Ikan really pulled-out all the stops for the 2015 NAB Show. This year’s show entrants breathed new life into the already impressive Ikan product lines. So, what’s new? You might be inclined to ask. Well… monitors? Check. Rigs? Got that. Teleprompters? OK. LED lights? Yup, did you even need to ask? Ikan carries a broad swath of equipment needs that keeps both the start-up studios and the seasoned industry veterans clamoring for more.
Had you been at NAB Show and toured Ikan’s Booth, you may have noticed Ikan’s additions for lighting up the industry and seen the copious slew of Ikan products in their booth. Ikan is exploring just what can be achieved with LED lighting innovation. They have two new on-camera options aptly named the Micro Spot Light and Micro Flood Light, both are small enough to fit in your pocket and cost less than a hundred dollars yet still manage to pack a brilliant punch. The Micro Spot Light
has a shoe mount to attack to the top of any camera and produce a nice 30 Degree tighter angled beam for more intense lighting, it’s dimmable between 10 to 100%, and has an internal battery for micro USB charging.
The Micro Array On-Camera Light also has a mounting shoe, adjustable light, and an internal battery. It can produce a 120 Degree beam of light. Both are daylight-balanced 5600K lights. If your studio needs something a bit larger (say of the off-camera variety), Ikan has a new product for you. Ikan now has three new Fresnel lenses to provide your studio with lighting solutions. These are the Red Star LED Fresnel fixtures: 100W (4" diameter lens), 200W (6" diameter lens), and 350W (6" diameter lens) output. In the studio, these fixture can be operated remotely with a DMX. Each is tungsten balanced (at 3200K) and has spot or flood focus knobs and dimming knobs. For safety, they are also equipped with a quick active cooling system.
What’s Ikan doing for rigs this year? The EV series has been updated, with the EV3 models for flyweight, flyweight offset, 
and quick fly all adding a system for rapid release to the baseplate for more simple and swift camera mounting. Ikan’s new rigs gain some additions as well, with three entirely new cage models designed for such industry standard cameras as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, Panasonic GH4, or the Sony a7S. Each of these new rigs are manufactured from a single solid piece of a high grade aluminum alloy, and tailored for that perfect fit to the cameras they are designed to protect and enhance. Some helpful features include threading at various locations to attach accessories (1/4 -20 and 3/8 -16 threads), a reversible upper handle equipped with a cold-shoe mount included. Also included with these new riggings are a tool free camera and cable lock system that helps prevent cabling from detaching itself during that all important shot, and a dual 15mm rod clamp.
Ikan’s monitors receive an upgrade in the VL7 entry-level series, the new kid is the VL7e, which sports 1024 x 600 resolution, auto image-flip feature, HDMI output, it also includes a Canon LP-E6battery plate ( because the Ikan engineers can recognize good parts when they see them). Some additional changes that Ikan has made to their monitor lines are for the VX9 series. The VX9i and VX9w have aluminum bodies, stunning 1920 x 1200 resolution and maximize product flexibility with a wide array of I/O connectors. Don’t bother looking for the ‘same old’ HD-SDI input and output though, that’s been replaced with 3G-SDI-capable connectors. The VX9w tacks on some additional features like RGB parade, vectorscope, waveform and histogram. Everything the broadcaster needs for an in-depth analysis of an image.
Ikan’s teleprompters also gain a boost; all their new models feature hi-grade scientific glass to ensure a proper view, as well as each having a foldable frame for easier transport and set up. Each piece is precision packed in shaped foam to 
insure shock and scratch resistance in transit. Each teleprompter includes a waterproofed hard case (by SKB). A broad pricing range allows most studios the fiscal flexibility to acquire one of these fine products. The PT-ELITE has an updated version; the PT-ELITE-V2. The PT-ELITE-V2 gains a one- size-fits-all mount useable with most iPads, and tablets, and also has a rapid-release system for the camera mountings gracing this 15mm-rod-based teleprompter system. The PT2500 is the next step up from the PT1200, adding the rapid-release system as well as enhancing the screen size by another 4 inches (to 12 inches). If you’ve been looking for an alternate mounting system to the standard tripod then the PT 2500 is now available to accommodate you. This stand mount version will allow it to be mounted to a light stand. The PT line also gains a larger 17” screen for its 19 mm model the PT3700-HD, it uses US made 70/30 glass. This model is specifically fitted for use with a Blackmagic studio-based camera.
Ikan has, once again, proven they’ve got game. Ikan’s continuing dedication to innovation and technical and fiscal flexibility helps insure they have a continuing place in the industry. The quality of their wares insures their longevity.
About Ikan
Founded by Kan Yeung in 2005, Houston, Texas-based Ikan Corp designs, manufactures and distributes a variety of award-winning products used in film, video and photographic production worldwide. Starting with the introduction of a single on-camera HD video monitor, the company has kept pace with the ever-accelerating technology curve and, in a number of instances, has been ahead of the curve. Now, in addition to high-quality video monitors, Ikan Corp offers a full range of lighting equipment, camera support rigs, teleprompters, and accessories for both studio and field production. Ikan products are sold through authorized dealers located in more than 50 countries around the world and at www.Ikancorp.com. Ikan Corp’s reputation is emblematic of the company’s mission to “build quality products that creative people want and need at a reasonable price,” as well as Yeung’s philosophy “to always put the customers first and take care of them — no matter the situation.” www.ikancorp.com