HBO Camera Assessment Series (CAS)

Overview

The HBO Camera Assessment Series (CAS) is an ongoing program that evaluates digital cinema cameras and film stock through controlled, side-by-side testing. Created in 2012, the CAS assists producers, directors, and cinematographers across the Warner Bros. Discovery family (HBO, now known as Max) in selecting the most appropriate capture system for their productions. The program is led by Director/DP Suny Behar (CAS Director 2011-2023) and Executive Producer Stephen Beres (HBO SVP of Production Operations, 2011-2023), with Erik Hansen (HBO VP Media & Production Services).

The CAS is not a "shootout" to crown an overall winner. It is a structured comparison that reveals which cameras are best suited to specific imaging scenarios, allowing filmmakers to choose the right tool for each production. The series addresses a genuine challenge in contemporary cinematography: the pace of digital camera development means new systems emerge regularly, each with manufacturer specifications that are difficult to compare directly. The CAS creates a level playing field by shooting the same subjects under the same conditions with the same lighting across all cameras tested.

CAS History and Camera Lineups

A new installment has been produced every year or two since 2012. Each season tests the latest high-end digital cinema cameras alongside 35mm film as a reference baseline.

CAS 2012 (Season 1)

Cameras tested: ARRI ALEXA Studio, Sony F-65, RED Epic, RED Scarlet, Sony PMW F-3, Canon EOS C-300, and Kodak 35mm film. Test categories included green screen and VFX, movement, available light, skin tone, dynamic range, and mixed lighting. At that time, 35mm film was still a mainstay for HBO productions.

CAS 2017 (Season 4)

Cameras tested: Panavision DXL, Panasonic VariCam, ARRI ALEXA 65, Canon C700, Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro, and RED Weapon. This season reflected the rapid expansion of large-format digital cinema options.

CAS 2023 (Season 6)

The most recent installment, CAS 2023, features five top-tier digital cinema cameras plus 35mm film:

All cameras were tested with ZEISS Cinematography lenses exclusively, ensuring that lens performance was not a variable. Test categories included Skin Tone, Image Elasticity, Dynamic Range, Color and Patterns, and Available Light (exposed with nothing but moonlight).

Test Methodology

Each CAS evaluation tests cameras across standardized conditions designed to replicate real-world production challenges:

Skin Tone: Evaluates how accurately and appealingly each camera renders human skin tones under controlled lighting. This test consistently shows film performing strongly, with digital cameras showing varying color science approaches.

Image Elasticity: Tests highlight and shadow recovery simultaneously by shooting a scene with extreme dynamic range - a two-story house with a brightly lit kitchen, an averagely exposed living room, a dimly lit den, and a dark attic. Each camera is shown over and under exposed by up to 4 stops. In CAS 2023, 35mm film struggled in this test, with darker rooms getting noisy compared to digital cameras when starved for light.

Dynamic Range: Measures the sensor's ability to handle highlight and shadow detail simultaneously, revealing practical dynamic range in shooting conditions rather than manufacturer specifications.

Available Light: In CAS 2023, this test was exposed with nothing but moonlight. Film capture at ISO 2000 (force processed) produced almost no image, while digital cameras captured usable footage. This test highlights the low-light gap between film and digital.

Color and Patterns: Evaluates color accuracy, mixed lighting handling, and how cameras resolve complex patterns without aliasing or moire.

Results are shared through screenings organized with the Digital Cinema Society (DCS), SMPTE Hollywood, and at industry events including Cine Gear Expo and NAB Show. The feature-length presentation includes interview clips with the HBO CAS Team, Warner Bros. Discovery executives, and collaborating ASC cinematographers including Rodrigo Prieto, Todd Banhazl, and David Klein.

ICG Local 600 Technology Education Programs

While the HBO CAS is produced by HBO (not ICG Local 600), the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) runs its own parallel technology education initiatives through its Emerging Technology Committee. These programs extend the Guild's member services beyond labor contracts and rate cards into ongoing craft development.

At Cine Gear Los Angeles 2026 (June 5-6 at Universal Studios), Local 600 sponsored a booth and presented a panel titled "Breaking Old Silos with Virtualized Prep." The panel featured DPs Bruce McCleery, ASC (Fallout S1-2, Captain America: Brave New World 2nd Unit), Mark Weingartner, ASC (Dunkirk VFX DP, Interstellar VFX DP), and Marcus Taormina, with Lighting Designer Johnny Bradley and Programmer Daniel Boland. Moderated by Local 600 Assistant Western Region Director Michael Chambliss, the panel discussed how technologies developed for VFX and virtual production - including splats, LIDAR, virtual light, and virtual cameras - can improve planning and coordination for traditional and live productions.

At NAB Show 2025 (April 19), Local 600 and CineCentral presented "Breaking the Silos: Emerging Tech Collaborations With Camera," where McCleery and Weingartner discussed when pre-production conversations with camera should begin, who should be at the table, and the practical impact on crewing, scheduling, and safety.

The ICG Emerging Technology Committee brings together working cinematographers, camera operators, focus pullers, and technical specialists with detailed knowledge of how cameras perform under real production conditions. The committee's work complements the HBO CAS by providing practitioner-focused education on how to apply camera technology assessments in daily production work.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For directors and producers evaluating camera options, the HBO Camera Assessment Series provides independent technical evaluation that is more reliable than manufacturer specifications or rental house recommendations. The CAS 2023 results show that the ARRI ALEXA Mini remains a strong baseline reference, while newer cameras like the ALEXA 35 and Sony VENICE 2 offer improvements in dynamic range and low-light performance. Film (Kodak 5219) performs strongly in skin tone tests but struggles in extreme low-light and image elasticity scenarios compared to current digital cameras.

For cinematographers, familiarity with CAS results provides authoritative, independent reference material for camera selection conversations with directors and producers. The CAS methodology - same lenses (ZEISS), same lighting, same subjects - creates a fair comparison that no individual manufacturer test can match. Screenings are organized through DCS and SMPTE Hollywood; check the Digital Cinema Society website for upcoming screening dates.

For ICG Local 600 members, the Guild's Emerging Technology Committee provides ongoing education on how new tools and workflows affect day-to-day production. The 2026 Cine Gear panel on virtualized prep demonstrated that technologies originally developed for VFX and virtual production (LIDAR, splats, virtual lighting) are now applicable to traditional production planning, with implications for crewing, scheduling, and safety.

See Also

For the full ICG Local 600 guild profile, see International Cinematographers Guild (ICG Local 600) in this directory. For the honorary society recognizing cinematographic excellence, see American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) in this directory. For the Digital Cinema Society's coverage of CAS screenings and other camera technology news, see the DCS website.