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At NAB 2008 RED Digital Cinema showed off prototypes of Scarlet and Epic. Scarlet was to be a 3K digital cinema camera and Epic was to be 5K. RED boldly declared that the one thing we can all count on with RED is that everything will change. They have lived up to this motto and now, once again, in mid-November 2008, RED has rewritten the camera rulebook, completely redesigned both Scarlet and Epic, and lived up to their reputation as being the most innovative of the camera manufacturers on the planet today.
The current product, the RED ONE, is still shipping. This sells for $17500 USD for the body only, and has become established as a film replacement camera. The RED ONE has been used for feature film production, large and small budget, and is used across the industry for high quality acquisition. For the foreseeable future this camera will still be available with a range of accessories which the photographer needs to complete the system.
Scarlet and Epic no longer resemble what was shown at NAB 2008. The new designs are smaller, refined, and exquisite in appearance. These look like space age high-tech jewels reaching into unknown territory for cinema acquisition.
RED is referring to these cameras as a DSMC system - which stands for digital stills and motion camera system. This presents a new way of thinking about image acquisition, be it still or motion pictures.
At the heart of the system will be the "Brain" and one builds the system around this central component. When it comes to upgrade one purchases a new "Brain" rather than an entire new system
Both Scarlet and Epic will be available in many configurations. Scarlet can be purchased with a fixed 8x lens and 2/3rd inch sensor at the base level, or one can select from 3 other Scarlet "Brains" ranging from $2500 - $12000 USD. The difference in "Brains" relates to the sensor included with the chosen "Brain" and the resolving power which is specified at the moment to be either 3K, 5K or 6K.
Likewise there is a selection of "Brains" for Epic available in 5K. 6K or 9K - and at the top end a gigantic 28K sensor capable of incredible widescreen projection. Prices for the Epic "Brains" range from $28000 - $55000 USD for the body only.
Of course once one has their chosen "Brain", be it a Scarlet or Epic, then lenses need to be considered and all the other components which make up a camera system.
The new products are mind-boggling in what they offer and makes one realise that RED's initial achievement of a 4K camera was only the beginning of a much larger project.
A host of lenses and accessories are available, ranging from prime lenses made by RED or depending which "Brain" you have, there are options for either Nikon or Canon lenses. Accessories include everything from batteries to hard drives and recording modules.
At the top-end is a 3D system, made up of two brains and configured in a rig designed for 3D acquisition. The number of 3D motion pictures produced in recent years, including Journey to the Center of the Earth, indicate a revival of this form of cinema.
These are exciting times for digital cinema and still acquisition. In recent months Nikon released the D90 capable of 1280 x 720 moving images and Canon has announced the soon-to-be-released EOS 5D Mark II, which will record 1920 x 1080 HD images.
RED hasn't just announced new products - what they have introduced to the world is new concepts of how cameras should be - or can be. Not until we have these concepts in our hands and images on our screens, will we be able to assess just how much significant these new tools are.
For anyone interested in camera technology RED Digital Cinema is doing some very interesting things. The world is watching.
