatively small device that’s equipped with two wheels underneath it and a 3/8”-16 screw for mounting accessories on top. You can mount a camera on it and program it with any iOS (9.0 and above) or Android (5.0 or above) device to perform and even repeat a variety of moves – it’s that simple. However, there’s more to it as you can see in the introduction video below. The whole unit is powered by a standard Canon LP-E6-style battery (not provided) that can keep the unit running for about 4 hours at full speed or 48 hours’ worth of time lapsing. All you need is the SurfaceONE itself, a decent phone and – due to the absence of dedicated tracks – a super-smooth surface for the slider to, well, slide on. You will also need some kind of mount for your camera. Edelkrone has been using its own FlexFit Head 2 on all their marketing images and videos, so that will add $159.99 to the already somewhat pricey SurfaceONE, which goes for $689.99. Shooting Modes The SurfaceONE offers a number of different shooting modes, such as Targeted Slide, Free Slide or Auto Pan Mode. And then there’s time lapse, of course. In target mode, a built-in laser pointer determines the correct settings in order to keep your subject dead center while moving. In Free Slide mode the SurfaceONE will slide as far as you want as long as the surface stays smooth. The third mode, called Auto Pan Mode, enables you to create perfectly controlled pans. All these modes are available for time-lapse shooting, too. There are two types of speed adjustment provided: angular speed or percentile speed. With angular speed adjustment you can maintain the same slide feel while varying the distance to your target. The SurfaceONE’s Maximum speed is 8.66″ (220mm) per second, with a minimum speed of about 0.007″ (0.2mm) per second. Watch the video below to get a brief idea of the sound levels of the SurfaceONE. That’s important if you’re planning on using this device to shoot interviews in quiet environments. Pricing and Availability At $689.99, the SurfaceONE is not exactly cheap. On the other hand, it does seem like quite a capable and versatile device, so maybe its price tag is quite reasonable. You have to keep in mind that you’ll need some kind of camera mount or tripod head unless you want to screw your camera directly onto the 3/8”-16 screw, which I wouldn’t recommend. The SurfaceOne will be available around mid September. You can pre-order it directly from Edelkrone.com. Links: Edelkrone.com | FlexTilt Head 2 Do you have any Edelkrone products in your gear bag? What do think of this new device? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!

A Taste of New York is a new time-lapse film that has been getting a lot of attention since it was published. It features some new and interesting techniques and a lot of motion designing. We had a quick interview with the creators of the video. The times when time-lapse videos were just simple compilations of tripod clips with music in background are long gone. Today’s best time-lapse videos are all about motion, story and sound design – something that Austria-based video production company FilmSpektakel is well aware of. Their latest piece is the third instalment in their independent A Taste Of… series, and this time they bring us to New York City. Peter Jablonowski, Thomas Pöcksteiner and Lorenz Pritz are the filmmakers behind this time-lapse film. They spent ten days in NYC in September 2016, during which they set out to collect a lot of great angles – including from an actual helicopter. They shot 65,000 photos, which took up 2,6 TB of storage space. The final 3-minute video took 36 hours to render on the best-equipped iMac available. Skyline timelapse clip. Image credit: FilmSpektakel One of the most interesting shots in the video is the clip of the yellow cabs. The guys took photos of yellow cabs whenever they got a chance, covering them from as many different angles as possible. They gathered 2,000 photos in total and compiled them into a hyper lapse around a cab in post production. It took them 5 whole days of post work to get this one shot. We asked Peter Jablonowski a few questions about the video: c5D: How did you come up with the idea of going to New York to shoot the next episode in your A Taste Of… series? Peter: We always had the plan to try our A Taste Of… series on an international level, so we were looking for a country or city to do this experiment in. We’ve been to New York two times before so we already knew the city, which made it easier for us to accomplish this project. c5D: I guess that the Yellow Cab clip was the hardest and most time-consuming clip in the video, especially from a post-production point of view. Are there any other clips that were also difficult to shoot? Did you have to overcome any extraordinary obstacles to get the exact angle you wanted? Peter: The helicopter ride was one of the best and at the same time most challenging things we experienced in NYC. We had never been on a helicopter before and flying in between those skyscrapers is pure adrenaline. Trying to take stable pictures while having the doors off is extremely difficult. We first tried it with the help of a single-handed gimbal (CAME-TV Single) which worked fine when the helicopter hovered above one place, but during movement it failed completely because of the strong winds. Most of the helicopter shots in the video are hand-held and stabilized in post production. The helicopter shot was handheld. Image credit: FilmSpektakel c5D: Did you have any problems with the police or other authorities when setting up tripods and all the gear on the streets? Did you have to get any permissions for all that? Peter: Luckily we had no problems with police at all. We were well aware of where tripods are allowed (on the streets, etc.) and where and when tripods they are forbidden. In these cases, we knew how to make do with sand bags, magic arms or even with a stack of tissues. For each location we tried to bring as little gear as possible so we wouldn’t attract too much attention. The authorities were very friendly and appreciated our awareness of the rules and laws. c5D: Any funny BTS stories of your NYC shoot? Peter: Building security kicked us out of our Airbnb after a few nights because it was being let illegally. We didn’t know anything about that, so we had no plan B when security told us to be gone within one hour or else the cops would show up. Airbnb handled it very well and booked us a hotel right next to Times Square, so we were lucky after all to be right in the city center. c5D: Do you already have a plan for the next episode in the A Taste Of… series? If you do, which location do you have in sight? Peter: Yes, we are continuing these A Taste Of… videos, and in fact the next episode has already been shot. To be honest, we are not quite sure when to release it… It will be in a few more months in the future, I guess… Where the next one will take place is still a secret, but if you are following us on Facebook, you could already take a good guess ;-) Getting multiple clips at once. Image credit: FilmSpektakel In terms of equipment, FilmSpektakel used a Sony A7R II, Sony a6300 and two Canon 6D bodies. There is a full list of equipment along with other additional information directly in the video description on the Vimeo link. All episodes of A Taste Of… have received a Vimeo Staff Pick award, so it is really worth watching the older pieces too. Links for those are also in the Vimeo page of the video. Feeling inspired to shoot a time-lapse video now? Do you have any samples you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

The Syrp Genie II, the new version of the motion controller by the New Zealand-based company, has been announced during NAB 2017. The all-new Syrp Genie II is a motion control device that improves on the first generation and brings more possibilities in motion control for video and time-lapse. A couple of months ago, we heard about the Syrp Slingshot, a wire cam for dynamic time lapses. Now the company has introduced their new Syrp Genie II time lapse motion controller device. The new Genie consists of two components: Linear drive system that makes up the base of the Genie. It can be attached to any slider on the market and allows you to achieve linear motion control through the string just like the first generation Genie. You can use the base only and attach camera head directly to it if you just want linear motion. Pan/tilt component which can be attached to the base and brings full 3-axis motion control. The new Syrp Genie II claims to be faster, quieter and more powerful than the first generation, and has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which serves for communication between the linear base and the pan/tilt module of the product for precise 3-axis control. WiFi is used for high-speed transfer of footage and for communication with the Syrp Genie app. It has two USB-C ports on the linear base and three USB-C ports on the pan/tilt module. It is capable to control camera settings like aperture, exposure time and ISO directly through the Genie app, and works with exchangeable Lithium batteries. We can certainly see that the new locking mechanism is very nice, the linear drive system offers a smaller footprint and the whole system is lighter than the first generation. As a first look, also the pan/tilt head seems like a powerful tool for time-lapse photography as well as video applications with its low noise design, though only a proper field test will provide the necessary insights. On a side note, we have high expectations for products coming from Syrp. Both the Syrp Genie II Linear Drive System & Pan/Tilt Component will cost about $2,000, but will also be available as separate products. Syrp plans to start shipping in November.