EPIC-X and Scarlet Cameras – Shipped Before the End of 2009

3rd November, 2009 by Adina
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Jim Jannard, CEO of RED, accepted that there were many delays in launching the two cameras and promised shipping them as soon as possible. He explained that the company has now a better control over the development process and that the economy status doesn’t push RED to accelerate new launches because customers are not very willing to buy at this time.

EPIC and Scarlet are cameras considered part of the Digital Stills and Motion Camera (DSMC) system. They are designed both to serve as extremely high-resolution DSLRs as well as RED’s staple greater-than-HD video cameras. They use the REDCODE RAW format to produce both videos and still shots.

The EPIC and Scarlet introduce a unique modular system to either category: users pick the EPIC or Scarlet as a core unit and then choose displays, eyepieces, lenses, grips, mounts and more depending on the exact need. The new system should allow recording 3D or using the Scarlet camera for still photos.

This program is supposed to have multiple stages. A first stage includes the 5K resolution EPIC-X as a beta test camera by the end of this year. All the equipment needed will also be provided, such as an electronic viewfinder, CompactFlash storage, a mount and power. All these will be available for $28,000 in a limited series.

The second stage is addressed to existing RED ONE customers who want to keep their cameras. It will be $19,500 and will benefit from a similar load-out to the previous stage, using production hardware and a 5-inch LCD instead of the viewfinder. All these models will ship after the testers are satisfied, but their serial numbers will not be eligible for trade-ins, like later cameras do.

The next stage, the third one, is for those owners who want to trade in their RED ONE cameras and only pay $10,500 after exchanging the old cameras. These models will ship after the second stage and will have 2.8-inch LCDs.

A fourth stage is meant for all other customers and includes the main version for the full price of $28,000.

Besides the program for the EPIC-X camera, the 2/3-inch Scarlet camera has been upgraded as a reaction to other major video-capable DSLRs, like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, in order to get better performance than these ones. RED is claiming to have higher bitrates in the native REDCODE format which allow for a 1,080-pixel resolution at 60 frames per second. The camera will have a gigabit Ethernet jack for networked shooting, a modular design, tap-to focus if linked to a touchscreen LCD, gamma and light sensitivity characteristics as the EPIC line.


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