Red Dragon - current status (repost to this sub-forum)

[Jon MIchael Puntervold]

A Red with Dragon sensor is my favourite camera. I'm still using Epic Dragon. And never put in a deposit on the VV camera. However, I have a wish to both move to a DSMC2 camera and move to a VV or 4:3 sensor, as I have an anamorphic project on the horizon.

Not sure how my wish/plan relates to current Red affairs, as I don't have time to read this forum that much. A brief from anyone who knows would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Les Hillis]

The 8K VV Dragon sensors are still a long way from being readily available and new orders will cost a lot more than what the original depositors ordered them for.

At the moment, people on the waiting list for the 8K VV Dragon sensors will have the option (in October) to get an 8K Helium sensor put in their camera instead, which they have the option to keep instead of the 8K VV Dragon sensor when one becomes available, and which is an indication that the wait might still be long.

There was brief unofficial mention from RED that there will be/is an Anamorphic 4:3 VV Dragon variant, but those haven't actually been seen in public and could end up being even rarer than the regular 8K VV Dragon sensors. In fact I recall it being said you wouldn't be able to actually buy them, which suggests they might only be available for rental from Panavision or someone like that.

There's been no mention so far of a VV sized Helium sensor becoming available, or whether a camera with such a sensor would be any easier to make than the VV Dragon versions.

There will be some new official announcements from RED in October, but at the moment I think the closest you can get to your DSMC2/Anamorphic aims would be to order a Carbon-Fiber 6K Dragon Weapon and either use that, or upgrade it to an 8K Helium Weapon camera if and when they become available to order in October.

Edit - There will also be an 8K Helium sensor in the upcoming Epic-W, so checking out the paths to that could also be an option if you won't gain anything (Anomorphic-wise) by going with the higher performing 8K Helium Weapon or current Carbon-Fiber 6K Dragon Weapon.