Focus Check

This week's episode is dedicated to remembering our dear colleague and friend Rodney Charters, ASC, who passed away in Amsterdam during the show – we will dedicate more time to him in an upcoming episode.

We work through Johnnie's first hands-on demo of our SmallRig x CineD OrBrella prototype and the 200 pre-orders that sold out in just days, all the winners of our CineD Best-of-Show Awards at IBC 2026 – from the Adobe After Effects AI Assistant and the Deity PR-4 to the Aputure STORM CS32, NANLUX Matrix 2500C, Atomos Shinobi 7 II and Hollyland Pyro 7 Ultra – the Teradek Bolt 7, Sony's DWX Gen 4 and its US patent problem, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, SmallRig's iPhone 18 cinema kit, the latest Pixboom Spark update, the Canon EOS R8 Mark II, Tilta's Pyro 7 Ultra cage, the SNAPGRID Core, SmallRig's Nano power banks, the Saramonic WiTalk Base, Angelbird's new CFexpress Type A v4 cards and a new MZed Storytelling Session.

This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland. Check it out at (00:18:36)
►Learn more: http://cined.co/lwhjQk

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

 

(00:05:33) SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light Introduced – 60W Umbrella-Style Light That Deploys in Five Seconds

https://www.cined.com/smallrig-x-cined-orbrella-light-introduced-60w-umbrella-style-light-that-deploys-in-five-seconds/

 

(00:21:14) Winners Announced – CineD Best-of-Show Awards at IBC 2026

https://www.cined.com/winners-announced-cined-best-of-show-awards-at-ibc-2026/

 

(00:28:42) Deity PR-4 Detailed – Six Tracks, Wireless Timecode Master, and Dual-Media Recording

https://www.cined.com/deity-pr-4-detailed-six-tracks-wireless-timecode-master-and-dual-media-recording/

 

(00:37:03) OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock with Dual HDMI Introduced – Two HDMI 2.1 Ports, 140W Laptop Charging, Full-Speed Downstream Storage

https://www.cined.com/owc-thunderbolt-5-dock-with-dual-hdmi-introduced-two-hdmi-2-1-ports-140w-laptop-charging-full-speed-downstream-storage/

 

(00:40:28) DZOFILM Arles Zooms Announced – 25-75mm and 65-180mm T2.6 With Prime-Matched Color

https://www.cined.com/dzofilm-arles-zooms-announced-25-75mm-and-65-180mm-t2-6-with-prime-matched-color/

 

(00:42:03) Aputure STORM CS32 Explained – 3,200W of Full Color From a Household Outlet

https://www.cined.com/aputure-storm-cs32-3200w-of-full-color-from-a-household-outlet/

 

(00:44:12) NANLUX Matrix 2500B and Matrix 2500C – First Look

https://www.cined.com/nanlux-matrix-2500b-and-matrix-2500c-first-look/

 

(00:45:14) Atomos Shinobi II Wins One of Two Awards in the Category “Monitors” (Interview video will follow)

 

(00:46:59) Hollyland Pyro 7 Ultra Explained – 4K60 Transmission, 20ms Latency, Camera Control From the Receiver

https://www.cined.com/hollyland-pyro-7-ultra-explained-4k60-transmission-20ms-latency-camera-control-from-the-receiver/

 

(00:48:52) Teradek Bolt 7 Introduced – 6GHz Zero-Delay Wireless Video, 900MHz Radio for Camera Control, and More

https://www.cined.com/teradek-bolt-7-introduced-6ghz-zero-delay-wireless-video-900mhz-radio-for-camera-control-and-more/

 

(00:53:02) Sony DWX Gen 4 Wireless System Detailed – 32-Bit Float Recording, 1.1ms Latency, and a 30% Price Cut

https://www.cined.com/sony-dwx-gen-4-wireless-system-detailed-32-bit-float-recording-1-1ms-latency-and-a-30-price-cut/

 

(00:56:49) Apple iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Announced – Variable Aperture Main Camera, New Sensor, Pro Controls, Plus the Foldable iPhone Duo

https://www.cined.com/apple-iphone-18-pro-and-18-pro-max-announced-variable-aperture-main-camera-new-sensor-pro-controls-plus-the-foldable-iphone-duo/

 

(01:07:23) SmallRig iPhone 18 Cinema Kit Introduced – HawkLock Cage, 67mm Screw-On Filters, $190 All-in-One Kit

https://www.cined.com/smallrig-iphone-18-cinema-kit-introduced-hawklock-cage-67mm-screw-on-filters-190-all-in-one-kit/

 

(01:09:42) Pixboom Spark Updated – Pre-Record, Browser Remote Control, and 12-Bit RAW in Development

https://www.cined.com/pixboom-spark-updated-pre-record-browser-remote-control-and-12-bit-raw-in-development/

 

(01:14:24) Canon EOS R8 Mark II Announced – 24.2MP Full-Frame, IBIS, and Oversampled 4K60p

https://www.cined.com/canon-eos-r8-mark-ii-announced-24-2mp-full-frame-ibis-and-oversampled-4k60p/

 

(01:17:45) Tilta Monitor Cage for Hollyland Pyro 7 Ultra and Integration with Nucleus-M II Demonstrated

https://www.cined.com/tilta-monitor-cage-for-hollyland-pyro-7-ultra-and-integration-with-nucleus-m-ii-demonstrated/

 

(01:19:53) DoPchoice/Ellar Works SNAPGRID Core Modifier for ARRI Omnibar and Astera Titan Tubes Explained

https://www.cined.com/dopchoice-ellar-works-snapgrid-core-modifier-for-arri-omnibar-and-astera-titan-tubes-explained/

 

(01:21:53) SmallRig Nano36 and Nano72 Introduced – Rig-Mountable Power Banks With Retractable USB-C

https://www.cined.com/smallrig-nano36-and-nano72-introduced-rig-mountable-power-banks-with-retractable-usb-c/

 

(01:23:47) Saramonic WiTalk Base Detailed – 64-User Scaling, IP66 Rugged Design, and 700m Range

https://www.cined.com/saramonic-witalk-base-detailed-64-user-scaling-ip66-rugged-design-and-700m-range/

 

(01:26:42) Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress Type A v4 Explained – VPG800 Certification, Up to 1.6TB, and Roman Rabitsch on the Storage Crisis

https://www.cined.com/angelbird-av-pro-cfexpress-type-a-v4-explained-vpg800-certification-up-to-1-6tb-and-roman-rabitsch-on-the-storage-crisis/

 

(01:28:47) Breaking the Framing Rules – New “Storytelling Sessions” Recording Now Available on MZed

https://www.cined.com/breaking-the-framing-rules-new-storytelling-sessions-recording-now-available-on-mzed/

 

Which IBC winner would you have picked? Leave a comment below, write to us at podcast@cined.com, and subscribe to Focus Check wherever you listen to podcasts.

After more than a decade of complaining on this podcast about the lack of innovation in lighting, we finally had to put our own name on something. The OrBrella is a 60W bi-colour umbrella softlight we developed with SmallRig: eight LED ribs fire inward into a 47cm white dome for the softest possible source, then flip around on their USB-C connectors when you need more punch. It collapses into a camera bag, runs more than two hours on a 99Wh V-mount, and if you are heading to IBC 2026, make sure to stop by the booth and check it out!

This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland. Check it out at (00:15:55)

► Check out the Pyro S wireless video transmitter: http://cined.co/nImvmn

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:04) The SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light

(00:20:45) DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Released – AI Assistant Integration via MCP, Individual HDR Trims, and Python Scripting Moves to Studio https://www.cined.com/davinci-resolve-21-1-released-ai-assistant-integration-via-mcp-individual-hdr-trims-and-python-scripting-moves-to-studio/

(00:29:32) Blackmagic Cuts Full-Frame 6K Camera Prices – Cinema Camera 6K Now $1,755, PYXIS 6K From $2,245, and More https://www.cined.com/blackmagic-cuts-full-frame-6k-camera-prices-cinema-camera-6k-now-1755-pyxis-6k-from-2245-and-more/

(00:36:11) Nikon ZR Firmware Update V2.00 & NIKKOR Z CINEMA VV Lenses Development Announced https://www.cined.com/nikon-zr-firmware-update-v2-00-nikkor-z-cinema-vv-lenses-development-announced/

(00:44:25) Lab Test of the iPhone 17 Pro – Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range Trials and Exposure Challenges https://www.cined.com/lab-test-of-the-iphone-17-pro-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-trials-and-exposure-challenges/

(00:50:58) GoPro Says the Cameras Are Staying – Reading Nick Woodman’s Post-Merger Letter https://www.cined.com/gopro-says-the-cameras-are-staying-reading-nick-woodmans-post-merger-letter/

(00:53:57) Sony DP7 and DP5 Announced – Camera Control Monitors for the FX5, FX3, FX2, and FX30 https://www.cined.com/sony-dp7-and-dp5-announced-camera-control-monitors-for-the-fx5-fx3-fx2-and-fx30/

(01:00:02) Tilta Adds EVF Extension Support to Its Sony FX5 Cage – Dedicated Cable and Multi-Directional Bracket for the DVF-EL1 https://www.cined.com/tilta-adds-evf-extension-support-to-its-sony-fx5-cage-dedicated-cable-and-multi-directional-bracket-for-the-dvf-el1/

(01:02:17) Sony DWX Gen 4 Announced – DWT-B40 Bodypack with 32-Bit Float Recording, DWR-R40Q 4-Channel Receiver https://www.cined.com/sony-dwx-gen-4-announced-dwt-b40-bodypack-with-32-bit-float-recording-dwr-r40q-4-channel-receiver/

(01:05:57) FUJIFILM VF-GFXC2 Viewfinder for the GFX ETERNA 55 Announced – 0.64-inch 4:3 OLED, 2048 x 1536, 1,000 Nits, 370g https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-vf-gfxc2-viewfinder-for-the-gfx-eterna-55-announced-0-64-inch-43-oled-2048-x-1536-1000-nits-370g/

(01:08:42) FUJIFILM ETERNA ProRemote App Announced – iOS Remote Control, Live View, and Four-Camera Setups for the GFX ETERNA 55 https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-eterna-proremote-app-announced-ios-remote-control-live-view-and-four-camera-setups-for-the-gfx-eterna-55/

(01:10:37) DJI Osmo 360 II Launched – 8K60 360° Video, Replaceable Lenses, and a 14.5-Stop Dynamic Range Claim https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-360-ii-launched-8k60-360-video-replaceable-lenses-and-a-14-5-stop-dynamic-range-claim/

(01:17:20) Hohem Eyepic Announced – World’s First 2-in-1 Pocket Gimbal Camera With Native Vertical 4K https://www.cined.com/hohem-eyepic-announced-worlds-first-2-in-1-pocket-gimbal-camera-with-native-vertical-4k/

(01:21:39) DZOFILM Arles Zoom 25-75mm and 65-180mm T2.6 Announced – Constant Aperture, Parfocal, Under 1.8kg https://www.cined.com/dzofilm-arles-zoom-25-75mm-and-65-180mm-t2-6-announced-constant-aperture-parfocal-under-1-8kg/

(01:23:26) Libec Q30B and Q50B Tripods Announced – Quick-Deploy System, 45kg Payload, Under 3kg https://www.cined.com/libec-q30b-and-q50b-tripods-announced-quick-deploy-system-45kg-payload-under-3kg/

(01:27:01) NANLITE FC-1200B and FC-1200C Released – 1350W Rated Power, Bowens Mount, All-in-One Design https://www.cined.com/nanlite-fc-1200b-and-fc-1200c-released-1350w-rated-power-bowens-mount-all-in-one-design/

(01:28:38) Hollyland Pyro 7 Ultra Released – Calman-Calibrated 7-Inch Wireless Monitor with 4K60 and 20ms Latency https://www.cined.com/hollyland-pyro-7-ultra-released-calman-calibrated-7-inch-wireless-monitor-with-4k60-and-20ms-latency/

(01:31:15) CAME-TV KUMINIK8 PRO Now Shipping – 30-Hour Runtime, 518m Range, and $128 per Headset https://www.cined.com/came-tv-kuminik8-pro-now-shipping-30-hour-runtime-518m-range-and-128-per-headset/

(01:35:52) CODEX CFexpress Cards Announced – Type A and Type B, VPG1600, and a USB4 Reader https://www.cined.com/codex-cfexpress-cards-announced-type-a-and-type-b-vpg1600-and-a-usb4-reader/

(01:39:23) CineDream Releases Native Plug-Ins for Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve https://www.cined.com/cinedream-releases-native-plug-ins-for-premiere-pro-after-effects-final-cut-pro-and-davinci-resolve-on-image-grading-with-aces-2-0-color-management/

(01:41:13) Caira Adds Generative Video Editing – Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, Runway Aleph 2.0, and 720p or 1080p Output https://www.cined.com/caira-adds-generative-video-editing-gemini-omni-1-1-flash-runway-aleph-2-0-and-720p-or-1080p-output/

(01:47:29) Chasing the Glow – Understanding Halation and Why Filmmakers Keep Coming Back to It https://www.cined.com/chasing-the-glow-understanding-halation-and-why-filmmakers-keep-coming-back-to-it/

Let us know what you think about the OrBrella in the comments, write to us at podcast@cined.com, and subscribe for the IBC coverage coming over the next two weeks.

A YouTuber became GoPro’s largest single shareholder on Sunday. And on Tuesday, GoPro announced it is being sold – to Starman Optical, an optical-photonics company that builds transceivers for AI data centres, for $285 million. Nino’s read: this is a move into defence, robotics and aerospace, and continued support for cameras is not the same as continued investment. Same week, Miller – the Australian company that invented the fluid head in 1946 – is closing its doors, and Sony, Tilta, Samsung, Apple and Sigma all raised prices. And Samsung’s launch campaign for SSDs aimed at filmmakers appears to contain not a single real frame.

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

Markiplier becomes GoPro’s largest shareholder

GoPro to merge with Starman Optical

LIT DUO 1 review

Sony Cinema Line price increases in Japan

Tilta raises prices on September 1

Samsung P9 and P7 portable SSDs

Apple refreshes Mac Studio and Mac mini

Welcome to Lollywood

 PYXIS 12K face-detect autofocus beta

 Phantom LUTs for Nikon ZR

 DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and 4P firmware update

 Open Pocket Cine

 Avid Media Composer 2026.8

Sigma Cine Prime line extension

Bilibili goes global

Digital de-aging and the uncanny valley

Ethical AI filmmaking course – Seedance 2.5 lesson

Let us know what you think in the comments below or on YouTube, and email us at podcast@cined.com if there is something you want us to discuss on the show.

Imagine putting on a headset and seven minutes later feeling like you have actually flown a light aircraft over the Grand Canyon. That is the pitch behind the Cirrus app for Apple Vision Pro, and it might be the most convincing case yet for Apple Immersive Video as a commercial format. This week's Focus Check is a special one – not a news episode, but a long-form interview. Nino talks to Anthony Bottini, Director of Media at Cirrus Aircraft, who had to sell this project internally, and to John "JR" Racine of Rogue Labs, who shot and finished it. Five days over the Arizona desert, three Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive cameras, the Top Gun: Maverick aerial team, 25 to 30 terabytes for two hours of footage – and people taking the headset off in tears.

 

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

 

(00:00:00) Cold open: flying the Grand Canyon in a headset

(00:01:06) Why Cirrus built an Apple Vision Pro app

(00:01:51) Meet John "JR" Racine (Rogue Labs) and Anthony Bottini (Cirrus)

(00:03:40) Selling immersive internally: Vision Pros for the global sales team

(00:06:10) Five days in the desert: Page, Arizona and the weather

(00:06:28) Who did what: Cirrus, Rogue Labs, Blackmagic and XBrand

(00:07:59) The weather day that snow-dusted the Grand Canyon

(00:09:11) Air-to-air with a fixed 180° lens

(00:09:30) Kevin LaRosa, Michael FitzMaurice and the Piper Aerostar camera ship

(00:11:23) Rigging and vibration: why nothing was stabilised in post

(00:12:11) Why the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive made this possible

(00:13:17) The limits of the medium: shooting inside a cockpit

(00:15:30) One BRAW file per shot: the DaVinci Resolve workflow

(00:16:16) Fixed focus from the factory

(00:17:40) Lens borrowing: winning back 5 to 10 degrees of field of view

(00:19:15) Directing the viewer's gaze

(00:21:05) 16K, 25 to 30 terabytes and the post pipeline

(00:22:33) From a December shoot to a January demo

(00:23:32) "A good spatial edit is 50% of the experience"

(00:26:52) Measuring success without a big installed base

(00:29:35) "I've seen people cry" and the 100% scale aircraft models

(00:32:13) One-off, or the start of an immersive programme?

(00:34:54) Outro

Artlist sold a year of unlimited AI video generation with Seedance 2.5 for $500, paid up front. Days later, it was gone. This is not a company blindsided by success – this is a company that knew exactly what was going to happen and did it anyway. Our recommendation: do not give Artlist your money up front, because they cannot be trusted. And that wasn't even the week's biggest shakeup. YouTube just moved the goalposts for every creator on the platform: from August 24, a view registers from the moment playback starts – first frame, no minimum watch time. Drones are about to get 25% more expensive in the US, and Kodak just posted its best numbers in years on film stock.

 

This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland. Check it out at (00:15:55)

Learn more: http://cined.co/VRLOCb

 

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:25) YouTube Changes How Views Are Counted – No Minimum Watch Time, All Formats, From August 24 https://www.cined.com/youtube-changes-how-views-are-counted-no-minimum-watch-time-all-formats-from-august-24/

(00:08:16) YouTube Makes Monetization Harder – New Partner Program Rules Explained https://www.cined.com/youtube-makes-monetization-harder-new-partner-program-rules-explained/

(00:16:45) Nikon ZR Owners Are Still Waiting – Where Is the Big Firmware Update? https://www.cined.com/nikon-zr-owners-are-still-waiting-where-is-the-big-firmware-update/

(00:23:08) US Drone Tariffs Hit on September 3 – 25% More Expensive, and DJI Is Still Banned https://www.cined.com/us-drone-tariffs-hit-on-september-3-25-more-expensive-and-dji-is-still-banned/

(00:29:20) Artlist Sold a Year of Unlimited Seedance 2.5 for $500 and Delivered a Week https://www.cined.com/artlist-sold-a-year-of-unlimited-seedance-2-5-for-500-and-delivered-a-week/

(00:37:22) HONOR Robot Phone Launches – ARRI LogC3, Wide Gamut 3, and a Motorized Titanium Gimbal Camera https://www.cined.com/honor-robot-phone-launches-arri-logc3-wide-gamut-3-and-a-motorized-titanium-gimbal-camera/

(00:41:55) RocXZoom Heading to Kickstarter – Robotic 50x Zoom Camera With AI Subject Tracking From Ex-DJI Engineers https://www.cined.com/rocxzoom-heading-to-kickstarter-robotic-50x-zoom-camera-with-ai-subject-tracking-from-ex-dji-engineers/

(00:46:40) Sony and TSMC Definitive Sensor Deal Signed – 747 Billion Yen, New Kumamoto Fab, and Volume Production in 2029 https://www.cined.com/sony-and-tsmc-definitive-sensor-deal-signed-747-billion-yen-new-kumamoto-fab-and-volume-production-in-2029/

(00:52:45) Kodak Posts a Fourth Straight Quarter of Growth – And Film Is Doing the Heavy Lifting https://www.cined.com/kodak-posts-a-fourth-straight-quarter-of-growth-and-film-is-doing-the-heavy-lifting/

(00:56:50) Fränk Film Processor – Develop Super 8, Double 8, and 16mm at Home https://www.cined.com/frank-film-processor-develop-super-8-double-8-and-16mm-at-home/

(01:00:51) Your Mac Can Finally Make DCP Delivery Drives – INT DCP Baker Costs Just $20 https://www.cined.com/your-mac-can-finally-make-dcp-delivery-drives-int-dcp-baker-costs-just-20/

(01:04:50) amaran Mic Released – 30mm Dynamic Capsule, On-Board AI Noise Reduction, and 2.4GHz Wireless https://www.cined.com/amaran-mic-released-30mm-dynamic-capsule-on-board-ai-noise-reduction-and-2-4ghz-wireless/

(01:07:51) FAMILIARITÉ – Isabelle Huppert Stars in a Short Film Shot Entirely on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P https://www.cined.com/familiarite-isabelle-huppert-stars-in-a-short-film-shot-entirely-on-the-dji-osmo-pocket-4p/

(01:10:17) Steadicam Elite Announced – For Hybrid Cinema and Live-Production Work https://www.cined.com/steadicam-elite-announced-for-hybrid-cinema-and-live-production-work/

(01:11:43) Point-of-View Perspective in Film – Controlling Tension, Immersion, and Empathy https://www.cined.com/point-of-view-perspective-in-film-controlling-tension-immersion-and-empathy/

 

Let us know what you think in the comments below or on YouTube, and email us at podcast@cined.com if there is something you want us to discuss on the show. Don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcasting platform – Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.