Share

Red Scarlet and Epic

Could These Amazing Cameras Change The Face of DSLR's

Red Scarlet and Epic - Any colour you want as long as it is Red! - November 2008

I think someone described the Red system with the letters "OMG", and rightly so.

When you dive into what it is all about you will see why...it makes the war between Canon and Nikon seem like a puny water pistol fight when up against the mighty Red Scarlet and Epic.

Red call it a DSMC or a "digital still and motion camera"...just what the entire industry has been waiting for ever since digital first hit the scene...maybe.

For many film makers, both mainstream and indie, this set up will suffice for just about any recording situation you can think of.

You see, once you have the "brain" of the camera, the brain being a simple, understated box, the possibilities for accessories, add-ons and future upgrades are endless and as Red will tell you, the amount of different combinations for the system stands at well over 1 million at the time of writing!

However, the cheapest "brain" module will set you back around $2,000-$2,500 and the top of the range 617 monster...a cool $55,000 (although that does have a ridiculously huge sensor measuring 186mm x 56mm!!!

You can configure your Red Scarlet and Epic camera to shoot like a DSLR, a Cine camera...anything you want. The one thing that pleases me to the "nth" degree is the fact that this camera is future proof in that it continuously evolves as technology progresses. That means that once a part becomes obsolete, you simply upgrade that part without having to splash out another fortune on a new, complete body.

What this means to mere mortals like you and me is hopefully Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax et al will start to follow suit. They will create a DSLR with "upgradeability" so that once the 22mp sensor of your Canon EOS 5D Mark II is not enough for you anymore, or you damage it, or you need to replace the shutter, you can simply buy spare parts from your local dealer...yes please!

So if you...do you know what, why not just go to the Red website yourself and drool for a while...it's quite ok, honestly! Love it or hate it you have to agree, the specs are incredible and in my opinion, this is the future of digital imaging!

Once you have had a nose around, please come back here and give us your thoughts...

Red Scarlet and Epic at Red.com

What Others Have Said...

I want it!!!! I do wish it were available now as i am getting ready to invest in the new Canon 22 mega pixel and an expensive lens or two. I will not be able to get the Scarlett also sadly. I was so hoping it would be out by now. Sigh!

I WANT IT NOW!! by Christine Pincince (Fort Walton Beach Florida) - ...but i got the Canon EOS 5D Mark II instead. If it were for sale now I would have gotten it. Sigh

What a Camera! by Harry Sappington (Jefferson City Missouri USA) - The cost is the only prohibiting factor of this system. The company wouldn't want to give one away for purely demonstrative purposes to a photographer that would truly love to give it a spin. Would it? The idea of a component system is neat, but wasn't it tried before?

I seem to remember something about a mainstream company trying to market one some time ago. The problem as with this one is cost. The modular idea makes perfect sense, however unless you are shooting for National Geographic who would be able to mortgage their home to buy it? Remember if they need someone to try this in a classroom setting or in basic photography I would be very willing to oblige.

Red Scarlet and Epic