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

At NAB 2019, Gudsen Technology is presenting the new MOZA Slypod – the world’s first motorized monopod that can also function as a slider with motion control technology. MOZA Slypod Gudsen describes their new innovative product, the MOZA Slypod, as a 2-in-1 motorized monopod & slider. The carbon fiber body makes the Slypod weigh less than 1,000g (35oz), including its built-in batteries. Despite its low weight, the Slypod can handle a vertical payload of up to 18kg (40lb) and a horizontal payload of up to 12kg (26.5lb). MOZA Slypod motorized monopod and slider. Source: Gudsen The special motor inside the Slypod is capable of producing the 1Nm torque to drive up to an 18kg payload. Its acceleration from 0 to 10,000rpm takes only 15 microseconds. The embedded precision motion control algorithm enables repeatable and smooth motion. The telescopic length, sliding speed and programmable motion time-lapse can be controlled via the MOZA App and the optional MOZA Hand unit. The Slypod is designed to be maintenance-free, also protecting the fully built-in transmission system from wind, sand and dust. MOZA Slypod motorized monopod and slider. Source: Gudsen The MOZA Slypod is equipped with CAN Bus, which can be connected to multiple MOZA products through the Multi-CAN port. It can also be integrated to work with MOZA Air 2, MOZA AirCross 2 and iFocus products for multi-axis camera movement (with a future firmware upgrade). The price and availability of the Slypod has not been revealed yet. We will update this article once the information is available. What do you think of the new Gudsen MOZA Slypod? Have you seen or used a similar device before? Let us know in the comment section below the article.

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!

The latest GoPro HERO7 update brings 4K slow motion, HyperSmooth and TimeWarp to the Black model. What does it look like and what is the difference between the Silver and the White model? We caught up with GoPro at Photokina 2018 and went hands-on with the latest HERO7 Black to check out two new features: HyperSmooth and TimeWarp, as well as the difference between the other models in the HERO7 family. The GoPro HERO7 Black certainly packs a punch, promising very smooth 4K 60p footage. GoPro’s have been a staple tiny camera for productions all over the world, so what makes the HERO7 family stand out? How Smooth Is HyperSmooth? HyperSmooth is one of the new key features built into the GoPro HERO7 Black. It is 3-axis electronic stabilization that has a 10x crop on the image. GoPro claims it is the equivalent – if not better – than using a handheld gimbal to achieve stable shots. Naturally, we had to check it out on the show floor, and directly compare it to another HERO7 Black with HyperSmooth switched off. The footage in the video shows that although there is a slight (not significant) crop on the image, the electronic stabilisation functions very well while walking and running. What is interesting: The lack of ‘jello’ similar to the ‘warp stabilizer’ effect on the edges of the video, making the clip more than suitable. This isn’t exactly a full test on a mountain bike or under extreme conditions, so this will be one of the features we will look at extensively in our upcoming review. Create Hyperlapses inside the GoPro HERO7 Black GoPro’s have always been great for capturing time-lapses; they are small, capture a wide field of view and can run for as long as the battery lasts or until the memory runs out. GoPro has extended the time-lapse feature in the Black model by adding TimeWarp, which allows the user to create moving time-lapses, or ‘hyperlapses’, that stitch the images together in-camera. We tested it and this is also very stable, without the usual shakes – something that you have to be very careful to avoid when capturing time-lapses or a hyperlapse. Achieve super slow motion One of the stand-out features of GoPro cameras has always been achieving slow motion at high resolutions in a tiny body. The HERO7 Black offers 4K resolution at 50/60p, and super slow motion in 1080 HD at 240fps. The Silver and White models miss out on this high frame rate action, with the Silver being capable of recording 4K 25/30p and 1080 HD up to 60fps. The HERO7 White is unable to record 4K, but capable of capturing 1080 HD up to 60fps. Why the significant difference between the GoPro HERO7 models? What is apparent with the HERO7 family is that GoPro still wishes to keep user groups segmented. Through research, GoPro has found out that there are set user groups that require or only use specific features; the White model is for users that simply want to take the GoPro out of the box and have it working, without changing many settings. Whereas the Black model is aimed at experienced users that want to push the boundaries on capturing content, whether that is a hyperlapse of a hike, slow motion skiing or filming fast moving vehicles where the Hypersmooth feature is required. These features are exclusive to the GoPro HERO7 Black model, with built-in electronic stabilization available in the Silver and White models (no info on crop or quality of this yet). Overall, if you’re looking for the next level action camera, there is no other device with features like the GoPro HERO7. It’s unfortunate that so many features were withheld from the Silver and White model, but at its price tag of $399.00, that probably won’t stop users from investing. We’ll be putting the GoPro HERO7 Black through its paces in the near future, are there any specific features you wish to see demonstrated when we review the camera? Let us know in the comments.

There are loads of different motorized sliders out there. Big ones, small ones, complex ones, you name it. And yet, the guys at Smart View Intl’ thought that something is still missing. That’s why they’re introducing the Smartta SliderMini, a seemingly versatile and easy-to-use motorized slider for everyday use. The Smartta SliderMini really is, just as its name suggests, mini. But it seems to be very capable, too. It’s app controlled, or, if you wish, by the press of a hardware button on the unit itself. It can carry up to 15kg (33 lbs), it fits into your pocket and the built-in 1500mAh Li battery lasts for about 48 hours. Sounds decent! Smartta SliderMini The company behind the SliderMini, Smart View, was just established recently and its first brand name is Smartta. Their social media pages went live around June 2018 and their first product, the SliderMini, is being heavily featured there. Since we at cinema5D are very into clever filmmaking tools which makes our lives (and daily jobs) easier, a review unit was requested (which will arrive soon!). So say tuned for a full-fledged review following this first look. The SliderMini is just 26,2 cm (10.3″) in length and the resulting maximum camera travel is only 20,3 cm (8″) but I can tell you from experience that these 20 cm will make a difference! I used to own a giant 2 m (almost 80″) motorized silder so that thing was huge! And heavy! As a result, I barely used it on set and if I did, the actual camera travel almost never exeeded 50 cm.. I sold it in the end. So, 20 cm might not be a lot but in order to get that cinematic movement into your shot, it’s more than enough, most of the time. The good thing is, this tiny slider can live in your bag all the time and you won’t even notice it. And if you need it, it’s right there. The max load capacity depends on the incline of your given shot. Pulling off a flat movement with a camera up to 15kg (33 lbs) isn’t a problem, and that’s quite the payload! For more angeled shots, the load capacity decreases drastically, but, and that’s pretty cool, you still can pull off a vertical slide with a light (1kg / 2.2lbs) camera package. The whole unit consists of CNC machined aluminum with some stainless steel parts. In terms of speed the SliderMini is capable of very slow moves (6 µm/micrometer per second) up to its maximum speed of 1 cm/0.4″ per second. The slider just weights about 0,6 kg (1.25 lbs). Controlling the SliderMini The unit can be controlled in two ways, basically. If you’re a minimalist you can control the slider with nothing but a small button on the unit itself. Basic A/B moves and timelapses can be configured that way. For more advanced features you’ll need the Android/iOS app which connects via low-energy Bluetooth. Programmed moves can be repeated, different timelapse modes can be loaded/tweaked/stored and moves can be transformed into stop-motion moves. The app seems to be pretty non-nerdy and easy-to-use. The beauty of such apps is their future-proofness: Features can be added over time, custom moves can be stored for later use and the slider will stay away from obsolescence a little longer. A 3/8″ thread for mounting the slider on a tripod is located on the bottom of the unit, a camera (or smartphone holder) can be mounted via 3/8″ or 1/4″ screw to the top of the sliding carriage. Pricing and Availability We’re approaching the twist of this story. Although the company claims that after a comprehensive research on motorized camera sliders in the market, SMART VIEW found that most products were too expensive, bulky, complex and not user-friendly, there’s no pricepoint defined for the SliderMini, yet. Instead, the Smartta SliderMini will be the subject of an imminent Indigogo crowdfunding campaign. If you’re interested, you can join a waitlist over at ismartta.com in order to receive a limited 50% off (!) discount once the campaign has launched. UPDATE: The campaign is now live and the pricing looks interesting, indeed: Early Bird: $199 (that’s the aforementioned 50% off), regular campaign price: $259, MSRP once the campaign is over: $399. Since other solutions seemed to be too expensive for the creators, this quite low price point is really impressive! For reference, the well-established Edelkrone SliderOne PRO is about $700. So this SliderMini is less than half the price but, to be fair, Edelkrone is a long-term innovater in the market while Smart view is a relatively fresh startup. Links: ismartta.com | Indiegogo campaign page What do you think of this new slider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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!

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!