A newly released digital cinema camera called the Novo is designed to provide filmmakers with the power and versatility of the GoPro Hero3 but with fewer cinematic limitations.
The Novo, engineered and created by View Factor Studios, is available for rental exclusively at Radiant Images, an L.A.-based rental house and digital cinema innovator that collaborated on the design and function. The two companies jointly announced the release of the Novo on Friday.
The Novo is viewed as an ideal solution for cinematographers who are enamored with the capabilities of the new GoPro Hero3 but held back by the Hero3’s cinematic limitations.
Key features of the Novo include a C-mount lens system plus a PL mount adapter with back focus adjustment, which allows for extreme macro shooting. The lens mount eliminates the fish-eye look, or bubble effect, noted with the GoPro. In addition, the Novo offers exposure control capabilities that open up a wide-range of artistic possibilities for cinematographers and camera operators. The auto exposure function standard with the GoPro can be disabled on the Novo, permitting cinematographers to use the lens to manually adjust the aperture.
The lightweight aluminum housing itself is 20 percent thinner than the GoPro Hero3, fits into the palm of a hand, and includes three 1/4-20 and two 10-32 mounting points. Also, four buttons on the front (REC, PWR, WiFi & AUX) are assignable to several functions depending on the application. The Aux button turns the auto exposure on/off, but in the near future will also be utilized for other functions, such as digital zoom, a tool to check critical focus.
The Novo offers these enhanced cinematic features while also retaining the GoPro Hero3: Black Edition‘s key functionality and accessories, such as the LCD touch screen, power backpack and WiFi connectivity for wireless camera control. Like the GoPro, the Novo also shoots cinema-quality 2K and 4K resolution.
Michael Mansouri, co-founder of Radiant Images, pointed out that the Latin word Novo means “to make anew, refresh, revive, change, alter, invent.”
“Every word of that definition fits what we were able to accomplish with the Novo camera,” Mansouri said. “The Novo retains what is great about the GoPro Hero3 but goes a step further to create a powerful new tool to help cinematographers get the difficult shots and achieve their artistic vision without compromise.”
Curt von Badinski, Head of Technical Operations at View Factor Studios
