Comments on: New Pro Camcorder [CR1]

By: Rolland Emmond

Rolland Emmond — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:57:13 +0000

Adding this article to my bookmarks.

By: Laila Samaniego

Laila Samaniego — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:05:17 +0000

WOW!!!!! that was just what i had to know, helpfull and to the point, please keep up the brilliant work and i will be back for more soon!

By: Killfilm/Samtheman

Killfilm/Samtheman — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:55:13 +0000

ummm,im laughing now! I knew this was coming, and some people who do nothing but shoot uncle bob’s “Home Videos” made fun of me. You guys owe me an apology and you owe yourself to learn more respect towards others. Go CANON, but seriously if you want most of the market or all of it. You gotta do 4:4:4 at 2K (or more), manual controls, RAW recording and variable frame rates for a competitive price.
I think you would make many other companies poop their pants.

By: tom

tom — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:39:31 +0000

You are correct about the red and the associated accessories, it’s even more true of all cinema cameras. As for “far from essential…” it depends on the user. It’s form-factor makes it ideal for small, quick, low-budget and stealthy w/minimal crew. But larger productions require more features and options that dslrs cannot provide. I use a hoodman loupe w/ funky elastic straps (and don’t get me wrong–I am happy to have it) to frame and focus, but it. is. a. pain. Another issue is lenses with mechanical (vs. electronic) focus rings. I know this isn’t really a form factor issue but it will be for a more “cinema-ish” camera because of how those cameras are used, and for now there are only a few options. Canon offered such a lens for the XL and I think it made some people very happy, but I think this is emblematic of the conflicting needs of the two different kinds of users.

Knowing I can grab some quick video while wearing my “sports shooter” hat is comforting, but lack of AF and multi-speed zoom makes it impractical for covering any kind of event. Conversely, knowing I can grab some hi-res stills with a FF or APS-C sized “video” camera is really convenient, but I’m sure I won’t be shooting more than a couple at a time. If I can’t afford both cameras, I will go with cheaper and make it work. But if I have a choice, I think the XL form-factor is better for making movies or covering events.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:22:33 +0000

Thank you for the reponse!

By: GL2

GL2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:14:03 +0000

I don’t see any major problems with the DSLR form factor. A lot of the support rigs and things being sold for DSLRs are far from essential. You can do a lot with nothing more than a good tripod. Yeah, you need a rail system if you want to mount a matte box, follow-focus and monitor, but the Red cameras are no better. In fact, with the exception of the fixed-lens Scarlet, Red’s cameras are really not stand-alone products. Take a look at all the add-ons for the Red One:

http://www.red.com/store

By: GL2

GL2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:03:24 +0000

The Red One is a digital video camera that shoots RAW video and costs under $20k for the body. They are currently working on a much less expensive line of cameras called Scarlet with varying specs and price points, depending on the particular model.

http://www.red.com/

By: GL2

GL2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:56:30 +0000

Full frame is not really an issue. The APS-C sensor is very close to the size of 35mm film (which many photographers don’t realize is smaller than a FF still camera’s sensor). 3K is not much of an issue either. Most films shot on DSLRs today will never see the light of day on a projector that can do 3K.

The major features Canon needs to focus on are quick full-time autofocus, RAW and skew (“jello”). If they can master those three at the same price point their cameras are at now, they’ll be the darling of low-budget indy filmmakers.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:28:27 +0000

What exactly is this “Red One” ?

By: tom

tom — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:39:15 +0000

The 5D/7D are not video cameras; anyone trying to make a film with them knows you need to be adaptable and make compromises, all the new support rigs you see are evidence of the problem. Filmmakers/videographers want to make movies, not kludge together solutions to the problems of the form factor (BTW, I LOVE my 7D). Red addresses the need for a robust camera *form factor* for FILM-makers, not photographers. A VDLSR is just a still camera…that can shoot nice movies. Canons XL series is a video camera…but not a still camera–or an ENG camera for that matter–which is not a market canon sells cameras to.

I think canon should make XL body w/ EOS mount and APS-C sensor. Lower MPixels is fine *if* it has better noise/sensitivity in low light; *and* captures progressive HD at higher frame rates.

All it really needs for lenses are two L series full-time manual AF/IS zooms, one wide & one long (just like they have now for XL) optimized for video production (rackable focus & zoom w/silky feel). With an EOS mount there is no problem using primes. Someone will make a PL mount adapter for it (I believe there already is a PL to EOS mount now).

Indie film and event videographers don’t want ENG cameras; they like the XL. This is the market Canon must address. This is the market Red targets.

An XL form-factor camera won’t cannibalize canon DSLR sales because it targets different users, just like a DSLR doesn’t cannibalize XL sales, and Canon is in a great position to address this market because is doesn’t make ENG cameras, only lenses. It’s video cameras are “consumer” models. An XL won’t cannibalize consumer HD cameras because mom & dad won’t buy such an expensive behemoth.

It is a natural direction to move in.

By: VillageBoi

VillageBoi — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:07:36 +0000

You be Naija?

By: bill

bill — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:27:47 +0000

that’s what the red team is singing all day long since the 5D came out. i think it is not relevant for the sales.

By: bill

bill — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:24:05 +0000

well I think it’s much cheaper to use a sensor design you have, and do the rest in postprocessing, i.e. downsampling instead of line skipping etc. i guess that is what they are working on.

+ getting 3K off the sensor with competitive framerates i.e. up to 120 seems quite a feat. but if its only a matter of sticking 4 digicV in there, and cooling them, it might be actually pretty cheap.

in any case i would predict, that if canon seriously wants to get in this market, then RED will have a very rough time ahead.

its like apple vs. microsoft 10 years ago ;-) i love it.

p.s. i would love it if canon made an super35 or apsc sensor video camera for under 3000. that would rock big time.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:10:49 +0000

As I understand it the “jello” you see when moving a canon sensor in video mode is from the refresh rate of the sensor being too slow.
If canon can figure out how to get their chip to 3k, no jello, and raw…they might be able to compete with the red scarlet. If they can offer full frame and good audio, all under $4,000 they’d beat the scarlet in most cases.
Red is the rabbit to chase currently. And it’s a lean mean animal…