Shows / Focus Check
Focus Check
What’s new in filmmaking technology this week? News, reviews, education, insights, opinions and ideas - from the CineD newsroom, mostly with Nino Leitner and Johnnie Behiri. This is Focus Check - the weekly cine tech podcast. New episodes every Thursday.
Episodes
Focus Checkep80 - New Anamorphic Podcast Studio | Insta360 GO Ultra | DJI Mic 3 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm – Focus Check
After 79 episodes, we finally found the time to give our weekly studio setup a refresh! We’ve upgraded to a brand-new look featuring a multi-camera anamorphic…
Focus Checkep79 - AI Video Generation tools and tricks with Drew Geraci – CineD Focus Check
Drew Geraci, best known for his iconic work on the intro sequence of “House of Cards” and his stunning high-end timelapse cinematography he also teaches a…
Focus Checkep78 - Are Film & TV Jobs Shrinking in 2025? I Antigravity A1 I New SIGMA Lenses | Why the hate for the Sony FX2? | Eurocine moves to Budapest
It’s summer, and most camera manufacturers are holding back their new releases until fall, when the trade show season kicks off again. But that gives us the…
Focus Checkep77 - Kodak is in Trouble & What's ARRI's Future? | ASUS ProArt 32" Monitor Review I US DJI Drone Ban Looms
This episode starts with some fresh Monitor updates from ASUS and followed from the potential upcoming ban for DJI drones in the US as well as some troubling…
Focus Checkep76 - Deep Dive: ARRI ALEXA 35 Xtreme Tech & Codec I SWISS RIG srRAW 1.2 I Strada Direct Camera-to-Editor – CineD Focus Check
ARRI still leads the pack when it comes to dynamic range in cameras — a fact confirmed once again by our CineD Lab Tests. That’s why it’s big news in the cine…
Focus Checkep75 - DJI Goes 360 and Insta360 Goes Drone! I BLAZAR Mantis Review | Angelbird Performance Reader CFexpress B Review
This week’s episode brings some surprising news from a few major players in the camera world. First off: We unfortunately didn't receive the information about…
Focus Checkep74 - From Refugee Camp to Reinventing Vintage Glass: Guest Ron Sim from Simmod Lens
Ron Sim’s journey from a Cambodian refugee camp to becoming the founder of Simmod Lens is anything but typical. In this heartfelt and revealing conversation…
Focus Checkep73 - LUMIX S1II Rivals ALEXA Mini LF in Dynamic Range! | Sony RX1R III Announced
Join this week’s episode of Focus Check as we dive into the updated Lab Test results of the LUMIX S1II — and explore how this camera is getting surprisingly…
Focus Checkep72 - What are the ultimate mirrorless camera features? I DJI Power 2000 Introduced I Saramonic TC-NEO
What feature would you most like to see in the next generation of mirrorless cameras? In this episode, Nino dives into the results of our latest community poll…
Focus Checkep71 - F1: The Movie Used a Custom Sony Compact Cameras & iPhone Cameras I Saramonic Air I Adobe Firefly Sound Generator
Sometimes, new films demand such unique technical requirements that they end up pushing the boundaries of camera technology. The upcoming F1 movie is a perfect…
Focus Checkep70 - A CineD Camera Bag?! I How prevalent is Camera-to-Cloud? | Peak Design Pro Tripod I Laowa 8-15mm Lens
Join this week's discussion with Johnnie and Nino! While there haven’t been any major camera announcements, we’re working on something exciting—our very own…
Focus Checkep69 - BILD Expo 2025, Canon R1 Lab Test, New MZed Course & Disney / Universal vs. Midjourney
Right after CineGear, the next big event is already underway. Nino joins in directly from New York to share insights from the BILD Expo, a growing industry…
Focus Checkep68 - Cine Gear 2025 Wrap-Up with Markus Förderer, ASC: Lenses, Metadata & The Human Touch - CineD Focus Check Ep68
In this Cine Gear 2025 wrap-up episode of CineD Focus Check, Johnnie is joined by acclaimed cinematographer Markus Förderer, ASC (Red Notice, I Origins…
Focus Checkep67 - D-Day: The Camera Soldier — Filming for Apple Vision Pro
In this episode, we were fortunate to be connected through Blackmagic Design with Victor from TARGO, a Paris-based production company that has been pushing the…
Focus Checkep66 - Sony FX2 | Google DeepMind Veo 3 | Adobe Stock = AI | Hollyland LARK MAX 2 | BILD Expo
Finally, the long-anticipated new Sony FX2 cinema camera has arrived at the CineD headquarters for a full stress test — and that’s exactly what we did. Johnnie…
Focus Checkep65 - Half the Sensor, Twice the Buzz – FUJIFILM X half Camera | Sony Camera Sales | Rolux Ronin 4D V-Mount Plate
A camera that shoots half-images? Sounds unusual—but that's exactly what FUJIFILM's newly released X-Half brings to the table with its unique feature set. Join…
Focus Checkep64 - DJI Mavic 4 Pro Review & Panasonic LUMIX S1II Review, Lab Test | LUMIX S1IIE | LUMIX S 24-60mm f/2.8 Lens
DJI’s new Mavic 4 Pro brings true D-Log to all three cameras and a 360° rotating gimbal – but is it enough to replace your camera? Nino and Johnnie also dive…
Focus Checkep63 - Vertical Video, Aspect Ratios & Virtual Lenses | 100% US Tariff on Foreign Films | TTArtisan 35mm T2.1 Cine Lens
In recent years, the rise of vertical video shooting has grown significantly. We recently conducted a poll asking our community how they handle this during…
Focus Checkep62 - Insta360 X5 | K&F Concept KF-V99 Pro | Sony a7S III FW 4.0 | Productivity MZed Courses for "The Efficient Filmmaker"
Join this week’s episode of Focus Check for an exclusive glimpse at an exciting new MZed course coming soon. Plus, we’ve got your regular dose of weekly…
Focus Checkep61 - Recipes in Focus: Fuel for Filmmakers - CineD Focus Check
Fellow filmmakers, are you taking good care of yourselves? In a recent poll we ran, many of you said health matters, but finding the time to take that extra…
Focus Checkep60 - NAB 2025 Highlights – Blackmagic PYXIS 12K, URSA Cine Immersive, DaVinci 20, FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA, and LOTS More...
So many new gear updates have dropped recently due to NAB Show 2025—it’s almost overwhelming to keep track! But don’t worry—sit back, relax, and check out this…
Focus Checkep59 - NAB 2025 Wrap-Up & Announcements | Industry in Crisis? | Why Blackmagic Gets it Right | with Michael Cioni
Live from NAB 2025 in Las Vegas, with special guest Michael Cioni. Nino and Johnnie are recapping the show and trying to identify this year’s trends. They also…
Focus Checkep58 - From Home Depot to Hollywood: How Storytelling Trumps Tech - with Tal Lazar
In this special episode of Focus Check, Nino Leitner is joined by cinematographer and educator Tal Lazar, known for his work with AFI, Columbia University…
Focus Checkep57 - Sony VENICE Extension System Mini, Canon R50 V & Powershot V1 | How Netflix’s Adolescence Was Made
Major camera announcements from leading manufacturers Sony and Canon happened this week - the Sony VENICE Extension System Mini as well as the Canon Powershot…
Focus Checkep56 - FUJIFILM GFX100RF Discussed - Large Format with Fixed Lens | Tilta Tripods Review | Eddie AI Assistant Video Editor 2.0 | Peak Design Roller Pro
A new camera announcement from FUJIFILM: the GFX100RF, a large-format camera with a fixed 35mm f/4 lens. It seems that many manufacturers are jumping on the…
Focus Checkep55 - A DJI Camera?? Angelbird SSD 2GO Review | Canon EOS R5 Mark II Lab Test - CineD Focus Check
This episode covers a variety of topics, but a few stand out. What could happen if DJI were to release a mirrorless camera? And are smartphones starting to…
Focus Checkep54 - Is Reflected Light Better Light? | Hierarchy & Attitudes on Film Sets | How the Film Industry is Changing with Jakob Ballinger from Lightbridge
In this episode, we are honored to welcome a distinguished guest: Jakob Ballinger, founder and CEO of Lightbridge. With over a decade of experience as a Gaffer…
Focus Checkep53 - Panasonic LUMIX S1RII I SIGMA BF I News from CP+ - CineD Focus Check
Panasonic LUMIX S1RII I SIGMA BF I News from CP+ - CineD Focus Check Ep 53 The season of new camera releases has begun, bringing two exciting new models—one…
Focus Checkep52- RED with Nikon Z Mount I K&F Concept Mini Matte Box I DJI Osmo Mobile 7- CineD Focus Check
This marks the 52nd episode of Focus Check, meaning a full year has passed since the very first episode! Interestingly, one of our initial topics was Nikon's…
Focus Checkep51 - Raw or Not to Raw? I Camera Storage Speeds | Angelbird 4TB CFexpress Type B I Nikon COOLPIX P1100
There are still some great gear updates and valuable feedback from the CineD community worth discussing. So don’t miss out! Tune in to this week’s episode of…
Focus Checkep50 - New Creative Ways to Reduce Prices? I URSA Cine 12K for $7K -CineD FocusCheck
It seems that several manufacturers are finding creative ways to reduce prices for their cameras. Following ARRI’s announcement last week, Blackmagic has now…
Focus Checkep49 - ARRI for All? | Z CAM E2 Mark II | EVF or Monitor? | Sony & Panasonic Firmware Updates
A new ARRI announcement has likely caught the attention of many in the film industry. They have introduced the new ARRI ALEXA 35 Base Model, which comes at a…
Focus Checkep48 - Camera Predictions 2025 – What Do We Expect From BMD, Canon, DJI, FUJIFILM, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony?
This week, Johnnie and Nino dare a long, hard look into the crystal ball to speculate and ponder about the cameras and lenses that they expect to be released…
Focus Checkep47 - Leica SL3-S Filmmaking Beast? | DJI Flip Drone | C400 Lab Test
We hope you missed Johnnie and Nino, here is a new episode of CineD Focus Check dealing with all the latest camera gear announcements, including the Leica…
Focus Checkep46 - The Ethics of AI
The divisive topic of AI in the filmmaking industry: Where is it helpful, and where does it become a threatening tool? Join Omri Keren Lapidot and Nino Leitner…
Focus Checkep45 - Year in Review: Camera Lab Tests of 2024
CineD Lab Tests are a trusted resource for camera enthusiasts and professionals looking to objectively compare camera sensors and specifications. In this…
Focus Checkep44 - Our WORST and BEST Camera Gear Purchases Ever
Let’s be honest — everyone in the filmmaking industry has experienced this at some point in their career. You get super hyped about a certain piece of gear…
Focus Checkep43 - LUMIX GH7 Review | URSA Cine Immersive | Poll: Leica Cine Camera?
Tune in to this pre-Christmas episode and join Johnnie and Felix as we chat about his much-anticipated long-term review of the LUMIX GH7, which he’s been…
Focus Checkep42 - Nexus G1 camera | ARRI ALEXA 265 announced | OpenAI Sora open for public
There are two new kids on the block in the world of filmmaking: the ARRI ALEXA 265 and the Nexus G1 camera prototype, both recently unveiled. Tune in to this…
Focus Checkep41 - What will be the Camera of the Year 2024? | GVM Pro SD300C Review and more
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to choose the best cameras of the year. Join Nino and Johnnie for their discussion, and don’t forget to share your…
Focus Checkep40 - | MZed Black Friday Sale | New SIRUI Lens Reviews | Lightbridge TableTop Essentials Kit
Black Friday is here, and the deals are everywhere! Join Nino and Johnnie as they provide a concise overview of some standout offers worth checking out. Beyond…
Focus Checkep39 - FUJIFILM “GFX ETERNA” pricing? | BM Ursa Cine 12K Lab Test results | Sony A1 II
In this episode, we explore the exciting news from FUJIFILM about their new filmmaking camera and speculate on its potential price. We also analyze the lab…
Focus Checkep38 - FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA Insights | Final Cut Pro 11 Introduced | ZEISS Radiance Zooms | RØDE Wireless Micro
The filmmaking world turns its attention to Japan as FUJIFILM enters the professional digital film camera market with the FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA Filmmaking Camera…
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ep37 - Camera Firmware Updates from Canon & Sony | Apple M4 Macs | Saramonic Ultra Introduced
This episode is packed with news, starting with firmware updates from two major manufacturers, followed by the latest from Apple, and exciting updates on new…
Focus Checkep36 - Reviews Discussed: BLAZAR APEX, DJI Air 3S | New Lenses from Canon & SIRUI
In this episode, Johnnie shares his experience shooting with the BLAZAR APEX anamorphic autofocus lenses, while Nino offers his final thoughts on the DJI Air…
Focus Checkep35 - Immersive Filmmaking for the Apple Vision Pro - What are the Challenges?
In this episode, we're excited to have Christoph Tilley from MXR Production as our special guest. Christoph shares his experiences working on cutting-edge…
Focus Checkep34 - DJI Air 3S Drone | Apple 8K 3D Camera | ARRI Ensō Primes | FUJIFILM X-M5
In this episode, we dive into some intense drone action, followed by an exciting discussion between Nino and Johnnie about Apple's new 8K 3D camera. They…
Focus Checkep33 - Monthly MZed Pro Membership | Panasonic Firmware Updates | BLAZAR CATO Lens Series
Stay up-to-date with the latest firmware updates for several Panasonic cameras. Nino shares exciting behind-the-scenes insights from his challenging TV show…
Focus Checkep32 - Is Filming Just for Exposure Worth It?
In this special episode, Nino and Johnnie dive deep into the controversial topic of working for exposure in the film and video industry. They share personal…
Focus Checkep31 - RØDECaster Video | SIRUI Projector Zoom Lens | SWIT K15 & 21 Field Monitors
While Nino is away on a shoot, Johnnie brings us the latest product updates for the week. We also offer a behind-the-scenes look at our podcast production…
Focus Checkep30 - IBC 2024 recap | IBC 2024 Recap | AF Cine Lenses by SIGMA & BLAZAR | LC-Tec eDiffusion | PDMovie 3D Air Budget 3D Shooting Rig
Fresh after IBC 2024 trade show, Johnnie and Nino recap the most innovative and exciting products they discovered. They highlight standout innovations…
Focus Checkep29 - Canon EOS C80 Review Discussed | iPhone 16 Pro | Will DJI Drones Be Banned?
In this episode, Johnnie shares his recent experience shooting with the brand new Canon EOS C80, offering insights from his time filming a mini-documentary…
Focus Checkep28 - DJI's $199 Neo Drone - Will Drones be EVERYWHERE? | GoPro HERO13 Black | RED Slashes KOMODO Prices | Blazar Remus 50, 85 & 125mm Anamorphics
In this episode, Nino and Johnnie start with exciting news from DJI, highlighting their new ultra-compact DJI Neo drone that can take off right from the palm…
Focus Checkep27 - Does sensor size still matter? | Wildlife doc on the LUMIX G9 II | New Sony Pro Camcorders | DaVinci Resolve 19 Beta 6 Released and more…
In this episode, Nino and Johnnie dive into the hot topic of whether sensor sizes still matter with today's camera technology. They also explore the exciting…
Focus Checkep26 - What's the camera of the future? Special Guest: Victor Ha from FUJIFILM
In this episode, we welcome an extraordinary guest, Victor Ha from FUJIFILM, who joins us for an intriguing discussion about the future of cameras. They…
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ep25 - Are You Afraid of AI in Filmmaking? With Mascha Deikova
In this episode, Johnnie talks to Mascha Deikova about the rapid development of AI and its potential impact on the filmmaking industry. Mascha is a filmmaker…