If you’re reading this, it probably hasn’t escaped your attention that RED recently announced a new, extremely modular approach to digital cinema cameras.¬† Having had lunch with Garrett Brown (forgive a guy for being proud) which inevitably involved a lot of chat on how the steadicam system has evolved over the years, Jason Wingrove‘s twitter jumped out at me.
If RED can come up with (and I’m sure they will) a sensible range of cabling to attach their various modules together, Jason’s suggestion would produce a really interesting rig.¬† Traditionally if you want ‘feature film quality’ you’re looking at a big and heavy camera, with a Steadicam rig to match.¬† RED can be configured in any number of ways to meet and arguably exceed today’s concept of ‘feature film quality’, but with just the tiny sensor module and a lens at the top and everything else down below as the counterbalance, you have a lightweight system, requiring only a lightweight rig.¬† Hurrah!


Stephen Webb 8:04 pm on November 28, 2008 Permalink |
Don’t see that you’d need the power or the i/o module for Steadicam work though.
Ed 6:24 pm on November 29, 2008 Permalink |
Surely you need a video output?
Stephen Webb 10:56 pm on November 29, 2008 Permalink |
There’s a BNC out on the main body. Bottom right at the rear.
Ed 11:07 pm on November 29, 2008 Permalink |
Ah, cool. Presumably that would be HD-SDI? My ideal RED Steadicam setup would include both HD-SDI and composite video at the bottom of the sled, with the option to superimpose on the framelnes and safe area on either or both. Probably also need some sort of audio input for wireless inputs when the sound guy wants to run something in to help in post.
Stephen Webb 11:17 am on November 30, 2008 Permalink |
OF course, this will probably all be academic come Wednesday.
Ed 2:29 pm on November 30, 2008 Permalink |
I’d be surprised if they back off from the modular concept though. I’m expecting a shuffling around of specs into different price points, mostly.