ep109 - DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1, Sora is DEAD, GoPro Patent Loss & 18 More Stories – CineD Focus Check

In this week's episode of the Focus Check podcast, Nino and Johnnie cover a remarkably packed week of filmmaking news. They dig into the brand-new DJI Avata 360 drone, which arrived at the CineD office literally the day before recording, discuss OpenAI's surprise decision to shut down the Sora app and the collapse of its Disney deal, break down what GoPro's patent case against Insta360 actually resulted in, and touch on the strange state of LA's sound stage market. Along the way, there's new audio gear, anamorphic lenses, firmware updates, autofocus breakthroughs, and some of the biggest business stories in the industry right now. (00:00) Intro & Overview (07:27) DJI Avata 360 – First 360° Drone from DJI vs. Antigravity A1 Article coming soon (26:08) OpenAI Shuts Down Sora as Disney Exits $1 Billion AI Video Deal https://www.cined.com/openai-shuts-down-sora-as-disney-exits-1-billion-ai-video-deal/ (34:54) GoPro Loses $93.5M and Its Patent Case Against Insta360 https://www.cined.com/gopro-loses-93-5-million-and-its-patent-case-against-insta360-but-bets-everything-on-a-2026-comeback/ (40:44) LA Is Building More Stages Than Ever – So Why Are They Empty? https://www.cined.com/la-is-building-more-stages-than-ever-so-why-are-they-empty-filmla-sound-stage-report/ (44:59) CineD Best-of-Show Awards at NAB 2026 – Submissions Open! https://www.cined.com/cined-best-of-show-awards-at-nab-2026-manufacturers-submit-your-product-now/ (48:34) Saramonic Air SE – 5g Wireless Mic with AI Noise Cancellation Under $50 https://www.cined.com/saramonic-air-se-wireless-microphone-introduced-5-grams-ai-noise-cancellation-starting-at-under-50/ (54:30) DSC Labs Revived Under New Ownership, Relocates to LA https://www.cined.com/dsc-labs-revived-under-new-ownership-relocates-to-los-angeles/ (56:38) DZOFILM Arcana 1.5X Anamorphic T2.1 Full-Frame Lenses Introduced https://www.cined.com/dzofilm-arcana-1-5x-anamorphic-t2-1-full-frame-lenses-introduced-pre-orders-now-open/ (01:01:29) Alister Chapman Breaks Down Sony's Cine EI for Maximum Image Quality https://www.cined.com/alister-chapman-breaks-down-sonys-cine-ei-to-help-maximise-image-quality-dynamic-range/ (01:03:32) FUJIFILM Focus on Glass Voting Results – XF 16-80mm F2.8 Wins https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-focus-on-glass-voting-results-xf16-80mmf2-8-wins/ (01:07:07) Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Gets Autofocus – Face Detection & Object Tracking https://www.cined.com/blackmagic-pyxis-6k-autofocus-introduced-via-new-test-build-face-detection-object-tracking-and-resizable-focus-box/ (01:12:42) Dockcase Selfix – AMOLED Touchscreen for Your iPhone 17 Pro's Rear Camera https://www.cined.com/your-iphone-17-pros-best-cameras-now-for-selfies-dockcase-selfix-adds-rear-amoled-touchscreen/ (01:19:26) Viltrox NexusFocus F1 Review – Autofocus for PL Lenses https://www.cined.com/viltrox-nexusfocus-f1-review-autofocus-for-pl-lenses-put-to-the-test/ (01:27:29) Audio-Technica ATV-SG1 & SG1LE On-Camera Shotgun Mics Introduced https://www.cined.com/audio-technica-atv-sg1-and-atv-sg1le-on-camera-shotgun-microphones-introduced/ (01:32:56) Sony FX6 Firmware 6.00 – BIG6 Interface & External Blackmagic RAW https://www.cined.com/sony-fx6-firmware-version-6-00-released-big6-interface-external-blackmagic-raw-af-improvements-and-more/ (01:35:09) Nikon Technical Service Advisory for Z6III, Z5II & ZR Cameras https://www.cined.com/nikon-issues-technical-service-advisory-for-z6iii-z5ii-and-zr-cameras/ (01:37:14) AnamorphicTool – Two OFX Plugins for DaVinci Resolve https://www.cined.com/anamorphictool-launched-two-ofx-plugins-for-davinci-resolve-fixing-optical-issues-and-adding-anamorphic-lens-characteristics/ (01:40:13) Apple Acquires MotionVFX – What It Means for Final Cut & Competing NLEs https://www.cined.com/apple-acquires-motionvfx-what-this-could-mean-for-final-cut-pro-creator-studio-and-competing-nles/ (01:44:03) YouTube Is Now the World's Largest Media Company & Home of the Oscars https://www.cined.com/youtube-is-now-the-worlds-largest-media-company-and-soon-the-home-of-the-oscars/ (01:51:25) Adobe Settles DOJ Lawsuit Over Subscription Cancellation Practices https://www.cined.com/the-150-million-price-of-cancel-adobe-settles-doj-lawsuit-over-subscription-practices-every-filmmaker-knows-too-well/ 📬 Feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us [email protected]