Focus Check

In this special episode of Focus Check, Johnnie sits down with our guests David Kellermann and Viola Evang, the co-founders of Glaswerk Optics – a German lens manufacturer developing high-end 2x anamorphic cinema lenses. Tune in to this candid conversation about their seven-year journey: from a client arriving with a box of old projection lenses, to engineering some of the most meticulously designed anamorphic glass currently in development. The Glaswerk ONE and ONE+ prime sets are on the verge of shipping, and the story behind them is anything but straightforward.

 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:45) Meet David and Viola – filmmakers turned lens makers

(05:30) The moment a client's box of projection lenses changed everything

(09:37) Going full frame and funding the project

(13:08) The decision to go high-end: no compromises

(16:36) First prototype at Cine Gear LA 2019 – the last-screw story

(20:19) The development team: optical designers, mechanics, electronics

(24:48) The ONE and ONE+: lens design, weight, and bokeh

(29:24) Flares, coatings, and customisation

(34:00) Why so long? Perfectionism, COVID, and metadata

(35:52) Clients, pricing, and who buys these lenses

(37:12) DCS metadata: why Glaswerk chose a different standard

(44:31) Simulating lenses in 3D: Lens Sim plugin and Hübner Photonics

(43:01) Final thoughts on the ONE / ONE+ before launch

(44:31) Shipping a cinema lens in 2026: the market has changed

(49:17) Could Glaswerk make lower-end lenses one day?

(52:37) Wrap-up

➡ Visit Glaswerk's website: https://glaswerk-optics.de/

📬 Email us: [email protected]

In this episode of Focus Check, Nino speaks with Biro Florin — entrepreneur, misfit, and founder of Masterwork Films — about his unconventional path from cosmetics and software to running a green screen virtual production studio in Brighton, UK. They also dive deep into the new Virtual Production for Beginners course now available on MZed, which Biro co-created to help filmmakers, studio owners, and virtual production engineers build their own VP setups from scratch — without the budget of a Hollywood LED volume.

🎓 Virtual Production for Beginners course on MZed:

https://www.mzed.com/courses/virtual-production-for-beginners

Chapters and Articles in This Episode

(01:19) Meet Biro Florin

(03:26) From Romania to the UK: cosmetics, software, and an $8M exit

(07:01) The "Misfit" mindset: Jexo, Masterwork Films, and entering industries sideways

(17:13) Raising investment: finding ethical investors and protecting creative control

(22:32) AI in filmmaking: the commercial shift, Cannes AI features, and what's defensible

(46:10) Pivoting to filmmaking and founding Masterwork Films

(50:55) Building a green screen VP studio on a budget

(01:05:14) Why Blackmagic cameras work best for real-time keying

(01:12:36) Blackmagic UltraKey, dynamic range, and getting a clean key

(01:12:55) Unreal Engine workflows: compositing inside vs. outside the engine

(01:15:49) Course structure, the 100-page workbook, and upcoming chapters

(01:17:40) Understanding business

🎓 Virtual Production for Beginners course on MZed:

https://www.mzed.com/courses/virtual-production-for-beginners

📖 Course overview on CineD:

https://www.cined.com/virtual-production-for-beginners-new-mzed-course-on-green-screen-stages-unreal-engine-and-real-time-compositing/ 

📬 Email us: [email protected]

Nino shares what it was like to be embedded in the ARRI ALEXA 35 broadcast deployment at Eurovision 2026, followed by discussions of the newly released Insta360 Mic Pro, Graham’s review of the Profoto ProPanel 3×2 LED soft panel, two ASUS ProArt OLED monitor reviews, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra smartphone, a Sony a7 V firmware update, the Thypoch Voyager 24–50mm f/2.8 lens, the ARRI Omnibar LED bars, the NANLUX Matrix 2500 series, the Godox RS100R/Bi, a recap of the our MZed storytelling webinar, and an educational deep-dive into the SnorriCam.

00:00 Intro & topic outlook

1:00 ARRI ALEXA 35 Live at Eurovision 2026 – CineD Goes Behind the Scenes of the Biggest Broadcast Deployment in ARRI History

https://www.cined.com/arri-alexa-35-live-at-eurovision-2026-cined-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-biggest-broadcast-deployment-in-arri-history/

33:10 Insta360 Mic Pro Released – E-Ink Display, 32-Bit Float Recording, Adjustable Pickup Pattern

https://www.cined.com/insta360-mic-pro-released-e-ink-display-32-bit-float-recording-adjustable-pickup-pattern/

18:30 Profoto ProPanel 3×2 Review – The World's Brightest LED Soft Panel?

https://www.cined.com/profoto-propanel-3x2-the-worlds-brightest-led-soft-panel-light/

28:15 ASUS ProArt OLED PA27USD Review – On-Set 4K OLED with 12G-SDI and Built-In Colorimeter

https://www.cined.com/asus-proart-oled-pa27usd-review-on-set-4k-oled-with-12g-sdi-and-built-in-colorimeter/

33:10 ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32USD Announced – 31.5-Inch 4K QD-OLED with Dual 12G-SDI and 1000-Nit HDR

https://www.cined.com/asus-proart-display-oled-pa32usd-announced-31-5-inch-4k-qd-oled-with-dual-12g-sdi-and-1000-nit-hdr/

36:36 OPPO Find X9 Ultra Coming Soon – 8K Log Recording, 4K 120fps Dolby Vision, and an ACES-Certified Color Pipeline

https://www.cined.com/oppo-find-x9-ultra-coming-soon-8k-log-recording-4k-120fps-dolby-vision-and-an-aces-certified-color-pipeline/

44:00 Sony a7 V Firmware v2.00 Adds 32-Bit Float Audio With Adapter, Preset Focus, and More

https://www.cined.com/sony-a7-v-firmware-v2-00-adds-32-bit-float-audio-with-adapter-preset-focus-and-more/

49:41 Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 – Brand's First Autofocus Zoom Arrives for Sony E-Mount

https://www.cined.com/thypoch-voyager-24-50mm-f-2-8-brands-first-autofocus-zoom-arrives-for-sony-e-mount/

53:24 ARRI Omnibar LED Bars Unveiled – RGBAM Color, IP65 Build, and Magnetic Optics

https://www.cined.com/arri-omnibar-led-bars-unveiled-rgbam-color-ip65-build-and-magnetic-optics/

01:02:27 NANLUX Matrix 2500B and Matrix 2500C Announced – 2500W Fixtures for Lighting Arrays

https://www.cined.com/nanlux-matrix-2500b-and-matrix-2500c-announced-2500w-fixtures-for-lighting-arrays/

01:08:29 Godox RS100R/Bi Introduced – High-Output for Mobile Production, and Versatile Accessory System

https://www.cined.com/godox-rs100r-bi-introduced-high-output-for-mobile-production-and-versatile-accessory-system/

01:10:59 A Mighty Cut and How it Drives the Story – Free Storytelling Sessions Webinar on May 19th

https://www.cined.com/a-mighty-cut-and-how-it-drives-the-story-new-storytelling-sessions-webinar-on-may-13th/

01:12:54 The Visceral Subjectivity of the SnorriCam – Capturing Internal Turmoil with Body-Mounted Rigs

https://www.cined.com/the-visceral-subjectivity-of-the-snorricam-capturing-internal-turmoil-with-body-mounted-rigs/

Have feedback on this episode? Email us at [email protected].

This week on Focus Check: three major camera announcements (Canon EOS R6 V, Sony Alpha 7R VI, Panasonic LUMIX L10), the first same-day lab test for the a7R VI, a DJI Osmo Pocket 4P teaser, Sony's landmark TSMC joint venture, and what the new global battery rules mean for filmmakers flying with gear. Plus: Nino shares what it's been like filming behind the scenes at Eurovision with 24 ARRI Alexa 35 Live cameras.  

Sponsor of this Episode is NANLITE: Check out the section at: 14:07

 

Topics and Chapters in this Episode:

0:00 Intro — Intro & topic outlook

 

04:05 - Canon EOS R6 V Unveiled – 7K Full-Frame Video Hybrid with IBIS, Active Cooling, and No EVF

https://www.cined.com/canon-eos-r6-v-unveiled-7k-full-frame-video-hybrid-with-ibis-active-cooling-and-no-evf/

 

15:08 - Sony Alpha 7R VI Announced – 66.8MP Stacked Sensor, 8K 30p, 4K 120p and Sensor-Level Dual Gain

Sony Alpha 7R VI Announced – 66.8MP Stacked Sensor, 8K 30p, 4K 120p and Sensor-Level Dual Gain

 

35:24 - Sony a7R VI Lab Test – Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Exposure Latitude

https://www.cined.com/sony-a7r-vi-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-exposure-latitude/

 

43:23 - Panasonic LUMIX L10 Announced – Leica 10.9-34mm F1.7-2.8 Zoom, 5.6K 30p Video, V-Log, and More

https://www.cined.com/panasonic-lumix-l10-announced-leica-24-75mm-f1-7-2-8-zoom-5-6k-30p-video-v-log-and-more/

 

49:15 - DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Teaser Shows New Two-Camera Pro Version

https://www.cined.com/dji-osmo-pocket-4p-teaser-shows-the-new-two-camera-pro-version/

 

51:28 - Eurovision Song Contest with 24 x ARRI ALEXA 35 Live - about CineD's behind-the-scenes cooperation, embedded into the production

 

01:04:32 - Sony Hands Image Sensor Manufacturing to TSMC in Landmark Joint Venture, Marking the End of Its Fully In-House Era

https://www.cined.com/sony-hands-image-sensor-manufacturing-to-tsmc-in-landmark-joint-venture-marking-the-end-of-its-fully-in-house-era/

 

01:10:52 - Flying with Batteries in 2026 – What the New Global Power Bank Rules Mean for Filmmakers

https://www.cined.com/flying-with-batteries-in-2026-what-the-new-global-power-bank-rules-mean-for-filmmakers/

I'm Back Roll APS-C on Kickstarter: https://i-m-back-gmbh.kckb.me/8c61e3bd

Samuel and Filippo, the two founders of I'm Back, join Nino to talk about their latest Kickstarter campaign: the I'm Back Roll APS-C — a self-contained digital sensor that replaces the pressure plate inside any analog 35mm camera. Nearly $1 million raised, 1,400+ backers, and two significant mid-campaign updates later, we dig into the engineering, the philosophy, and the honest unknowns.

This episode is sponsored by NANLITE. Learn more at (24:43).

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction & What's I'm Back

(01:57) How Samuel and Filippo met & founded I'm Back

(03:02) Samuel's original idea and first prototype

(06:36) The Roll APS-C: how it works and what's inside

(09:42) Kickstarter response: nearly $1 million and two campaign updates

(14:34) Why the Roll is I'm Back's original idea — and why it took 10 years

(25:46) Camera compatibility and the 4mm thickness challenge

(28:20) Which cameras will and won't fit

(29:35) Mid-campaign update 1: the 2.5" OLED touchscreen

(34:17) Mid-campaign update 2: the wired sync shutter button

(37:57) Video capabilities — what's known and what isn't yet

(43:22) Thermal concerns and overheating in video mode

(47:53) Addressing unfair reviews and how to properly compare results

(57:17) Looking for a bigger partner — an open call from I'm Back

(01:00:10) Past delays, COVID, and the August 2027 delivery target

(01:07:03) Kickstarter used right — developing from scratch vs. pre-built products

(01:08:42) Gadget or tool? The honest case for the Roll APS-C

Have feedback on this episode? Email us at [email protected].