IBC2024 — a convention based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, brings together tech, community, business professionals, and content. If you are into gear like we are, you have more likely than not heard of it. This year, It runs from September 13th through the 16th at the RAI (Amsterdam’s Convention Center) and is not one to overlook; the atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. You can network and build up your accessibility to familiarize yourself with brands, draw inspiration, and discover new opportunities, all while getting handmade pasta and refreshments like an espresso at a booth. The thoughtfulness of the creators and business people alike is unmatched.
Day one of IBC2024
The day started with rain bouncing off people’s raincoats and a cool 50 degrees, but no one seemed to mind. A sea of backpacks stood all around me, eager to get through the lines first, and seeing the new releases brought smiles to people’s faces. Cameras, gimbals, and phone rigs were everywhere, and from there, the preparations began. In my role, I manage content, ensuring we have all the assets needed to publish on 42west and AdoramaTV, so I quickly whipped out my phone, along with the video team, and checked the app they offered, saving the locations of each booth we wanted to swing by and interview. Before I continue, I’d like to point out a few things that made this venture go smoothly. Now, how do I brag about this win without overly sharing how easy this process has been? Right! Yeah, write a blog post about it and share it universally.
When we heard that part of our content team would attend, we immediately signed up for passes, ensuring we had a seat at the table. This brought us dozens of emails filling our inboxes with brands worldwide who wanted us to stop by and check out what they had to offer. The convenience of booking appointments ahead of time and getting a list together was seamless. Not only that, but we were also in the know every step of the way, from getting our media badges ahead of time (at the Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport when we landed) to getting a 4-day travel pass to attend the convention and for the use of anything in between — efficient!
Travel goods I brought to the show
- My Apple MacBook Air laptop, along with its charger
- Phone plus global power adapter with IBC2024 app installed for quick access
- The Fujifilm X-T5 with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8, the XF 33mm f/1.4 R lenses (including extra batteries), and my SanDisk cards
- Pen and Moleskine notebook
- My backpack
- An adapter in case I need to upload anything to my hard drive
- My wraps to keep it all protected
- Headphones in case I need to listen to footage
Of course, you can add or remove several things, such as business cards and water bottles, for less runaround and hydration.
Awe-striking Gear
Regarding product launches, we often look for that “wow” factor. A common question is, “What makes this special?” Whether it’s a new cinema camera, a fresh take on a wide-angle lens, or the latest LED lighting, we analyzed the IBC2024 exhibitors listed and scheduled the ones that made sense. Here are some we tackled on day 1. We will be doing three days, so stay tuned for the videos rolling out on our YouTube channel!
A speedy rundown of new releases
Godox ML60Bi & ML30Bi LED Video 3-Light Kit
Godox has created a kit for various uses, the ML60Bi ML30Bi LED 3-Light package, perfect for videographers needing more power and control of their lighting to soften, redirect or bounce indoors and out. It has the ML60Bi Bi-Color LED head and two ML30Bi Bi-Color LED heads. Each light has a reflector, protective cover, tripod adapter, and power cable. Additionally, it comes with two rectangular softboxes, a 25.6″ octa-type softbox, a collapsible soft tent, a diffusion dome, and a grip. These accessories can help create detail, contrast, and enhance the color of the footage. Plus, we also covered the Godox Hard RGB LED Video Light Panel, which you can hear about here!
Aputure STORM 1200x Bi-Color LED Monolight
This 1200W tunable-white light fixture puts out as much as an 1800W HMI and features a BLAIR chipset that includes blue, lime, amber, indigo, and red LEDs. It boasts ratings with a CRI and TLCI of 95, a CQS of 96, and SSI scores of 87 for P3200 and CIE D5600. It also has a new ProLock locking Bowens mount, ensuring everything stays secure and aligned. Plus, it’s built to last with IP65 weather resistance—what’s not to love? Use it on production sets or in a studio on your next project!
SmallRig x Potato Jet Tribex Hydraulic Carbon Fiber Tripod
A carbon fiber tripod that is quick and easy enough to use with one hand. Seth, our 6’1 video host, latched on to it, testing its strength, and it did not collapse. It has hydraulic X-Clutch Technology that can unfold while adjusting angles in seconds. A 4-step counterbalance system, at max 6kg, gives you accurate tilt control.
Nikon | RED N-Log LUTs
The Nikon Z series released four creative LUTs made with RED color science. Each LUT is tailored for N-log footage, making it perfect for on-set monitoring and creative color grading. Plus, it works with any post-production software that supports LUTs.
You can download all of the LUTs for free on Nikon’s website.
DZOFILM Arles Prime Cine Lenses
DZOFILM concluded its Arles’ B set of lenses, including the 14mm, 21mm, 40mm, 135mm, and 180mm. This expands the lineup by five lenses, adding a more expansive and extended option to your selections. It is perfect for filmmakers who need high-quality glass and fast primes.
Plus, they mentioned Thypoch Simera-C lenses — a series of exceptional, compact, full-frame sets with an organic look. Easy for run-and-gun scenarios or travel days where you want to pack light. The lineup include, 21mm T1.5, 28mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and 75mm T1.5.
Blackmagic Design URSA Cine 17K 65 Cinema Camera
Blackmagic Design now offers a 17K resolution camera with a large-format 65mm RGBW sensor, 17,520 x 8,040 pixels, capable of 16 stops of dynamic range. The camera has interchangeable PL, LPL, and Hasselblad lens mounts.
OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD
It’s up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 is compatible with several devices, such as Macs, PCs, iPad Pros, Chromebooks, and Surface laptops. The SSD is designed to withstand water, dust, and crushing. It also has a built-in Thunderbolt cable and a fan-less aluminum design for heat excess, available in 2.0TB and 4.0TB.
Zhiyun C100 Cinepeer LED Light Wand
The C100 Cinepeer packs a punch for such a small fixture, with 100w of power output and a CRI 95 rating. This RGBWW light has a CCT mode with a bi-color range of 2700K-6500K and a full 360-degree RGBWW mode with a 36,000-color palette.
My Reflection on IBC2024
Looking back at today, industry experts highlighted how crucial IBC is for networking, brainstorming, and sharing ideas in the media and tech scene. Being there really showed how important the event is for encouraging teamwork and fresh ideas in the field. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry—we will have 3+ videos of what we covered, but look into booking your trip for next year; they have dates already. Also, I’ll see you next time to those who have become familiar faces and always spruce up good conversations.
