ep102 - YouTube Paid $100 Billion to Creators | Hohem iSteady MT3 | DJI RS 5 | Astera QuikBeam – CineD Focus Check
Focus CheckShow Notes
Imagine this: YouTube has paid over $100 billion to creators in the last four years. That’s an enormous sum — far more than most TV networks spend on content today. In this episode, we take a closer look at what that means for creators and the platform as a whole. Further in this episode, we talk about plenty of other highlights, including two brand-new Hohem gimbals (which Nino reviewed), a range of innovative new lights from several manufacturers, and exciting new lenses — all covered in this episode of Focus Check. So, as always, hit that play button and enjoy.
Chapters and Articles in This Episode
(00:00) – Intro (07:44) – Hohem iSteady MT3 & MT3 Pro Gimbal Review – Built-In AI Tracking and Pro Performance Without the Pro Pricehttps://www.cined.com/hohem-isteady-mt3-mt3-pro-review-built-in-ai-tracking-and-pro-performance-without-the-pro-price/ (15:15) – DJI RS 5 Announced – Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module, 5th-Gen Stabilization, and One-Hour Fast Charginghttps://www.cined.com/dji-rs-5-announced-enhanced-intelligent-tracking-module-5th-gen-stabilization-and-one-hour-fast-charging/ (25:31) – YouTube Paid Creators $100 Billion in Four Years – Here Are Their Priorities for 2026https://www.cined.com/youtube-paid-creators-100-billion-in-four-years-here-are-their-priorities-for-2026/ (37:25) – Sony a7S III Firmware Update Version 5.00 Released with Expanded Autofocus Customizationhttps://www.cined.com/sony-a7s-iii-firmware-update-version-5-00-released-with-expanded-autofocus-customization/ (40:50) – Sony Firmware Updates for VENICE 2 V4.1, BURANO V3.0, FX6 V6.0, and FR7 V4.0 Firmware at BSC Expo 2026 – New Anamorphic Modes, BIG6, Blackmagic RAWhttps://www.cined.com/sony-firmware-updates-for-venice-2-v4-1-burano-v3-0-fx6-v6-0-and-fr7-v4-0-firmware-at-bsc-expo-2026-new-anamorphic-modes-big6-blackmagic-raw/ (48:20) – Sony VENICE 2 Extension System Mini – Now Shippinghttps://www.cined.com/sony-venice-2-extension-system-mini-now-shipping/ (54:43) – Astera QuikBeam Announced – Ultra-Compact Fresnel with Multiple Powering Optionshttps://www.cined.com/astera-quikbeam-announced-ultra-compact-fresnel-with-multiple-powering-options/ (58:17) – NANLITE FC-720B and FC-720C Announced – 750W Additions to the FC Serieshttps://www.cined.com/nanlite-fc-720b-and-fc-720c-announced-750w-additions-to-the-fc-series/ (01:00:49) – Aputure NOVA 9° 2×1 and NOVA II 1×1 Announced – A 9° Long-Throw Panel and a High-Output 1×1https://www.cined.com/aputure-nova-9-2x1-and-nova-ii-1x1-announced-a-9-long-throw-panel-and-a-high-output-1x1/ (01:05:51) – Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH – Innovative and Exorbitantly Pricedhttps://www.cined.com/leica-noctilux-m-35mm-f-1-2-asph-innovative-and-exorbitantly-priced/ (01:10:13) – Pixboom Spark First Production Unit Rolls Off Assembly Line – Mid-March Shipping Confirmedhttps://www.cined.com/pixboom-spark-first-production-unit-rolls-off-assembly-line-mid-march-shipping-confirmed/ (01:16:49) – Blazar Talon 1.5X AF Anamorphic Lenses Announced – World’s First 1.5x Squeeze Autofocus Systemhttps://www.cined.com/blazar-talon-1-5x-af-anamorphic-lenses-announced-worlds-first-1-5x-squeeze-autofocus-system/ (01:23:00) – Eddie AI Adds Multi-Track Audio Support for Professional Editing Workflowshttps://www.cined.com/eddie-ai-adds-multi-track-audio-support-for-professional-editing-workflows/ (01:25:13) – FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 Firmware Version 1.04 Released – Display Delay of External Monitor Improvedhttps://www.cined.com/fujifilm-gfx-eterna-55-firmware-version-1-04-released-display-delay-of-external-monitor-improved/ (01:27:04) – Brightin Star 60mm f/2.8 II Macro Lens Announcedhttps://www.cined.com/brightin-star-60mm-f-2-8-ii-macro-lens-announced/ (01:29:08) – Hollyland Solidcom M1 Pro Released – A Scalable 1.9 GHz Intercom for Medium-Scale Productionshttps://www.cined.com/hollyland-solidcom-m1-pro-released-a-scalable-1-9-ghz-intercom-for-medium-scale-productions/ (01:32:20) – Freeze, Move, Immerse – Bullet Time a
More from Focus Check
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
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!
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
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.
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