For our “Deals of the Week,” we discover new releases that you need to keep on your radar.
For our weekly deals, we usually try to find the coolest gear on sale. But this week, we found some new releases that intrigued us so much we just had to include them on our list instead.
From a new heavy-duty drone to a modular follow-focus system and one of the only monochrome photography cameras, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on these tools.
DJI has recently been releasing small drones left and right, but the heavy-duty tools in its product line haven’t really seen an update in quite some time. Until now, that is. The DJI Inspire 3 improves upon many aspects of the Inspire 2, keeping up with the advancements and needs of film and television producers. It begins with the X9-8K Air, an 8K, full-frame, 3-axis, gimbal camera custom-built for the Inspire 3. It joins a new 1/1.8″ FPV camera with double the DFOV of the Inspire 2. Together, they help capture complex shots thanks to a customizable obstacle avoidance system, built-in centimeter-level RTK accuracy, and tracking solutions that allow accurate and repeatable shots.
The heart of the Inspire 3 is the custom-built X9-8K Air gimbal that uses CineCore 3.0, DJI’s latest image processing system, to internally record up to 8K25 CinemaDNG video or 8K75 Apple ProRes RAW video, both meeting the needs of professional film and television productions. The footage retains a lifelike texture that’s close to what the human eye can see, allowing for enough space for adding visual effects and color grading. Complex lighting sources are supported with 14+ stops of dynamic range and the use of the DJI cinema Color System authenticity in recording everything from urban landscapes to a variety of skin tones.
However, if you are thinking about getting this drone for your image capture arsenal, you will need to get a license.
Announced a few months ago, the Pentax K-3 III Monochrome is the only black and white DSLR camera on the market right now.
Utilizing a newly-developed image sensor, this camera features three custom image modes exclusively designed for the monochrome-specific image sensor: Standard, Hard, and Soft. Each mode provides minute adjustments of parameters such as tone, key, contrast, and sharpness, allowing creatives to personalize images for the desired look.
Incorporating an APS-C-format 25.7MP CMOS sensor, the K-3 Mark III Monochrome is designed without an AA (anti-aliasing) filter for exceptional sharpness, and the monochrome-specific image sensor faithfully reflects the brightness data obtained by each pixel to produce exquisite high-resolution images rich in gradation. An ISO range of 200-1600000 allows the camera to perform in a variety of lighting conditions, and the sensor is paired with a sophisticated image processor to provide quick performance and processing when shooting both stills and video.
The cheapest tool on this list, the F60 Modular Follow Focus from SmallRig is something everyone needs in their toolkit.
Compatible with most lenses, including standard cine lenses using its 0.8 MOD gear, the F60 can be used with the silicone gear and lens ring along with the M0.8-43T gear for smoother focus pulls on mirrorless/DSLR lenses. Made with a Non-Damping design, creatives can find a wide variety of mounting options for cameras big and small.
There is also a 3-step A/B stop function to set direction backward or forward, or it can rotate 360° when controlling a zoom lens. The follow focus is made from durable composite and aluminum elements, and it features a wood-grain finish. The wheel is compatible with optional industry-standard whips and cranks and SmallRig accessories such as lens gears, single or dual rod clamps, and other 15mm mounting accessories.
Which of these tools would you want in your toolkit? Let us know in the comments!
