RED: Why bother making a "fixed" lens Scarlet?

[Russ Johnson]

I don't get the "why" of the fixed lens version. Why not one version of the 3K, 2/3" camera brain, with the interchangeable mount and make it an option to buy an 8X, 2/3", B4 mount Scarlet lens?

Seems like this would be a "win/win" for the user and RED, the company. Even if the user thinks they will only ever want the 8X lens, it would allow him/her to change their mind a year later and expand the system with the mini-RED primes, different mounts, etc. RED would have lower design and production costs, give their customers more satisfaction and opportunities to spend money with the company.

Answer me that one, will ya?

Thanks,

Russ

 

[John Caballero]

There are plenty of people interested in the fixed version. Lots of them will be sold. That is called freedom of choice. If you don't want it then not buy it, that's all. Having a high quality zoom lens built in is a great thing. For the people that may not be familiar with what a zoom lens is at this stage in life it is really a wide angle, normal, telephoto and everything in between, all in one lens. A lot of us welcome the fixed version. Go Red.

 

[jbeale]

The vast majority of video cameras sold (pretty much all of the consumer/prosumer market) have "fixed" (non-removable) zoom lenses. It's not for everyone, of course, but there are reasons to make a camera that way. To get equivalent capability in a removable mount it gets significantly more expensive (& I think larger/heavier).

 

[David Mullen ASC]

There are things you can do with a fixed zoom lens controlled electronically that lower manufacturing costs compared to a manual zoom lens. You can make certain shortcuts in lens design in regards to focusing, zooming, exposing, etc. using floating elements if lens is controlled by the camera. Traditional manual controls using cams, threads, etc. actually require a higher degree of manufacturing precision.

Plus a fixed zoom and more auto controls means that the camera is geared to a wider consumer market and thus economies of scale make the whole thing cheaper to make and thus cheaper to sell.

Besides, there IS (or will be) a 3K Scarlet with interchangeable lenses. I think you're asking why it can't be as cheap as the fixed zoom Scarlet.

 

[Joseph Ward]

A 2/3rd(C-Mount) Interchangeable Zoom Lens for the other Scarlet would be cool also along the Fixed Scarlet.

 

[GPSchnyder]

I don't get the "why" of the fixed lens version.

Because I want one. And I'm not alone.

I could ask the same. Why are there so much Scarlets that don't have a fixed lens. But I won't because I know that at least you want one.

I'm just saying,
George

 

[Alexis Hanawalt]

I like that this is a first post and he writes "answer me that one, will ya?" attitude right out of the gate.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I don't get the "why" of the fixed lens version. Why not one version of the 3K, 2/3" camera brain, with the interchangeable mount and make it an option to buy an 8X, 2/3", B4 mount Scarlet lens?

That lens would most likely cost just as much or more than the entire fixed-lens Scarlet camera. Why B4? Most B4 lens implementations, especially "HD" glass are set up for 3-chip sensors. If you put a B4 mount on Scarlet, most any lens out there that people will want to put on the camera will require a degree of optical correction.

The fixed lens model, as others have mentioned, will provide a nice rounded set of features for a low cost. It's entirely self-contained and the lens is fully controllable onboard.

Personally, the only 2/3" Scarlet that interests me is the fixed lens model. But I'll wait and see what the mini-primes give us. But I think if I'm buying Scarlet, I'd rather get the FF35 model regardless, so I can use it as a 35mm still camera too.

 

[Joe Carney]

I'm sure the fixed lens Scarlet will be a favorite target platform for the 35mm adapter aftermarket. No FOV crop factor.... which means I hope they offer true image flip/record.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Considering the price of the S35 scarlet and the price of a 35mm adapter that is good enough to actually mount on a sensor with 3K~5K resolution, I see no reason to not buy a S35 Scarlet if the intent is to use 35mm glass. I'm sure someone will do it... But if you look at it objectively, it makes little sense.

fixed lens Scarlet + adapter will be at least $5000, probably closer to $7500, and I'm just talking the brain plus the 35mm adapter. The Letus ultimate is $4500 for the adapter alone. Anything cheaper and you're compromising the image so much, what's the point???

S35 Scarlet is $7000. Put a Nikon or Canon mount on it. Done. No ground glass to deal with, no stupid adapter, no additional light loss...

 

[Darren Orange]

Makes 3D a lot easier also....

 

[Leaf Baimbridge]

I think the combination of the fixed lens scarlet and a top end 35mm adaptor doesn't make much sense unless you take into consideration the 120 fps at 3K that the S35 and FF35 don't have. That's a pretty sweet deal for the under $10K price tag. I'm not a big fan of adaptors myself as they generally decrease DR, but in the case of the fixed lens Scarlet, I can see the appeal of such a set up.

 

[Leaf Baimbridge]

S35 Scarlet is $7000. Put a Nikon or Canon mount on it. Done. No ground glass to deal with, no stupid adapter, no additional light loss...

Do the 35mm still lenses breath a lot?

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I don't get the "why" of the fixed lens version. Why not one version of the 3K, 2/3" camera brain, with the interchangeable mount and make it an option to buy an 8X, 2/3", B4 mount Scarlet lens?

Seems like this would be a "win/win" for the user and RED, the company. Even if the user thinks they will only ever want the 8X lens, it would allow him/her to change their mind a year later and expand the system with the mini-RED primes, different mounts, etc. RED would have lower design and production costs, give their customers more satisfaction and opportunities to spend money with the company.

Answer me that one, will ya?

Thanks,

Russ

1. To reduce cost
2. To reduce size and weight
3. Not having to deal with back focus issues
4. Not having to clean the sensor
5. Point and Shoot
6. Auto focus integration
7. Lens control integration
8. It will make great b-cam. I certainly want one or two of those even though I primarliy shoot with fully optioned cine-setup, heavy tripods, Master Prime glass, etc...

 

[michael zaletel]

Cause good cine glass is freakin' expensive and good Canon glass with a smart mount isn't cheap either.

-shooter

 

[donatello b]

because there are buyers out there ...
i'll buy a fixed lens scarlet !!!

 

[Petr Dvorak]

For action shots like sport, docu, news etc. Just there where you have no time to setup camera or exchange lenses and you need autofocus. Isn't it better to have a choice? I think I would like to own both.

 

[David Rasberry]

The B4 mount version will have to have an optical block to correct chromatic focus to match the standard.
When it comes to EFP style cameras with broad range zooms typically used for TV production, most of them only have their lenses removed for maintenance anyway. Fixed makes sense for a lot of reasons, especially if it can be very high quality glass.
I want one of each.

 

[Joe Carney]

Considering the price of the S35 scarlet and the price of a 35mm adapter that is good enough to actually mount on a sensor with 3K~5K resolution, I see no reason to not buy a S35 Scarlet if the intent is to use 35mm glass. I'm sure someone will do it... But if you look at it objectively, it makes little sense.

fixed lens Scarlet + adapter will be at least $5000, probably closer to $7500, and I'm just talking the brain plus the 35mm adapter. The Letus ultimate is $4500 for the adapter alone. Anything cheaper and you're compromising the image so much, what's the point???

S35 Scarlet is $7000. Put a Nikon or Canon mount on it. Done. No ground glass to deal with, no stupid adapter, no additional light loss...

If the fixed lens version can flip the image, you can reduce the cost of the adapter and less light loss to boot. Plus as I said, unlike s35, using Canon or Nikon glass, you get the equivalent of FF focused down to 2/3. No crop. Plus for those that already have one.... It will be interesting to see what they come up with. Letus and Brevis struggled to get edge to edge sharpness on a 1/2" setup (EX1/3). 2/3" might be more than they can handle.

 

[Jim Collins]

The big reason may be the autofocus. Since the fixed lense Scarlet is noticably bigger than the interchangeable lense Scarlet that makes me suspect that there may be some additional optics in there to split off part of the light for the focus sensor. This is just pure speculation however. Otherwise it would be really nice to have that lens on an interchangeable mount. Then it would be possible to have a wide angle alternate lense.