Welcome to VP Land - your daily update for all the latest news in movie tech.

In this issue:

🌑 Canon’s new MS-500 SPAD sensor camera
▶️ YouTube uses AI to summarize videos
👩‍💻 VIVE XR Elite Updates

And more! Let’s dive in.

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Canon's New SPAD Sensor Camera

Canon launched a new camera: The MS-500, an ultra-high sensitivity camera with a SPAD sensor and (for the first time) an interchangeable lens mount.

What’s a SPAD sensor?

Traditional CMOS sensors measure the amount of light that hits each pixel in a given amount of time. Measuring the volume of light hitting the sensor over a given amount of time is what can lead to noise in the image.

SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode) sensors measure each photon, or individual light particle, that reaches the pixel. By digitally counting the individual photon particles it can record in near darkness with little noise.

This paper from Canon goes into more detail.

The Specs

• SPAD sensor cameras from Canon aren’t new - this video demos the low-light abilities of the ME20F-SH.

• What’s unique about the MS-500 is the B4 mount, opening up a variety of lens options from Canon’s ultra-telephoto broadcast zoom lenses.

• It outputs a full HD, 422 10-bit signal over 3G-SDI at 59.95 fps (you’ll need to connect to an external recorder if you want to record).

Beyond Industry Applications

Canon’s target market for this camera is high-level security applications, such as borders and seaports.

But we’ve seen a trend of technical cameras being adapted to narrative and documentary productions with stunning results.

• Vision Research’s high-speed Phantom cameras were originally designed for industrial uses but got adapted by Mythbusters for their signature slow-motion shots, and then later on YouTube with The Slow Mo Guys.

• Planet Earth used infrared cameras and lights to record nighttime lion hunts, something that had never been captured before.

The MS-500 will be available in September 2023, with an estimated retail price of $25,200. Find out more here.

SPONSOR MESSAGE

Looking to revolutionize your advertising strategy? Discover Adspective, the innovative solution that automatically adds advertising content to your existing photos and videos.

With Adspective, you can breathe new life into your visual content, making your ads more engaging and effective than ever before.

But that's not all. Adspective also offers new cost-effective ways to publish ads, making it a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a startup on a tight budget or a large corporation looking to maximize your advertising ROI, Adspective is the solution you've been waiting for.

Learn more about how Adspective can transform your advertising strategy.

SECOND UNIT

YouTube explores AI-generated video summaries

YouTube is testing out running AI generated summaries next to videos. The goal isn’t to replace descriptions but to help viewers decide if they want to click and watch the video.

The test is limited to a select number of English-language videos and users, appearing on YouTube's watch and search pages.

Thoughts

YouTube already pulls out key moments, which is helpful for surfacing specific spots when you run a search on Google.

I could see AI summaries being helpful in Google search - but for YouTube search? Maybe make a tool to help creators incorporate better summaries into their descriptions instead of letting AI summarize them.

If watch decisions are made on AI summaries, it could just turn into a game of making videos that produce better summaries.

VIDEO VILLAGE

What’s coming in the next VIVE XR Elite update

AKS

🌐 Around the Web

• Creators using AI tools produce more creative content and gain more followers and income, according to a survey

• Dell to introduce new hardware, a managed service platform, and powerful computers to accelerate generative AI projects

• Schedule posts and track your social media with Metricool*

• SpectreXR joins HTC VIVE's Developer Partner Program to foster synergy and drive innovation

• Apple's China App Store removes generative AI apps ahead of upcoming regulations

  * Sponsored Link

CALL SHEET

📆 Upcoming Events

August 3
SMPTE - The BIGGEST Virtual Production Show Ever!
XR Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Showcase of theatrical cinematic performances, driven by a menagerie of creative technologies within virtual production

August 4 - 5
frame:work:losangeles
XR Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Conference for conversations about the unique challenges of creating video for physical spaces, live performances, and virtual worlds.

August 
Studio Arts - Technology for Entertainment Creatives
Unreal Engine and virtual production online courses

Have a film-related event to share? Just reply back to this email and let us know the details.

ABBY SINGER

Thanks for reading VP Land!

Have a link to share or a story idea? Send it here.

Interested in reaching media industry professionals? Advertise with us.