Alright everyone, Inter BEE 2024 is underway! We will be covering the event for all 3 days this year, and will report in on all the goings-on, new products, and featured gear! This Inter BEE 2024 Recap will focus primarily on the large booths hosted by the main camera makers – Fujifilm, Canon, Sony, Blackmagic Design, Nikon and RED, and Panasonic LUMIX. For more coverage of specific booths, please check out this link here: Inter BEE 2024 BOOTHS
Recap Day 1 – A Focus on Broadcasting and Movie Cameras at Inter BEE 2024
From the onset, it was clear the industry is making a huge focus on making their cameras not just for photography, but for cinematography as well. For established movie camera makers like RED and Blackmagic, their goal this year seemed to appeal to a broader creative audience with more creative budgets.
Fujifilm
First off, on display prominently at Fujifilm, as we covered in this review, was the new GFX ETERNA. Harnessing the large format sensor power from the photography-influenced GFX cameras with a package made for filmmaking, this camera was very popular today, with a huge crowd surrounding the prototype. Additionally, the focus of the Fujifilm booth was on their GFX 100II and Premista lenses.
Blackmagic Design
Two cameras at Blackmagic Design’s booth at Inter BEE 2024 stood out for this recap – the new PYXIS and the URSA Cinema Immersive. We will cover these cameras more in the specific Blackmagic booth, but both cameras represent the aforementioned market switches in the camera industry.
The PYXIS, a ¥500,000/$3000 6K cinematic camera with all the functionality of an URSA but with an easy to transport size, represents the broader audience appeal for cinematic cameras.
Blackmagic also had their newer studio camera with an L mount on display. That camera impressive to use. Connected with Blackmagic’s ATEM switchers, these cameras are affordable yet powerful broadcasting cameras.
Canon
Canon’s focus this year was practical applications of their newest cinematic cameras. The Canon EOS C400 is set up in their booth touch and try.
Multiple different types of Canon lenses showcase the variety of ways this camera’s able to be used. Additionally, Canon’s Virtual Production System takes center stage, next to the models filmed by the cameras. They also showcased their new EOS C80 6K camera.
Nikon and RED
Nikon’s continued investments in the field of videography are on full display at Inter BEE 2024, and for this recap, we will touch on their new partnership with RED. RED Digital Cinema’s distributor in Japan, RAID, also has a prominent position next to the Nikon booth.
First, they showcased their first power zoom lens announced previously, paired with a Nikon Z9, marketed as the Nikon filmmaking powerhouse. Another popular camera at their booth is their just-announced-this-month Nikon Z50II. This camera has, for the first time in one of their APS-C cameras, the XPEED7 engine brings full-frame AF power to a camera marketed to beginner users.
SONY
Sony’s booth this year focused less on the new cameras and more on their broadcasting and cloud technology. Demos on the Creators Cloud and their new monitors highlighted their booth. Cameras like their new TV camera, the Sony PXW-Z200 and HXR-NX800, along with the high-sensitivity HDC-P50A, were the highlights for this Inter BEE 2024 recap.
Panasonic – LUMIX
Panasonic focuses Inter BEE primarily on the data management and broadcasting solutions like their vaunted KAIROS. There is a small touch and try setup with their newest LUMIX cameras, however. The LUMIX S5II and Lumix GH7 are positioned beside each other with high-end monitors, allowing you to compare the two. The GH7 released this year caught the attention of a number of younger guests.
Day 1 Summary-Filmmaking Gear for All
Inter BEE is always entertaining from a creators’s point of view. One can see the very latest in filmmaking technology being showcased, and this year an emphasis is bringing this tech to the masses. As we move forward into the rest of the event, we will further showcase this new tech in other fields. Tomorrow, let’s focus more on lenses and cinematic gear.