LensVid Talk – Humanoid Robotic Photographers Are Here, Canon Muesum Tour and More (Episode 37) LensVid Talk

On Episode 37 of LensVid Talk, we cover our recently posted review of the Hollyland Lark M2S, our upcoming review of the Falcam Move LightGo, the new SmallRig SP mini Spotlight, YC Onion Cedar CB7 fluid head, and four new Amaran lights, including the Amaran Pano 60c & Pano 120c LED panels and  Amaran Verge and Verge Max. panels. We will discuss the Benro BV6HPLUS fluid head with its dual Arca and 501 support, the new NiSi JetMag Pro VND filter and three topics that are not products but are still interesting including the Atlas Humanoid Robot Videoographer demo, Photographer’s Larry Chen Canon Japan Dream Tour and finally a look at the Wear Wool, Not Waste – Woolmark Company commercial and BTS.

LensVid Talk 37 was recorded in mid-May 2025.

Hollyland Lark M2S Review

We recently published an extensive review of the Hollyland Lark M2S 24-bit wireless mic system. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the system and you can check out the full review here.

Hollyland M2S is available in several versions for $119.to $159.

Hollyland-Lark-m2SFalcam Move LightGo (Upcoming Review)

We are currently working on a review of a very interesting product – the Falcam Move Lightgo. This product is essentially a PTZ for Bowens lights. It allows you to remotely move (pan/tilt) a Bowens light with most common modifiers, including fairly heavy ones, in a very accurate, precise, and repeatable way.

We see advantages for such a system for overhead lights as well a for very accurate and repeatable shots and for a new way of using light as another way to introduce change in the frame.

You can purchase the Falcam Move LightGo for around $275.

YouTube player

SmallRig SP mini Spotlight

We only recently published our review of the SmallRig RF10C Mini Spotlight, but as fun and useful as that unit is, it is only 10W so it is not useful when you need to use it when you have a lot of light in the scene. With the SmallRig SP mini Spotlight, you can push up to 100W depending on the specific light used (this is not a Bowens spotlight).

The SmallRig SP-mini Spotlight sells for just under $150.

YC Onion Cedar CB7 fluid head

We have seen a prototype of the CB7 fluid head back in IBC 2024. The proffesional level head from YC Onion is finally ready and it brings some interesting capabilities, including 9kg payload with 10 levels of counterbalance and precise 6-levels tilt and 4-levels of pan control, there are two versions – 75mm half-bawl or flat base with Manfrotto-compatible quick release compatibility (both 501 and Cedar MQ45 quick release plate that has Arca support although only one direction).

The YC Onion CEDAR CB7 sells for $340 (the 75mm half ball sells for $385) or as a kit with the Pineta Peak tripod for $830.

Official Cedar CB7 video

YouTube player

Amaran Pano 60c & Pano 120c LED panels

The Amaran Pano 60c and Pano 120c are compact LED panels offering 60-watt and 120-watt outputs, respectively, distinguished by their flexible power options, including convenient USB-C PD input (with a locking port) alongside an included dedicated AC power adapter.

The 60c sells for $165 while the 120c sells for $290.

 

YouTube player

Amaran Verge and Verge Max panels

The Amaran Verge and Verge Max are edge-lit LED panels designed specifically for desktop creators, providing soft, even, and eye-safe illumination across a bi-color range from 2,700K to 6,500K. Both models are powered conveniently via USB-C Power Delivery and feature a silent, fanless design, with the Verge being a 26W rectangular panel and the Verge Max a larger 60W circular panel for broader light coverage.

The Amaran Verge sells for only $80 while the larger Verge Max sells for $270.

YouTube player

Benro BV6HPLUS fluid head

The new Benro BV6HPLUS is a professional 75mm half-ball fluid head supporting camera rigs up to 6kg (13.2 lbs). It features a precise 8-step counterbalance system and 4-step pan and tilt drag control for smooth, adaptable camera movements. Its side-loading quick release plate offers dual 501-type and Arca-Swiss compatibility, making it versatile for both video and photography setups.

The Benro BV6HPLUS sells for $500.

Official Benro BV6HPLUS video

YouTube player

NiSi JetMag Pro VND

The NiSi JetMag Pro has been around for about a year, but NiSi introduced a magnetic VND filter to the system.  It features a 1 to 5 stop (ND2-ND32) light reduction range with built-in hard stops to prevent over-rotation and eliminate X-pattern artifacts, alongside True Color technology for accurate, neutral color rendition. Its magnetic mounting system allows for quick, tool-free attachment and stacking of filters, and it includes a detachable control lever and built-in polarization control.

You can get the new VND for around $250, a kikt with NDs sells for around $700.

YouTube player

Atlas Humanoid Robot Videoographer

WPP’s video showcases a pioneering collaboration with NVIDIA, Boston Dynamics, and Canon, demonstrating how the advanced Atlas humanoid robot can function as a camera operator to redefine content production. The initiative highlights Atlas’s unique capabilities, such as precisely executing complex, repeatable camera movements and navigating challenging or dangerous environments that would be difficult for human crews, while lifting heavy cinematic equipment like Canon cameras. NVIDIA’s role involves providing the AI platform (NVIDIA Cosmos™ and Isaac Lab) to train Atlas in virtual environments, enabling the robot to learn and adapt to dynamic film sets, ultimately expanding creative possibilities and enhancing efficiency in filmmaking without replacing human creativity.

The Official WPP video

YouTube player

Larry Chen Canon Japan: Dream Tour

Larry Chen’s recent video “All Access w/ Canon Japan: Dream Tour” takes viewers on an immersive journey through Canon’s headquarters in Japan, delving into the company’s rich camera history from vintage models to iconic super telephoto lenses like the EF1200mm f/5.6. As a Canon Explorer of Light and renowned automotive photographer, Chen shares his personal history with the brand and engages in discussions with Canon engineers and executives, bridging cultural and linguistic gaps through a shared passion for cars and photography. The video also touches upon Canon’s support for the automotive community and provides a glimpse into Larry’s ambitious upcoming life’s work book, featuring thousands of automotive photographs.

You can check out Larry Chen’s full video tour of the Canon museum here.

Wear Wool, Not Waste – The Woolmark Company commercial and BTS

Although this isn’t new (this commercial was first published last year), we did think that it is worth mentioning here. The Woolmark Company commercial “Wear Wool, Not Waste” is one of the most eye-catching that we have seen in a while.

What is even more intriguing in this age of AI is that this seems to use good old-fashioned shooting and VFX, making it a much more involved (and probably expensive) commercial to shoot, but the result is extremely realistic. You can see the commercial below and the behind-the-scenes in the following article.

Wear Wool, Not Waste – The Woolmark Company commercial

YouTube player

 

You can check out all of the LensVid Talk videos here. If you want us to cover any specific topics or products in our upcoming LensVid talks, please let us know in the comments or on our YT or Facebook pages.

Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *