PRONEWS Award 2023 Vol. 03 - Accessories

PRONEWS AWARD 2023

What is our PRONEWS Award – winning accessories for 2023?

For the PRONEWS Award 2023 Accessories category, we mainly evaluate peripherals related to cameras and audio.

The highlight of this category is the camera gimbal. The gimbal market is famous for the four major manufacturers: DJI, ZHIYUN, FeiyuTech, and MOZA, and this year, the “DJI RS 3 Mini” and “ZHIYUN CRANE-M 3S”, which are small and lightweight, have appeared. “The powerful RS 3 Mini vs. the compact and highly portable CRANE-M 3S.” Both have similar small gimbal specifications, and the ultimate choice has become a hot topic.

Regarding tripods, Heiwa Seiki Kogyo has announced the TH-V, a higher-end model of the TH series. It received high praise at the Inter BEE venue for its dual-head design and stable quality, but it was not nominated for this AWARD because it will be released in mid-February 2024. Although not nominated, SmallRig, SIRUI, and Ulanzi also released tripods and heads throughout 2023. Chinese accessory manufacturers seem to be building a brand image for tripods and heads as well.

The finalists in the accessories category are as follows:

DJI RS 3 Mini

Release date: January 10, 2023

The DJI RS 3 Mini weighs when shooting vertically is 795g, which is lightweight. This gimbal is approximately 50% lighter than DJI RS 3 Pro, and approximately 40% lighter than DJI RS 3, allowing for easy one-handed shooting. It supports a payload of 0.4 to 2 kg, and can be balanced depending on the lens in combination with the LUMIX S5 series and Z 8. In terms of operation, it is equipped with a 1.4-inch full-color touch screen, an M button that allows you to switch between the gimbal’s three follow modes, and a front dial that allows you to adjust focus, making it easy to operate with just one hand.

Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro

Release date: March 2023

As an upgrade from the previous model, the Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro is equipped with noise canceling (ENC technology) and push-to-talk (PTT) functions. It features advanced DECT 6.0 technology, 150Hz-7kHz wideband audio range, up to 350m LOS range for 2-9 people, and a portable design without a belt pack. It is suitable for use in loud environments such as music venues, sporting events, and video production, and is also compatible with Solidcom C1, allowing users to add Pro headsets to their existing C1 system.

ZHIYUN CRANE-M 3S

Release date: May 2023

The “Zhiyun CRANE-M 3S” is the successor to CRANE M3. Perfect for travel, live streaming, and interviews. It is compact at 705g and has a higher load capacity than the previous model for mainstream full-frame cameras and lens combinations. The size is 284.2 mm (width) x 74.5 mm (depth) x 163.5 mm (height), and it has a monochrome professional appearance and a stylish impression. Equipped with a Bluetooth shutter, you can zoom and record with one touch, so you can easily take pictures without complicated cable connections. Furthermore, the 2-in-1 quick release with a plate customized for each camera model allows batteries to be replaced on most cameras without assembling or disassembling the camera.

Tilta Nucleus Nano II

Release date: September 2023

PRONEWSAWARD2023_vol03 explanatory photo

It has been about 6 years since the release of the previous model Nucleus-Nano (WLC-T04), which is a small Nucleus series. The long-awaited upgraded version is now available as the Tilta Nucleus Nano II. The highlight is the large 1.6-inch touch screen, which allows users to centralize and control almost all functions. The previous model was small and had a simple design with only focus operations, but now it is equipped with a circular touch screen and all settings can be operated with one finger. Currently, in addition to the basic function of follow focus, it can also control the camera and wirelessly update firmware.

RØDE Wireless PRO

Release date: October 27, 2023

High-quality sound is achieved with a transmission distance of up to 260 m (line of sight), over 40 hours of onboard recording with 32-bit float, seamless synchronization of audio and video with time code output, and a locking connector for the lavalier microphone terminal. It is said that it will be used not only for recording, but also in professional settings where a flexible and reliable production flow is required. It is also equipped with a gain assist function that automatically adjusts the volume to the optimal volume at all times, allowing anyone to easily record audio that is easy to hear and upload it to distribution in real time without having to make detailed gain adjustments. “Wireless PRO” is packed with numerous functions into a compact body, and is said to bring new possibilities to video production sites.

Accsoon CineView Nano

Release date: October 2023

The Accsoon CineView Nano is a small HDMI wireless transmitter with a range of about 150m. Designed for the latest mirrorless cameras and connects to iPhone, iPad, and some Android smartphones and tablets at 5GHz frequency. When combined with the free Accsoon SEE app, it transforms your phone or tablet into a full-featured HD monitoring and streaming solution.

Since the CineView Nano can use the monitor of a smartphone you already own, it doesn’t take up much space in your bag, making it ideal for traveling.

Apple MacBook Pro M3

Release date: November 7, 2023

The new MacBook Pro lineup features M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max from the M3 chip family. The M3 family, with its next-generation GPU architecture and faster CPU, brings even better performance and new features. Powered by the top-of-the-line M3 Max, MacBook Pro delivers performance and features that push the boundaries. It is designed to enable workflows and multitasking across multiple professional apps for users such as machine learning programmers, 3D artists, and video editors.

ATOMOS NINJA

Release date: November 7, 2023

ATOMOS announces camera-mounted monitor recorders ``New Ninja'' and ``Ninja Ultra.'' Latest generation of “Ninja” series

The Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra are equipped with a completely updated operating system, “AtomOS 11.” The hardware performance has been optimized for AtomOS 11, making it cleaner, fresher, and faster. It also has many new features such as color images that refer to EL zone exposure, ARRI false color, and a new schedule playback and recording function. Both models feature polycarbonate bodies with a distinctive “camo” color, and are equipped with more codecs as standard. In addition to 6K ProRes RAW, ProRes, and DNxHD, H.265, which was previously a paid option, is now included as standard.

The following are the nominated products in the camera category.

Below are the winners of the PRONEWS Award 2023 – Accessories.

PRONEWS AWARD 2023 Accessories Category Gold Award

Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro

Talk through walls or from a distance, make production communication stress-free. The Gold Award was given to Hollyland in recognition of its ability to contribute to improving the quality of video production through smoother collaboration.

This is the second consecutive year that Hollyland won the award in the audio equipment category, following the Gold Award for Solidcom C1. The Pro version released this year is equipped with a noise canceling function, making it easier to hear even in noisy live venues. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Solidcom C1 Pro is essential for collaboration at multi-camera shooting sites.

PRONEWS AWARD 2023 Accessories Division Silver Award

RØDE Wireless PRO

Wireless microphones that are worth buying are now available. Equipped with 32-bit float recording, 32GB internal memory on each transmitter, time code output, and a locking connector to prevent cables from falling out, the set of two lavalier microphones costs $599. The Silver Award was given to the product in recognition of its ability to pack a large number of functions into a compact body at an affordable price.

We are sure many staff members feel at ease with the inclusion of 32-bit float recording, which completely changes the flow of microphone recording. It’s a minor detail, but the locking connector is also a nice improvement. It was also praised for being able to securely fix the microphone, eliminating the worry of it accidentally coming out during use.