News roundup: The continuing popularity of 35mm & more

This week's news roundup looks at Accsoon's intriguing new adapter, the US government blacklists DJI, and the abiding popularity of 35mm and analogue cameras with Lomo and Kodak.

Accsoon SeeMo HDMI adapter released

Using the Accsoon SeeMo HDMI Adapter, filmmakers can now turn their iPhones and iPads into a monitor or streaming devices using the free Accsoon SEE iOS app. The adapter uses its NP-F battery adapter to power both your phone and the attached camera.

The connectivity is fairly simple. The compact adapter (50mm x 39mm x 80mm) directly connects to any iPhone via a full-size HDMI port. The output of the host camera connects to the HDMI port of the Accsoon adapter.

The app lets you monitor your camera feed: focus, effects, LUTs, overlays, or even change the formats if you are using the vertical format. You can also record h.264 HD video directly from your camera to your iPhone’s internal memory. These files are encoded and can be used as proxy backups.

The Accsoon Seemo HDMI Adapter is available at £166.80. If you're an Android user, see more options from Accsoon’s website here.

United States blacklists DJI as a ‘Chinese Military Company’

The United States Department of Defense has officially blacklisted DJI by classifying it as a “Chinese military company.”

“The Department is determined to highlight and counter the PRC Military-Civil Fusion strategy, which supports the modernization goals of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by ensuring its access to advanced technologies and expertise are acquired and developed by PRC companies, universities, and research programs that appear to be civilian entities,” the Department of Defense states in their announcement.

DJI understandably published a response to its inclusion on the list that challenges this by saying: “DJI stands alone as the only drone company to clearly denounce and actively discourage military use of our products, including suspending all business operations in Russia and Ukraine to try to keep our drones out of the conflict there. There is no reason why DJI has been added to the Defense Department’s list of ‘Chinese military companies,’”.

This is not the first time DJI has faced issues with the United States Government. In 2020, DJI was on the “Economic Blacklist” which meant it was excluded from conducting business with any US-based companies. Then in 2021 DJI was added to the FCC Covered List, which, yet again, prevented it from selling any of its products in the US. What makes this interesting, however, is the fact that these drones are currently being used by both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. 

Kodak is actively looking for Film Technicians

Eastman Kodak is the “last color film manufacturer standing” a position which has finally started to pay off after almost being bankrupt at one point as the company’s seeing continued demand grow in analogue photography.

Nagraj Bokinkere, Vice President of Film Manufacturing says: “Consumer demand, particularly for 35mm film, has exploded over the last few years. Our retailers are constantly telling us they can’t keep these films on the shelves and they want more.”

With great demand, comes a great workload and therefore, Kodak is looking to hire film technicians such as operators, chemists, and engineers. “Our film finishing area has grown from a five days a week, single shift operation a few years back. Last year, we were on three shifts, five days a week and now we are a 24/7 operation. In the last 18 months, we’ve hired over 300 people across the film and chemicals floor, and we’re looking to hire more,” says Bokinere. 

In addition to Kodak, UK photo store Max Spielmann has also expressed its need for new technicians to cope with the increased demand. 35mm dead and gone? Not a bit of it.

Lomo launches new point and shoot 35mm camera

Emphasising the point, Lomo has a new 35mm point and shoot camera out, the Lomo Apparat. With a 21 mm wide-angle lens, three lens attachments (Close-up, Splitzer, and Kaleidoscope), and a whole host of experimental features, including multiple and long-exposure modes and coloured gel flash filters, it looks firmly targeted at some wilful analogue experimentation over the holiday season.

It's available in two versions, Black and Neubau; an all-black classic leather design and the Italian brown leather Neubau edition with 'lively' turquoise trim for £89 and £99 respectively.