I thought I had seen it all, well at least for 2008, when the Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera had been revealed earlier this year. I was so impressed that I pre-ordered one at the JB HiFi store in Melbourne. Then, I saw the Red Digital Cinema Epic and Scarlet…wow!
Like the Canon 5D Mark II, the Red Scarlet and higher specced Epic are each are capable of taking either digital stills or motion video, but the difference is that the Red Digital Cinema cameras can be configured specifically for either of the aforementioned purposes. For example here’s a Red Digital configured as a video camera:
Who is Red Digital Cinema Camera Company:
(ref: Wikipedia)
The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company manufactures digital cinematography cameras and accessories for professional and cinematic use.
Red Digital Cinema Camera Company was founded in 2005 by Jim Jannard, founder of the Oakley company. The company’s main product is the Red One, capable of recording at resolutions up to 4096 horizontal by 2304 vertical pixels, directly to flash or hard disk based digital storage. It features a single Super 35-sized CMOS sensor and a cinematography industry standard PL mount.
The camera body is priced far below most comparable products, and as a result it may make high-resolution digital cinematography accessible to many more productions.[1] This aggressive pricing, and Red’s approach of reaching out to potential customers through online forums—unusual in the traditionally very small digital cinematography market—have generated considerable industry attention.
The Red Digital Camera Differentiator
The main concept behind the Red Digital Cameras is the technological modularised design, which they purport, means that it’ll never be obsolete:
The DSMC concept is the epitomy of “Obsolescence Obsolete”. As technology pushes forward, there is no reason to buy a new camera every time a sensor, recording module or display technology improves. Instead you can upgrade individual modules, and even interchange Scarlet and EPIC components at will.
Red Digital Camera Specifications
Specifications range from the base Scarlet model 11+ D stops, 120fps and 4.9MP all the way up to the pro EPIC 617 model featuring 13+ D stops, 25fps and 261MP. Click here for more juicy details.
Pricing and Availability
Prices start at around US$2,500 (Scarlet 2/3″ Mysterium X) to up to US$55,000 (EPIC 617 Mysterium Monstro) so not for the faint hearted. Also bear in mind that this amount is for the brain only. The Scarlet models look to be the first to be released to the public with the Scarlet 2/3″ Mysterium X with a Quarter 2-3 2009 release. The EPICs will follow soon after.
Despite the gadgety abilities of the new Scarlet and EPIC range, I’ll stick with my 5D Mark II pre-order (it’s cheaper too). I can always trade-in if pricing the Red Digitals get better…
