18 Stops of Dynamic Range - RED Dragon

[Freelancer]

http://filmmakermagazine.com/61605-reds-dragon-sensor-now-with-more-dynamic-range/


seems like every sensor maker improves it´s sensors except canon.

the new GH3 shows a big improvement and is as good as APS-C when it comes to noise, not to mention sonys great sensors .. and now RED.

and the 6D or 5D MK3?
marginal better ISO performance but lower spatial resolution and basically the same DR as a 4 year old camera.

[bdunbar79]

http://filmmakermagazine.com/61605-reds-dragon-sensor-now-with-more-dynamic-range/


seems like every sensor maker improves it´s sensors except canon.

the new GH3 shows a big improvement and is as good as APS-C when it comes to noise, not to mention sonys great sensors .. and now RED.

and the 6D or 5D MK3?
marginal better ISO performance but lower spatial resolution and basically the same DR as a 4 year old camera.

I know, Canon sucks.

[scrappydog]

seems like every sensor maker improves it´s sensors except canon.

Yep, Jannard called out Canon on being behind the times...
http://nofilmschool.com/2012/12/red-ends-lens-production-dragon-sensor-65mm/

[Canon-F1]

How is it that RED could enter the cinema camera market 7 years ago and now about 50% of the released features are “Shot on RED”?
 
How is it that Canon owned the professional stills market 3 years ago and now Nikon is handing them their @ss?
 
How did Arri convert all the old-school film guys to the Alexa?
 
Sensors, baby. Sensors.
 
Apparently Canon is married to old sensor fab technology. The Nikon D800 scores 95 on the DXO sensor scale. The brand new Canon 5D MKIII… 82. Really? That can’t be good.
 
Arri has a great sensor program… although a bit down on resolution from our point of view. :-)
 
Enter the RED Dragon. This is sensor technology that makes all the big guys want to put on their helmets.
 
So how did Canon get so lost? Who are the camera companies that recognize that sensors are 90+% of a digital camera? Who is investing in sensor technology?
 
In order…
 
RED
 Arri
 Sony
 the rest…
 
Of course there are other factors that matter in this highly competitive and fast changing market. Who will upgrade the sensor in your existing camera instead of making you buy a new camera?
 
No matter what your answers are to these questions… it is all coming down to who has the best sensor program. Sensors matter. Side note… film is officially dead.

blunt but correct...

[jondave]

Can an actual sensor engineer shed light on this matter? It's totally useless comparing a dedicated RED video sensor to a dedicated stills photo sensor, the R&D process is completely different. So what if the RED 4K sensor can capture 18 stops of DR? It's only 8 megapixels (4096x2160) for God's sake, I bet it will absolutely SUCK at taking stills photos.

All I read here is the usual biased 'Canon sucks' bashing. I want to hear real facts from an engineer saying that Canon's sensor tech is easily improveable and they're just slacking off.

[chauncey]

Now, if I could only figure out how to use my canon glass on those things.

[bdunbar79]

I know, Canon sucks.

compared to other sensors.. yes.. canon sensors suck.
if "sucks" means "being worse".

there is no denying it fanboy.

Who cares?

[scrappydog]

Can an actual sensor engineer shed light on this matter? It's totally useless comparing a dedicated RED video sensor to a dedicated stills photo sensor, the R&D process is completely different. So what if the RED 4K sensor can capture 18 stops of DR? It's only 8 megapixels (4096x2160) for God's sake, I bet it will absolutely SUCK at taking stills photos.

All I read here is the usual biased 'Canon sucks' bashing. I want to hear real facts from an engineer saying that Canon's sensor tech is easily improveable and they're just slacking off.

Actually the Dragon sensor is 6K, not 4K, at 18 stops.  RED's are used for stills too -- just look at the RED site for shots taken with the RED cameras that have ended up on magazine covers.  In addition, the Canon 1D-C is heavily marketed for its ability to shoot in video by stills photographers, who can then pull the best individual shot as a still.  Any other objections?

[bdunbar79]

It's really simple.  If you are so unhappy with Canon's sensor tech, sell your Canon gear, switch to another company, and move on with your life.  Unless of course, you are like some I know, who actually enjoy being unhappy so that they have something to bitch and complain about, because if they didn't, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves.  The complainers to me, aren't actually credible, and I think they look really pathetic.  I think it's a cry for attention (which, they're getting in a weird way).

[Marsu42]

I think it's a cry for attention (which, they're getting in a weird way).

And it's meeting a lot of receptive ears on CR as bdunbar79 just proved :-> ... but there's not only the "jump ship" option, but due to the lack of sensor advancement a lot of people might delay purchases or buy lower-speced cameras like the 6d over the 5d3 until Canon catches up.

[Axilrod]

Can an actual sensor engineer shed light on this matter? It's totally useless comparing a dedicated RED video sensor to a dedicated stills photo sensor, the R&D process is completely different. So what if the RED 4K sensor can capture 18 stops of DR? It's only 8 megapixels (4096x2160) for God's sake, I bet it will absolutely SUCK at taking stills photos.

Here is a single frame pulled from footage from a RED Epic, looks ok to me:

[Mt Spokane Photography]

It sounds exiting, but, if I had a quarter for every promise they made that turned out wrong, I'd be rich.  They seem to make statements based on hope.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

and the 6D or 5D MK3?
marginal better ISO performance but lower spatial resolution and basically the same DR as a 4 year old camera.

more like as a six year old camera

hopefully the new process rumors are correct and they have finally woken up (once upon a time Canon EOS used to known for being at the FOREFRONT of technology, now all they want to do is sit around and milk things until forced to act)

[Marsu42]

hopefully the new process rumors are correct and they have finally woken up

I'd be interesting to see how the 6d/5d3 sales to once Canon really improves their current ff tech concerning dr and maybe a little resolution - only then we'll see how important this issue really is, because of course now most proud 5d3/6d owners say that the current sensor is never limiting no matter what.

[TexPhoto]

I'd be interesting to see how the 6d/5d3 sales to once Canon really improves their current ff tech concerning dr and maybe a little resolution - only then we'll see how important this issue really is, because of course now most proud 5d3/6d owners say that the current sensor is never limiting no matter what.

I walk down the street telling random strangers just this.

I have a 5D3 and would love for it to have the specs of the D800.  I'd consider switching save for a $15K investment in lenses.  In the mean time I am shooting great photos and avoiding making sweeping generalizations about my peers.  Oh and sometimes I bracket, and combine exposures.