Today we are very excited to announce the arrival of four brand new Codex OnBoard Recorders for the ARRI ALEXA camera family here at Hand Held!  The Codex is an external recorder that captures in the uncompressed ARRIRAW format onto 256 GB solid state data packs, giving you a wonderful image at 2880 x 1620 resolution, which is the highest quality recording format when shooting with the ALEXA. It boasts a sleek touch-based control interface which can be mounted on either side of the unit for easy access, and only adds 5.7LBS to the total weight of the camera. Click on the image below to get more in-depth specs or go to the Codex website 

We currently have a Codex on display in our camera department, come by and check it out!

Note: Graphic cards available upon request. Please contact rentals@handheldfilms.com for availability, pricing and info.

This month, our family of RED Epics has grown from two to five. We now carry two Epic-Ms and three Epic-Xs outfitted with the brand new ViewFactor Full-Metal Jacket! This “cage” provides multiple mounting points which makes the use of various accessories, such as the EVF and LCD, much easier. Each of our EPICs come with the groovy 5″ Pro LCD touch screen. However, if you prefer a more traditional way to control the camera, we offer the DSMC side handle, as well as the all-new REDMOTE for wireless fun.

Feel free to give us a call at 212-502-0900 if you’d like to check one out for yourself.

We are very proud to introduce the new Hawk V-Lite Anamorphic 2x lens set into the Hand Held Films inventory. Manufactured in Germany by Vantage Film these new lenses are guaranteed to redefine what it means to “shoot anamorphic” as they provide superior optics combined with an incredible lightweight feel. Every lens in the set has seen a weight reduction of 20% from their V-series brethren.

Now, previously strenuous anamorphic applications such as Steadicam and Jib work are destined to be made as easy as they are with spherical primes. With their new design the Hawk V-Lites maintain a constant exposure and suffer no light-loss from close focus to infinity. Retuned focus gearing create a relative ease when pulling focus. The V-Lite set is optically matched to all other Hawk Anamorphic so there is no worry about differing image quality when bouncing between sets. The V-Lite set itself contains the following focal lengths: 28mm, 35mm, 45mm, 55mm, 80mm, and 110mm. All focal lengths open to a T2.2 (except for the 110mm which open to a T3.)

We are the only place in New York where you can rent these revolutionary lenses.

The compact, 5K capable, and revolutionary Red Epic has arrived at Hand Held Films. While the camera is still in its early firmware, its initial features and capabilities are still impressive and promise exciting possibilities for the future.

From Red’s Product Description:

In a package one third the size of a RED ONE, resides a 5K Mysterium-X™ sensor and a 27 layer ASIC, the most advanced processor of its type in the world, enabling EPIC to capture up to 120 frames per second, each frame at full 14MP resolution. EPIC is engineered to be a DSMC™ (Digital Still & Motion Camera), a camera that excels in both worlds … by design. Providing native dynamic range of over 13 stops and resolution that exceeds 35 mm motion picture film, this is the camera of the epoch. Add to that RED’s newly developed HDRx™ extended dynamic range technology and EPIC boasts an amazing dynamic range of up to 18 stops. Purpose-built for perfect multi-camera synchronization, EPIC comes to market at a time when 3D capture requires the sophistication of a new generation of innovative technology. EPIC, very simply, is epic.

You can check out this video that gives a run down of the epic’s capabilities from Digital FX, the Louisiana based post production facility and self proclaimed Red Camera experts:

Check out our 2010 Mitsubishi Fuso with 22′L x 7 1/2′ H box. This truck comes fully equipped with jockey boxes, 72″x94″ hydraulic controlled leveling lift gate, and custom-built steel shelving to accommodate all of your production needs. Ask Rentals at rentals@handheldfilms.com for more informations about our deals including equipment, truck and driver!

Truck Side View

Truck Back View

Just a quick note from the “webmaster desk” to remind everyone that we are continually adding material shot by our clients to the “Shot with our Gear” section of the blog.

Take a look around by clicking right here or using the top menu to access this section.
See what our clients have been up to and how they make a wonderful use of our equipment from commercial to feature films, shorts to music videos! If you are interested in us sharing your project “Shot with our Gear”, feel free to email us at camera@handheldfilms.com, subject “Shot with our Gear” Project.

We’d like to once again warmly thank everyone that authorized us to publish their work, keep on making great films and we hope to see you soon!
In the meantime, enjoy the latest music video by Lloyd Banks “So Forgetful” (Dir. Armen Djerrahian/DP Jeffrey Kim/Prod. Gaetan Rousseau/Editor Karen Kourtessis). Shot on an Arri Alexa and a set of Zeiss Ultra Primes lenses provided by HandHeld Films.

Lloyd Banks feat. Ryan Leslie – “So Forgetful” from Paradoxal Inc on Vimeo.

Shot at HandHeld Films, edited by LMJ.

Watch the video now!

It includes an Exmor™ Super 35 CMOS image sensor, PL lens mount, and SxS card for 1920 x 1080 full-HD recording. The PMW-F3 features future expandability, including RGB 4:4:4 baseband output with S-LOG gamma for external recording which means it can be used in an HDCAM-SR™ workflow. It also offers a 3D-LINK option, which allows two camcorders to be controlled simultaneously for 3D stereoscopic shooting.

Please check out Sony page for more detailed information about this great new addition to the PMW family here.

We will write more on this very soon, but in the mean time, please feel free to check Arri’s page about it here.