NABShow 2025 mega news roundup

With Easter fast approaching, it's probably time to draw a line under NABShow 2025 and move on from Vegas. Here's our roundup of all the news from the show we didn't quite get to cover while it was live including: 7artisans, Aputure, Brompton Technology, Cinnafilm, DoPChoice, Lightbridge, Matthews, Octopus, Pixboom, Viltrox, Vislink, and Vizrt.

Much excitement around the Pixboom Spark (above), a new camera that’s not even on Kickstarter for another couple of months. The reason for the fuss is that it promises to capture 1000 fps @4K and 1800 fps @2K and not do it at the sort of prices for ultra slo-mo equipment that have kept that sort of technology in the hands of specialists for years. Watch this space.

Lightbridge’s says its Touchproof lighting reflectors technology are designed to withstand the rigors of a high-paced production workflow while maintaining optimum performance.

 “We spent years developing the Touchproof technology that resists stains and oxidation, to allow filmmakers to focus on their craft without interruption", explains Lightbridge founder, Jakob Ballinger. "Touchproof cuts the risk of fingerprint stains if not cleaned right after the job. Cleaning these next generation Reflectors is as easy as caring for textiles on set: store dry, then clean them back in the warehouse. "

Available in all sizes—from 7x7 cm to 100x100 cm—and in diffusion strengths from DIFF0 to DIFF3, Touchproof ensures seamless integration into existing lighting setups. DIFF4’s Super White finish remains unchanged.

We were impressed by the miniaturisation of Vislink’s DragonFly V 5G, the company’s HEVC wireless bonding transmitter, purpose-built to deliver real-time, broadcast-quality video from point-of-view cameras, drones, body-worn devices, and more.

Designed for maximum portability, it combines an ultra-compact form with efficient power consumption to extend battery life. It supports video resolutions up to 1080P-50/60, is also available in a COFDM version, and weighs just 82 grams (2.89 oz).

Cinnafilm was showing an interesting collaboration with Nvidia that uses AI image processing for super resolution HD and UHD up-conversions. The tech will be commercially available later this year inside Cinnafilm’s flagship conversion platform, PixelStrings. While other upscaling tools rely on generic algorithms or generative AI that creates hallucination errors, the company says this joint technology harnesses the latest Nvidia Tensor Cores and Cinnafilm’s motion-compensation and noise management know-how to minimize artifacts, intelligently sharpen, and preserve cinematic picture quality at scale.

Indeed, Cinnafilm estimates quality and detail enhancement gains are 25-30% greater than its current industry-leading up-rezing solution. Which is pretty impressive.

Viltrox launched the latest full-frame lens in the Viltrox Air series, the Viltrox AF 50mm F2.0 Air FE/Z. Advanced optics, including 3 ED and 4 high-refractive-index lenses, are fitted compactly into a palm-sized body, ensuring exceptional sharpness edge-to-edge. HD nano multilayer coating further enhances clarity, minimal chromatic aberration, and delivers clean, sharp, and clear imaging across the entire frame.

The lens weighs only 205g-220g depending on mount, so it’s easy to carry. Pricing is $199. Ot it was anyway. Y'know, tariffs...

Viz Connect Audio is Vizrt’s first dedicated audio connectivity and monitoring technology product, adding a much-needed ability to manage any and all NDI sources on a network, both visually and aurally. It makes it easy for users to connect analog audio sources, configure and convert them to NDI, thus enabling their use in a local or remote NDI ecosystem.

“While TriCasters have long provided the ability to connect audio sources directly into the live production switcher, with Viz Connect Audio, the focus is firmly on enabling users to bring in analog audio sources, convert them to NDI, and connect them straight to the NDI network – strengthening the entire workflow and flexibility of the ecosystem,” says Christopher McLendon, Senior Product Manager, Vizrt.

DoPchoice was showing the latest addition to the popular Airglow series—the Airglow Frame inflatable softbox. Designed for maximum versatility, this inflatable light modifier is tailored to work seamlessly with flexible light tiles, including LiteGear Bi-Color Plus and new Spectrum Ultra LiteTiles.

With a lightweight, inflatable 180mm tube structure forming a rectangular 4’x2’ or 8’x4’ frame, it promises a soft, yet controlled lighting source ideal for both studio and location work.

As well as the usual grip offerings, Matthews had a spotlight on Chimera’s Dinkum integrated system of adaptable and rugged no-tool Arms designed to support gear for filmmakers, videographers, photographers, musicians and creators of all kinds.

Essential to what is rather wonderfully referred to as 'the Dinkum difference' is an ingenious pull apart/squeeze together interlocking segment system, allowing for quick adjustments and secure mounting of cameras, lights, microphones, phones, and other necessities. Users can self-customize the length of the rugged, flexible Arms tool-free by simply popping them apart, inserting or deleting links, and pressing them back together.

OCTOPUS says it is still working on the OCTOPUS16 camera, but has also just released a ‘game-changing’ Adobe Premiere plugin for anyone shooting ProRes RAW. OCTOPUS RAW Studio completely replaces Premiere's RAW engine with its own next-gen RAW processing engine. A couple of key features:

• All the missing RAW controls for ProRes RAW including White Balance and ISO and shadow/highlight tone controls
• Next-gen RAW color science with filmic roll-off options and best-in-class highlight recovery
• Built-in log spaces and LUTs - work with ProRes RAW in ARRI LogC, RED Log3G10 and more on any camera
• Sidecar metadata for a super-efficient RAW workflow

Price is $99 and it’s available now.

Aputure launched the STORM 80c 3-Light kit which, as well as the STORM 80c lights, includes several useful modifiers and accessories, all packed into a convenient rolling case.

“Our goal was to make a lighting kit for everyone,” explained Ted Sim, President and Co-Founder of Aputure. “So we set out to make a kit that was equally appealing and versatile, with fresnel lenses, diffusers, a handheld battery mount, and even little clamps to rig the 80c wherever you need. We put it all in a rolling case with precision-cut foam so people could quickly find what they need and just as quickly pack up when they’re done shooting.”

Brompton Technology had a demo of the new Tessera SQ200 Ultimate, the flagship processor in its upcoming Gen 3 range. Building on the award-winning 4K Tessera SX40, the 8K SQ200 Ultimate delivers 20x more processing power, full support for ST 2110 and IPMX, and complete backward compatibility with existing Brompton receiver cards and infrastructure. A built-in preview display and support for multiple swappable input cards (HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, 12G-SDI), helps ensure the Tessera SQ200 simplifies on-set operations while future-proofing LED infrastructure.

The company was also showing a preview of its new GUI for managing AV over IP and multi-stream video input, designed to simplify both IP-based and 4x4K workflows. This allows users to define, route, and visualise multiple streams, whether from IP or baseband sources, and convert them into flexible virtual feeds across the canvas, using an innovative UI design with registered design rights and patents pending. The company says its not just a backend tool for engineers, but “a visual, intuitive layer” that enables real-time stream monitoring, quick issue identification, and direct workflow control, “making a complex technology like ST 2110 feel accessible and powerful in practice.”

And finally, 7artisans was showing its new T1.5 full-frame cinema lenses. Officially as announced on Instagram, these include 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm focal lengths, but it looks like they will stretch from 18mm all the way to 135mm and be multi-mount. All other details, pricing, and availability are all TBA.