On this page

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: 17 Stops of Dynamic Range? | Leica SL3-P Video | Apple Price Hike – Focus Check ep123

July 2^nd, 20267

by Felix TappeinerJuly 2^nd, 2026

This week, Nino reports back from DJI’s Malta press event with first impressions of the Osmo Pocket 4P, Johnnie’s Leica SL3-P video review goes live, and Apple has a mixed week – raising MacBook and iPad prices while also shipping a meaningful Creator Studio update for Final Cut Pro.

We also cover Adobe’s planned acquisition of Topaz Labs, MultiDyne stepping in to save the MRMC motion-control brand, a new sun-tracking cinema viewfinder app, and a stack of smaller gear and firmware news. Here is everything we covered, with links to read more on each.

This episode is sponsored by Hollyland — check it out at 25:13.

Spotify

PlayerFM

DJI’s press event in Malta: Osmo Pocket 4P‘s 17-stop dynamic range claim

(05:32 in the episode)

Nino attended DJI’s Malta press event, the first hands-on opportunity with the new Osmo Pocket 4P. The event was well organized, though a review embargo (likely lasting until the end of July) means full impressions can’t be shared yet, even as the camera has already launched in China and the rest of Asia. What can be shared: the main 1-inch, 20mm camera’s headline 17-stop dynamic range claim, enabled by a new sensor technology called LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor), appears to hold up in early impressions – a genuinely new approach compared to the dual-gain technology used across the industry so far, which typically comes at the cost of rolling shutter. A proper CineD Lab Test is still pending, partly because the wide-angle lens makes standard IMATEST measurement setups prone to stray-light interference. The Pocket 4P’s new D-Log 2 profile (available only on the main 1-inch lens, not the 60mm tele) renders noticeably darker than standard D-Log, and switching between the two lenses currently requires separate user presets rather than one seamless toggle. A full review and a side-by-side CineD Lab Test against Insta360’s competing Luna Ultra 8K are both planned.

Review coming up!

Our review of the Leica SL3-P – including video footage!

(26:17 in the episode)

Following last week’s written review, Johnnie’s video review of the Leica SL3-P is now live. Autofocus and low-light performance both impressed him, and the color science remains the camera’s standout strength – helped along by two new, free LUTs (Cine and Pure) that Johnnie recommends trying even on Panasonic footage. One practical caveat from filming himself in 8K open-gate in a hot studio: the camera’s IP54 sealing, while great for weather resistance, also traps heat, causing it to shut down periodically during long takes indoors (outdoor shooting with shorter takes wasn’t an issue). The review also revisits Leica’s original SL Type 601 from 2015 for a colour-science comparison – footage from that 11-year-old, noise-reduction-free sensor still holds up remarkably well today.

7Artisans DREAM Series

(32:03 in the episode)

7Artisans has announced its new DREAM series of manual-focus cine lenses: 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm options, all T1.5 and full-frame, available for E, L, Z, and RF mounts. Pricing is aggressive even by 7Artisans’ standards, topping out at $299 for the 35mm and going as low as $279 for the 50mm. CineD hasn’t tested the lenses in-house, so build and optical quality remain unverified, but 7Artisans is upfront that the lenses trade some corner sharpness for character rather than aiming for clinical sharpness, a look Nino and Johnnie compared to older SIRUI glass like the Vista series. With manual cine lens releases continuing to flood the market at ever-lower prices, the hosts noted it’s becoming an increasingly crowded, race-to-the-bottom category.

Apple raises MacBook and iPad prices as AI memory crisis reaches consumer hardware

(37:07 in the episode)

In an unusual move, Apple has raised prices across the MacBook and iPad lineup, citing pressure from the ongoing AI-driven memory and storage crisis. The MacBook Neo now starts at $699 (up from $599) just months after its March launch, the 512GB MacBook Air moved from $1,099 to $1,299, the 1TB MacBook Pro jumped from $1,699 to $1,999, and the 128GB iPad Air rose from $599 to $749. The iPhone was excluded from this round of increases, but further price hikes across Apple’s lineup, and the wider industry, remain likely as component costs continue to climb.

Apple Creator Studio update adds generate captions, edit detection, and auto mask to Final Cut Pro

(40:04 in the episode)

Apple’s Creator Studio suite has picked up a substantial update, with several genuinely useful additions for Final Cut Pro on both Mac and iPad. A new generate captions function converts automatic transcripts directly into stylizable titles, rather than leaving them as plain caption metadata. Edit detection can now recognize cuts in an already-finished video, useful for cutting down existing edits, and auto mask builds on the existing magnetic mask AI tool by automatically identifying elements like people, skin, hair, and faces without manual tracking. The reworked match color function aims for more accurate results across varied footage and lighting, trimming gets frame-by-frame refinement for incoming and outgoing edits, and Motion and Compressor both pick up smaller updates, including immersive-video tools for Vision Pro workflows. Final Cut Camera, Apple’s free iPhone/iPad app, now supports clean HDMI output and ProRes LT recording, and Pixelmator Pro gains deeper round-trip integration with Final Cut Pro. Creator Studio remains available at $12.99/month or $129/year, with individual apps still purchasable separately.

XPPen Pilot Pro review – a versatile editing controller, but not for everyone

(52:32 in the episode)

CineD contributor Jeff, a professional editor and colorist, reviewed the XPPen Pilot Pro – a $200 editing controller with 19 programmable buttons and a jog wheel, along with presets for a range of NLE software. His verdict: it’s a strong pick for editors juggling several types of work – editing, color, photo retouching, streaming – but less compelling for anyone focused on one specific task, where a more specialized device might serve better. One notable limitation: the controller is right-hand only, so it isn’t an option for left-handed editors. CineD shared its findings with the manufacturer, who was receptive to the feedback and committed to improvements in future versions.

LIGHTFRAMER PRO app – turns iPhone into cinema viewfinder with sun tracking

(58:27 in the episode)

A new iPhone app, LIGHTFRAMER PRO, combines a cinema viewfinder with real-time sun-position tracking – letting users preview focal length and aspect ratio for a given camera setup while also seeing exactly where the sun will sit in frame at a given time and date. It also uses the iPhone’s LiDAR to generate a focus heat map, visualizing depth of field and acceptable focus range. It’s a one-time purchase at $19.99 / €29.99. Nino and Johnnie also noted a broader trend: they’re increasingly hearing from individual filmmakers building niche, purpose-built apps like this one, a shift driven by how much more accessible app development has become with tools like Claude Code and Codex.

MultiDyne acquires MRMC assets

(01:01:40 in the episode)

Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC), which was sold off by Nikon and then liquidated just six weeks after being acquired by a venture capital firm, has found a new home: broadcast infrastructure specialist Multidyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems has purchased the company’s assets. The MRMC name lives on, now standing for Multidyne Robotics and Motion Control rather than Mark Roberts Motion Control. Core technologies, intellectual property, and manufacturing capabilities are set to continue, with UK operations preserved to retain engineering expertise and existing customer relationships. It’s a rescue that echoes the earlier ARRI/Riedel deal in the broadcast-to-cinema space.

Adobe to acquire Topaz Labs

(01:05:33 in the episode)

Adobe has announced its intention to acquire Topaz Labs, widely regarded as the maker of the best image and video upscaling models on the market and already deeply integrated into Adobe’s own products. Standalone Topaz apps are expected to continue for now, though Nino noted Adobe’s track record with past acquisitions like Frame.io suggests that independence may not last indefinitely. The deal comes as Adobe faces pressure on multiple fronts, having lost over 40% of its stock value in the past six months amid competition from free or lower-cost alternatives, including Canva’s Affinity suite and Blackmagic Design’s expanding photo tools inside DaVinci Resolve. No financial terms have been disclosed yet.

AtomOS 12.7.0 for Ninja RAW, Ninja TX, and Ninja TX GO

(01:11:21 in the episode)

Atomos has updated AtomOS to version 12.7.0 for its Ninja RAW, Ninja TX, and Ninja TX GO recorders, adding external RAW support for the Sony α7R VI, Canon EOS R6 V, and Leica SL3-P – none of which offer internal RAW recording. The update also brings improved CFexpress card compatibility, an option to disable camera-to-cloud uploads while recording, and a fix for UHD-to-HD output downscaling at 23.98 and 24 fps.

ARRI LUKA Unreal Engine plugin

(01:12:46 in the episode)

ARRI’s new LUKA plugin brings ARRI’s full lighting and camera catalog into Unreal Engine as accurate virtual replicas built from ARRI’s own photometric data, letting productions design and test lighting and camera setups virtually before ever stepping onto a physical set. Because lighting and camera live in the same virtual scene, previsualization decisions – exposure, lens choice, stop – can be made together rather than in isolation. The tool includes 21 light actors (including some discontinued fixtures still available to rent), DMX/ArtNet/sACN integration, and a free three-month trial, though it’s currently Windows-only and aimed at commercial customers. It’s another sign of ARRI’s growing push into software and recurring-revenue services alongside its hardware business.

DaVinci Resolve 21.0.1

(01:17:11 in the episode)

Blackmagic Design has released DaVinci Resolve 21.0.1, a small but useful update bringing more accurate RAW decoding for consistent color, support for Sony Alpha 7R VI RAW stills on the Photo page, improved HDR metadata handling so exported H.265 HDR files are more reliably recognized by TVs, and reliability improvements for AI Cinefocus, alongside a range of minor fixes. It’s available now for both the free and Studio versions.

rsv.repair by OTTOMATIC – free recovery tool for Sony .RSV files

(01:18:48 in the episode)

German developer OTTOMATIC has released rsv.repair, a free, browser-based tool for recovering interrupted or corrupted Sony .RSV recordings – a problem that previously often meant paying around $50 per file through third-party services. Users simply drop a damaged file into the browser, preview the recovered footage, and download the fixed version; processing happens locally in the browser rather than via file upload. The tool generated an unusually large amount of engagement on CineD’s social channels, with many creators sharing past experiences of losing footage to the same issue.

KIPON drop-in variable ND PL mount adapter

(01:21:55 in the episode)

KIPON has introduced a drop-in variable ND PL mount adapter for Sony E and Nikon Z mount cameras, designed with a deep-recessed housing to accommodate PL lenses with protruding rear elements that don’t fit many existing adapters. The variable ND uses two rotating circular polarizers rather than an electronic system. It’s made in Japan and priced at $700, with a 15% discount available when bundled with KIPON’s 0.7x Pro-Log adapter for Mamiya 645 lenses.

iFootage Shark Slider Pico Pro

(01:23:51 in the episode)

iFootage has released the Shark Slider Pico Pro, building on the original Shark Slider Pico with a higher payload capacity – up from 1.1kg to 1.5kg horizontally – while actually weighing slightly less, at 0.82kg. It also swaps in a color LCD screen in place of the previous digital display. Pricing remains affordable at $300 for the Pro (versus $200 for the standard Pico), notable for a motorized, motion-control-capable slider with pre-programmable movement built in.

Firmware updates for the Canon EOS C50, C80, and C400

(01:27:01 in the episode)

Canon has released new firmware for the EOS C50 (version 1.0.4.1), C80, and C400 (both version 1.0.6.1). Highlights include external control of select camera functions via USB, automatic reconnection attempts for SRT protocol streaming, a revised level indicator that changes color when the camera is level, and fixes for smartphone USB recognition, among other smaller improvements. The updates are available now, free of charge, via Canon’s regional support pages.

You can watch and listen to the full video episode of Focus Check ep123 embedded on top, and find all episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.