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The Epic lineup now consists of the Epic-S, Epic-X and Epic-M.  Epic-S (for standard, or S35 Scarlet) will be the Epic with basic features.  Epic-X is now the high end Epic anyone can buy (it used to be a special package deal for RED One owners).  Epic-M has the exact same features as Epic-X but is being hand machined while RED builds up it’s production capabilities.  It comes with hand machined modules and will be the first Epic to ship.

This does not effect the 2/3″ fixed Scarlet or interchangeable.  Jim has said they are both right on the heels of Epic.

Here are some of the nuggets that come up in the interview:

• Lightest shooting configuration: 4 kilos (8.8lbs)
• Epic and Scarlet will make a shutter sound when in stills mode
• While shooting motion, a half press of the record button marks a frame as a still
• Epic may eventually do 5.5k but will not be confirmed in the near future
• Most popular electronic lenses from Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Tamron, Sigma etc. are pre-programmed into Epic.  There is a generic profile for electronic lenses that are not programmed.
• Tonaci set the Epic to ISO 6400 and zoomed in on the monitor to a 1:1 pixel ratio and the image looked clean

Here is a fantastic behind the scenes video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WsKKB6ps-g

EPIC was officially declared ready for production today. We have prototypes that pass all the requirements we set out the past few months. That means we will finish the Tattoo program and put Tattoos on special jobs and begin ordering all the parts and pieces (over 18,000) to begin production. It will take a bit of time to set up the line and gather all we need, but the end is in sight.

Just to be clear, not every feature is currently enabled, but the most important ones are and the build seems very stable as a foundation. We expect 95% of the features to be ready by the time production EPICs are released.

This is a pretty big day.

Jim

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Jannard says that after testing HDRx and Magic Motion in the field they realized that it was revolutionary and didn’t want to leave it out of the Scarlet lineup.

RED also has a new motion mode called “Magic Motion“.   The effect of Magic Motion is to basically get rid of the stutter in fast pans that is inherent to all digital cameras.  Objects that have motion blur also appear more “present”. You really get a sense of this in the “blonde twirling rod” video. A “More Normal Motion Blur” (MNMB) will also be available with HDRx and easyHDR. MNMB is being developed in co-operation with “The Foundry” (the guys who make “Nuke”).

HDRx motion clips.  Right click and “save as” to download:

• Ghost town barn
• Vegas fire truck clip
• Blonde twirling rod

• HDRx max framerate: 48fps
• HDRx can record to RED drives up to a certain REDcode
• When shooting HDRx you can chose to use only one of the two streams if you decide you don’t want HDR
• HDRx is not blending disconnected images
• No data rate hit for EasyHRD
• Extra boards are being added to the Scarlet line so that they can do HDRx as well.  Each brain will now be $1,000 more.

Here are some more examples of HDRx RED has posted.  The first image in each sequence is the normal exposure, the second is the X track, and the third is the two combined into an HDR image.

• Scarlet fixed zoom focal length: about 7.5mm-58mm or FF35 Equivalent of 28mm-224mm.
• Mysterious item #21: It is still far enough out that you need not worry about it right now. It is however worth the recognition that it mysteriously has received
• RED ONE owner priority: RED ONE owners who have not executed their cameras for Stages 1-3 of the EPIC program will have a short window of priority on Scarlet packages.
• Scarlet brain weight: Current weight of Fixed Scarlet is just over 4.5 pounds.
• First Scarlet to ship: Scarlet 8x is first to be brought up in the lab. It is still in engineering form, not “run around and take pictures form”. Think of a mini-Franky. There is alot of effort is going into the autofocus algorithms and lens optimization, and alot of waiting for bits of code to come down from it’s big brother. ASIC, Sensor and Lens work have been complete ( the hard parts ), but there is still alot of firmware work to be done and some minor mechanical changes waiting on tooling.
• 2/3″ image quality: The images coming off of it are incredible…remember, the 2/3rds sensor is part of the Mysterium-X family, and you all know what that looks like.
• 120fps is working on the CF-Module with 64GB cards at a reduced REDCODE rate. The highest REDCODE number you can use with the CF cards are still being determined as optimization work is progressing.
• Scarlet sensor read/reset: The read/reset  will be on par to the read/reset times of EPIC S35.
• Dynamic range: Compared to the EPIC S35 they will be close. The actual delta changes every day, as both systems continue to independently improve.
• Delivery dates: Scarlet Fixed 2/3″ is currently behind EPIC and likely will be for the forseable future. Some things are caught up, but as a whole it is a step or two behind it as it inherits a good portion of EPIC’s development efforts.
• Biggest change: The autofocus is actually the most impressive work going on right now… Nobody has seen autofocus on a video camera work like this before, and it is pretty impressive to actually see it work. Of course #21 is pretty incredible. And the (optional) Titanium Lens mount is pretty cool.
• Custom colors: Kind of… the side”cosmetic” pieces on Scarlet are removable.. and you can get different finishes. I can’t remember if we officially mentioned that before for the 2/3″…… but you can. But please… No pink.

• The motors are in the lens, both autofocus, iris and zoom. That 8x lens all by itself is a technical achievement all by itself. This is a cinema lens: with custom actuators and lens group movements designed for both motion and still.

This module will allow you to hand iPads to your directors, producers, script supervisors etc. and they can all view what the camera is shooting real time. more…

RED has confirmed that they are working on ProRes and AVID DNxHD modules as well. These will allow you to record RAW to you main media and simultaneously ProRes or DNxHD files to a CF card in the proxy module.

• Epic @5K 2.37:1 (5120 x 2160) is now 120 fps. 5K 16:9 is 96 fps. 5K 2:1 is 100 fps.
• Epic can process 1.5 gigapixels per second.  5x as powerful as the RED One.
• Epic body with CF module weighs 5lbs
• The new Redvolt batteries last 40-60 mins, while the old RED  bricks last 3 hours
• Epic has Clean 1080p HDMI/HD-SDI output feeds while also displaying menus on the LCD/EVF
• DSMC EVF/LCD ports are dual use
• Boot up time on the prototypes is currently 12 seconds from completely off to monitors on and ready to record.  Goal for shipping brains is 10 seconds.
• Jannard confirms that their will be discount packages for not only the fixed Scarlet kit, but the other DSMCs as well.

OTHER STUFF:

• RED 64gb CF cards will be shipping by summer.  They skipped the 32gb cards.
• PL Mount Diascope for setting PL Backfocus / Flange distance on the RED ONE / EPIC / SCARLET cameras announced.

RED SIDEHANDLE

• Flash triggering options: PC/X SYNC port integrated into the side handle is compatible with Pocketwizards, Profoto, Hensel, Elinchrom, AB, etc.  Wireless triggering options are in development
• RED side handle now has a working LCD display
• Side handle has a motion/stills switch on the front

CF MODULE:

• Now has push button eject mechanism
• CF module now has a record button
• Also has two user assignable buttons

The Epic brain in the images below is prototype “Thirteen”.

EPIC has a REDCODE mathematically lossless compression option (2.5:1) that records to onboard SSD module (not to CF).