Focus Check

Imagine putting on a headset and seven minutes later feeling like you have actually flown a light aircraft over the Grand Canyon. That is the pitch behind the Cirrus app for Apple Vision Pro, and it might be the most convincing case yet for Apple Immersive Video as a commercial format. This week's Focus Check is a special one – not a news episode, but a long-form interview. Nino talks to Anthony Bottini, Director of Media at Cirrus Aircraft, who had to sell this project internally, and to John "JR" Racine of Rogue Labs, who shot and finished it. Five days over the Arizona desert, three Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive cameras, the Top Gun: Maverick aerial team, 25 to 30 terabytes for two hours of footage – and people taking the headset off in tears.

 

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

 

(00:00:00) Cold open: flying the Grand Canyon in a headset

(00:01:06) Why Cirrus built an Apple Vision Pro app

(00:01:51) Meet John "JR" Racine (Rogue Labs) and Anthony Bottini (Cirrus)

(00:03:40) Selling immersive internally: Vision Pros for the global sales team

(00:06:10) Five days in the desert: Page, Arizona and the weather

(00:06:28) Who did what: Cirrus, Rogue Labs, Blackmagic and XBrand

(00:07:59) The weather day that snow-dusted the Grand Canyon

(00:09:11) Air-to-air with a fixed 180° lens

(00:09:30) Kevin LaRosa, Michael FitzMaurice and the Piper Aerostar camera ship

(00:11:23) Rigging and vibration: why nothing was stabilised in post

(00:12:11) Why the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive made this possible

(00:13:17) The limits of the medium: shooting inside a cockpit

(00:15:30) One BRAW file per shot: the DaVinci Resolve workflow

(00:16:16) Fixed focus from the factory

(00:17:40) Lens borrowing: winning back 5 to 10 degrees of field of view

(00:19:15) Directing the viewer's gaze

(00:21:05) 16K, 25 to 30 terabytes and the post pipeline

(00:22:33) From a December shoot to a January demo

(00:23:32) "A good spatial edit is 50% of the experience"

(00:26:52) Measuring success without a big installed base

(00:29:35) "I've seen people cry" and the 100% scale aircraft models

(00:32:13) One-off, or the start of an immersive programme?

(00:34:54) Outro

Artlist sold a year of unlimited AI video generation with Seedance 2.5 for $500, paid up front. Days later, it was gone. This is not a company blindsided by success – this is a company that knew exactly what was going to happen and did it anyway. Our recommendation: do not give Artlist your money up front, because they cannot be trusted. And that wasn't even the week's biggest shakeup. YouTube just moved the goalposts for every creator on the platform: from August 24, a view registers from the moment playback starts – first frame, no minimum watch time. Drones are about to get 25% more expensive in the US, and Kodak just posted its best numbers in years on film stock.

 

This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland. Check it out at (00:15:55)

Learn more: http://cined.co/VRLOCb

 

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:25) YouTube Changes How Views Are Counted – No Minimum Watch Time, All Formats, From August 24 https://www.cined.com/youtube-changes-how-views-are-counted-no-minimum-watch-time-all-formats-from-august-24/

(00:08:16) YouTube Makes Monetization Harder – New Partner Program Rules Explained https://www.cined.com/youtube-makes-monetization-harder-new-partner-program-rules-explained/

(00:16:45) Nikon ZR Owners Are Still Waiting – Where Is the Big Firmware Update? https://www.cined.com/nikon-zr-owners-are-still-waiting-where-is-the-big-firmware-update/

(00:23:08) US Drone Tariffs Hit on September 3 – 25% More Expensive, and DJI Is Still Banned https://www.cined.com/us-drone-tariffs-hit-on-september-3-25-more-expensive-and-dji-is-still-banned/

(00:29:20) Artlist Sold a Year of Unlimited Seedance 2.5 for $500 and Delivered a Week https://www.cined.com/artlist-sold-a-year-of-unlimited-seedance-2-5-for-500-and-delivered-a-week/

(00:37:22) HONOR Robot Phone Launches – ARRI LogC3, Wide Gamut 3, and a Motorized Titanium Gimbal Camera https://www.cined.com/honor-robot-phone-launches-arri-logc3-wide-gamut-3-and-a-motorized-titanium-gimbal-camera/

(00:41:55) RocXZoom Heading to Kickstarter – Robotic 50x Zoom Camera With AI Subject Tracking From Ex-DJI Engineers https://www.cined.com/rocxzoom-heading-to-kickstarter-robotic-50x-zoom-camera-with-ai-subject-tracking-from-ex-dji-engineers/

(00:46:40) Sony and TSMC Definitive Sensor Deal Signed – 747 Billion Yen, New Kumamoto Fab, and Volume Production in 2029 https://www.cined.com/sony-and-tsmc-definitive-sensor-deal-signed-747-billion-yen-new-kumamoto-fab-and-volume-production-in-2029/

(00:52:45) Kodak Posts a Fourth Straight Quarter of Growth – And Film Is Doing the Heavy Lifting https://www.cined.com/kodak-posts-a-fourth-straight-quarter-of-growth-and-film-is-doing-the-heavy-lifting/

(00:56:50) Fränk Film Processor – Develop Super 8, Double 8, and 16mm at Home https://www.cined.com/frank-film-processor-develop-super-8-double-8-and-16mm-at-home/

(01:00:51) Your Mac Can Finally Make DCP Delivery Drives – INT DCP Baker Costs Just $20 https://www.cined.com/your-mac-can-finally-make-dcp-delivery-drives-int-dcp-baker-costs-just-20/

(01:04:50) amaran Mic Released – 30mm Dynamic Capsule, On-Board AI Noise Reduction, and 2.4GHz Wireless https://www.cined.com/amaran-mic-released-30mm-dynamic-capsule-on-board-ai-noise-reduction-and-2-4ghz-wireless/

(01:07:51) FAMILIARITÉ – Isabelle Huppert Stars in a Short Film Shot Entirely on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P https://www.cined.com/familiarite-isabelle-huppert-stars-in-a-short-film-shot-entirely-on-the-dji-osmo-pocket-4p/

(01:10:17) Steadicam Elite Announced – For Hybrid Cinema and Live-Production Work https://www.cined.com/steadicam-elite-announced-for-hybrid-cinema-and-live-production-work/

(01:11:43) Point-of-View Perspective in Film – Controlling Tension, Immersion, and Empathy https://www.cined.com/point-of-view-perspective-in-film-controlling-tension-immersion-and-empathy/

 

Let us know what you think in the comments below or on YouTube, and email us at podcast@cined.com if there is something you want us to discuss on the show. Don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcasting platform – Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

For almost two decades, one patent decided which cameras could record RAW internally. This week it fell in Japan – and the company that brought it down is the last one you'd guess. On top of that, every major camera manufacturer reported numbers within days of each other: FUJIFILM's Imaging Division is now the group's biggest earner, Panasonic posted its best quarter in 41 years without any help from cameras, and GoPro is down to $27 million in cash while it looks for a buyer. Winners, losers, and a power shift nobody saw coming.

 

This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland. Check it out at (00:12:47): http://cined.co/VRLOCb

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

 

(00:00:00) Intro

 

(00:01:58) CIPA First-Half 2026 Numbers – Compact Cameras Keep Booming While the Market Shifts to Pricier Gear https://www.cined.com/cipa-first-half-2026-numbers-compact-cameras-keep-booming-while-the-market-shifts-to-pricier-gear/

 

(00:13:36) Canon's Cameras Are Printing Money Again – And Compacts Are Leading the Charge https://www.cined.com/canons-cameras-are-printing-money-again-and-compacts-are-leading-the-charge/

 

(00:18:10) FUJIFILM Cameras Are Selling Like Never Before – Imaging Is Now the Group's Biggest Earner https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-cameras-are-selling-like-never-before-imaging-is-now-the-groups-biggest-earner/

 

(00:25:00) Nikon Misses the Industry Party – Camera Sales Slip in China While Memory Prices Eat Into Profits https://www.cined.com/nikon-misses-the-industry-party-camera-sales-slip-in-china-while-memory-prices-eat-into-profits/

 

(00:33:34) Panasonic Posted Its Best Quarter in 41 Years – and Cameras Have Nothing to Do With It https://www.cined.com/panasonic-posted-its-best-quarter-in-41-years-and-cameras-have-nothing-to-do-with-it/

 

(00:38:51) Sony's Money Is in the Sensor – Quarterly Numbers, the Tamron Bid, and the Kumamoto Question https://www.cined.com/sony-q1-fy2026-financial-results-image-sensors-shine-outlook-raised-and-tamron-bid-confirmed/

 

(00:46:10) GoPro Says Its Sale Process Is in the Later Stages – Camera Sales Fall 38%, Cash Down to $27 Million https://www.cined.com/gopro-says-its-sale-process-is-in-the-later-stages-camera-sales-fall-38-cash-down-to-27-million/

 

(00:54:35) Videndum H1 2026 Results – Cine Brands Outperform While the Going-Concern Warning Stays https://www.cined.com/videndum-h1-2026-results-cine-brands-outperform-while-the-going-concern-warning-stays/

 

(01:05:44) Sony FX5 IBIS Lock Service Targeted for December – Sony Answers Our Open Questions https://www.cined.com/sony-fx5-ibis-lock-service-targeted-for-december-sony-answers-our-open-questions/

 

(01:14:24) The Drone in Your Kit Could Be Next – US FCC Proposal Targets Thermal and LiDAR Models Already Approved for Sale https://www.cined.com/the-drone-in-your-kit-could-be-next-us-fcc-proposal-targets-thermal-and-lidar-models-already-approved-for-sale/

 

(01:17:44) RED's Compressed RAW Patent Invalidated in Japan – Nikon Loses Defending the Patent It Once Fought https://www.cined.com/reds-compressed-raw-patent-invalidated-in-japan-nikon-loses-defending-the-patent-it-once-fought/

 

(01:24:45) Welcome Back, EVF – We've Missed You! https://www.cined.com/welcome-back-evf-weve-missed-you/

 

(01:31:27) Atlas Mercury Anamorphic Lens Price Drop – New Lower Pricing Across All Nine Focal Lengths https://www.cined.com/atlas-mercury-anamorphic-lens-price-drop-new-lower-pricing-across-all-nine-focal-lengths/

 

(01:34:55) Blackmagic Camera 10.2.2 Released – Cinema Camera 6K Gains Phase-Detect Autofocus, Cloud Streaming, and 10-Minute Pre-Record https://www.cined.com/blackmagic-camera-10-2-2-released-cinema-camera-6k-gains-phase-detect-autofocus-cloud-streaming-and-10-minute-pre-record/

 

(01:37:32) DJI Mic Mini 2S Released – 32-Bit Float Internal Recording, 14.5GB Storage, and Four-Transmitter Support https://www.cined.com/dji-mic-mini-2s-released-32-bit-float-internal-recording-14-5gb-storage-and-four-transmitter-support/

 

(01:43:32) Saramonic K9 XTX Released – Plug-On UHF Transmitter With 32-Bit Float Recording, Timecode, and 48V Phantom Power https://www.cined.com/saramonic-k9-xtx-released-plug-on-uhf-transmitter-with-32-bit-float-recording-timecode-and-48v-phantom-power/

 

(01:45:24) CP+ 2027 Announced – Four Days in Yokohama, Exhibitor Applications Open, and a New Early Bird Plan https://www.cined.com/cp-2027-announced-four-days-in-yokohama-exhibitor-applications-open-and-a-new-early-bird-plan/

 

(01:47:00) Strada 2.0 Now Available – Mounts Remote Storage as a Virtual Drive, and More https://www.cined.com/strada-2-0-now-available-mounts-remote-storage-as-a-virtual-drive-and-more/

 

(01:48:01) HOVERAir VERSA – Pocket Camera Gimbal and Drone in One: Pro Gear or Gimmick? https://www.cined.com/hoverair-versa-pocket-camera-gimbal-and-drone-in-one-pro-gear-or-gimmick/

 

(01:50:58) Brevidy for Adobe Premiere Pro – AI Captions, Automatic Social Clips, and Vertical Reframing in One Panel https://www.cined.com/brevidy-for-adobe-premiere-pro-ai-captions-automatic-social-clips-and-vertical-reframing-in-one-panel/

 

(01:53:32) Unlocking Performance – Actor-Director Collaboration, Uncanny Choices, and On-Set Immersion https://www.cined.com/unlocking-performance-actor-director-collaboration-uncanny-choices-and-on-set-immersion/

 

Leave a comment on the CineD article for this podcast or on the YouTube video, or email us at podcast@cined.com.

Sony is warning that FX5 orders have outstripped its own expectations, and at the same time the company has put a non-binding offer on the table to buy Tamron outright. We extensively cover the FX5, and also talk about the FCC pressure on XTRA in the US, a major Nexus G1 update, Christopher Nolan's fully analogue IMAX production of The Odyssey, and a long run of lens, accessory and software releases.

This episode is sponsored by Hollyland at (29:29)
► Check out the Pyro S wireless video transmitter: http://cined.co/nImvmn

Chapters & Articles Mentioned in This Episode:

(00:00) Intro

(01:48) Sony warns of possible delivery delays as Sony FX5 orders far exceed expectations

https://www.cined.com/sony-warns-of-possible-delivery-delays-as-sony-fx5-orders-far-exceed-expectations/

(09:01) Poll: Sony FX5 – which missing feature do you want most?

https://www.cined.com/poll-sony-fx5-which-missing-feature-do-you-want-most/

(20:18) Sony FX5 interview – firmware V2 timing confirmed, anamorphic limitations, and Cinema Line strategy

https://www.cined.com/sony-fx5-interview-firmware-v2-timing-confirmed-anamorphic-limitations-and-cinema-line-strategy/

(30:21) Sony proposes to acquire lens maker Tamron – what a takeover could mean for the lens market

https://www.cined.com/sony-proposes-to-acquire-lens-maker-tamron-what-a-takeover-could-mean-for-the-lens-market/

(40:03) XTRA Muse 2 Pro pre-orders paused in the US – full refunds issued as FCC scrutiny intensifies

https://www.cined.com/xtra-muse-2-pro-pre-orders-paused-in-the-us-full-refunds-issued-as-fcc-scrutiny-intensifies/

(45:48) Nexus G1 update – CINAF autofocus for any lens, U-Mount now standard, production nears final stretch

https://www.cined.com/nexus-g1-update-cinaf-autofocus-for-any-lens-u-mount-now-standard-production-nears-final-stretch/

(54:48) How Christopher Nolan shot The Odyssey entirely on IMAX film – inside the new Keighley camera

https://www.cined.com/how-christopher-nolan-shot-the-odyssey-entirely-on-imax-film-inside-the-new-keighley-camera/

(01:02:54) Does film have a future? A Kodak factory tour documentary about film, shot on film

https://www.cined.com/does-film-have-a-future-a-kodak-factory-tour-documentary-about-film-shot-on-film/

(01:06:27) DaVinci Resolve 21.0.3 released – keyframe ease actions, interlaced fixes, and Sony BURANO X-OCN decode fix

https://www.cined.com/davinci-resolve-21-0-3-released-keyframe-ease-actions-interlaced-fixes-and-sony-burano-x-ocn-decode-fix/

(01:07:26) Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini 12G family released – Thunderbolt 4 capture and playback, 12G-SDI fill and key, DaVinci Resolve replay

https://www.cined.com/blackmagic-ultrastudio-mini-12g-family-released-thunderbolt-4-capture-and-playback-12g-sdi-fill-and-key-davinci-resolve-replay/

(01:09:11) Cooke SP3 and AP3 lenses now available for Nikon Z mount

https://www.cined.com/cooke-sp3-and-ap3-lenses-now-available-for-nikon-z-mount/

(01:10:27) Simmod 4-in-1 ARRI PL lens adapter with interchangeable mount released

https://www.cined.com/simmod-4-in-1-arri-pl-lens-adapter-with-interchangeable-mount-released/

(01:13:08) CINELUX REDUXA A1 focal reducer for ARRI ALEXA Classic/XT/SXT teased

https://www.cined.com/cinelux-reduxa-a1-focal-reducer-for-arri-alexa-classic-xt-sxt-teased/

(01:15:18) Megadap M2RF Leica M to Canon RF autofocus adapter released

https://www.cined.com/megadap-m2rf-leica-m-to-canon-rf-autofocus-adapter-released/

(01:18:19) SmallRig HawkLock cage and accessories for Sony FX5 announced

https://www.cined.com/smallrig-hawklock-cage-and-accessories-for-sony-fx5-announced/

(01:19:01) Tilta full camera cage for Sony FX5 announced

https://www.cined.com/tilta-full-camera-cage-for-sony-fx5-announced/

(01:20:24) MID49 previews a modular support and power system for the Sony FX5

https://www.cined.com/mid49-previews-a-modular-support-and-power-system-for-the-sony-fx5/

(01:22:10) MID49 Baseline 15mm LW baseplate released for Pixboom Spark

https://www.cined.com/mid49-baseline-15mm-lw-baseplate-released-for-pixboom-spark/

(01:23:51) Native Premiere Pro masking and overlapping performances in Resolve – AI masking course update on MZed

https://www.cined.com/native-premiere-pro-masking-and-overlapping-performances-in-resolve-ai-masking-course-update-on-mzed/

(01:25:53) The philosophy of shooting with available light

https://www.cined.com/the-philosophy-of-shooting-with-available-light/

 

Email us at podcast@cined.com. New episodes every Thursday.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P just did something no camera has done in more than 70 CineD lab tests. Nino Leitner sits down with Gunther Machu to go through the full lab results for both new gimbal cameras – the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P with its new LOFIC sensor, and the Insta360 Luna Ultra. One of them delivered the highest dynamic range figure we have ever measured. The other delivered the lowest exposure latitude result in our database. Both lab tests are live on CineD now.

► Read more: https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4-pro-beats-the-arri-alexa-35-in-our-lab-while-the-insta360-luna-ultra-fails-focus-check-ep127/

► DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Lab Test: https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

► Insta360 Luna Ultra Lab Test: https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

 

Chapters & Articles Mentioned in This Episode:

 

(00:00) Intro: a lab test result we have never seen before

(01:03) Welcome and why this episode is different

(02:42) Why we never lab tested fixed-lens cameras before

(06:27) DJI vs. Insta360 – the rivalry

(09:08) LOFIC explained: lateral overflow integration capacitor

(13:36) DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: dynamic range results

https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

(22:32) DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: rolling shutter

https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

(24:54) DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: exposure latitude

https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

 

(33:26) Sponsor: Hollyland Lark A1

https://www.hollyland.com/product/lark-a1

 

(34:30) DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: the 60mm mid tele camera

(38:07) Insta360 Luna Ultra: dynamic range and aggressive noise reduction

(43:12) Insta360 Luna Ultra: exposure latitude

(48:17) The Luna Ultra tele camera and the 8K exception

(51:08) Price comparison and the odd launch timing

(54:34) Summary: which one should you buy?

(55:41) Outlook: LOFIC in more cameras and smartphones

 

This episode is brought to you by Hollyland and the Lark A1 wireless microphone, starting under 70 USD:

https://www.hollyland.com/product/lark-a1

 

Let us know what you think — email us at podcast@cined.com