Question on 2.40:1 aspect ratio.

[Hugh Woodland]

I apologize if this question ask been asked a million times already...but will the Scarlet 2/3 fixed have the capability of 2.40:1 aspect ratio?

This wasn't in the Nov 30th announcement. But it was always listed in Scarlet details up until Nov 30th.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

You can compose your image for cropping to 2.40, just as you can now with the RED or any other HD camera for that matter, so what exactly are you asking? Are you asking if they will have something like the 4K ANA mode on the RED that only records a roughly 4x3 image area for people using 2X anamorphic lenses?

 

[Hugh Woodland]

I am fairly new to cameras, and was just wondering if the camera was capable of shoot the aspect ratio 2.40.1...like ummmm...The Kill Bill movies...

I just noticed that it was listed under the details of the Scarlet previous to Nov 30th and has not been mentioned since...but your response has cleared things up for me...thanks!

 

[Stephen Gentle]

You'll be able to put frame guides up at least. I think the default shooting mode will be 2:1 and then you can just cut the top and bottom to get to 2.40:1. And you will still have plenty of room for a little re-framing before downrezzing to 2K or HD.

It may have a native 2.40 mode, but since you can't put anamorphic glass on it, and I'm fairly sure that 3K is the maximum sensor area you can shoot, it probably would be exactly the same as shooting 2:1 and cropping.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

I am fairly new to cameras, and was just wondering if the camera was capable of shoot the aspect ratio 2.40.1...like ummmm...The Kill Bill movies...

I just noticed that it was listed under the details of the Scarlet previous to Nov 30th and has not been mentioned since...but your response has cleared things up for me...thanks!

"Kill Bill" was shot in Super-35 and cropped to 2.40 in post. I think "Kill Bill" was shot in 3-perf 35mm specifically, rather than 4-perf, which means that the negative was 1.78 (16:9) and cropped to 2.40, then converted to a 2X anamorphic image for output to film for making scope prints.

You can do the same with the Scarlet, RED, or any camera footage for that matter, it's just a matter of framing.

Red One's record modes are either 16:9 (1.78), 2:1, or "ANA" (for 2X anamorphic lens photography, which also gets you a 2.40 image without cropping.) Theatrical aspect ratios like 1.85 or 2.40 are usually created by cropping the 16:9 or 2:1 recording. Or using anamorphic lenses.

But the same is true for 35mm generally.

 

[Hugh Woodland]

So, if I'm understanding the basics correctly...with the Scarlet fixed zoom, I can shoot at 16:9 or 2:1 with the frame guides and crop in final cut pro to give the appearance of 2.40?

 

[David Mullen ASC]

I'm sure the 2/3" Scarlet has a 16:9 sensor. As for offering both 3K 16:9 and a slightly less tall 3K 2:1 recording, I don't know, but either can be framed for cropping to 2.40.

Now if you are finishing for video release, 2.40 always involves letterboxing since HD is always 16:9 (1.78) and SD is either 16:9 or 4:3 (1.33).

More than likely, you'd record 3K 16:9 RAW, compose for cropping to 2.40, then convert to 1080P 4:4:4 16:9 and add a 2.40 letterbox for any HD output you make. Or I guess convert to 3K RGB, also 16:9, and crop to 2.40 for any film-out to anamorphic, otherwise create a color-corrected 3K RGB master that is 16:9, convert that to 1080P HD, and add a 2.40 letterbox.

 

[Hugh Woodland]

Thanks a lot for your info.

I find 16:9 is the new 4:3. (I just want to avoid the "16:9 TV look.) A crop out to 2.40 or 2:1 recording, either way would give the look I want.