Chater Camera Inc

Arri Mini LF’s lining up to go to work.

New in Rentals - The Canon C70 is our first new camera of 2021. Don’t mistake it for a puffed up DSLR, this is a S35mm compact reconfigured C300 MkIII. The first Canon video camera with a RF mount. With a short 20mm flange depth it can be adapted to most lens mounts PL, LPL, EF, Nikon, Olympus, Leica, etc etc ( except Sony E-Mount ). Internal image stabilization works with all lenses. Other notable features: Internal ND 10stops, Dual Pixel Auto Focus, 4K @ 120fps, Anamorphic 2x, 1.3x Desqueeze. So feel free to shoot anamorphic, image stabilized at 120fps.

First new lens of 2021! The Blackwing7 T-Tuned 107mm T1.8, cf 2’6 Our set is now at 6 lenses - 27mm, 37mm, 47mm, 57mm, 77mm, 107mm. It checked in perfectly and is ready to work.

New in rentals: Zero Optik Canon FD 28mm T2.2 S.S.C. The 28mm is consistent with all our other Canon FD lenses in the set. 1970’s era warm tones, red flares, full frame coverage and a 16 blade circular iris for consistent shaped bokeh at every stop. #chatercamera #canonfd #zerooptik ... #zerooptikcanonfd #fullframe See more

New in rentals: Sony PVM-X2400 Trimaster 4K HDR monitor. Sony’s first affordable 24 4K HDR 1000nits field production monitor. Its stunning to see what most cameras can look like when you enable 4K, HDR and Rec2020 colorspace. The cameras have been capable for years. It’s just never been convenient or affordable to monitor on set. The PVM-X2400 can also work as superb 4K monitor to match your existing Rec709 monitors. Or as a hi resolution Quad View monitor.... If you have any questions about 4K HDR monitoring feel free to contact us.

We have around 50 lenses that are enabled with Cooke i/3 and Zeiss eXtended Data software. So we set up a lens production line every time a new software update is released. Zeiss released v1.71 which increases the data communication with the Sony Venice. Enabling the camera to see and record dynamic lenses parameters like focus and iris positions, but also lens distortion and shading characteristics for visual FX. Available on the Zeiss Supreme Primes and CP3 lenses.

Our new air purifier filter going in. Trap and zap. If you are looking for a great local HVAC company we highly recommend the good people at Compare Heating & Air.

New in Rentals -Fresh off a plane from London, the Blackwing7 47mm and 57mm primes have arrived. The set is building as fast as we can get them.

1st AC Jeremy Wong ....as always, on point and in the zone.

Need a super fast way to see the equivalent field of view between Super 16mm, Super 35mm and Full Frame lenses? We've made a cheat sheet reminiscent of the Cinematography Electronics Flicker Free laminates all AC's and DP's had in their back pockets and front boxes in the 90's. Upload it to your mobile device and have it handy whenever you need it. https://www.chatercamera.com//Camera%20Lens%20Format%20Foc

Time for a lens sticker logo refresh.

Eyedirect Monitor Hack Interrotron style video conference interviews are the new thing and we get asked a lot about using iPads in the Eyedirect. It's easily done but functionally frustrating. Especially if you have to keep accessing the iPad to deal with technical, wifi issues etc. Here is a simple hack we came up with. Mount a SDI/HDMI monitor to the Eyedirect and use a laptop to feed it as a second screen. It's important to have the right size of monitor for image size an...d centering. The laptop allows you to address any technical issues without having to access the Eyedirect. In addition to helping with social distancing, using the laptop webcam creates an improvised hardwired portable interrotron system or even a teleprompter. ps: Our interviewer model Jesse is a New Yorker. He interviews with his hands!

The Tribe7 37mm and 77mm Blackwing7 lenses have arrived. If you aren’t familiar with these full frame lenses its worth a visit to the blackwing7.com website. The inspiration for these lenses is discussed in detail. With all the trade shows cancelled, this is the first time we have seen the lenses and we couldn’t be happier. The cam driven build by IB/E Optics is superb. The weight and size is just right for working on lighter rigs like gimbals.... Tribe 7 acknowledge the inspiration of vintage lenses from the 1930 -60s. The softness to the focus fall off and the way the lenses flare is unlike any modern lens. Yet at wide open on the iris there is no significant loss of contrast or sharpness that you find on many vintage lenses. These are unlike any other lenses we offer.

Here is a simple distancing solution for operating a tripod mounted camera. The DJI Ronin 2 or Movi Pro both have wireless pan/ tilt options. But to get the reliability of hardwired pan/ tilt solution the DJI Master Wheels works very well. It can function cabled up to 30m. Go freestyle, record repeat moves and control run/ stop. The Ronin 2 can handle camera weights up to 30lbs.

Camera Control - Hardwired Ethernet 100ft+ It used to be cameras were released with an optional hardwired RCU Paintbox. In addition to paint controls they allowed control of run/ stop, playback and many camera menu controls. Most cameras now have remote control over wifi. But what if wifi won’t work for your situation? With social distancing protocols maybe you don’t have access to the camera and you want the reliability of a cabled connection? Using 100ft+ hardwired ethern...et you can control run/stop, playback and many essential camera controls. We have tested and created set up guides for Arri Alexa, Alexa Mini and Mini LF and the Sony Venice camera controls. They can be found on our website in the ‘Tech Notes’ section. https://www.chatercamera.com//hardwired-remote-control-arr Note: The Arri cameras require the Arri 10-pin LEMO to RJ45 Ethernet Connector cable K2.72021.0 . We have these available.

100ft Preston and Arri Control Cables During the lockdown we have been trying to anticipate some of the challenges facing camera crews as they get back to work. One of the biggest initial challenges will be distancing on set. We will be posting tech solutions that crews can use to help make their work easier. The Preston FIZ and Arri WCU-4 wireless controllers have serial ports which can be hardwired to work over very long distances. The control/command cable allows control o...f focus, iris, zoom and camera run/stop without the risk of wireless interference. These will be very useful if crews have to work over long distances or separate rooms where access to the camera might be restricted. So we have built 100ft control cables just in case you need them. Preston FIZ cable works with MDR-3 and the WCU-4 works with the AMC-1. These solutions will work with pretty much every current camera: Arri, Sony, Canon and Red.

New in Rentals - Zeiss Supreme 150mm T1.8. This stunning new full frame lens has just been released. This takes our set up to 10 lenses, with more coming very soon.

The wonderful Ashley Valenzuela 1st AC prepping a Sony Venice and Fujinon Premista zoom. Captured in full frame with the 135mm P+S Technik Kowa Evolution 2x. A newly engineered 2x anamorphic lens with the Kowa look.