Off-Topic: Starting New Forum for upcoming Red One Camera

[Casey Green]

Hello everyone,

I have been in the Video Toaster community for some time now, but have not been actively posting here. I have used many Newtek products over the years dating back to LW 1.0 and the original VT on the Amiga. I have also worked for other technology companies and lately the major Film Studios.

I am, at heart, a technology geek, and I love following new emerging technologies and hopefully putting them to use in my own projects. Lately, I have been following the news of the rumoured "Red One" camera. It reminds me alot of the excitement I remembered when Newtek burst upon the scene back in the mid to late 80s.

If you are not already aware, there is a new company called Red Digital Cinema that has announced plans for building a new Digital Video Camera that will be capable of recording images in incrediblly high 4K and 2K Raw and compressed resolutions and has the image quality, color fidelity, and variable frame rates of 35mm Film. The camera will also be capable of traditional HD resolutions.

This may or may not be of interest to you depending on your type of productions, but I find it very interesting and believe this camera has the potential to become a disruptive technology in the world of Filmmaking and Video Production.

Recently, I attended a screening of some of the first 4K footage shown in L.A. on a Sony 4K projector, and it was outstanding.

What makes this even more incredible, if they pull it off, is that they are going to be selling the basic camera starting at around $17,500.

For those of you interested, I have started a new website that will follow the developments of the Red Digital Cinema company and provide a place for Red camera enthusiats to network and share information and experiences. I do not work for Red Digital Cinema, and the website is not affiliated with Red Digital Cinema. I just have become so interested in this, that I thought others would like a place to find out more about it, if they do indeed release a product with this much potential.

If you are interested, please stop by the site:

www.RedCamCentral.com

thanks,

Casey Green

[Ivan D. Young]

I will be anxiously awaiting the release of this camera. Looking forward, to a new world of posibilites. Also I would like to mention that I saw on the red website that there will be a 2-3 day window for last minute reservations, before the camera is sold. If anyond has $17,500 that they want to spend on this, go check it out.

[Casey Green]

Hi Ivan,

Yes - thats correct, the window for reservations will be open in late January.

We hope you stop by and join the forum. Right now we have new prototype images of the Camera online.

thanks,

-CG

www.RedCamCentral.com

[Casey Green]

By the way,

Anyone planning on going to NAB this year? I think Red might show the first working cameras by then. Perhaps Tim will stop and chat with Jim? :)

Casey Green
www.RedCamCentral.com

[Casey Green]

Update: The Forum is ramping up... there's alot of new info and pictures uploaded now, including photos of the new prototypes and feature suggestions.

Feel free to stop on by... I think Newtek and Red could work well together (Speed Edit).

NAB '07 is going to be very exciting... We'll also have alot of new info from the show floor at the Red booth, including pics, videos, and interviews.

thanks for stopping by,

Casey Green
www.RedCamCentral.com

[ted]

Howdy Casey, good to see/read you! :hey:
Thanks for the update. While I don't see Red vers. 1 being my next camera, I can see how Red is pushing technology to the next level. Unfortunately I'm still trying to catch up with the first HD revolution. :D

See ya at NAB.

[Casey Green]

Hi Ted,

Yep, the Red One will be for certain markets only at first, mostly high-end cinema, indy, commercial, and EFP, etc., but eventually it may enter the prosumer world more.

Love to have you drop by the site anyway, for interesting conversation.

Definitely see you out at NAB. ;)

-Casey
www.RedCamCentral.com

[Casey Green]

Red will be releasing a project status update and shipping schedule this coming Friday, June 22nd.

It has been said that there will be some more field testing of some of the prototypes before production lines begin. At that time, it is expected RED will slowly ramp up, releasing a few at first, then increasing production speed as they go in the coming months.

We will post the full update when it is released at our RED enthusiasts Forum:

www.RedCamCentral.com

(Discussions and opinions are, of course, welcome... please stop by and say hello.)

thanks.

[Casey Green]

RED has shipped it's first 25 Cameras! If anyone is interested in learning more or seeing some pictures behind the scenes, feel free to check out:

www.RedCamCentral.com

Anyone have one on order? Stop on by and say hello.

[Verlon]

Ok Santa Claus...let's see what you're REALLY made of.

:D

It would sure be nice, but I could not begin to justify the expense.

[jin choung]

what's the "backplate" size... the size of the ccd? is it proportionally massive?

that would be nice for a more "filmic" reduced dofocus.

and in a related question - what kind of lenses will it take?!

jin

[jin choung]

oh, and does it have a built in waveform monitor? since these things are the video equivalent of light meters, i can't believe they're not built into cameras these days! especially since premiere and final cut prove they can be implemented easily in software.

jin

[Casey Green]

what's the "backplate" size... the size of the ccd? is it proportionally massive?

that would be nice for a more "filmic" reduced dofocus.

and in a related question - what kind of lenses will it take?!
jin

The Sensor is full 35mm sized, and the lens mount is positive lock (PL mount), so it is compatible with many of the standard Cinema lenses used on Panavision and Arri film Cameras. This allows for the quality and Depth of Feild that has been limited to Film Cameras until now.


oh, and does it have a built in waveform monitor? since these things are the video equivalent of light meters, i can't believe they're not built into cameras these days! especially since premiere and final cut prove they can be implemented easily in software.
jin

It has many built in monitring options and useful tools, including a histograms (RGB and Full), false color meter (for help in exposure), and a focus assist graphic for helping nail that super crisp 4K focus.

Also they are working with Apple, and have the ability to take footage right from the Camera in 4K and put quicktime wrappers on it so you can play it back right on your Mac Book Pro or PC Laptop on location.

These are exciting times... RED reminds me if early Newtek / PLAY.

I've started a website to keep track of all of the RED developments, and will soon have access to a couple of Cameras. We will be posting footage and test results soon... check it out here:

www.RedCamCentral.com

[mrpapabeis]

http://www.ssontech.com/content/crooked.mov

Plus the Red Camera uses global shutter, as opposed to rolling shutter which is good if you are doing match moves.



http://www.ssontech.com/content/skool.mov

[hard8]

I emailed sales last week to put a deposit down and no one has emailed me back. That $17k price tag quickly shot up to 28k once you add everything you need.

Anyone know what the wait times are on delivery?

[mrpapabeis]

Clarification,

The examples in my previous post where shot an HD cam (not a Red Camera) using CMOS chips with a rolling shutter. Very hard to track.

GP

[Casey Green]

No Camera is perfect, but for the price RED is an amazing piece of gear.

A Camera that uses PL mount lenses, shoots at 4K to CF cards and Drives, works with final Cut and quicktime right away... the industry is about to change.

www.RedCemCentral.com