Focus Check

ep109 - DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1, Sora is DEAD, GoPro Patent Loss & 18 More Stories – CineD Focus Check

Focus Check

Show Notes

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 A1Article coming soon (26:08) OpenAI Shuts Down Sora as Disney Exits $1 Billion AI Video Dealhttps://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 Insta360https://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 $50https://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 LAhttps://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 Introducedhttps://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 Qualityhttps://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 Winshttps://www.cined.com/fujifilm-focus-on-glass-voting-results-xf16-80mmf2-8-wins/ (01:07:07) Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Gets Autofocus – Face Detection & Object Trackinghttps://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 Camerahttps://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 Lenseshttps://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 Introducedhttps://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 RAWhttps://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 Camerashttps://www.cined.com/nikon-issues-technical-service-advisory-for-z6iii-z5ii-and-zr-cameras/ (01:37:14) AnamorphicTool – Two OFX Plugins for DaVinci Resolvehttps://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 NLEshttps://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 Oscarshttps://www.cined.com/youtube-is-now-the-

More from Focus Check

Oct 22, 2026

The Blackmagic Design price raise hits 36 products at once: the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Plus alone jumps from about $13,000 to $20,000, with SMPTE 2110 converters, Cloud Store and HyperDeck recorders following – all blamed on memory costs. In the same breath, Blackmagic cuts DaVinci Resolve Studio 21 and its editing panels by 20% until November 20. And Getty Images, the biggest name in stock photography, is filing for bankruptcy protection. • Hollyland sponsors this episode. Check it out at 11:54. Check out the Pyro S wireless video transmitter: http://cined.co/lwhjQk

Oct 15, 2026

Can you imagine stepping inside your camera — which is actually a tent — and seeing the very same sheet of material that captured the light hanging on a gallery wall as a photograph? In this special episode of Focus Check, Sony Alpha Rumor's runner Andrea Pizzini explains how he makes single, unrepeatable color photographs up to 127x220cm in size. The story behind the camera is a deeply personal one, and Andrea talks candidly about the events that led him to leave the project behind—and eventually return to it. ► Follow Andrea's project: andreapizzini.com Topics and Chapters in this Episode: (00:00:00) Intro: Andrea Pizzini and the Cube camera project(00:00:29) Running Sony Alpha Rumors, the world's biggest rumour site(00:02:00) How it started: 43 Rumors and the mirrorless revolution(00:03:21) Who is Andrea? From the Dolomites to documentary filmmaking(00:05:43) A difficult childhood and the urge to get out(00:07:40) Discovering cameras at the age of 12(00:08:39) Twelve and a half years without sleep – and why the blogs saved him(00:11:59) Meeting Christian Martinelli(00:14:13) Building the Cube: a two-metre camera obscura(00:15:32) Losing Christian(00:16:52) Friends convince Andrea to rebuild the project(00:18:57) How it works: lens, panel, paper and developer(00:21:06) The giant Nikon process lens from eBay(00:24:06) A focus system built by a former SpaceX engineer(00:26:04) No pixels: how much resolution is in these images?(00:27:29) The last photo paper left – and turning a negative into a positive(00:29:58) Developing the image in 45 minutes(00:30:42) Looking at the prints in the studio(00:34:21) Artist or explorer?(00:36:03) Finding peace through photography(00:38:14) What if it becomes famous?(00:40:55) The future of Sony Alpha Rumors(00:41:50) Could it get smaller – or even shoot video?(00:45:32) Stay true to reality(00:47:07) A tribute to Christian: his developing machine(00:49:55) Does the project have a name?(00:50:20) Where to follow Andrea's project Let us know in the comments below what you think of this special episode, or email us at [email protected]. And don't forget to subscribe on your favourite platform!

Oct 8, 2026

Are modern sensors too clean? Johnnie argues that CCD cameras like the Digital Bolex had a character today's CMOS sensors lack, while Nino points to image science and noise reduction you can no longer switch off. Also this week: Nino's field test of the DJI SDR Transmission 2, Apple's redesigned Final Cut Camera 2.4 with manual aperture control for the iPhone 18 Pro, Huawei's clip-on Ruiying Z10 camera module for the Mate90 phones, another Sony FX5 delay, FUJIFILM's price increase in Japan, and Imaging World's move to Cologne. This episode is sponsored by Hollyland Pyro S (sponsor message at 23:55). Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:56) Widescreen or not? Your feedback on our aspect ratio(03:16) DJI SDR Transmission 2 field test(23:55) Sponsor: Hollyland Pyro S(24:47) Sony FX5 delayed again(26:33) Apple Final Cut Camera 2.4 and Final Cut Pro 12.4(32:29) Huawei Mate90 and the Ruiying Z10 clip-on camera(39:15) Vivo X500 Pro, LOFIC and "are modern sensors too clean?"(50:36) FUJIFILM raises camera prices in Japan(53:00) Imaging World moves to Cologne(57:37) RAW Supersampler for Nikon raw(01:01:26) Panasonic LUMIX S9 firmware 2.1(01:02:01) Lomography Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8(01:04:16) Godox Litemons SR20R(01:05:41) SmallRig x CineD OrBrella campaign update(01:07:49) FUJIFILM Fujikina NYC 2026(01:10:08) SmallRig Autumn Sale(01:10:59) Day-for-night: Sunlight in Disguise All articles and links from this episode: https://www.cined.com/are-modern-sensors-too-clean-dji-sdr-transmission-2-field-tested-huaweis-clip-on-camera-focus-check-ep137/ Full disclosure: the DJI SDR Transmission 2 field test is a paid collaboration with DJI and not a review. The SmallRig Autumn Sale article is sponsored. The OrBrella is our own product, developed with SmallRig. Send your questions and suggestions to [email protected], and watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTktdMLtqnic6-qI28B774IC9xLMbKOG

Oct 1, 2026

DJI shipped more than 10 million handheld cameras last year – more than every CIPA camera maker combined. Together with Insta360, the company now ships more than twice as many cameras as the entire mirrorless industry. And in our Lab, the Sony FX5 just matched the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF for dynamic range. In this week's episode, Nino and Johnnie are back from IBC to go through the FX5 Lab Test, the ARRI-branded HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, Nikon’s Z5IIC, Meta’s VR Glasses, a SIGMA fp open-gate hack, the Chronos Q12, the big RØDECaster Video update, the crowdfunding launch of our OrBrella light, and more.

Sep 24, 2026

OpenAI has reportedly bought Glass Imaging – the ex-Apple team behind the iPhone's Portrait Mode – for the camera in its first hardware device. Meanwhile, a former cinematographer turned carpenter has got his Digital Bolex rebuild working: original Kodak CCD, Raspberry Pi 5, V-mount battery, wooden box. Big tech vs. one-man camera build – plus the Sony FX5 delay in Japan, DJI SDR Transmission 2, the OrBrella crowdfunding start and lots of IBC gear. This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland (00:15:06)► Check out the Pyro S: http://cined.co/nImvmn

See all episodes →