The annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas brings cinema and media professionals from around the world under one roof to get hands on with the latest cameras, lenses and other technology from industry leaders.
Over the years, the NAB Show has proven to be the place for manufacturers to announce new technology. Along with announcements however, come the inevitable rumours and leaks and whilst some prove to be true, others turn out to just be wishful thinking or clever marketing campaigns. Regardless, the show, which runs 7 to 12 April 2018, is always a great place to catch up with old acquaintances and make new connections with fellow media, cinema and broadcast professionals.
Rumour has it (no actually, it’s really true) that this year Nikon has booked a rather large booth for the 2018 NAB show right in the middle of the Central Hall and it’s almost as big as other video-heavy-hitters like Arri, Fuji and JVC. So what you ask? Well the fact that Nikon has not been a part of NAB for a number of years maybe just cause for the rumour mill to churn over. Their massive stand has triggered some online speculation that a new Nikon mirrorless camera could well be the reason, along with a range of mirrorless lenses?
Traditionally, Canon takes the lead in online forums and the camera community as far as rumoured new camera releases go. With mirrorless cameras becoming more and more popular, many people are expecting Canon to announce a mirrorless camera to compete head-to-head with the Sony A7R III. Websites are reporting that there will be a new camera announcement outside of the Cinema EOS line, so this may very well be a mirrorless full frame camera with an EF mount that filmmakers have been waiting for. In the Cinema EOS line-up, there are reports of a possible 6K full frame camera to compete with the new Sony Venice. The camera was original thought to be announced as the C900, but now looks to be marketed as a 6K Canon C500 MKII.
It’s no secret by now that Canon has filed an optical formula patent for an anamorphic zoom lens, and the Cinema EOS 37.5-100mm f/3.3 anamorphic lens just might make an appearance at NAB 2018. With most popular anamorphic lenses out of production and only available second hand, Canon looks to be making an entry in this very popular market. With most high-end cinema cameras now offering 4:3 recording formats, anamorphic shooting is gaining momentum once again.
ARRI will likely be showcasing their new ALEXA LF (large format) camera, along with their newly announced fleet of ARRI Signature Prime lenses and new LPL lens mount. The 16-lens collection will cover full frame sensors and feature focal lengths from 12mm to 280mm.
Another recently leaked story is that Fuji appears to be setting their sights on Panasonic and Sony with the X-H1. The Fuji X-H1 appears to be targeting the ever growing “hybrid shooters” market, which has been dominated by the Sony A7SII and the Panasonic GH5. The camera will feature 5-stops of in-camera image stabilisation and internal F-log recording onto SD cards in 4K. At $1,899 (body only), the new mirrorless camera from Fuji will be priced well below the GH5 and A7SII ($2,499).
RED really has set the precedent for releasing new technology whenever they want, and have skipped NAB in the past (last year the most recent) and are currently not on the exhibitor’s list for the 2018 show (although that could change), but you’ll surely find a plethora of 8K WEAPON cameras with S35 sensors in various booths around the show. Maybe RED will even have a few HYDROGEN holographic Android phones floating around on the NAB show floor?
Rumours aside, the NAB Show’s identity is deeply rooted in convergence and collaboration. It’s the home for media, entertainment and technology professionals looking to further their careers, connect with industry leaders, gain knowledge or cutting-edge training, enhance their business or craft, get hands-on with the latest technology, or simply be awe-inspired. It’s an unrivalled experience where the entire digital ecosystem gathers year after year to leverage new technologies, tools and cross-aisle synergies to propel the content economy forward. NAB paves the way for innovative and creative interaction for all who attend and a must this year would be a visit to the Immersive Storytelling Pavilion, the Post Production Campus and the Futures Park. The Immersive Storytelling Pavilion will highlight the latest equipment and techniques in the virtual, mixed and augmented reality sectors of the industry whilst the Post Production Campus offers a number of great discussions including Real-time content creation, mobile streaming and sessions on drone piloting. The Futures Park is always a popular venue showcasing advanced projects from high-tech media developers from around the world.
In the conference sessions, one to look out for will be “The business of sports entertainment”. It is geared to top-level executives representing media networks, distributors, promoters, agencies as well as leagues, teams, federations and colleges. This forum will bring together the industry’s leading business executives who will examine the best opportunities for engaging and monetising sports fans in today’s marketplace. Sessions will focus on live content, sponsorships, technology and what’s next for sports revenues. The Global UHD conference is also one not to miss – This event brings together the world’s experts on Ultra HD television for a deep dive on the latest in this critical, evolving tech sector. There will be updates on the ATSC 3.0 rollout underway in the Republic of Korea, and a retrospective on UHD production and presentation experience gained at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.
The NAB Show is where ground-breaking technology is unveiled, innovative solutions are displayed and game-changing trends are exposed. Prepare to explore aisle after aisle of awesome tech, cool gear, smart software, capable cloud solutions and limitless ideas and inspiration and roll-up your sleeves and be hands-on with the products, services and people driving the future of content.
The world’s most inspiring and celebrated thought leaders assemble to share their stories, solutions, techniques and personal journeys. You’ll get big picture insights and critical details on the latest trends impacting content from creation to consumption. Whether your focus is on the art, the science or the business of content creation or consumption, this is where you refine your skills, get inspired, and make powerful connections that could fundamentally change your business forever, and that’s the truth – no rumours here!
Over the years, the NAB Show has proven to be the place for manufacturers to announce new technology. Along with announcements, however, come the inevitable rumours and leaks and whilst some prove to be true, others turn out to just be wishful thinking or clever marketing campaigns. Regardless, the show, which runs 7 to 12 April 2018, is always a great place to catch up with old acquaintances and make new connections with fellow media, cinema and broadcast professionals.
Rumour has it (no actually, it’s really true) that this year Nikon has booked a rather large booth for the 2018 NAB show right in the middle of the Central Hall and it’s almost as big as other video-heavy-hitters like Arri, Fuji and JVC. So what you ask? Well, the fact that Nikon has not been a part of NAB for a number of years maybe just cause for the rumour mill to churn over. Their massive stand has triggered some online speculation that a new Nikon mirrorless camera could well be the reason, along with a range of mirrorless lenses?
Traditionally, Canon takes the lead in online forums and the camera community as far as rumoured new camera releases go. With mirrorless cameras becoming more and more popular, many people are expecting Canon to announce a mirrorless camera to compete head-to-head with the Sony A7R III. Websites are reporting that there will be a new camera announcement outside of the Cinema EOS line, so this may very well be a mirrorless full frame camera with an EF mount that filmmakers have been waiting for. In the Cinema EOS line-up, there are reports of a possible 6K full frame camera to compete with the new Sony Venice. The camera was an original thought to be announced as the C900, but now looks to be marketed as a 6K Canon C500 MKII.
It’s no secret by now that Canon has filed an optical formula patent for an anamorphic zoom lens, and the Cinema EOS 37.5-100mm f/3.3 anamorphic lens just might make an appearance at NAB 2018. With most popular anamorphic lenses out of production and only available second hand, Canon looks to be making an entry in this very popular market. With most high-end cinema cameras now offering 4:3 recording formats, anamorphic shooting is gaining momentum once again.
ARRI will likely be showcasing their new ALEXA LF (large format) camera, along with their newly announced fleet of ARRI Signature Prime lenses and new LPL lens mount. The 16-lens collection will cover full frame sensors and feature focal lengths from 12mm to 280mm.
Another recently leaked story is that Fuji appears to be setting their sights on Panasonic and Sony with the X-H1. The Fuji X-H1 appears to be targeting the ever growing “hybrid shooters” market, which has been dominated by the Sony A7SII and the Panasonic GH5. The camera will feature 5-stops of in-camera image stabilisation and internal F-log recording onto SD cards in 4K. At $1,899 (body only), the new mirrorless camera from Fuji will be priced well below the GH5 and A7SII ($2,499).
RED really has set the precedent for releasing new technology whenever they want, and have skipped NAB in the past (last year the most recent) and are currently not on the exhibitor’s list for the 2018 show (although that could change), but you’ll surely find a plethora of 8K WEAPON cameras with S35 sensors in various booths around the show. Maybe RED will even have a few HYDROGEN holographic Android phones floating around on the NAB show floor?
Rumours aside, the NAB Show’s identity is deeply rooted in convergence and collaboration. It’s the home for media, entertainment and technology professionals looking to further their careers, connect with industry leaders, gain knowledge or cutting-edge training, enhance their business or craft, get hands-on with the latest technology, or simply be awe-inspired. It’s an unrivalled experience where the entire digital ecosystem gathers year after year to leverage new technologies, tools and cross-aisle synergies to propel the content economy forward. NAB paves the way for innovative and creative interaction for all who attend and a must this year would be a visit to the Immersive Storytelling Pavilion, the Post Production Campus and the Futures Park. The Immersive Storytelling Pavilion will highlight the latest equipment and techniques in the virtual, mixed and augmented reality sectors of the industry whilst the Post Production Campus offers a number of great discussions including Real-time content creation, mobile streaming and sessions on drone piloting. The Futures Park is always a popular venue showcasing advanced projects from high-tech media developers from around the world.
In the conference sessions, one to look out for will be “The business of sports entertainment”. It is geared to top-level executives representing media networks, distributors, promoters, agencies as well as leagues, teams, federations and colleges. This forum will bring together the industry’s leading business executives who will examine the best opportunities for engaging and monetising sports fans in today’s marketplace. Sessions will focus on live content, sponsorships, technology and what’s next for sports revenues. The Global UHD conference is also one not to miss – This event brings together the world’s experts on Ultra HD television for a deep dive on the latest in this critical, evolving tech sector. There will be updates on the ATSC 3.0 rollout underway in the Republic of Korea, and a retrospective on UHD production and presentation experience gained at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.
The NAB Show is where ground-breaking technology is unveiled, innovative solutions are displayed and game-changing trends are exposed. Prepare to explore aisle after aisle of awesome tech, cool gear, smart software, capable cloud solutions and limitless ideas and inspiration and roll-up your sleeves and be hands-on with the products, services and people driving the future of content.
The world’s most inspiring and celebrated thought leaders assemble to share their stories, solutions, techniques and personal journeys. You’ll get big picture insights and critical details on the latest trends impacting content from creation to consumption. Whether your focus is on the art, the science or the business of content creation or consumption, this is where you refine your skills, get inspired, and make powerful connections that could fundamentally change your business forever, and that’s the truth – no rumours here!
