Top 3 Trends at NAB 2019 Set to Influence Filmmaking

Get ready for the future of filmmaking! NAB 2019 showcased some exciting new trends that are sure to shape the industry in the coming year. While there weren’t many new cameras on display, other technologies took center stage. Let’s take a closer look at three big trends that caught our attention.

First up, LED Fresnels. Last year, everyone was jumping on the RGB LED bandwagon, but this year it was all about high-output LEDs. Chip-on-Board LEDs are getting brighter and cheaper, and LED Fresnels are approaching the power of HMIs. Intellytech released the Light Canon Pro, a 400W Fresnel that meters at 120,000 lux at 3 feet. And Aputure refreshed their line of daylight Fresnels with brighter, cheaper versions of the 120D and 300D. The Mole Richardson 20K was the largest LED at NAB, a 3000W LED that meters at 64,000 lux from 10 feet. With this kind of brightness and output, the days of hot lights and generators on set could be numbered.

The second big trend was large-format camera sensors. The Alexa Mini LF was the talk of the show, but Canon, Panasonic, and others all have large-format versions of their cameras waiting in the wings. Because cameras are so integrated now, changing the size of the sensor means changing many other things. But fear not, there were plenty of new and existing companies releasing large-format-compatible lenses, a new large-format-compatible battery standard, the B-Mount from Bebob, and new storage devices that can handle these faster bit rates.

Last but not least, device integration. The days of the camera system hidden under a mess of cables and third-party devices may be coming to an end. RED started this trend a few years ago with the Xenomorph camera for David Fincher, which incorporated a sensor, screen, wireless video, wireless audio, timecode, follow focus, and a battery mount all in one unit. Now we’re seeing technology becoming available to the mainstream. Industry leaders like ARRI are producing cameras with built-in wireless transmission and focus systems. Companies like VITEC are acquiring multiple brands and integrating them. VITEC owns both SmallHD and Teradek, and they announced a wireless follow focus system that plugs into the wireless video transmitter, transmitter lens, and focus data, along with the camera image, so that a SmallHD monitor can display focus data from the follow focus.

Exciting times are ahead for filmmakers! Keep an eye out for new gear announced at Cine Gear in just five weeks. And if you’re looking for more articles on filmmaking and video production, be sure to check out our other pieces.