Video Europe, Europe’s largest sub-rental provider of cameras, lenses and accessories to the film, digital cinema and broadcast industry, has announced a series of repositioning actions to improve efficiency across the company while maintaining its unique capabilities to serve clients.

Today, Maxon announced, for the first time ever, two major new suite updates at once: Red Giant Trapcode Suite 16 and Red Giant Magic Bullet Suite 14. Updates to Trapcode Suite - a set of 11 tools for particle simulation and 3D effects for motion graphics and VFX - include new physics models, behaviors and a new type of emitter in Trapcode Particular, plus smaller updates to Trapcode Form and Trapcode Mir. Magic Bullet Suite 14 - a set of seven tools for color correction, finishing and film looks - includes new color workflows and powerful tools in Magic Bullet Looks and Magic Bullet Colorista.

As part of a strategy of continuing investment to track with the latest market requirements, Finepoint Broadcast, a leading UK dry hire provider of production and OB equipment to the global marketplace, has announced the further addition of a range of Canon lenses to its hire stock portfolio.

The additions include the standard Canon CJ24, plus the Canon CJ45 and large UJ90 lenses (UHD DIGISUPER).

Finepoint Broadcast Hire Manager Clive Northen said, “Finepoint has not seen the disruptive business peaks and troughs of recent years that have been so prevalent in various broadcast sectors. To the contrary, our growth has been steady and continuous, due in part to our continual evaluation and investment in technologies, such as these Canon lenses, that provide a direct benefit to our customers.”

Finepoint Broadcast Chief Engineer Andrew Mckenzie said, “The Canon CJ24 is an acclaimed telephoto lens with a 24x broadcast zoom and a focal length of 7.5-180mm that offers 4K performance that is ideal for on-the-shoulder newsgathering. The ultra-high zoom CJ45 is packed with innovative, class-leading technology that is perfectly suited to wildlife and live-sport deployments.

And with a 90x zoom, 9-810mm focal length, and image stabilisation that's fully compatible with 2/3" 4K cameras and broadcast environments where HDTV is currently in use, the Canon UHD DIGISUPER 90 lens is perfect for expanding Finepoint Broadcast’s 4K lens range.”

Imagine Communications has delivered core technology for a major refresh of an outside broadcast truck for NEP Belgium. As well as providing state-of-the-art and future-proofed solutions, a key part of the challenge was the very tight timescale allocated to complete the refurbishment. Imagine Communications was able to deliver on the tough timetable with the support of its Belgian dealer and partner, VP Media Solutions.

“Our Unit 14 still had many kilometres in it, but with a technology platform that was life-expired,” said Geert Thoelen, transitions manager at NEP Belgium. “We wanted a solution that would fit into the existing space, would give us all the functionality we need today, and be ready for the future, including increasing use of IP connectivity. And we could really only take the truck off the road for little more than a month earlier this year, so our partner had to be capable of moving swiftly to install and commission.”

Imagine Communications was able to comfortably meet the requirements. The new infrastructure is built around the Platinum™ IP3 router. In a single 15RU chassis, this router provides very high-density switching of today’s SDI-HD signals. It is also capable of seamlessly integrating uncompressed video over IP, so is ready to form the basis of a migration to IP connectivity — for example, to introduce Ultra HD signals. In Unit 14, the Platinum IP3 router is also fitted with the Platinum SX Pro multiviewer cards, adding functionality while reducing rack occupancy and power consumption.

Imagine’s Magellan™ SDN Orchestrator provides overall system control in the truck. It is specifically designed to provide unified operational interfaces in a hybrid environment, easing the transition between traditional, SDI-connected technology and software-defined, IP-connected architectures.

 Bannister Lake announced today that Cable 14, serving Hamilton, Ontario and surrounding communities, has successfully implemented the company's Chameleon data management and aggregation solution to control and visualize data content on its broadcasts. Cable 14's mission is to showcase and promote the local area and to keep viewers informed of local news, sports, and events.

The ‘down-the-lens’ interview is quite commonly seen in documentary programmes where the subject is talking directly to the camera rather than to an unseen person off-camera. This very powerful technique is performed using a two-way mirror box setup, which allows the subject and interviewer to see each other via the mirror and maintain a natural, relaxed conversation without the distraction of the camera lens and crew.

CVP, the leading broadcast and professional video solutions provider in the United Kingdom and Europe, has developed a sophisticated yet easy-to-use online tool that offers a visual representation of coverage of lenses when paired with various sensor formats, and different cameras using the same lens. This useful tool, which can be seen in the CVP Creative Experience at BSC Expo 2019, gives filmmakers a first indication of the camera equipment that may – or may not - suit their project.