RED Electronic Lenses and Mount

[Curran Giddens]

I notice that the RED Electronic FF35 lens mount wasn't in the list of mounts that will be ready to start shipping along with Epic. I also haven't heard anything about the Electronic FF35 lenses in a long time. I lost track of the latest info about them so if anyone can remember some of the different specs.

I'm still hoping that these are on track to start shipping at the end of the year. I want to have touch-focus tracking without having to buy any Nikon or Canon lenses.


Here is all the info I could find in my files:




OLED witness marks:

The idea is that the marks on the OLED screen can be changed in any number of ways, from things as simple as metric/imperial, to adding focus markers digitally through the REDMOTE.

Lots of incredible things you can do once you make lens marks a non-fixed asset. For instance, on the electronic lens one of the focus marks can be lit up, they can be "backwards," and arranged in a nonstandard linear fashion.



Auto Focus:

The focus data will be available in the .R3D files.

There is there a hold (trigger/button) type feature for auto focus to prevent it hunting when the camera and or subject is in motion. Once you quickly (auto) nail perfect focus, it doesn't alter until it's re-commanded to do so.

There will be a "generic" Canon/Nikon lens setting for lenses that are not in the database. But you should expect that lenses that have already ben profiled would operate faster / more accurately than those that have not.

There are several "speed settings" as to how fast focus works. You don't always want the fastest.

AF should be fine underwater since the it works on a pixel level, refraction is compensated for.

I have worked with this AF a bit and I can see a few ways to use it. If you have talent that is 9' 6" away, you can tape it off and set it with your lens scale... assuming the lens and back-focus are dead nuts. Or you can visually set it with your EVF, LCD or external monitor. Or you can touchscreen it and get it dead on, then rack focus manually as they move. But you know you started with perfect focus. Really... you need to see this. Each will find a different way to add it to the arsenal. Or not. MF is always an option... just like you have always done. But my bet is that most will find a way to embrace this technology, not unlike how the still world has with DSLRs. Options are good. Trust me when I tell you this is a good option.

RED Electronic FF35 AF lenses:

Red are cinema grade with well controlled breathing. They also will cover FF35. 1st lens is the 24-75mm F2.8. There is a wide zoom and a long zoom to follow. It is smaller and lighter than the RED 18-85mm.

Focus is manual, one touch on the run-stop button, touchscreen or Pro REDmote. Single or continuous... and tracking. Also... rate control. The system is designed to work with Canon, Nikon and other programs, but will work best with RED lenses.

One big difference in the RED lenses, besides much less breathing, is the motors. They are better and faster. Our lenses will be bigger, but the difference will be clear.

This year (late) and under $10K.

 

[Sven Seynaeve]

I thought it was mentioned that they would ship when Epic does, but I'm not sure anymore, because we all didn't receive any update on this. I doubt it will become truth, because REd has other things to take care off first which might have more importance right now, but I would be very glad if it would become available really soon.

 

[Shane Betts]

What's been said is that the Nikon and Canon mounts will be ready to ship when the camera ships. The Red EF lenses and their mount will follow at some stage after that (??)

From what I recall, the Red lens renders were initially T2.8 zooms. I don't recall any primes. Jim or Jarred, at some stage, have indicated that electronic focussing during motion capture will work better with the Red EF lenses as they'll be designed for the job, where the Canon and Nikon glass will continue to exhibit the same limitations they currently have.

I think the Canon and Nikon mounts are terribly important. The number of people who have bought 5Ds, 7Ds, AF100s etc whilst awaiting the DSMCs to ship is large and it's nice to know their (sorry, our) lenses, at least, will still work on our new Red cameras.

 

[N_Villers]

My feeling is that the basic AF ability for canon/nikon is inherently built into the system but will be software build implemented only after a awhile. Manual/remote control via the redmote will be with the shipping models I think. I really hope the redmotePRO will ship along with the new mounts right away. The new red electronic mount and lenses also I think we will see only much later. At least this is my feeling but who knows, red can often give us great surprises.

 

[Curran Giddens]

red can often give us great surprises.

But lenses costing close to $10k each is not something many professionals want to suddenly be surprised with. Especially when they just bought a bunch of Canon lenses.

Lenses are one of the things I would like to plan ahead with. And I'm planning ahead all the way to Epic FF35 Monstro!

 

[IAN SUN]

I hear that. I need to figure out a lens upgrade strategy that works with my limited budget and that takes full advantage og the awesome capabilities of EPIC.
It would be nice to see an updated roadmap/progress report from RED on the lens program.

 

[Sven Seynaeve]

Ok , but according to Curran , these lenses will be FF and won't probably work on the first batch of Epics anyway, and only on the monstros or am I mistaken?

 

[IAN SUN]

They'll cover FF and are PL mount so will also cover Epic S35.

 

[Steve Das]

But lenses costing close to $10k each is not something many professionals want to suddenly be surprised with. Especially when they just bought a bunch of Canon lenses.
Lenses are one of the things I would like to plan ahead with...

I hear that. I need to figure out a lens upgrade strategy that works with my limited budget and that takes full advantage og the awesome capabilities of EPIC.
It would be nice to see an updated roadmap/progress report from RED on the lens program.

Yes..alot of us are in this boat. Not sure what to do untill at least more
is known about the new Red zooms. But so far not much word on them
and no video of the auto-focus in action pulling focus.

 

[Curran Giddens]

They'll cover FF and are PL mount so will also cover Epic S35.

No, they are not PL mount. You will need the proprietary Red Mount with the Electronic contacts.

 

[Curran Giddens]

Ok , but according to Curran , these lenses will be FF and won't probably work on the first batch of Epics anyway, and only on the monstros or am I mistaken?

There is no reason you can't use FF35 glass on the S35 sensor. All you need is the Red Mount.

 

[N_Villers]

But lenses costing close to $10k each is not something many professionals want to suddenly be surprised with.

I personally own a very good selection of L series glass ie. 14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 100, 16-35, 70-200 and use them regularly with the birger but even I wouldn't claim they are a "professional" solution. While good for vid clips, mabye a few commercials, I would never dream of shooting a feature with them and am always very clear with clients about their defects.

A red designed electronic zoom with AF designed specifically for motion, good optics, digital coating specifically for the red sensor, wide aperture, numerous and clear witness marks, IMO would be a steal at 10k and probably worth 3x that #.

Remember Epic is really about being pro and you do get what you pay for.

 

[Justin O'Neill]

Here are a couple more tidbits I have in my records, Curran.

The latest I have heard was a quote from Jim from August replying to Peter Majtan:

Jim, just to bump up the same question again - any (even rough) ETA and pricing for the electronic RED zoom(s)? 2010? Bellow $5K/$10K/lens?

Peter

Jim's reply:

This year (late) and under $10K.

Jim

Here is the post where Jim says the RED AF lenses will work better then the Canon or Nikon Electronic lenses for video:

Don't forget... we have a RED AF lens program. Our lenses are cinema grade with well controlled breathing. They also will cover FF35. 1st lens is the 24-75mm F2.8. There is a wide zoom and a long zoom to follow.

Focus is manual, one touch on the run-stop button, touchscreen or Pro REDmote. Single or continuous... and tracking. Also... rate control. The system is designed to work with Canon, Nikon and other programs, but will work best with RED lenses. No surprise.

Jim

And another:

One big difference in the RED lenses, besides much less breathing, is the motors. They are better and faster. Our lenses will be bigger, but the difference will be clear.
Jim

Image quality: Roberto asked this question:

Are they expected to have superior IQ to the 18-85mm and 17-50mm?

And Jarred's answer:

Yes.. Wait till you see them...

Jim says the 24-75 AF will be smaller then the 18-50mm: www.reduser.net/637614

 

[Curran Giddens]

Jim says the 24-75 AF will be smaller then the 17-50mm: www.reduser.net/637614

That is a nice little tidbit there. T2.8 right? No vibration compensation on the 24-75 though? Only on the longer zooms?

 

[RayFrisby]

There is no reason you can't use FF35 glass on the S35 sensor. All you need is the Red Mount.

Just to clarify guys will the Red Mount work with the Scarlet S35 and contain all the same AF features as the Epic, i.e touchscreen focus, tracking etc..

 

[Curran Giddens]

Just to clarify guys will the Red Mount work with the Scarlet S35 and contain all the same AF features as the Epic, i.e touchscreen focus, tracking etc..

Absolutely.

 

[Eli Jarra]

This is all incredibly important Curran, thanks for bumping the question again. I'd love some updates to the new line of lenses. My main hunger/addiction to RedUser is to check the progress of two things, Epic and these new lenses.

 

[Curran Giddens]

This is all incredibly important Curran, thanks for bumping the question again. I'd love some updates to the new line of lenses. My main hunger/addiction to RedUser is to check the progress of two things, Epic and these new lenses.

Very important for me as well. I need to buy lenses for when my Epic ships within the next three months. Hopefully even sooner. I would rather not buy Canon if the Red were right around the corner and I just couldn't see 'em coming.

Last we heard was before the end of the year.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

Making the right decision on glass is a major decision...at the moment I'm sticking with my 18-85 for our doc work, but for steadicam and HH I'm going to sub-rent (been holding out for RPA's)...

An update from our good friends at Red, who naturally have way too much going on at the moment, would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Curran Giddens]

Am I the only one a bit disappointed to not hear any news on the Red Electronic FF35 lenses?

Was hoping to see a pic of a prototype. No need to wait for the FF35 Epic to release these. I will be happy to use them on my S35 Epic when I get it.