The vibe was electric, the music soul-stirring, and the roof was definitely raised with performances from guests like GasLampKiller, Jeremy Sole, and many others who stood in support of the industry during the strikes. But what made this event truly unforgettable wasn’t just the lineup of fantastic musicians or the ambiance—it was the groundbreaking technology we employed to capture it all: the RED V-Raptor 8k.

Unveiling the Finer Details

Low light is often a photographer’s Achilles’ heel. At previous events, capturing the intricate lighting, the expressions on the musicians’ faces, and the audience’s fervor was always a challenge. However, with the RED V-Raptor, renowned for its high-speed 8K sensor, our perception of ‘capturing dark moments’ changed. This cinematic powerhouse allowed us to unveil the unseen; details that were otherwise lost in the shadows came alive.

Technical Brilliance

The camera’s remarkable 35.4-megapixel sensor delivered a level of detail that’s rarely seen in cinema cameras under low light. Particularly given the V-Raptor’s impressive 16+ stops of dynamic range, we no longer had to choose between preserving highlights or shadows. Even at ISO 1600, this camera absorbed the available light, producing near-noiseless images (images used are without any additional noise reduction from DaVinci Resolve).

Real-world Performance

Words and technical specs can only convey so much. To illustrate the conditions this camera tackled: the main stage was only backlit by 4 Astera Tubes (2 Hyperions + 2 Titan Tubes), and the side soundstage had 18 Titan Tubes hanging from the ceiling. As the artists performed, we captured dramatic silhouettes while retaining exceptional detail and a vibrant array of colors—elements that might have been muted or completely missed with other cameras. With the V-Raptor, each moment’s vivid color and sharpness felt almost surreal.

A New Standard in Low Light Event Coverage

The RED V-Raptor has undoubtedly raised the bar in low light cinematography, marking itself as an essential tool for capturing events and festivals. Through its lens, we seized an experience where the RED V-Raptor has transformed our perspective on low light event coverage. The night may cloak the world in darkness, but with the right tools, it becomes a canvas waiting to be adorned with art.

This entire event was shot exclusively on the RED V-Raptor camera. All opinions and experiences shared here are based on our time documenting the event. If you’re looking to capture an event and need the camera to take on the night, email rentals@strayangel.com to put in a quote for the RED V-Raptor!

The post StrayLA Industry Relief Event | Shot on RED V-Raptor appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

One of the stand out features you’re going to notice off the bat, the InfiniBars hold insane versatility compared to other light gear. These lights are designed to be modular, which means they can be connected and arranged in various ways, making them ideal for any shooting scenario. Whether you need to create abstract shapes or maybe rig them in a long corridor for a practical lighting setup – with a variety of sizes and mounting bracket options – the InfiniBars fully adjust to the filmmakers needs.

Not to mention the bars are completely LED which means little to zero chance of overheating, extremely light weight, and easy to transport on & off set.

Quality of emitted light is also quite an important trait of a great light, and the design of the InfiniBars keeps just that in mind. Unlike traditional LED lights, which emit light in a single direction, the InfiniBars unique design allows them to emit light in multiple directions simultaneously. This feature makes it easier to achieve the perfect light quality, as the light can then be directed towards the subject from multiple angles, eliminating harsh shadows and creating a more natural look. 

The Aputure InfiniBars represent a significant leap forward in lighting technology, especially when you consider the possibilities with syncing these lights to virtual productions. The content that the InfiniBars yield is truly limitless. All in all with the capabilities that have been packed into these lights, the InfiniBars definitely hold the power to provide pro level performance without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re working on a small indie project or a big-budget feature film, the InfiniBars are a must-have on set, and we can’t wait to see what you create with them! Email rentals@strayangelfilms.com to start building your InfiniBar rental package today!

The post Aputure Sets a Higher Bar for Lighting appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

The GoPro HERO8 Black supports up to UHD 4K video resolutions, and time-lapse, up to 1080p240 slow motion, and super-slow-motion video. Still images can be captured in up to 12MP resolution in bursts of up to 30 images per second with the updated SuperPhoto with HDR support that helps reduce blur and enhance detail in low-light situations. It also features an updated Night-Lapse function to shoot and process up to 4K time-lapses at night. The LiveBurst function allows you to record 1.5 seconds before and after your photo to give you more choices for the best frame. The lens field of view (FOV) options increase to four modes: Narrow, Linear at 24.4mm, Wide at 16.5mm, and SuperView at 15.1mm.

Like its predecessor, the HERO8 Black supports direct streaming to Facebook Live. It’s also waterproof to 33′, suiting it for surfing, snorkeling, and swimming activities. Separately available floats and housings are available for additional water support and even deeper underwater activities down to 196′. The touchscreen provides quick and easy management, but when your hands are full, the HERO8 Black understands 15 voice commands in over ten languages and accents so you can verbally control the HERO8 Black. Just shout “GoPro, take a photo,” and your HERO8 will use your current settings to snap a photo, making selfies a breeze.

New Features in HERO8 Black

• Smaller, more streamlined design
• Swapping mounts and changing batteries has been made even faster
• Lens is two times more impact resistant
• Improved HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization and TimeWarp 2.0 time-lapse
• Night-lapse and LiveBurst support
• Slow-motion up to 1080p240 and stability improvements
• Change easily between lens FOV with Narrow, Linear, Wide, and SuperView modes
• Media Mod option can add more lighting and audio as well as another screen
• Optional Battery Mod multiplies runtime 2.5x
• Optional Display Mod and Light Mod add more capabilities.

For more information on how to rent the GoPro HERO8 Black, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

GoPro Introduces the Hero8 Black in this video:

The post The GoPro HERO8 Black Now Available For Rent appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

Thanks to its intuitive and large touchscreen, the FOCUS 7 Bolt’s touchscreen controls takes the hassle out of wireless pairing. ACs can easily pair the 7-inch monitor/receiver to a FOCUS Bolt 500 TX or Teradek Bolt 500 transmitter and enjoy exceptional HD wireless video with no perceptible delay (less than 1 ms).

The SmallHD OS3 software and PageBuilder user interface provide a variety of tools including HD waveform, vectorscope, false color and focus assist/peaking, anamorphic de-squeeze, framing guides, and storage of unlimited 3D LUTs via SD card. A built-in full-size SD card slot provides even more utility, allowing the application of real-time 3D LUTs, monitor profiles, and image overlays for shot matching. For focus pullers, the Teradek RT Screen Overlay enables distance markings to appear on-screen in real-time.

As with every SmallHD monitor from the Bolt line, the FOCUS 7 Bolt 500 RX comes with a set of grip handles to hold the unit comfortably. To mount on a camera or other equipment, The monitor comes equipped with four ¼”-20 threads and an optional 7″ tilt arm mounting accessory, making camera mounts easy. The versatile tilt arm mounts to the camera’s cold shoe to provide friction-based tilt for easy monitor adjustment.

If you would like to rent the SmallHD FOCUS 7 Bolt 500 RX for your next project, please email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

SmallHD Focus 7 Introduction:

The post Introducing The New SmallHD Focus 7 Bolt 500 RX appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

Astera’s fabulous new Helios Tube has all the features and functionality of the popular Titan Tube in a smaller, lighter and more transportable package. This powerful little tube can be mounted in places where the  Titan Tube might be too long or impractical to rig.

The super convenient Helios has 8 pixels and is half the brightness of the Titan Tube but with the same high CRI; making it perfect for areas like pop up dressing rooms, makeup stations at fashion shows as well as for lighting rooms, sets, and other spaces!

The colors, brightness, battery life and other elements are perfectly matched to those of the Titan Tube so combining the two fixtures gives seamless lighting coverage.

These powerful, flexible and extremely easy to use products are making a big impact in the worlds of film, video, promos, and television as well as in a whole range of events, rental and staging applications and some more esoteric public art projects.

For more information on how to rent the Helios Tube, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

Check out our Astera Collaboration Video with Owl Bot!

The post Introducing: Astera Helios LED Tubes appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

Both the Bee 50-C and the Hornet 200-C have the same groundbreaking Perfect SHOT color controls offered by the Wasp 100-C. These controls allow the user to adjust the Saturation, Hue, Output, and Color Temperature of the light, allowing for infinite color combinations, making sure you can customize your lighting to create the perfect shot, every time. The Bee 50-C and the Hornet 200-C also retain the Wasp 100-C’s unique form factor, including an adjustable yoke design and a 100mm body diameter. This diameter allows these lights to be combined with hundreds of existing photo accessories from various manufacturers including ProFoto®, Chimera®, Elinchrome®, and Westcott® to name just a few.

The Bee 50-C is a 40W Omni-Color LED, it weighs only 1.5lbs, is 5” ( 125mm) long and is brighter than a 300W incandescent source. It has multiple ¼-20 threaded mounting points allowing for easy rigging to cameras, drones, in practical locations and on stages and built sets. This small form factor, low power draw, and competitive pricing make this light the most versatile and cost-effective color-changing light source for travel and location production available.

The Hornet 200-C is a 150W Omni-Color LED, it weights only 2.6lbs, is only 8” (200mm) long and is brighter than a 1000W incandescent source. 2.5X brighter than the original Wasp 100-C this is the brightest single point source color-changing LED on the market. Hive Lighting offers a par reflector and adjustable Fresnel for the Hornet 200-C and it can be combined with a wide variety of classic light modifiers from video production like “softboxes” and “beauty dishes” from photography. The Hornet 200-C offers photographers a light source that is bright enough to be used for both still and moving image production while taking full advantage of a photographer’s existing equipment.

Hive Lighting’s new Omni-Color C-Series offers a leap forward in efficiency and versatility for entertainment lighting, bringing the revolution in color controllable lights to single shadow point source LEDs.

If you would like to use the Hive C-Series Omni-Color LEDs for your next project, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

The Hive Wasp 100-C LED with LensProToGo:

The post The C-Series From Hive Lighting appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

Halide FX is an all-in-one real-time VFX system. It combines camera tracking, keying, 3D rendering, and compositing into a single integrated system. Halide FX is compatible with most professional cinema cameras and any camera support, including handheld, Steadicam, and jibs. The system uses a purpose-built and high-precision camera tracker that works on stages of any size. By integrating the Unreal render engine, the system outputs realistic and dynamic 3D backgrounds on set, ready for editorial.

Higher budget productions can use Halide FX’s data logging and post-production workflows to dramatically speed up post-production processes and render even higher quality backgrounds. As a result, big-budget productions can continue using their favorite industry tools – such as Maya, V-Ray, and Arnold – with the added benefit of accurate metadata and faster turnaround times. Lower budget shows can potentially skip post-production 3D and camera tracking work altogether, in favor of broadcast-ready comps and backgrounds generated on set. Halide FX is the second generation of real-time VFX systems pioneered by Lightcraft Technology. Its predecessor, Previzion, has been used across film, TV, and broadcast productions in the US and abroad.

Interested in utilizing the Halide FX System for your next project? Email rentals@strayangel.com or give us a call. We’d love to help!

SimLab covers the HalideFX System:

The post Halide FX: Realtime On-Set VFX & Camera Tracking for Post-Production appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

The Rialto is a lightweight and easy to use tethered extension system for the Sony VENICE that allows the camera body to detach from the image sensor block with no degradation in image quality.  The Rialto is compatible with both existing and new VENICE cameras. Users can quickly configure and freely use VENICE’s image sensor block to capture uncompromising imagery, customizing the camera for specific scenarios in under 3 minutes via a single 3mm Allen Wrench.

The image sensor block weighs 4 lbs with PL mount and 3 lbs using the native E-mount, and the cable system can extend from 9 or 18 feet, offering a highly configurable, flexible and portable method of operation.  The Rialto enables to VENICE to be suitable for many mounting configurations and filming scenarios, including use with gimbals, handheld stabilizers, underwater & helicopter housings, 3D/VR rigs, and tight or unconventional spaces (such as inside vehicles, on cranes or Russian arms).  In fact, the tether extension system was requested by James Cameron and Lightstorm producer Jon Landau for use on the current Avatar production with their 3D rigs.

For more information on how to rent the Sony VENICE, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

And check out the photos below in case you missed this awesome event!

The post Introducing the Sony VENICE Rialto Tethered Extension System appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

The SmallHD 2403 24″ and 1703 17″ HDR Production Monitors have a 1920 x 1080p (Full HD) display, with an 1100 NIT brightness LCD panel that features HDR preview backed by a 10-bit Color Intelligence engine with calibration capabilities. They can display a large brightness range, encompassing log formats and other expanded-range picture styles.

The 1100 cd/m², daylight-viewable, Full HD display panel can be driven by one of two SDI inputs or an HDMI input. Each input has a loop output for connecting other gear in-line without the need for a splitter.

All functionality of these monitors is accessed via the innovative Page Builder OS.

By implementing full aluminum construction and the provision for separately available user-replaceable polycarbonate screen protectors, SmallHD built these monitors to survive the rigors of production in studios and in the field. A top handle for carrying and a c-stand mount are included, so you’re ready to roll right out of the box.

For more information on how to rent our SmallHD Monitors, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

SmallHD compares the 1703 with monitor offerings from Sony and Panasonic:

The post SAF Is Now Renting Two New SmallHD HDR Monitors! appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

The router accepts external power via a V-mount battery plate and 2-pin power connector, and it also supports PoE, which allows you to power the router by the Ethernet connection. The link’s quad-core processor and installed memory provide high-data throughput. It supports network security protocols and encryption to keep your footage secure.

Product Highlights:

• Dual-Band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac
• 1000′ Range
• Link-To-Link Extension for More Coverage
• V-Mount Battery Plate
• Supports PoE
• Supports WiFi Protection and Encryption

For more information on how to rent the Teradek Dual Band WiFi Router, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

The post Now Renting: Teradek Link Dual Band WiFi Router appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

Living up to its action camera moniker, the GoPro Hero 7 Black is designed to capture super-smooth footage of your latest, greatest, not-so-serene adventures.  The Hero 7 Black comes with new ‘Hypersmooth’ electronic image stabilization, which GoPro founder Nick Woodman called “the best in-camera video stabilization in any camera, ever”.  The Hero 7 Black’s HyperSmooth stabilization produces a gimbal-like flow without the added bulk of a gimbal.

Related to HyperSmooth is a new time-lapse mode called TimeWarp.  TimeWarp allows you to capture super-stabilized time-lapse videos while you move about a scene. You can increase the speed up to 30x to turn longer activities into shareable moments.

The new SuperPhoto feature is GoPro’s attempt to replicate the intelligent auto modes seen on smartphones which can automatically recognize scenes and apply the optimal camera settings such as HDR, local tone mapping, or noise reduction. In addition to recognizing scenes, GoPro says the Hero 7 Black will be able to detect faces and smiles; an ability that will also help it to pick the right clips for its automated QuikStories edit available on the Quik app.

Finally, the Hero 7 Black is the first GoPro that allows you to live stream directly to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch at 720p output; a feature that will undoubtedly be a big selling point for those with dreams of internet stardom!

For more information on how to rent GoPro’s latest action camera for your next adventure, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

GoPro introduces the Hero7 Black:

The post Introducing The New GoPro Hero 7 Black appeared first on Stray Angel Films.

In addition to the added intensity and battery life, the new tubes include an onboard display on the back of the tube where you can make manual adjustments to the fixture. This is a great feature as you won’t always be bound to the app when you need to use the fixtures in more simple scenarios.

The Astera Titan Tubes were designed to integrate with the existing AX1 PixelTube system and controllable via the same Asterabox, App, and remote.  Titan Tubes are able to match the output and color of their older counterparts, which makes them a great supplement to AX1 PixelTube kits.

For more information on how to rent the Astera Titan Tubes, email rentals@strayangel.com, give us a call or stop in for a demo. We’d love to see you!

We cover the Astera Titan in our latest collaboration with Owl Bot!

The post Introducing The Astera Titan Tube: The Newest Innovation in LED Lighting appeared first on Stray Angel Films.