Category: Video / Photo

Key Takeaways

1. Camera Systems: Seasons 1 and 2 were primarily filmed using the Sony Venice 2 camera, known for its rich color science. The Sony FX3 was also used for dynamic shots.

2. Vintage Look: The show’s ’70s-inspired aesthetic was achieved using Panavision C Series anamorphic lenses, which provide unique optical traits and a wide aspect ratio.

3. Dolly Zoom Effect: A complex dolly zoom effect illustrates the innie/outie transition, using Kuper motion control software for automated camera movements.

4. Film Usage: Certain flashback scenes were shot on 35mm and 16mm film to create a distinct texture, contrasting with the digital footage of the main storyline.

5. Production Changes: Ben Stiller will not direct Season 3 but will remain a producer, working with showrunner Dan Erickson to maintain the series’ vision.

As excitement grows for the upcoming third season of Apple TV+’s Severance, the show’s unique visual style continues to captivate its audience. Although the official details for Season 3 are still trickling in, insights from the previous seasons and comments from the creative team shed light on the camera gear that will likely help maintain the series’ distinct cinematic aesthetic.

Camera Systems Used

Both Season 1 and Season 2 were filmed largely using the Sony Venice 2 camera system. Cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné confirmed that the Venice served as the main camera, praised for its color science and ability to produce rich images. For more specific or dynamic shots, especially those needing a compact setup, the crew has also made use of cameras like the Sony FX3 on gimbals. This was particularly evident in the intricate and extended hallway scenes of Season 2.

A Touch of Vintage

To create the show’s unique, ’70s-inspired look, the camera systems were combined with Panavision C Series anamorphic lenses. Gagné mentioned her fondness for these classic lenses, which offer a wide aspect ratio and distinctive optical traits, such as gentle lens flares and a characteristic oval bokeh that adds to the show’s eerie, cinematic vibe. Additionally, Panavision Primo 70 lenses and the 19-90mm Panavision zoom lens have also been utilized for particular moments, including the now-famous “dolly zoom” effect.

The Dolly Zoom Effect

This dolly zoom effect, which visually illustrates the innie/outie transition, is a complicated shot that merges a physical dolly move with a synchronized zoom on the lens. Reports suggest that this technique is automated with Kuper motion control software, which calculates the zoom based on the camera’s manual movements forward or backward.

For certain flashback scenes in the series, real film was used to give a different texture and grain. These scenes were captured on 35mm film (2-perf Techniscope) and 16mm film, creating a sharp visual difference compared to the digital filming of the main storyline.

Future of the Series

Although executive producer Ben Stiller has played a crucial role and directed several episodes in the first two seasons, he has announced that he won’t be directing any episodes for Season 3 due to other obligations. He will still be involved as a producer, working alongside showrunner Dan Erickson to keep the original vision of the show intact.

As of late 2025, there hasn’t been an official start date for Season 3’s production, though Apple TV+ executives have suggested that they are trying to avoid the three-year hiatus that happened between Seasons 1 and 2.

Key Takeaways

1. The HP FilmScan (HPFS500) is a compact film scanner that supports 35 mm, 126, and 110 film formats, making it convenient for film lovers to digitize their collections.

2. It features a 13 MP CMOS sensor with digital interpolation capabilities to enhance images up to 22 MP, although the quality improvement is uncertain.

3. The user-friendly 5″ LCD touchscreen allows for easy previewing and editing of scanned images, including options for cropping and adjusting exposure, contrast, and white balance.

4. Film photography is experiencing a revival, and the HP FilmScan provides an accessible way to digitize old negatives and slides, appealing to those who appreciate vintage aesthetics.

5. Priced at $229, the HP FilmScan is similar to the Kodak Slide N Scan, which is priced at $189 and has a high user rating, making it a competitive alternative for consumers.

HP FilmScan: A Convenient Scanner for Film Lovers

The HP FilmScan 5” touchscreen film scanner, known as the HPFS500, has been introduced by C+A Global, which holds the licensing for the HP Devices brand. It features a compact size of 4.6″ in width, 5.7″ in length, and 3.5″ in height. The scanner comes equipped with adapters for 50 mm slides and trays for film strips, making it easy to scan negatives or slide films in 135 (35 mm), 126, and 110 formats.

Scanning Capabilities

This device is powered by a 13 MP 1/3.06” CMOS sensor, which is the resolution at which your scans will initially be produced. There’s also a built-in digital interpolation feature allowing you to enhance the images up to 22 MP, though the quality improvement from this process is unclear. A microSD slot enables you to save the digitized images on a card, or you can transfer them straight to your computer via USB-C.

User-Friendly Display

The 5″ LCD screen provides a wide viewing angle for previewing and making edits to scanned images. Users can access features such as auto/manual cropping, exposure adjustments (±2 EV), contrast, and white-balance modifications. This could be extremely beneficial for anyone with a collection of old negatives or slides of family memories that they wish to restore.

Film Photography’s Comeback

Recently, film photography has seen a significant revival, with popular models like the Pentax 17 (available on Amazon), the Kodak Ektar H35 half-frame point-and-shoot, and the budget-friendly Kodak Funsaver disposable camera. If you’ve embraced this trend and appreciate the vintage aesthetic of film, the HP FilmScan offers a great solution for digitizing your favorite images without needing to print your developed films.

Pricing and Alternatives

The HP FilmScan is currently listed on Amazon for $229. However, there’s a useful piece of information: C+A Global also produces the Kodak Slide N Scan, which is practically identical to this scanner but with a different exterior design. Upon reviewing the specifications, we found that both devices utilize the same sensor, lens, LCD, and come with identical features and accessories. The Kodak Slide N Scan, however, is priced at just $189 on Amazon and boasts a 4.4-star rating with over 11,000 reviews.

For those with professional scanning requirements, consider looking into the more costly yet more powerful Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE.

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Key Takeaways

1. Auction Event: Leica will auction a unique ‘Pope Francis’ M-A No.5000000 camera on November 22nd at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna during the 47th Leitz Photographica Auction.

2. Camera History: Leica is a renowned German brand that launched the first successful 35mm film camera, the Leica I, in 1925 and has since excelled in both mechanical and digital photography.

3. Unique Design: The ‘Pope Francis’ M-A features a special silver chrome and white design with engravings that include the Keys of Peter and the motto ‘Miserando atque eligendo’.

4. Technical Features: The camera has a shutter speed of 1 to 1/1000th of a second, ISO settings from 6 to 6,400, and includes a Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens designed for beautiful bokeh effects.

5. Charitable Auction: The starting bid is €30,000, with all proceeds going to charity, and pre-bidding runs from October 22 to November 22, 2025.

Leica has revealed plans to auction a unique ‘Pope Francis’ M-A No.5000000, an all-mechanical 35mm rangefinder, during the 47th Leitz Photographica Auction. This event is scheduled for November 22nd at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna.

History of Leica

Leica, a well-known German brand, made its mark in 1925 with the launch of the world’s first successful 35mm film camera, the Leica I. Over the years, the company has consistently provided top-notch mechanical 35mm film cameras and lenses, as well as branching into digital photography in recent years.

Features of the Leica M-A

The Leica M-A (Typ 127) is a fully mechanical, metal-bodied 35mm film camera that was introduced in 2014. It works well with the company’s acclaimed M-Lenses. Unlike many other 35mm film cameras, the M-A employs a rangefinder focusing system (which is further detailed in the video below). This system does not experience the momentary image blackout that pentaprism SLRs face during shooting. Photographers align two overlapping images to focus accurately with rangefinders, a method some find easier than the single-image adjustment required by SLRs.

Special Design for His Holiness

The ‘Pope Francis’ M-A features a distinctive design tailored specifically for the Pope. Its silver chrome body is covered in white instead of the usual black, and it includes white-painted elements such as the back door. Unique engravings on this exclusive rangefinder are filled with black, gold, and white paint. Notable features include the Keys of Peter on the flash cover and the motto ‘Miserando atque eligendo’ on the top plate’s back.

The paired Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens boasts a chrome body with engravings in gold and white paint. The lens caps are adorned with engravings of the Coat of Arms of Vatican City and mark the date Pope Francis received this special gift in 2024.

Technical Specifications

This camera has a shutter speed ranging from 1 to 1/1000th of a second, with a bulb option, and offers an ISO speed setting between 6 and 6,400. It features a manual rapid wind lever for frame advance, though an optional Leica Winder can automate this process. A hot shoe on top allows for external flash units, with a flash sync speed of 1/50th of a second. The overall dimensions of the base M-A are 138 × 38 × 77 mm (5.43 × 1.50 × 3.03 in.) and it weighs 578 g (1.27 lbs.).

The lens consists of six elements, including two aspherical lenses arranged in four groups, which help create a beautiful bokeh at the wide open aperture of f/1.2. It can be stopped down to f/16 in half-stop increments, and the focusing range extends from 1 m (3.3 ft.) to infinity.

Auction Details

Those interested can sign up for the Leitz Photographica Auction before pre-bidding opens, which runs from October 22 to November 22, 2025. The starting bid is set at €30,000, with all proceeds going to charity. For those who miss out on the Pope’s M-A, the standard Leica M-A in silver and black is available on Amazon.

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Key Takeaways

1. Nikon’s new 24.5MP ZR camera is designed for professional filmmakers and incorporates RED technologies.
2. The camera features a full-frame sensor with an ISO range of 100 to 64,000 and stabilization up to 7.5 stops.
3. It can record video at up to 6K60p and offers over 15 stops of dynamic range in 12-bit Redcode RAW.
4. The build is made of magnesium alloy, making it dust and drip resistant, with a compact size and weight of 1.19 lbs.
5. The ZR camera is priced at $2,199.95 and is set to launch in late October 2025.

Nikon has introduced the new 24.5MP 6K60p ZR full-frame mirrorless cinema camera, designed with RED technologies, aimed at professional filmmakers.

Background on RED

RED was established by James Jannard, the same person who created Oakley. The brand has gained popularity in Hollywood, thanks to its impressive resolution, exceptional image quality, and compact design at a reasonable price. Nikon took over RED in 2024.

Features of the ZR Camera

The ZR model uses RED’s color science and related technologies, making it suitable not only for filmmaking but also for photography. It includes many features that are typical of other Z cameras, like AI autofocus and compatibility with Z-mount lenses.

The full-frame sensor offers an ISO range from 100 to 64,000, with a dual base ISO of 800 and 6,400 specifically for video. It also provides stabilization up to 7.5 stops, as stated by Nikon. Filmmakers have the flexibility to adjust the shutter angle from 5.6° to 360°, while photographers can set the electronic shutter speed anywhere between 900 to 1/16,000 sec.

Recording and Display Capabilities

The camera can film videos at a resolution of up to 6K60p and boasts over 15 stops of dynamic range in 12-bit Redcode RAW (R3D NE) codec. This allows users to maintain a consistent color space and log curve that match those of RED cameras, facilitating easier post-production when combining footage from different sources. With Nokia OZO Audio, filmmakers can also capture spatial audio for greater realism in their projects.

Photos and videos are viewable on a 4-inch vari-angle LCD screen that offers 1000-nits brightness and covers the DCI-P3 color space. The monitor is equipped to display features like video histograms, waveforms, and zebra patterns, which help filmmakers keep an eye on the image quality.

Build and Specifications

Crafted from magnesium alloy, the body is both dust and drip resistant. The ZR’s dimensions are 5.2 x 3.2 x 1.9 in. (133 x 80.5 x 48.7 mm), and it weighs 1.19 lbs. (0.54 kg). The camera can continuously record for 125 minutes when using its internal battery, or until the CFexpress Type-B or microSD (UHS-1) cards reach capacity if using an external USB-C power source.

The Nikon ZR has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95 and is expected to launch in late October 2025. Interested buyers can find it in the Nikon store on Amazon.

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