To accommodate today’s preponderance of video streaming, DoPchoice now offers the patented Snapbag®softbox and Snapgrid®20/30/40/50-degree grids to pleasingly soften and direct the output of the industry’s respected Cameo® F-Series Fresnels.

FOR-A Corporation of America today announced that industry veteran Satoshi Kanemura has been appointed president of the company, effective April 1. Mr. Kanemura joins FOR-A America from Sony Electronics where he was Vice President of Professional Products and Solutions. Former FOR-A America President, Ken Truong, has become Chief Technology Officer of FOR-A America.

Markus Förderer, ASC, BVK doesn’t take chances on set. He considers shooting days precious so he rigorously tests new gear, new moves and new ideas long before he gets to set. “Shooting days are there to shoot” he says, “not to set up and light,” so he comes to the set prepared.

LiveU, the leader in live video streaming and remote production solutions, announced today that the Middle East’s leading news network, ABS Network (ABSN), has selected its live video solutions for live newsgathering across the Middle East and from its Washington DC news bureau. ABSN chose LiveU’s technology as it sought to enhance its news reporting capabilities with cost-effective, reliable 4K/full HD live streaming solutions, enabling its teams to be much freer to move around. LiveU units have already been used to cover the US Election, the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and other events in the Middle East, as well as in its live studio.

TAG Video Systems marks another unique milestone by adding visualization and monitoring support for Sony’s Hawk-Eye, a high-performance camera used in sports applications with atypical output. TAG, the world leader in 100% SW, 100% IP, 100% COTS/Cloud, Probing, Monitoring and Multiviewing solutions, for all four of the major broadcast applications (Live Production, Playout, Delivery and OTT), is the first to offer support for Hawk-Eye on an IP, all software Multiviewer.

Telemedicine workflows incorporating live video have taken on dramatically greater importance for surgical education during the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors reduce non-essential personnel in their operating rooms for the safety of patients and staff. Needing a way to continue its mission of improving training for ophthalmology students in underserved geographic regions, non-profit organization Advanced Center for Eyecare Global (ACE Global) is using the USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus external video capture device from Magewell as a crucial link in delivering live video of surgical procedures to medical residents and fellows around the globe.

At the recommendation of a colleague, ACE Global chose the Magewell device for its unique combination of cost-effectiveness, quality, ease of use and reliability. The live HDMI output from the surgeon’s NGENUITY 3D visualization system goes into the USB Capture Plus device, which in turn sends the video over a standard USB connection into a computer running OBS and Zoom.

Marshall Electronics continues to develop new cameras designed to improve IP workflows. Marshall released two levels of 4K PTZ cameras within the last year with 30x optical zoom and professional grade sensors: one with up to 4K30 (CV630) resolution and one with up to 4K60 (CV730) resolution. Marshall also recently offered two levels of fixed position cameras with 30x optical zoom and professional grade sensors: one with up to HD60 (CV355-30X) resolution and one with up to UHD60 (CV420-30X).  In looking forward to 2021, Marshall is scheduled to launch a High-Bandwidth NDI® PTZ camera (CV730 BHN) late Q3 with up to 4K60 resolution and 30x optical zoom packed with High-Bandwidth NDI®, NDI®|HX and simultaneous 12GSDI/HDMI2.0 outputs. Also planned for later this year, Marshall has its CV620-BI with 20x optical zoom 3GSDI, HDMI and IP/HEVC/SRT, and the CV620-BN with 20x optical zoom 3GSDI, HDMI and NDI®|HX on its product roadmap.

Cubic Media Production, a broadcast and production company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has anchored its newest production vehicle with a FOR-A HVS-490 digital video switcher. The truck has been booked for a variety of high-profile projects, from multi-camera production of professional football matches to last month’s coverage of the historic UAE Mars probe for Abu Dhabi TV.

Ikegami announces a major addition to its UNICAM XE 4K system camera series. The UHK-X700 incorporates three newly developed 2/3-inch CMOS 4K sensors with global shutters to eliminate rolling shutter distortion and flash-banding artefacts.

"Designed for broadcast-quality video production and online streaming applications, the UHK-X700 looks set to become the flagship of the UNICAM series," comments Michael Lätzsch, Broadcast & Professional Video Division Manager at Ikegami Electronics (Europe). "It provides the high signal quality, versatile connectivity and robust build that are essential in today's multi-resolution media world. That includes full support for high dynamic range imagery with HLG or standard dynamic range, as well as the possibility to independently choose between BT.2020 and BT.709 colour spaces. High frame-rate shooting at up to 2x speed in 4K or up to 8x speed in HD via the base station is possible as an option, for applications such as capturing fast motion in sport or stage events."

When combined with the Ikegami BSX-100 base station, the camera optionally supports simultaneous output in 4K/HD video formats, including mixed sources. 4K video is available as a 12G-SDI feed directly from the camera head, allowing the UHK-X700 to be integrated into a wireless system.

Wooden Camera announces a full range of accessories compatible with the new Canon EOS C70, adding to their long line of modular parts, and further improving customization to better fit camera operators’ personal requirements.

Operators can expand the C70’s rigging surface with a contoured Top Plate and improve handheld agility with the Mini Top Handle--both of which feature a multitude of ¼”-20, ”-16, and ARRI Standard mounting points for securing additional Wooden Camera or third-party accessories. A compatible Monitor Hinge increases on-camera monitor visibility with a wide, 180-degree tilting angle; this mount arrives with standard locating pins for SmallHD monitors and includes an additional rubber pad for attaching third party monitors. For lens support and convenient on/off quick-release mounting with tripods, the LW 15mm Baseplate provides 15mm rod pass-through brackets and an ARCA Swiss standard dovetail system with safety lock.