Gekko on the spot; Tiffen packs filter picks; Tuffpak is on Soom’s case; and Vinten’s royal honour for Enterprise.
New LED light hits the spot
Gekko Technology’s new kezia 200F white-optimised spot lamp is claimed to offer the same light as a 1kW tungsten fixture for less than 200 Watts of power.
“The kezia 200F is optimised for use in film production or studio broadcast,” said David Amphlett, Gekko’s founder and Managing Director. “It allows precise adjustment between 2900 and 6500 Kelvin including presets for selection of 2900, 3200, 4300, 5600 and 6500K via DMX or an optional rear panel. A built-in colour-feedback system ensures colour temperature remains constant when the light is dimmed, as ambient conditions change or as the unit ages.”
Interchangeable optics provide beam angles of 20, 35, 60 or 80 degrees. Output intensity is 8300 lux at 1 metre, 1900 lux at 2m and 900 lux at 3m.
The 200F joins the kezia 50E and F, and the 200E, which were introduced at NAB 2010. All four models are based on Gekko’s kleer colour LED technology, which provides a very broad-spectrum of light with precisely controllable colour temperature. The kezia range is supported by a range of reflector options, honeycomb louvres, barn door accessories and diffusion gratings.
Select few filters make Image Maker
Tiffen’s new Image Maker series of professional filter kits offers a selection of filters for use in different shooting scenarios. The five sets of optical filters have been selected to enhance the results for particular shooting conditions and requirements.
Each kit includes three 4×4-inch filters using Tiffen’s ColorCore technology to provide a range of effects and densities that can add production value to the resulting footage. The filters have been selected for specific applications, offering filters used to control light – typically in exterior shoots – as well as those used to for aesthetic creation of mood that cannot be achieved with lighting alone. The filters are intended for use with professional video cameras including HD DSLRs.
“Professional stills photographers and movie cameramen have always used optical filters, whereas in video, they tend to be used for just technical corrections, such as Uvs, Irs and Nds. But then, faced with a range of over 2,000 filters, many videographers don’t know where to begin. The Image Makers kits addresses that dilemma by provide a logical starting point – and at a reduced price, with filters that will, at least, be very useful and may encourage more creative ideas,” explained Carey Duffy, Technical Director (Filters), Tiffen International (pictured).
The Image Maker Fundamental Kit contains an UltraPol Circular Polarizer, Neutral Density 0.9 and Pro-Mist 1/4, and is ideal for outdoor applications.
The Contrast Kit has a Soft Contrast 2, Ultra Contrast 1, and Low Contrast ½, and is aimed at for controlling contrast in bright sunlit exteriors, while capturing lost detail in shadow areas.
The People Kit includes the Nude FX 1, Nude FX 3, and 812 Warming Filter, and is designed for portrait work, offering enhancing filters that provide flexibility and control when shooting skin tones.
The Grad Kit contains a Clear/Cool Blue 2 Soft Edge, Clear/Straw 2 Soft Edge, and colour-Grad ND0.9 Soft Edge. These half-colour, half-clear filters add colour selectively with a graduated density transition for smooth blending into the scene.
The Diffusion Kit contains a Black Pro-Mist 1/4, Gold Diffusion FX 1/2, and Glimmer Glass 1, and is suitable for people shots, with each filter creating a diffused image that does not look as if it has been shot through a filter.
The filters are supplied complete with a padded pouch with a belt loop.
Tuff talk for Soom tripod users
Tuffpak has designed a new case for Sachtler’s Soom tripods. “Travelling with the original Sachtler bag has the disadvantage of always having to dismount the Soom tube when wrapping up while the Tuffpak can accommodate the Soom as is,” explained Florian Granderath, of Camera Support Granderath, the European Tuffpak importer,
There is also a Tuffpak now for transporting Sachtler’s castor Dolly S, which perfectly fits into the Tuffpak #236600.
Also new are locks for the most popular Tuffpak cases for two stage 100mm and 150mm legs with fluid head. For European news crews, the Californian manufacturer now has wheeled tripod cases that handle all popular two-stage 100mm tripods with a fluid head. Tuffpak’s octagonal shape, thick walls and recessed integrated handles make them suitable for air transportation of tripods, mic or lighting stands
Vinten wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Vinten has been presented with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2010. Her Majesty’s representative, The Lord Tollemache, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk (pictured right), presented the Award to Vinten MD, Roger Wilson, and read the citation, at a ceremony at Vinten HQ last week.
The company was recognised in the Innovation category for its continuous development of Perfect Balance, the unique engineering system it uses in its professional TV fluid heads that enables camera operators to focus on the perfect shot for longer.
It was first introduced in the mid-1980s, but continually refined since, and led to a major boost in global sales for Vinten.
“This outstanding recognition is a fitting tribute to the continuing success of the Vinten brand and its employees as it celebrates its 100th anniversary, an unprecedented achievement in its own right in the film and television industry,” said Wilson.
