Welcome to The Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 (RGCSO), a Zacuto/Kessler production in association with Filmworkers Club & Tribeca Flashpoint Academy.This year is different from past Zacuto/Kessler Great Camera Shootouts. The test, administered by Bruce Logan, ASC, shows two ways of looking at cameras–empirical and subjective, with a strong emphasis on subjective. The test was conducted in February 2012 at the Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in Chicago and the color grading was completed using the Baselight color grading system at Filmworkers Club also in Chicago. Some camera manufacturers opted to color grade at other facilities but used the Baselight system as well. Zacuto acted as the central organizing body for the project and documented the production and post-production processes.

A set was created and dressed to accommodate a party scene with complicated blocking. Our main character was a black man wearing a white shirt with a black tie. He walked through a full dynamic range of lighting including an exterior window. This was a challenging scene included extreme highlights and deep blacks. This scene was very complicated to say the least and the shot was painstakingly rehearsed for accuracy between all cameras.

Here’s how it went: Bruce created the original base lighting for the set and a specialist DP/DIT was brought to Chicago to assist with each camera. Each DP/DIT had an opportunity to add, dim or change the lighting so long as they didn’t change the overall key/fill lighting scheme that Bruce had created. They were allowed 90 minutes to light their scene and 90 minutes to color time it. Each of these DP’s selected were specialists with their preferred camera and understood how to highlight the strengths of their camera as well as downplay its weaknesses by using light, color profiles, grading or anything else in their tool kit to make their camera look as best as possible.

This test poses two questions:

The combination of these four skills is what creates a beautiful image. Not the camera!!! This will be covered in the final three-part documentary, The Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012, premiering June 15th at Zacuto.com.

As in the past, Zacuto will also have 35 theatrical screenings of the test footage between April 16 – May 15 starting with the Zacuto/Kessler booth at NAB, AFI in Hollywood, Lucasfilm SkyWalker Ranch, New York, Chicago, Nashville, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, India, Australia, Japan and potentially other countries. See this page for more details and to sign up for the various screenings.

To enhance the web experience, each theatrical screening will be recorded so web viewers can hear the opinions given by the audience who screened the test footage in 2K P3 (enhanced color space), giving you the theatrical experience on the web. In contrast to previous Shootouts, viewers will watch the test blind, meaning that the footage from each camera will be labeled with a letter. Viewers will be asked to write down their favorite letters in the order they prefer. A discussion will ensue. The scenes will then be played again and Zacuto will reveal which camera is which, followed by more discussion.

The screening of our test footage will be shown as a 2K P3 DCP, as that is the de facto worldwide digital standard for theatrical distribution in 2012. Next year the statistics may be different and with more movies released in 4K it may be worthwhile to screen our shootout in 4K next year.

World Wide Statistics:

58.8% of worldwide theater screens 73,380 projected on film
41.2% of worldwide theater screens 51,620 projected digitally

33.2% of all worldwide theater screens 41,620 have 2k projectors installed

8% of all worldwide theater screens approx. 10,000 (broad estimate received from projection manufacturers) may have 4k projectors installed (of these 10,000 projectors the majority of the screenings are still projected in 2K mainly because Hollywood has not released them in 4K)

To keep the test fair and consistent, all of the footage in the test was kept in its RAW format and native resolution using the Baselight system. The very last step of the process was using the Baselight down sampler to render out a 2K TIFF sequence of the entire show. This was done so that the resolution down sampling would be the very last step before we created the final 2K P3 package. All of the information from the shoot and screening will be documented and unveiled during the RGCSO documentary starting June 15. Here are the cameras involved:

1. Sony F65 — Sony Representatives
2. ARRI Alexa — Rodney Charters, ASC
3. RED Epic — Ryan Walters
4. Sony FS100 — Den Lennie & Mick Jones
5. Sony F3 w/slog — Nancy Schreiber, ASC
6. Canon C300 — Polly Morgan
7. Canon 7D with Technicolor settings — Michael Negrin, ASC
8. Panasonic GH2 (hacked and non-hacked) — Jonny Zeller & Colt Seman

We expect that many people will say, “You didn’t include my camera.” We tried to include as many of the new cameras at varying price points as we could. Two DSLR cameras were included to give you a feel for that class of camera, but the whole point of the test was to show people which camera they use isn’t the most important thing. The rules are the same with any camera–pick one–learn how to master it–learn how to light for it–learn the artistic craft of lighting. Those are the components for making you a great DP/Cinematographer, not the camera. Much of the focus of this documentary is not on the cameras themselves but on the art and craft of lighting from the opinions of our selected DP’s- how they looked to films, photography and paintings to learn about lighting, as well as school for some. We think you will find the results astounding, informative and entertaining.

Signup for Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 Screenings

We’re counting down the days to NAB 2012 in Las Vegas! Make sure you swing by and visit us at booth C-9848 Monday the 16th through Thursday the 20th. Just like last year, we’ll be sharing our booth with Kessler Crane so you’ll be able to check out all their new gear while you’re visiting. In addition to introducing over thirty new products to the public, Zacuto will have a few other bonuses catering to film and photo aficionados. Here’s a glimpse at what you can expect:

Don’t miss screening the test footage and have your two cents recorded and potentially included in Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 that premiere at zacuto.com June 15th. When you screen the footage no camera labels will be listed until the great reveal, see if you can pick which camera is which. Filmed earlier this year at the Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in Chicago and graded at Filmworkers Club Chicago, this year’s shootout includes ASC cinematographers Bruce Logan, Nancy Schreiber, and Rodney Charters & Michael Negrin.

Make sure you catch one of multiple screenings Monday through Wednesday at 10am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. On Thursday we’ll be screening at 10am and 12pm. Sign ups will be available shortly at www.zacuto.com.

The lounge will be a definite hotspot to talk shop with other filmmakers. Consider it an oasis amongst a desert of tradeshow booths! Network, share production stories, relax, have a drink and have some fun.

Space is limited and you will need to be on the VIP list or get a special pass at the Zacuto booth to gain access to the lounge.

This year we will be unveiling some of the most anticipated gear yet! Over 30 new products and kits will be featured at the booth this year. The showstoppers this year will be our new recoil concept products. These new pieces make for a shorter and lighter package and keeps the camera on your shoulder; allowing you to control some of the essential camera functions at your fingertips- literally.

Our C300 Grip Relocator and Tornado both offer the recoil technology. The C300 Grip Relocator allows you to take advantage of the camera remote and start/stop recording from the handgrips. The Tornado is a remote mechanical follow focus that allows you to pull focus utilizing the handgrip! This technology works with DSLRs along with Scarlet/Epic cameras.

Zacuto will also be introducing a new line of lighting products. That’s right- we’re getting into the lighting game! You’ll be blown away by what we have lined up for you. You’ll need to swing by and check out our incredible new Patented Plasma lights for yourself- as soft as a Chimera available in all different shapes.

C300 Recoil Rig with Tornado & Grip Relocator

Earlier this year several different designs were presented for the public to vote on. The winning design will be gracing the front of the new Z-Finder T-shirts. The wining shirt, designed by Zacuto graphic designers, Melissa Morley and Jamie Jason, will be sure to please tech junkies everywhere. Make sure to swing by and pick up your FREE shirt at the booth!

Website Launch!

Kessler has just launched a new site for the Kessler Fusion. If you like to find out more or have a closer look at the system, click here to visit the new site.

What is the Kessler Fusion? 

Kessler Fusion is the most advanced motion control system on the planet. With it’s near limitless connectivity and multi-axis control, it will be the only system you’ll ever buy. Take control of the super intuitive interface with fully configurable key frames, Bezier curves and precision positioning. This digital encoded, device independent system will bring your motion control game to a new level. Whether it’s visual effects, time lapses, live action or stop-motion, Fusion does it all.

Canon has just announced the release of their new EOS camera, the C300 and Zacuto is equipped with an array of new baseplates and C300 accessories months in the making ready to outfit this exciting new camera. The C300 Camera is the most recent member of the new class of super 35 digital video cameras. Canon will be releasing both PL and EF mount versions of the camera. Other internal features include 1080p/24/25/30 and 720p 60 formats, 10 bit 4:2:2 signal, uncompressed HD-SDI as well as HDMI and simultaneous viewing on all outputs and screens. Simultaneous viewing was one of the major drawbacks of the 5D Mark II. This camera is designed for filmmaking, corporate and event shooting. The C300 Camera looks amazing on the big screen.

The C300 Camera’s physical characteristics are unlike any of its predecessors. It’s not a DSLR, it’s a video camera, but it’s built for making videos not photos. Some key features include:

• Removable top handle
• 4” removable, flippable and rotatable LCD monitor with 2 XLR audio inputs
• HDMI output
• HD-SDI output
• Genlock
• Time Code
• Hot swappable Compact Flash Cards
• SD card for photos
• Headphone jack
• Removable handgrip

Zacuto has designed two completely new baseplates specifically for the Canon C300. We will be offering both a Gorilla style baseplate and a studio style baseplate unlike any of our existing baseplates. The camera’s shape and footprint requires some major changes to existing baseplates to get the camera to a position to be able to use a follow focus and proper lens to rod height for standard sized matte boxes. This is especially true with short lenses that have the focus ring near the camera body and non-height adjustable matte boxes. The Gorilla style baseplate for the C300 features 60mm spaced rod holes in the front of the base plate that allows users to mount a follow focus or other accessories in front of the camera. It also uses our rod hole system on the side of the plate which allows you to mount an EVF or other accessories off the side.

The studio style base plate is very flat and features four sets of 60mm spaced holes, one on each side of the baseplate. This gives users a virtually unlimited amount of mounting options. You also have the option of turning the baseplate into a cage configuration, using the mounting holes on the side of the plate. When not using a cage configuration, the side holes can be used for an EVF, Zacuto articulating arms, rods and more. The rods on the studio baseplate are located near the very bottom of the camera. Because the Canon C300 is tall, the flatness of the studio baseplate helps to keep the center of gravity low for better control over the rig. It is also necessary so that the rods are at the industry standard distance from the center of the lens allowing matte boxes and follow focus units to fit. Plus, the camera has a 1” toe on the bottom of the camera which makes it difficult to get follow focus gears back near the camera body unless the follow focus is touching the toe. The follow focus needs to be able to flip the gear to the right side and reach back. The Zacuto follow focus can achieve this elegantly with our new C300 baseplate.

“This is a revolutionary design. It’s basically an upside down baseplate where the camera just sits on the rods,” says Zacuto Product Designer and Director, Steve Weiss. “We designed it this way for several reasons. First off, the lens height to the bottom of the camera is taller than normal and would require a rod riser and a second set of rods to achieve the proper height to accommodate standard matte boxes and follow focus units. The second reason is that it keeps a tall top heavy camera from getting any taller. Plus, we maintain our original design feature from baseplates that have rods that go all the way through underneath the camera. This makes it simple to adjust rod length for various sized lenses. It’s easy to slide the rods forward or back. No rod extensions are needed for lens changes."

We currently have four kit recommendations for the Canon EOS C300 and of course, like all Zacuto rigs, you can configure your kit in many different ways to suit your needs. We have also developed a few accessories that will really make the rigging of this camera complete.

Canon C300 Target Shooter

Canon C300 Striker

Canon C300 Recoil

Canon C300 Stinger

Other Accessories

Canon C300 Winged Cage - This helpful tool allows users to mount 1/4" 20 & 3/8" 16 accessories on top of the camera. Users can also mount the Zacuto Top Handle, Canon C handle (included with the camera), 6 cold shoe items or a set of 60mm spaced Zacuto quick-release mounts that can hold Zacuto Zamerican arms or traditional articulating arms with a Zacuto Zud. The sides of the Winged Cage can move to a vertical position or all the way down to the sides of the camera. In the vertical position you can mount a horizontal rod for mounting items like a mic or EVF. Attaching a Zacuto Mini Mount to the bottom of the Winged Cage will also give you the ability to have a set of top rods over the lens for mounting motors for remote zoom and focus control. This is an extremely versatile cage system that maintains a smaller lighter profile, yet it has many more features than a traditional cage.

Zicro Cold Shoe - The Zicro Cold Shoe allows users to mount the camera's LCD swivel screen on any 15mm rod, Zacuto Zamerican arm or traditional articulating arm with a Zacuto Zud.

Cold Shoe Zud - This is great for attaching a cold shoe to any Zacuto 15mm locking hole. You can also attach it to any male rod or a Zacuto Zamerican arm with Zacuto Zoupler.

Cold Shoe - Add additional cold shoes to your Winged Cage.

Canon EOS C300 3/8"16  1.4" 20 Double Tap - This is an excellent way to change your camera tap from the standard 1/4" 20 screw that comes with the camera to a 1/4" 20 & 3/8" 16 double screw system that prevents the camera from rotating.

Winged Cage Top Handle - This handle is a moveable handgrip that can be placed in several positions to achieve a balanced rig. The Top Handle has the ability to attach rod extensions to the front or back, allowing any Zacuto accessories to be mounted to it. Because it's a rod, it also has the ability to have items rotated or extended on it. Whether you are using a light, mics, recorders, an EVF, or any other tools, the handle itself acts as a super lightweight mini cage for mounting accessories.

Canon EOS C300 Handgrip Relocator - This camera accessory allows you to move the Canon handgrip (included with the camera) from the side of the camera to a more comfortable position. Users also have the option of articulating the grip as traditional Zacuto handgrips do. The Handgrip Relocator works as a grip for maintaining the ability to control the camera's start/stop function, exposure and menus from your right hand.

Follow Focus Extension - allows you to get your Zacuto Z-Focus, follow focus out (away from the camera) so the operator can see it while using a EVF. It can become difficult to get your hand around the EVF to operate the follow focus. It also creates more room for the EVF to move forward allowing the camera package to become shorter. The operator can now see his marks if pulling his own focus without using an assistant. Works on all existing Zacuto follow focus units.