Red revolution on the way
'We believe, and are developing for late 2009, a replacement for DSLRs,' says Jim Jannard, founder of Red, which has just unveiled details of a groundbreaking hybrid camera system that some say will change the way we think about image capture forever. Simon Bainbridge reports
After weeks of drip-feed information, a US-based company has unveiled details of its new camera system designed for ultra high resolution still and motion picture capture - which many experts think will revolutionise professional imaging.
Available in multiple configurations, Red's Digital Still & Motion Camera (DSMC) is based around one of two 'brains' - the Scarlet, or the higher-spec Epic - with sensor sizes available from a 'mini' 2/3-inch to 6x17cm, reportedly delivering still image resolutions ranging from 4.9 million pixels to a whopping 261 million, together with full-frame motion picture capability. There's even a 3D capture version planned.
The DSMC is due next year, capitalising on renewed belief that the convergence of still and motion picture capture is the new reality.
Subject to change
With dozens of lenses, mounts, eyepieces, batteries, displays and accessories to choose from, Red is only half joking when it boasts there are '2,251,799,813,685,248 possibilities' to customise the highly modular system. And, claims the firm's founder Jim Jannard (who made his fortune developing high-performance sunglasses under the Oakley brand), it will make 'obsolescence obsolete' by allowing users to swap in newly-developed components.
The Scarlet version may be available as early as next spring, with four choices ranging from around $2500 up to $12,000, based around different lens mounts, including Canon, Nikon and Mamiya (the latter for higher spec models only). It will be capable of shooting 3K images at 120fps, up to 6K at 30fps. The figures represent the number of horizontal lines captured, so 3K represents 3000 lines, which is nearly three times that of Canon's EOS 5D MkII.
The Epic version is expected next summer, delivering up to 9K at 50fps for around $45,0000, and a 28K model could become available in 2010.
Epic is the 'master professional' version, made from 'a robust machined body', while Scarlet is dubbed merely 'professional, offering less range in terms of image formats and capture rates, although it has the advantage of being more compact and lightweight.
Both versions are built around several variations of Red's Mysterium-X and Mysterium Monstro sensors, capturing images using the company's proprietary Redcode Raw format.
Red has also developed more than 20 lenses - from wide-angle primes to image-stabilised zooms - available in four formats so far, with 645 and 617 versions planned.
'Prices, specifications and delivery dates are subject to drastic changes,' says Red. 'Count on it and you wont be disappointed.'
Such statements are typical of a company that unveiled details of the DSMC online to rapturous approval from the company's many eager disciples, but refuses to issue a proper press release or printable size product images.
In a statement to BJP, a spokesman commented that 'we have broken many of the rules in traditional development and marketing and have created a 21st century model for both. Any information that is available is presently residing on our website, red.com'.
However, that hasn't dampened hyperbolic response to the announcement in the US.
'Red's announcement is the media technology equivalent of Barack Obama saying that not only is he going to deliver on his campaign promises, he's going to offer every American a lifetime of high-quality universal health care, a top-notch education through college, and balance the budget and grow the economy ... in the first year,' writes Jerome Thelia of Merge (mergegroup.com), which specialises in still and motion imagery. 'And by the way, we're pulling out of Iraq which is going to become peaceful and democratic.'
Movie success
You'd be forgiven for thinking this was all part of an elaborate hoax, except for the fact that the company's first camera, the Red One, has taken the movie industry by storm, and has already been used by filmmakers such as Stephen Soderburgh and Peter Jackson, who used prototypes for a short film, titled Crossing the line.
One reason is that Red allows cameramen to shoot full frame digital images and achieve the kind of shallow depth-of-field associated with film capture. The new DSMC models will also give them something they have previously found difficult to achieve - high dynamic range. The new cameras will have a dynamic range of up to 13 stops, says Red.
'Red's disruptive impact on the feature film acquisition and cine markets over the last year has been nothing less than a revolution, having sold more cameras than all of our competitors combined over their entire production careers,' a company spokesman claimed. 'Red's entry into a new paradigm, creating, if you will, a new camera segment defined neither by DSLR nor video, is bound to make some ripples and we are looking forward to the coming challenges.'
'DSLR killer'
There is plenty of indication that Red will also target the high-end DSLR market next year. The DSMC system includes an SLR-like grip accessory, and one version of the Scarlet system includes a fixed 8x zoom lens. But the most intriguing comments came from Jannard earlier this year when he wrote on the reduser.net blog about a camera model he dubbed a 'DSLR killer'.
'We believe, and are developing for late 2009, a replacement for DSLRs. Currently, we call it a DSMC (Digital Still & Motion Camera). While (it) is not a replacement for Epic or Scarlet, it is strategically targeted at the DSLR space. As Nikon and Canon release their 720P and 1080P, respectively, DSLRs with video capture... Red has a more advanced view of the future. We look forward to rapidly pushing the "big guys" along in feature sets and capabilities.
'Red firmly believes in higher resolution, higher S/N, higher DNR, higher frame rates, smaller bodies, more system flexibility No buyers fro as we move forward in camera development. The strength of Red is in our sensor development program, Redcode, and having no legacy platforms to deal with. That left us free to explore, develop and prepare to deliver a new platform. DSMC.'
THE DSMC CAMERA IN BRIEF
- The first truly hybrid still and motion capture system
- Sensor formats from 2/3-inch to 6x17cm
- Resolutions from 4.9 million pixels to 261 million
- Modularity allows infinite customisation and 'future proofing'
- Body prices $2500 up to $12,000
- Everything is subject to change, but expect arrivals in 2009.
