July 2008 - EVS XT(2) Version 9
The latest version of EVS software is being installed in all of our XT(2) LSMs together with "GigE" hardware. The important new feature that this adds is that it enables the Gigabit Ethernet port that is already fitted to the back of the machine but was not previously operational. Every one of our XT(2)s will have the new software and the extra internal GigE card fitted over the next few weeks.

April 2008 - The Builders are in again.
We've bought so much new kit that we're running out of space again. This time we're having a new floor level added to our warehouse to increase our storage capacity once more.

February 2008 - Canon XJ100 Lenses
Reinforcing our stock of outside broadcast lenses, our latest addition is Canon's XJ100 x 9.3 .The world's first triple digit broadcast lens zooms all the way in to 930mm and double that with the range extender. Image stabilization is built in and Finepoint supply the lens on hire complete with supporter and full servo zoom and focus.

March 2007 - HD Equipment Update
Continuing to add to our rental stock to keep pace with increasing HD demand new additions include PDW-F70 XDCAM HD decks, the Abakus HD Stadium Lens, HD picture monitors in both CRT and LCD and the Panasonic AH-HS300 compact HD/SD vision mixer. The remarkable Stadium Lens offers an incredible 210 degree angle of view and Panasonic's AV-HS300 offers a surprising combination of powerful features together with value for money for a 5 input HD capable vision mixer.

December 2006 - Sony HDC-3300 Supermotion
The eagerly awaited high def triple speed camera is here. Married with an EVS XT(2) it's perfect for sports slow motion replays. Two systems available now and more arriving in March '07. Perfect performance and effortless setup with the added advantage of a standard speed output which is indistinguishable from a standard speed camera.

August 2006 - EVS XT(2) Live slow motion in HD
Our first two systems have arrived with more coming next month. The six channel systems now enable server based slow motion replays in HD. Fitted with XNet for networking multiple units and super motion software for double and triple speed cameras.

June 2006 - HD Reinforcements ordered up.
It looks like this autumn will be the time that high definition really starts to take off in the UK. Finepoint is preparing to satisfy increasing demand by adding to our hire stock. Orders have gone out to Sony, EVS, Canon and Leitch and by September we will be ready with more HD camera channels, HD VTRs, HD Lenses, HD LSM's, HD Synchronisers and fully HD ready hire co-ordinators, engineers and support staff.

February 2006 - Sony's new HDC-1500 now available.
Sony's latest brand new HD camera system looks set to be the new industry standard for OBs and studio applications. Lighter and smaller than its predecessor yet still capable of working over 3km of fibre cable or over triax using HDTX-100 and HDFX-100 adaptors. The cameras are already available to rent and there is no rate increase over the previous model.

January 2006 - Sony HDCAM-SR
For uncompromised HD recording quality Sony's SRW-5500 makes use of the HDCAM-SR tape format. The format offers 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 10 bit sampling in 1080 and 720 line, interlaced or progressive scan. Also capacity for 12 digital audio channels. Available now to rent, please call to check availability and if you need technical advice on the best format to use we can help with that too.

September 2005 - New Rate Card
Once again, the fully updated new Finepoint rate card includes information and prices for the entire range of rental equipment.

February 2005 - Sony HD cameras for fibre or triax.
Engineers have debated long and hard over the relative merits of fibre versus triax cable connection from high definition camera to OB truck. Fibre offers a digital connection and a 3km range but many venues are pre-wired with triax and there is no alternative but to use it to produce perfectly acceptable HD results.
Finepoint has committed to the Sony HDC-950 camera system which has a fibre interface for connection to the HDCU-900 camera control unit. Alternatively Sony's brand new fibre to triax interfaces can be used to operate over triax cable. With the professional help of dealer Mitcorp, Finepoint has negotiated the purchase of several HD channels all including colour viewfinders, fibre cable and fibre/triax interfaces. Their reputation for producing rugged and reliable broadcast equipment also influenced the decision to choose the Sony route.
The cameras will be available at attractive rental rates from April.

December 2004 - Link XP Systems delivered. HD on order.
Our Link XP wireless camera systems have arrived and are now ready and available to hire. Full details can be found in the Specialist Cameras section of the rate card.
Finepoint has placed two significant orders for High Definition equipment from Sony and Canon. We will soon be able to offer for hire a range of lightweight Canon HD lenses as well as Sony HDCam VTRs, HDCam Camcorders and HD LCD monitors. We have also ordered additional 86x and 72x Canon HD box lenses and additional 40x Canon HD telephoto lenses. Further orders are still under negotiation and will be announced soon.

September 2004 - New Rate Card
Fully updated the new Finepoint rate card includes information and prices for the entire range of rental equipment. The same information is available through the web site, but if you would like to have a printed version as well, please contact us.

August 2004 - Link XP Wireless Cameras and Sony XDCAM
The range of Sony XDCAM equipment is now available for rental from Finepoint. This includes both the new PDW-510 and PDW-530 camcorders as well as XDCAM decks. See our rate card for full details.

Finepoint has placed an order with Link Research to supply Wireless Camera Systems for Finepoint's rental stock. The Link XP system will be available with the options of reverse camera control and the triax receive station. Full details will appear in the rate card section of the web site as soon as the equipment has been delivered.

March 2004 - Adding to our Hire Stock
Increasing demand for Finepoint's rental service has made it necessary to add even more equipment to our stock. Latest additions include more Sony BVP-950 triax camera channels, more Sony DVW-A500 VTRS, more Sony DVW-790 Digi-Beta camcorders and more six channel EVS LSM-XTs.

From Canon we have added four of their latest XJ72 x 9.3 box lenses with high def optical performance yet equally suited to standard def work.

In addition we have improved and renewed our fleet of delivery vehicles with four brand new VW vans including a 4.6 tonne vehicle to cope with our clients' largest deliveries.

So plenty of up to date reliable equipment backed up by an efficient reliable delivery service is what you should expect when you hire from Finepoint.

February 2004 - Rate Card for your PDA
The first UK broadcast rental company to offer this service, our Rate Card is now available to download and install on to your Handheld PDA. With much in common with the Web rate card, the Handheld version catalogues our entire inventory with prices, descriptions and case contents available. As both Web and Handheld versions are linked directly to Finepoint's computerised equipment database, any changes to our hire stock are immediately reflected in the electronic catalogue.

August 2003 - FinePoint upgrades to XT
Leading broadcast equipment rental company Finepoint Broadcast has placed an order with EVS to upgrade nine live slow motion (LSM) systems to the latest XT technology. This will nearly double the number of XT systems that FinePoint can offer. At the same time, the latest software options such as Sony Protocol and Split Audio Editing will be added and made available to Finepoint's customers, as well as increased recording capacity.

When the upgrade programme is complete, EVS LSM systems will be available to rent in two varieties:

Five channel version fitted with 36 GB drives giving around 10 hours of raid storage. Supplied with a single control panel and installed software:
Multicam LSM, Playlist Management, Split Screen, Target Track and Magnify, SportNet, Split Audio and Super LSM as an option at no extra charge.

Six channel version fitted with 72 GB drives giving around 20 hours of raid storage. Supplied with two control panels and installed software:
Multicam LSM, Playlist Management, Split Screen, Target Track and Magnify, SportNet, Sony RS422 Protocol, Split Audio and Super LSM as an option at no extra charge.

Finepoint's Chief Engineer Roger Wedlake commented, "Our customers now demand exclusively XT technology so upgrading our older LSMs made sense. XT offers a fast reliable machine designed to withstand the rigours of outside broadcast. Embedded audio recording alleviates the need for a separate audio crate and the SDTI SportNet networking option enables operators to share material between systems."

Managing Director Allen Bendig said, "Finepoint's investment in upgrading to XT will secure our position as a market leader in supplying EVS Live Slow Motion systems to the outside broadcast industry. The increased recording capacity and added software options mean that our clients can hire from us with confidence that they will get the configuration that they require. Our careful testing and maintenance procedures combined with the rugged XT platform ensures that we offer a thoroughly reliable LSM system."

For further details contact Finepoint on 0800 970 2020 or hire@finepoint.co.uk

March 2003 - New FinePoint Web Site
A fully searchable broadcast equipment rate card is the major new feature of Finepoint's brand new web site. Search for equipment by keyword or by category in order to locate information on the equipment that you need. Every item of equipment has its own data page with a description and a list of case contents, case weights and dimensions. Most equipment has a photograph and many items have datasheets available to download in pdf format. The web site is linked to FinePoint's own database servers so that the information on the web site is right up to date and genuinely catalogues the companies own rental stock.

February 2003 - Building Work Underway
After nine years at our current premises and considerable growth in our business we had reached the point where there was no more room for new equipment or new staff. So building work is in progress to expand our premises to nearly double their original size. This will create a smart new larger hire office together with enough storage space to keep us going as we fill it with more of the latest broadcast kit over the coming years.