macnn/electronista
09/02/2008, 1:05pm, EDT
Tuesday, September 2ndRED looking to develop DSLR
RED is looking to build a still camera, according to a company official. The company has so far specialized in HD movie cameras such as the Scarlet and the Epic, but is said to be interested in the world of DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) hardware as a divergence. DSLRs are the cameras most used by professional photographers, due to features like portability and lens choice; only more cumbersome medium- and large-format cameras may have superior features in some regards.
Little has been disclosed about the RED DSLR, but it is expected to use Mysterium Monstro, sensor software that "pushes the envelope past anything on the horizon," the company claims. The Monstro software will also be available as a free upgrade for Epic cameras, but no date has so far been proposed.
Filed under: gadgets, digital imaging
Other story tags: cameras, RED
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hmph
it's taken Canon and Nikon decades to develop their cameras and lenses into state-of-the-art digital SLRs.
Gonna be a while before I consider buying a RED DSLR.
RED is for REAL!!!
RED is doing some amazing things. Don't sell them short. They went from what some considered a "scam" to a company that is fundamentally changing the motion picture industry. These dudes are deadly serious and truthfully when everyone else is sleeping they are working.For clarification, Monstro is the sensor. Epic will receive a sensor upgrade (free of charge as far as I can tell). Red cameras do regularly get updated software that (which is exceedingly useful), imagine having a camera that is fairly regularly improving in features and performance, that is what you have with RED.
Ya never know...
I know nothing about RED, but i do know that both Sony and Panasonic have done surprisingly well with their initial DSLR offerings. Nevertheless, I agree with those who are skeptical that a company with no experience designing or building digital cameras can really pull this off. At the very least, they will have to top some extremely capable competition from Nikon and Canon.
Something new
Canon and Nikon are OK, but the DSLRs are built to tightly on the solutions of the analogue cameras. I beleive (as a pro photographer) that todays cameras are much more cumbersome to operate than necessary. Someone should 'think different'!
not ready
for prime time. Friend of mine went to a RED seminar at Apple Store last week. Here is what he wrote after attending:
Mostly it demonstrated how poorly the software worked, and work-arounds to get by. All Red files need further work to edit on Mac, or anywhere, and this is not easy.
One useful item, however, was that one needs an infra-red filter in the matte-box because of the tremendous sensitivity of the single chip.
Along with talk of manufacturing shortcomings, I would say Red is not there yet. [A local film/video rental house] said this was why they did not buy initially, and I've heard it a number of times from others since.
lens mounts
it would be interesting only if they offered the DSLR with a mount that could take canon OR nikon lenses!!that's the only way, i think, that you could push the hand of mass adoption!
furthermore
read an article in Millimeter about 3 months back, a DP used Red to shoot a feature and swore he'd never allow one on his set again, due to the software glitches.
The Emperor wears...
RED! Yup, the masters of vapourware are at it again. Read the article again and gasp with wonder as you see that the company has built it's reputation on two cameras, the Scarlett and the Epic, that haven't even shipped yet!!!!!!!!! Need it be pointed out that Mr. Oakley (or whatever his name is) started out with similar hyperbole (and hogwash) for his sunglasses, using phrases such as thermonuclear resistance. Methinks that if you are caught in a nuclear blast, trendy sunglasses ain't gonna make a whole lotta difference! In the end, who did he sell to, RayBan, the very people he set out to challenge. This guy is not interested in building a camera, only a brand. And with that brand he will sell $599 camcorders for $1499. If you think things will be any different than the last time, I'd love to know why? P.S. - If the RED is so great, why did the most obvious choice for such a camera, namely Cloverfield, avoid them like the plague and use Panasonic (even in standard Def) and Sony instead? Duh?
You're quite wrong!
Wow. It's quite amazing to see clueless people spewing inaccurate statements and opinions about something they know little about.
Red has been selling their first moving picture camera, called the Red One, since approximately November 2007. It has been wildly successful and there's a waiting list.
Feathers stated that: "RED! Yup, the masters of vapourware are at it again. Read the article again and gasp with wonder as you see that the company has built it's reputation on two cameras, the Scarlett and the Epic, that haven't even shipped yet!!!!!!!!!"
Scarlett and Epic will be arriving next year while Red has been shipping their first camera, Red One, since approximately last November, 2007.
Untrue, negative trash talk about someone's character (if you read the rest of Feather's posting) reveals a lot about Feather's own character.
If you're truly interested in the passion and progress of Red, these are the main forums:
reduser.net
scarletuser.com