Leica SL3-P Review & Lab Test | DJI Ronin 4D Poll | Immersive BBC Proms | A Wave of New Apps – Focus Check ep122

June 25^th, 2026

by Felix TappeinerJune 25^th, 2026

This week’s podcast’s headline act is Leica’s new SL3-P, which Johnnie took for a full spin in his review. At the same time, the CineD lab crew ran it across the bench, and the picture that emerges is a camera of gorgeous color science wrapped around some genuinely puzzling video limitations. Make sure to check out our Leica SL3-P Lab Test for detailed information.

We also dig into the results of our DJI Ronin 4D successor poll, an immersive BBC Proms production shot for Apple Vision Pro, a flurry of clever on-set apps that feel very much born of the vibe-coding era, SMPTE tearing down a century-old paywall, two pieces of FUJIFILM news, fresh DZOFILM glass adapters, and a new warranty program from CVP. Here is everything we covered, with links to read more on each.

Leica SL3-P review: gorgeous color rendition, confusing menu

(05:58 in the episode)

Johnnie took the Leica SL3-P for a spin and came away impressed by its color science above all else. The camera carries a 44-megapixel BSI sensor with 8K open-gate recording, and although it shares core hardware with the Panasonic LUMIX S1R II, the two diverge sharply on the software side. For Johnnie, the SL3-P’s Log curve and skin-tone rendition are simply superior to Panasonic’s V-Log – the single biggest reason to reach for the Leica. Leica itself frames the SL3-P as roughly a 70/30 split, favoring photography over video. That balance shows: there is no internal RAW video (HDMI RAW to Atomos and Blackmagic recorders is promised), internal ProRes tops out at 5.8K, and the menu, while clearly worked on, can be a maze – anamorphic de-squeeze and other key functions are buried deep. The build is tank-like and IP54-rated, the new Cine and Pure LUTs are lovely, and Floating ISO is a welcome touch for documentary work. It is a capable all-rounder, but it sits at a high price next to its half-the-cost step-sibling.

Leica SL3-P Lab Test – rolling shutter, dynamic range, and exposure latitude

(07:53 in the episode)

We ran the Leica SL3-P through our standardized Lab Test, and the results are a mixed bag. Rolling shutter is the clear weak spot: at 8K25p with Dynamic Range Expansion (DRE) “ON” we measured 31.9ms, a very poor figure for 2026, improving to 23.9ms with DRE “OFF.” Dropping to C6K (5760×3040) at 47.95–59.94fps brings a much more usable 15.5ms with only a slight 1.04x crop. Dynamic range lands in the middle territory for consumer full-frame, with IMATEST showing 11.7 stops at SNR = 2 and 13 stops at SNR = 1 at the base native ISO – and curiously, the second, higher native ISO delivers almost a full stop more, likely down to extra in-camera noise reduction. Exposure latitude comes in at a slightly borderline but respectable 9 usable stops, though pushed shadows take on a stubborn pinkish tint. All in, very close to the LUMIX S1R II, but the Panasonic’s image pipeline handles noise and color in the deep shadows more gracefully.

Poll: what would you want from a DJI Ronin 4D successor?

(27:36 in the episode)

Our Ronin 4D poll drew a surprising amount of engagement for what remains a niche camera – now five years old and still without a true copycat in the market. Of those who responded, a striking share own or have used one. Asked what they would most want to see next, the largest group favored a direct Ronin 4D Mark II, while smaller cohorts called for a lighter travel-friendly version, a 65mm variant, or a modular fourth-axis unit that bolts onto a standard gimbal. On what to fix, respondents pointed to heavier and longer lens support, weight and operator fatigue, more reliable LiDAR autofocus (ideally combined with face detection), and CFexpress Type B media support. The overall takeaway: clear, detailed demand from experienced operators – and a gentle nudge to DJI to take note.

Interview with “Debut at the BBC Proms” director Ian Russell

(44:44 in the episode)

Nino sat down with director Ian Russell to talk through “Debut at the BBC Proms,” the longest immersive video Apple has released to date and now streaming in the Apple TV app. Shot on the URSA Cine Immersive at London’s Royal Albert Hall around a live performance, the production demanded a wholesale rethink of framing, distance, and how a viewer experiences a scene – watched on a Vision Pro, it places you right in the audience. The conversation ranges across the practical challenges of the format, the sheer volume of footage involved, and where immersive concert and event capture might head next.

Turn your iPhone into a LiDAR rangefinder

(51:19 in the episode)

This clever app turns the LiDAR sensor already built into your iPhone into a focusing aid for Tilta’s Nucleus-M II and Nucleus-Nano II. One iPhone connects to the motor via Bluetooth as usual; a second iPhone, mounted to the camera, supplies the LiDAR data and a bird’s-eye view of your focus marks – effectively a low-cost alternative to dedicated LiDAR focusing systems like the DJI Focus Pro. The basic version is free, with a 23-euro one-time pro unlock adding features such as importing RNG files from the RecSync app and converting RELDA files for the Nucleus-M II. Another tidy example of an on-set pain point solved in software.

RingThing focus ring label maker app for ARRI Hi-5, WCU-4, and Tilta Nucleus-M II

(55:03 in the episode)

Marking up focus rings by hand is a tedious, lens-by-lens chore, and RingThing sets out to fix it. The app lets you generate precise marking rings for the ARRI Hi-5, WCU-4, and Tilta Nucleus-M II and print them out – a small but genuinely smart idea aimed squarely at first ACs who know the pain. Like several releases this week, it has the feel of something built by someone who lived the problem firsthand.

Mavis Studio update

(56:36 in the episode)

Mavis Studio, the fully featured live production and camera-control app we first covered at NAB, has picked up a meaningful update. The new release brings NDI preview, PTZ camera control, and USB audio support to the iPad, pushing multicam workflows that once needed dedicated hardware further into a single tablet. A strong sign of how capable these mobile production tools are becoming.

First Rush 2.1

(58:02 in the episode)

First Rush, from Korean on-set editor Jingyu Han, is a macOS multicam SDI recorder that follows each camera’s rec flag to capture Apple ProRes – already named, timecoded, and organized for Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Now at version 2.1, it adds full scopes, real-time compositing, SDI clip playback, and an iPhone/iPad companion viewer. Another capable, software-first on-set tool worth a look.

Eddie AI integrates with Iconik for AI-assisted MAM workflows

(1:00:44 in the episode)

A new integration connects Iconik’s media asset management with Eddie AI for AI-assisted editing. Teams can move selected media and proxies from Iconik into Eddie AI, generate logs, topic-based string-outs, bins, and rough cuts, then export editable sequences to NLEs such as Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. A small but steady step forward for Eddie’s ecosystem.

SMPTE opens its entire standards catalog for free

(1:02:17 in the episode)

SMPTE has made its entire catalog – published standards, recommended practices, engineering guidelines, and registered disclosure documents, plus all future releases – free to anyone, dropping fees that previously ran over a hundred dollars per document. Beyond the obvious win for developers and filmmakers, there is a telling subtext: with large language models already able to surface much of this material, the paywall had arguably stopped working. Opening the gates should only accelerate innovation in the apps and hardware built around these standards.

FUJIFILM Fujikina returns to New York in October

(1:06:05 in the episode)

FUJIFILM’s Fujikina celebration returns to New York City from October 16–18, its first U.S. outing since 2022. Rather than a trade show, Fujikina is a hands-on event where visitors can see work made with FUJIFILM cameras and try the gear themselves. Registration is already open via FUJIFILM’s website, though workshop details are still to come.

FUJIFILM GFX Challenge Grant Program 2026

(1:07:37 in the episode)

FUJIFILM’s GFX Challenge Grant, running since 2021 and increasingly relevant to filmmakers, is open for submissions. Creators pitch an idea via a submission form; selected projects pass through review and interview stages and receive equipment – including, for the first time, the GFX Eterna camera – along with funding and production support. Submissions run until August 17th, with FUJIFILM reviewing entries from August 18th to September 6th and selecting fifteen projects across three geographic regions.

DZOFILM Octopus II and Marlin 1.4x extender announced

(1:11:08 in the episode)

DZOFILM has released two new adapters. The Octopus II is a second-generation multi-mount adapter supporting E, Z, L, and RF mounts across Super 35, full-frame, and medium-format sensors, now around 50% lighter than its predecessor and priced at roughly $200. The Marlin 1.4x extender boosts focal length by 1.4x with under a stop of light loss, letting Super 35 glass cover full-frame sensors – stepping into the territory long held by Metabones, at about $800 / 700 euros.

CVP launches Warranty+

(1:12:26 in the episode)

CVP, our European retail sponsor, has launched Warranty+, offering up to four extra years of coverage after the standard manufacturer warranty ends. Selectable at purchase across CVP’s inventory, it is backed worldwide by CVP’s ProRepairs engineers and authorized partners – a welcome safety net for expensive gear, with the usual caveat to check exactly what each policy covers.

Breaking the framing rules – new “Storytelling Sessions webinar on June 30th

(1:13:34 in the episode)

Our Storytelling Sessions return with “Breaking the Framing Rules,” hosted again by Mascha Deikova on June 30th. It is free to attend live, after which it moves into MZed Pro for subscribers. Following an exceptionally well-attended previous session, it is well worth catching live.

You can watch and listen to the full video episode of Focus Check ep122 embedded on top, and find all episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.