Tidbits That Have Come Out Since the Oct. 30th Announcement
Here are some of the tidbits the RED team has dropped since the Oct. 30th announcement yesterday.
- Epic-X will be 15 bit.
- [EDIT] The fixed lens for the 3k Scarlet is finished and being tested at RED. Pictures coming soon.
- Fixed lens Scarlet will have a 3 position ND filter wheel built in
- The front diameter of the fixed lens on the Scarlet will be 77mm.
- Epic and Scarlet brains will have a little removable scratch mic that plugs in to the front
- The new XL batteries will be 100Wh and safe for air travel
- There is a Word Clock out pin in the same connector that ingests the AES/EBU digital audio.
- The 18mm RED Pro Prime should be shipping in Jan. 2010
- The 18mm RED Pro Prime will be the same size as the rest of the lenses
- The RED mattebox is a clip on with two 4 x 5.6 filter trays
- The ability to tether modules is still in the plans
- Movement of the 5 axis sensor plate will be manual
- All Epic and Scarlet brains will be able to control focus tracking and auto focus
- The Canon and Nikon electronic mounts are currently functional and being tested at RED
- Canon and Nikon mounts will feature a PL mount-Style lock-ring
- The RED FF35 electronic lenses will have OLEDs for focus marks
- Epic and Scarlet brains will come with a non electric PL mount
- RED side handle has an X-sync port to sync with the pocket wizard
- RED Ray is coming along very nicely
- S35 Epic and Scarlet and 2/3″ Scarlets are being developed simultaneously
After the announcement, there was a general consensus among those who wanted a Scarlet that, yes, they will want a Scarlet but why do they feel like they are getting dicked around with? Well, there’s a lot of reasons. Let’s look at a few.
Release Schedule:
Summer 2008 (Possibly Earlier) – Here comes the announcement of a 3k (resolution) Camera for around $3,000. Considering that this shoots higher resolution than 32mm film (around 2k resolution) it was a BIG deal. The common slogan was “3k for $3k!” and it was being paraded around. It would ship early 2009 (Jan-Apr. estimated)
Fall 2008 – Instead of releasing the camera, they announce they are changing the specs of all the camera’s and implement a really cool, revolutionary way to buy your equipment. Modular. Great, but the camera is pushed back six months for release. It’s still the 3k for 3k deal. Camera’s should start releasing summer 2009.
Later in Fall 2008 – New specs and prices are released.
Summer 2009 – A statement is released saying they are being slow to release the camera’s because their manufacturers dropped, went out of business, and the people at RED are working less hours (expected because of the economy). They said this would be a 2-3 month delay, not bad.
Now, 2-3 months later or more – We are told that the Scarlet specs have changed AGAIN, that the price is going to go up (we don’t know how much except that the camera is better than before so it makes sense for a price raise). Also, there’s no announcement as to the release of the Scarlet. Also, with the announcement we learn that there will be ANOTHER announcement at the end of November…How about they actually release something and stop making announcements?
Read entire comment here…
I definitely think the frustration of non RED One owners who want a Scarlet is valid. Regardless of the excuses, delays suck.
I think there are a couple points you need to keep in mind, though. Those of us who experienced the rocky public roll out of the first RED One cameras BEGGED RED to make sure all aspects of the DSMC system was solid before shipping this time around. Jannard listened and the beta testing period is part of the delay so you can lay some of the blame on us as well. ; ) I really don’t think the majority of potential Scarlet owners would be cool with the issues we were having on those first RED Ones.
Secondly, I know a lot of Scarlet people feel totally left out by the Oct. 30th announcement, but I think this is due to a misunderstanding of what exactly DSMC system is. I still get calls from people thinking the Epic and Scarlet are two entirely different cameras. What you have to keep in mind is that when the “Tattoo” cameras go out for beta testing within the next two months, the Scarlet’s are basically getting tested as well since the components are 99% the same. The modules being tested during the beta period are 100% the same so any kinks that are worked out during this period will directly impact the modules you purchase for your 3k Scarlet. The technology in the Epic and Scarlet brains is basically the same with the Epic probably having a few more ASICS and larger sensor. There is nothing the Scarlets have that won’t be out in the field being beta tested within the next two months. I think if Jim had worded it differently and said the *Scarlets* would be out being beta tested before the end of the year many of you would feel differently.
I would urge you to to look at any progress made on any part of the DSMC system as progress made on the Scarlet as well. The delays suck and the word “Scarlet” was awfully scarce in the Oct. 30th announcement but I don’t think it is as bad as some of you are taking it.