Focus Check

This week’s episode dives into Apple’s newly announced Creator Studio – now offered as a subscription model. Johnnie and Nino also take a closer look at the rise and fall of Vimeo, discussing what changed over the years on this once filmmaker-focused platform. Plus, FUJIFILM has announced a… let’s say, very unique cinema camera. So don’t miss out on the latest updates from the world of cine tech!...

This week on CineD Focus Check, CineD's Nino Leitner sits down with cinematographer Oren Soffer, co-cinematographer on Gareth Edwards’ The Creator—the $70M sci-fi feature that sparked industry conversation for its minimal, agile approach to big-scale filmmaking. But this episode is not about camera specs. It’s an honest, wide-ranging discussion about generative AI and what it’s doing to culture, t...

In this episode, we break down all the camera lab tests of 2025 and give you a clear overview of which cameras stood out — and which ones fell a bit short. Nino and Gunther go through all seven cameras we tested, sharing key insights, surprises, and takeaways from this year’s results. Hit play and join us for a deep dive into the cameras that shaped 2025. Chapters and Articles in This Episode (00:...

In this special episode of the CineD FocusCheck Podcast, host Nino welcomes back filmmaker, educator, and author Tal Lazar for a wide-ranging conversation about what cinematography really is — and what it needs to become in an age of rapidly evolving technology. Tal’s new book, Cinematography: Beyond Technique, challenges a long-standing assumption in filmmaking: that mastering cameras, lenses, an...

For this week's episode on the CineD Focus Check podcast, Nino speaks with special guests Timothy and Thomas Boland from Nexus Camera about how the Nexus G1 came to life — and what it’s trying to solve for solo operators and small crews. They share their background in industrial design and filmmaking, why rigging and workflow friction pushed them toward building their own camera, and how they appr...

As many of you have probably heard, two giants in Hollywood are now competing to merge with one another. Netflix is attempting to acquire Warner Bros., while Paramount has also submitted its own bid for the company. But what does this actually mean, especially for filmmakers? Nino and Johnnie break it down in detail in this episode, along with a range of other compelling topics.   Chapters and Art...

As the year slowly comes to an end, so do the camera releases—but there was one last long-awaited announcement that just hit the market. Sony has officially unveiled the newest successor in the Alpha 7 series: the Sony A7 Mark V. Nino and Johnnie take a closer look at this newly announced camera, and alongside the news, they dive into a discussion about what might become the Camera of the Year 202...

Exciting news at the CineD Newsroom! This week, we’re talking about some rare, once-a-year offers on our MZed platform, and Nino and Johnnie share why now is the perfect time to grab an MZed subscription. We also take a look at the latest updates on the Nexus G1, including new sample footage. Another big topic in this episode is LUMIX: the company has just released firmware updates claiming to add...

This week, another DJI product has landed in the studio — the brand-new DJI Osmo Action 6. Johnnie joins us live from Inter BEE in Japan, sharing his first impressions from the show and what's new on the ground. Meanwhile, there are fresh updates from ARRI and ASUS, and Nino dives into the results of a recently released IMAGO study that sparked some interesting conversations. So hit that play butt...

In this week’s episode, there's a lot to talk about! DJI just released the successor to its smallest drone – the DJI Neo 2. But the excitement is mixed with concern, as there's growing talk about a potential DJI ban in the US. Join the discussion to hear all the details and what this could mean for filmmakers. Meanwhile, Johnnie gives us a first look at the brand-new lens series from SIRUI and div...

In this episode, Johnnie talks with filmmaker and lens creator Peppe Badalamenti, joining from Guatemala. Peppe has built something very personal: a small lens brand shaped by his own journey, his heritage, and his love for cinema. What makes his work special isn’t just the image, but the intention. Every lens he produces supports real people and real stories — from care homes in his community to...

This week’s episode is hosted by Nino, as Johnnie is currently in LA attending the Adobe MAX conference. Nino gives us a preview of what’s being announced there, along with updates from Vimeo and yet another wake-up call for Hollywood, as the numbers continue to decline. We’re also covering new gear updates from Tilta, SWIT, and FilmConvert. So, as always, hit that play button and enjoy your weekl...

A week full of reviews! In this episode of Focus Check, we dive into some long-awaited camera and gear reviews. Johnnie shares his hands-on experience with the Nikon ZR, a camera he’s been testing extensively over the past few weeks, and we cover our review of the Pixboom camera. Plus, we finally published the Lab Test for the ZR, revealing some interesting details about its RAW handling capabilit...

In this week’s episode, we’re asking: Is internal RAW recording in cameras a real necessity or just hype? We also take a closer look at K&F’s newly released tripod and cover some of the latest gear updates from the week. As always, tune in for your weekly dose of cine tech news and insights!   Chapters and Articles in This Episode (00:00) – Intro (02:49) - Camera Internal RAW Recording for Vid...

Another week, another podcast episode! This week, we’re diving deep into an intensive review of the Tilta Nucleus-M II, a wireless follow focus system, and tackling the never-ending and often divisive topic of AI for filmmakers. Nino and Johnnie discuss the new MZed Ethical AI Video Course, what it’s all about, and why now is the perfect time to start learning how to use these powerful tools respo...

This week’s episode covers a wide range of topics. First, we dive into Nino’s recent review of the Hohem iSteady Gimbal, followed by Johnnie’s go-to mobile editing setup, where he explains why it’s such a practical choice for creators on the move. We also discuss the latest shifts in the cine tech industry, including the closure of several companies, as well as exciting news about newly released l...

Another week, another new DJI product! This time, DJI has released the brand-new DJI Osmo Nano – a compact, modular action camera that Nino got his hands on right away. He tested it so thoroughly, he almost lost track of time and showed up late to this episode! Alongside new action cameras, we’re also covering the latest Adobe Premiere Pro updates, plus a few lingering highlights from IBC. So, as...

Right after IBC, DJI unveiled a brand-new drone that we got to test in our studio. But that’s not all – IBC 2025 was packed with exciting announcements, and we’ve got plenty to talk about! In this episode, we go through the most important highlights, share what really caught our attention, and reveal the winners of our IBC Best of Show Awards. If you couldn’t make it to the show, this episode is t...

This week isn’t about two new cameras—or even four. We’ve got six brand-new cameras hitting the market, most of them from major manufacturers. It looks like everyone wants to reveal their latest gear just before IBC, which means this year’s show is shaping up to be an exciting one. In this special episode, we dive into all the fresh announcements: new cameras, lenses, and even some software update...

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 setup — and as far as we know, it’s the first anamorphic video podcast setup out there. But that’s not all! With IBC just around the corner, we’re diving into some exciting new gear announcements — from compact action cams to new drones and...

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 fantastic course on MZed that you can check out. But today, it’s all about AI video generation. Yes, AI again — and it’s here to stay! More and more filmmakers and creators are adopting AI as a powerful tool in their workflows, and Drew is at th...

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 perfect opportunity to dive into the results of our recent community poll, where we asked if job opportunities in the industry are shrinking—and why that might be the case. Tune in for the discussion, insights, and of course, the latest gear u...

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 news from Kodak, alongside ARRI's rumored plans to sell their business. We also discuss our new poll, in which we ask whether you think this year has more or less job opportunities than before. Enjoy the conversation and join in! Chapters &am...

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 tech community when ARRI releases an upgrade to their flagship Alexa 35: the new Alexa 35 Xtreme. In this week’s episode, we dive into all the key updates: what exactly is new, how the ARRI Core Codec is evolving, and what that means for fil...

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 the ALEXA 35 Xtreme in time for recording of this podcast. If you want to learn about ARRI's new high-speed beast, check out our detailed article or tune in to next week's episode where we will dive into all the capabilities of their new cam...