Focus Check

In this week's episode of the Focus Check podcast, Nino and Johnnie cover a remarkably packed week of filmmaking news. They dig into the brand-new DJI Avata 360 drone, which arrived at the CineD office literally the day before recording, discuss OpenAI's surprise decision to shut down the Sora app and the collapse of its Disney deal, break down what GoPro's patent case against Insta360 actually resulted in, and touch on the strange state of LA's sound stage market. Along the way, there's new audio gear, anamorphic lenses, firmware updates, autofocus breakthroughs, and some of the biggest business stories in the industry right now.

(00:00) Intro & Overview

(07:27) DJI Avata 360 – First 360° Drone from DJI vs. Antigravity A1
Article coming soon

(26:08) OpenAI Shuts Down Sora as Disney Exits $1 Billion AI Video Deal
https://www.cined.com/openai-shuts-down-sora-as-disney-exits-1-billion-ai-video-deal/

(34:54) GoPro Loses $93.5M and Its Patent Case Against Insta360
https://www.cined.com/gopro-loses-93-5-million-and-its-patent-case-against-insta360-but-bets-everything-on-a-2026-comeback/

(40:44) LA Is Building More Stages Than Ever – So Why Are They Empty?
https://www.cined.com/la-is-building-more-stages-than-ever-so-why-are-they-empty-filmla-sound-stage-report/

(44:59) CineD Best-of-Show Awards at NAB 2026 – Submissions Open!
https://www.cined.com/cined-best-of-show-awards-at-nab-2026-manufacturers-submit-your-product-now/

(48:34) Saramonic Air SE – 5g Wireless Mic with AI Noise Cancellation Under $50
https://www.cined.com/saramonic-air-se-wireless-microphone-introduced-5-grams-ai-noise-cancellation-starting-at-under-50/

(54:30) DSC Labs Revived Under New Ownership, Relocates to LA
https://www.cined.com/dsc-labs-revived-under-new-ownership-relocates-to-los-angeles/

(56:38) DZOFILM Arcana 1.5X Anamorphic T2.1 Full-Frame Lenses Introduced
https://www.cined.com/dzofilm-arcana-1-5x-anamorphic-t2-1-full-frame-lenses-introduced-pre-orders-now-open/

(01:01:29) Alister Chapman Breaks Down Sony's Cine EI for Maximum Image Quality
https://www.cined.com/alister-chapman-breaks-down-sonys-cine-ei-to-help-maximise-image-quality-dynamic-range/

(01:03:32) FUJIFILM Focus on Glass Voting Results – XF 16-80mm F2.8 Wins
https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-focus-on-glass-voting-results-xf16-80mmf2-8-wins/

(01:07:07) Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Gets Autofocus – Face Detection & Object Tracking
https://www.cined.com/blackmagic-pyxis-6k-autofocus-introduced-via-new-test-build-face-detection-object-tracking-and-resizable-focus-box/

(01:12:42) Dockcase Selfix – AMOLED Touchscreen for Your iPhone 17 Pro's Rear Camera
https://www.cined.com/your-iphone-17-pros-best-cameras-now-for-selfies-dockcase-selfix-adds-rear-amoled-touchscreen/

(01:19:26) Viltrox NexusFocus F1 Review – Autofocus for PL Lenses
https://www.cined.com/viltrox-nexusfocus-f1-review-autofocus-for-pl-lenses-put-to-the-test/

(01:27:29) Audio-Technica ATV-SG1 & SG1LE On-Camera Shotgun Mics Introduced
https://www.cined.com/audio-technica-atv-sg1-and-atv-sg1le-on-camera-shotgun-microphones-introduced/

(01:32:56) Sony FX6 Firmware 6.00 – BIG6 Interface & External Blackmagic RAW
https://www.cined.com/sony-fx6-firmware-version-6-00-released-big6-interface-external-blackmagic-raw-af-improvements-and-more/

(01:35:09) Nikon Technical Service Advisory for Z6III, Z5II & ZR Cameras
https://www.cined.com/nikon-issues-technical-service-advisory-for-z6iii-z5ii-and-zr-cameras/

(01:37:14) AnamorphicTool – Two OFX Plugins for DaVinci Resolve
https://www.cined.com/anamorphictool-launched-two-ofx-plugins-for-davinci-resolve-fixing-optical-issues-and-adding-anamorphic-lens-characteristics/

(01:40:13) Apple Acquires MotionVFX – What It Means for Final Cut & Competing NLEs
https://www.cined.com/apple-acquires-motionvfx-what-this-could-mean-for-final-cut-pro-creator-studio-and-competing-nles/

(01:44:03) YouTube Is Now the World's Largest Media Company & Home of the Oscars
https://www.cined.com/youtube-is-now-the-worlds-largest-media-company-and-soon-the-home-of-the-oscars/

(01:51:25) Adobe Settles DOJ Lawsuit Over Subscription Cancellation Practices
https://www.cined.com/the-150-million-price-of-cancel-adobe-settles-doj-lawsuit-over-subscription-practices-every-filmmaker-knows-too-well/

📬 Feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Helena, founder of Harlowe (previously Hobolite) and CEO of AEC Lighting Solutions, calling in from her Shanghai office fresh off a trip through Europe. Helena’s story is anything but ordinary: raised in the Chinese countryside, self-taught in art from age five, trained as a mechanical engineer, and now running a globally recognized premium lighting brand with 26 years of manufacturing heritage behind it.

 

To learn more about Harlowe, head on over to their website.

(00:24) - Introduction
(01:08) - What is Harlow? The Brand Story
(04:41) - Helena's Childhood & Falling in Love with Art
(07:46) - Breaking Down the Business: Engineering Meets Design
(08:44) - Women Leading Companies in China
(10:59) - Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry
(12:41) - The Design Philosophy Behind Harlow
(15:12) - Competing Against the Big Players
(17:52) - Behind the Scenes: Where Ideas Come From
(21:35)  - Win-Win Collaborations & Business Model
(22:22) - Patents: Are They Worth It?
(24:40) - Global Tariffs & Running an International Business
(26:59) - The Future of Content Creation & AI
(31:22) - Balancing Family Life as a Single Mom & CEO
(34:33) - Will Her Son Take Over the Business?
(36:02) - Hobbies: Painting, Calligraphy & Neuroscience
(37:02) - Helena Turns the Tables – Questions for Johnnie

 

We hope you enjoyed this episode!
Do you have feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

In this week’s episode of Focus Check, Nino and Johnnie cover a packed week of filmmaking news. The headlines include an in-depth DJI RS 5 review tracing a decade of Ronin evolution, new Blazar Viper 1.5x full-frame anamorphic lenses, Fujifilm’s community-voted X-mount lens concepts, smartphone camera highlights from Mobile World Congress 2026 (Vivo X300 Ultra and TECNO concept devices), a new lesson in the “Ethical AI Video for Filmmakers” course exploring Higgsfield AI, the newly introduced RØDECaster Video Core with long-awaited EDL export for the entire range, GoPro’s new GP3 AI processor, Leica’s US price increase, and the 40th ASC Awards winners with Oscars just around the corner. We have a lot to unpack, so sit back, relax, and tune in!

 

Chapters & Articles:

(00:00) Intro

(05:35) DJI RS 5 Review - A Decade of Ronin Evolution Culminates in the Most Capable Single-Operator Gimbal Yet

https://www.cined.com/dji-rs-5-review-a-decade-of-ronin-evolution-culminates-in-the-most-capable-single-operator-gimbal-yet/

(23:07) Blazar Viper 1.5X Full Frame Anamorphic Lenses Officially Introduced

https://www.cined.com/blazar-viper-1-5x-full-frame-anamorphic-lenses-officially-introduced/

(27:06) FUJIFILM “Focus on Glass – Untold Stories”: 14 X Mount Lens Concepts Revealed, Community Vote Now Open

https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-focus-on-glass-untold-stories-14-x-mount-lens-concepts-revealed-community-vote-now-open/

(36:53) Vivo X300 Ultra Introduces 400mm Zeiss Telephoto Lens Kit

https://www.cined.com/vivo-x300-ultra-introduces-400-mm-zeiss-telephoto-lens-kit/

(42:32) TECNO Showcases Experiential Phone With Over Ten Concept Devices

https://www.cined.com/tecno-showcases-experiential-phone-with-over-ten-concept-devices/

(47:46) Exploring Higgsfield AI - New Lesson in 'Ethical AI Video for Filmmakers' is Live

https://www.cined.com/exploring-higgsfield-ai-new-lesson-in-ethical-ai-video-for-filmmakers-is-live/

(54:01) RØDECaster Video Core Introduced With RØDECaster Sync - EDL Export Comes to the Entire Range

https://www.cined.com/rodecaster-video-core-introduced-with-rodecaster-sync-edl-export-comes-to-the-entire-range/

(01:04:10) GoPro GP3 Processor Unveiled – AI-Powered 5nm Chip to Drive Push Into “Ultra-Premium End of the Imaging Market”

https://www.cined.com/gopro-gp3-processor-unveiled-ai-powered-5nm-chip-to-drive-push-into-ultra-premium-end-of-the-imaging-market/

(01:09:40) Leica US Price Increase Confirmed - M-System Leads the Way, SL3 and SL3-S Bodies Unaffected

https://www.cined.com/leica-us-price-increase-confirmed-m-system-leads-the-way-sl3-and-sl3-s-bodies-unaffected/

(01:12:08) 40th ASC Awards Winners: Michael Bauman Takes Top Prize for One Battle After Another

https://www.cined.com/40th-asc-awards-winners-michael-bauman-takes-top-prize-for-one-battle-after-another/

(01:17:32) Making of Vampires in 'Sinners' - Behind Cinematography and Prosthetics

https://www.cined.com/making-of-vampires-in-sinners-behind-cinematography-and-prosthetics/

 

We hope you enjoyed this episode!
Do you have feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us at [email protected]

Nino and Johnnie reunite after Johnnie's trip to CP+ 2026 in Yokohama. This week's episode is one of the busiest of the year so far — covering Japan's biggest photo show, a candid Panasonic executive interview, an ARRI smartphone partnership nobody saw coming, the new Apple MacBook Pro M5 lineup, Sony a7 V lab results, a raft of Sigma announcements (including rice), a field offloader review, and a microphone switch. Timestamps and links to all articles are below.

(00:00) - Intro

(04:42) - CP+ 2026 – Industry Trends, Highlights, and Everything in Between
 https://www.cined.com/cp-2026-industry-trends-highlights-and-everything-in-between/

(21:20) - Panasonic LUMIX Interview – S1H Successor, Cinema Cameras, MFT Commitment, and More
 https://www.cined.com/panasonic-lumix-interview-s1h-successor-cinema-cameras-mft-commitment-and-more/

(32:19) - Panasonic LUMIX DMW-DMS1 Digital Shotgun Microphone Introduced with Different Pickup Patterns
 https://www.cined.com/panasonic-lumix-dmw-dms1-digital-shotgun-microphone-introduced-with-different-pickup-patterns/

(36:56) - Angelbird on AI, Memory Shortages, the State of Camera Innovation and More
 https://www.cined.com/angelbird-on-ai-memory-shortages-the-state-of-camera-innovation-and-more/

(43:24) - Harlowe Omni 360 2W Introduced – A Dedicated Light for 360 Cameras
 https://www.cined.com/harlowe-omni-360-2w-introduced-a-dedicated-light-for-360-cameras/

(46:16) - Apple MacBook Pro With M5 Pro and M5 Max Announced Alongside New Studio Display and Studio Display XDR
 https://www.cined.com/apple-macbook-pro-with-m5-pro-and-m5-max-announced-alongside-new-studio-display-and-studio-display-xdr/

(57:52) - ARRI and HONOR Announce Strategic Technical Collaboration – ARRI Image Science Comes to Smartphones for the First Time
 https://www.cined.com/arri-and-honor-announce-strategic-technical-collaboration-arri-image-science-comes-to-smartphones-for-the-first-time/

(01:08:25) - ClouZen OFFLOADER 16X Review – Copying Footage With Peace of Mind and Extreme Flexibility
 https://www.cined.com/clouzen-offloader-16x-review-copying-footage-with-peace-of-mind-and-extreme-flexibility/

(01:17:09) - Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art Announced – Smaller, Lighter, and Optically Superior 
https://www.cined.com/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-ii-art-announced-smaller-lighter-and-optically-superior/

(01:19:25) - Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art Development Announced – Completing the F1.2 Portrait Prime Trio
 https://www.cined.com/sigma-85mm-f1-2-dg-art-development-announced-completing-the-f1-2-portrait-prime-trio/

(01:21:48) - Sigma 15mm F/1.4 DC Contemporary APS-C Lens Released
 https://www.cined.com/sigma-15mm-f-1-4-dc-contemporary-aps-c-lens-released/

(01:21:47) - Sigma AF CINE LINE 28–105mm T3 – Full-Frame Autofocus Cine Zoom Launches April 16
 https://www.cined.com/sigma-af-cine-line-28-105mm-t3-full-frame-autofocus-cine-zoom-launches-april-16/

(01:23:25) - Sigma's Latest Product Isn't a Lens, It's … Rice. And That's Genuinely Amazing.
 https://www.cined.com/sigmas-latest-product-isnt-a-lens-its-rice-and-thats-genuinely-amazing/

(01:27:18) - PDMOVIE SMART FUSION Teased – Native Sony E-Mount Smart Adapter Combines Camera AF and LiDAR Autofocus
 https://www.cined.com/pdmovie-smart-fusion-teased-native-sony-e-mount-smart-adapter-combines-camera-af-and-lidar-autofocus/

(01:29:36) - Sony a7 V Lab Test – Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Exposure Latitude
 https://www.cined.com/sony-a7-v-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

(01:32:12) - Hello LEWITT RAY, Goodbye RØDE PodMic — Why We Switched Microphones for the Focus Check Podcast
 https://www.cined.com/hello-lewitt-ray-goodbye-rode-podmic-why-we-switched-microphones-for-the-focus-check-podcast/

(01:37:32) - Atomos Ninja RAW Announced – ProRes RAW Recording, Camera Control, and a 1500-Nit Display for $699
 https://www.cined.com/atomos-ninja-raw-announced-prores-raw-recording-camera-control-and-a-1500-nit-display-for-699/

We hope you enjoyed this episode! You have feedback, comments, or suggestions?
Write us at [email protected]

AI video has gone from novelty to noise — and Jeremy Carrasco has been watching every step of it. In episode 105 of CineD Focus Check, the live streaming veteran turned AI video educator walks us through what the latest generation of diffusion models can and can't do, why every model still has a detectable fingerprint, and why the bigger threat isn't fake videos fooling people — it's real videos being dismissed as fake. From the "AI accent" in synthetic speech to the slot-machine frustration of using these tools professionally, Carrasco pulls no punches.

With models like Seedance 2.0 and Kling 3 going viral for near-convincing results, the conversation also gets philosophical: is undetectable AI video even desirable, and what happens to filmmaking when spectacle becomes free? Carrasco's answer might surprise you — he sees a coming backlash against AI-saturated feeds and a real opportunity for human-centred storytelling to regain its edge. The advice for filmmakers? Stop trying to out-prompt AI, and double down on the thing machines can't replace: relationships.

Chapters and Articles in This Episode
(00:00) Introduction & Jeremy's Background
(05:30) How Jeremy Got Started Spotting AI Video
(08:19) Veo 3 — The Inflection Point for AI Video
(15:32) Every AI Model Has a Fingerprint
(21:47) The Real Problem: Doubting Real Footage
(27:30) Computational Photography & Smartphone Images
(33:00) AI Video vs. Professional Camera Workflows
(38:30) The Creator Economy Under Pressure
(44:00) C2PA & Content Provenance — Does It Actually Help?
(51:00) VFX, Extras & Where Jobs Will Really Go
(57:00) The "AI Accent" & Why Audio Is Still a Giveaway
(01:03:00) Is There a Legitimate Creative Space for AI?
(01:09:00) AI, Social Media & The Coming Backlash
(01:16:00) How Filmmakers Can Stay Irreplaceable
(01:20:24) Looking 3-4 Years Ahead
(01:26:18) Where to Find Jeremy & Wrap-Up

We hope you enjoyed this episode!
You have feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us at [email protected]