Focus Check

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 with Johnnie, Ron opens up about his early years, his love for cinematography, and how financial pressure during his wife’s medical school years sparked the creation of Simmod Lens. Now, he’s not just modifying vintage lenses—he’s building his...

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 close to high-end cinema cameras when it comes to dynamic range. Plus, Sony just dropped a new camera, joining the growing trend of lifestyle-focused cameras alongside brands like FUJIFILM and SIGMA. We’re also taking a look at some exciting n...

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 and discusses some of the most interesting suggestions and ideas shared by our listeners. Of course, we also cover this week’s gear announcements—including DJI’s new Power Stations and the Saramonic TC-Neo timecode box. Tune in to find out...

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 example—two tech giants, Sony and Apple, developed custom cameras specifically for capturing the extreme conditions of Formula 1 racing, with cars reaching speeds of up to 375 km/h. This week, we take a closer look at what it takes to shoot...

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 CineD Camera Bag. We’re sharing the journey behind the project and exploring what's possible. Plus, there are a few new camera updates, a fresh lens release, and some new tripods worth talking about. As always, tune in and stick around until t...

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 trade show hosted by B&H. Now in its second year, the event is quickly gaining recognition across the filmmaking community. But that’s not all—this episode is packed with topics! We dive into the impressive results of the Canon EOS R1 lab t...

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, Stowaway) for a rich and thoughtful conversation. Set against the cinematic backdrop of the Universal Studios lot, the two dive deep into the current state of lens technology, digital cinematography, and the importance of preserving the emotional...

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 boundaries of immersive storytelling from the very beginning. Their latest project, “D-Day: The Camera Soldier”, is a groundbreaking documentary created specifically for the Apple Vision Pro. It blends historical footage with interactive an...

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 has already spent some time with the camera, produced a short documentary, and shares insights on what worked for him and what didn’t. Additionally, we cover new updates on the latest version of Google’s AI video generator, Neo, along with...

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 Johnnie and Nino as they dive into what makes this mysterious new camera stand out, and as always, catch up on the latest gear updates and industry news from the week. Tune in and enjoy the episode!   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by F...

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 into Panasonic’s LUMIX S1II and S1IIE, covering ProRes RAW, a stacked sensor, and CineD’s lab test results. Brought to you by CineD.com – your source for filmmaking tech news, reviews, and education. Tune in and get all the details! Sponsor:...

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 their productions. Do people tend to crop into horizontal videos, or are they flipping the cameras to shoot dedicated vertical shots? What needs to be considered when shooting vertical? We dive into this topic and, of course, bring you the usua...

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 updates on lights, lenses, and cameras. Tune in and stay until the end—you won’t want to miss it! Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by FUJIFILM. Check it out at (27:14) Chapters & Articles Mentioned in This Episode: (00:00) -  Intro (01:40) -...

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 step is tough. So, we picked up the glove. In this week’s Focus Check episode, Johnnie invites you into his home kitchen sharing three quick and easy healthy recipes for you to enjoy. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by FUJIFILM. Check it ou...

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 week’s episode of FocusCheck for all the highlights and key updates. From cameras and lenses to lighting and software, we’ve got everything covered in one easy-to-digest episode. Enjoy! Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by FUJIFILM. Check...

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 discuss the different approaches of camera manufacturers and wonder if a new platform for narrative video content might be just around the corner. Stick around until the end and enjoy!   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by FUJIFILM . Chec...

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, Sundance, and MZed. Together, they dive deep into what it really takes to become a visual storyteller in today’s rapidly changing film industry. Can cinematography truly be taught? Is film school still worth the cost? Why do we obsess over gear...

Major camera announcements from leading manufacturers Sony and Canon happened this week - the Sony VENICE Extension System Mini as well as the Canon Powershot V1 and R50 V. In addition to that, we talk about Johnnie's experience transforming the FUJIFILM GFX100RF into an anamorphic camera via adapter. We're also diving into a wide range of topics, including the creator economy vs. Hollywood, the i...

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 trend of lifestyle cameras. Join the conversation to discover all the details about this new camera and other industry updates this week!   Chapters & Articles Mentioned in This Episode: (00:00) - Intro & Overview (01:04) - FUJIFILM GF...

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 compete with professional DSLM cameras? Find out the answers to these questions by hitting play and tuning in to this week's conversation between Nino and Johnnie as they discuss the latest industry updates. Enjoy! Sponsor: This episode is spon...

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 alongside Director of Photography Christian Berger, Jakob co-developed the innovative CRLS – Cine Reflectors – introduced in 2017. This groundbreaking approach to lighting emphasizes the use of reflected light to create naturalistic moods,...

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 from Panasonic and a particularly special one from Sigma. Join us as we dive into the rolling shutter performance of the Panasonic S1R II and get exclusive updates from CP+ in Japan, where Johnnie shares the latest on FUJIFILM Eterna. Stay t...

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 acquisition of RED, and now, a year later, we’re finally seeing the first results of that deal. Join Nino and Johnnie as they dive into what this means for filmmakers and explore which lenses are now adaptable to the new Z-Mount RED cameras....

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 our cine tech podcast to stay up to date with the latest happenings in our industry. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by FUJIFILM. Check it out at (28:10) Chapters & articles mentioned in this episode: (00:00) - Intro & Overview (06...

It seems that several manufacturers are finding creative ways to reduce prices for their cameras. Following ARRI’s announcement last week, Blackmagic has now announced a price reduction for the URSA Cine 12K to $7,000. Given the strong engagement from the CineD community in the comments on ARRI’s announcement, it’s worth discussing and sharing different perspectives on cameras and the high-end cin...