RED Raptor 8k VV discussion

[Brody_B]

I think Raptor looks great in many ways and could well be my next camera. I'm a little sceptical about the idea of a "dual format" sensor though. It's great to have the option of full frame and 8k or Super 35 6k - one for high resolution, other for S35 lenses, more reach and higher frame rates - that would be a big draw to me. But all you actually have is a full frame 8k sensor and you're just cropping it as you always have done with any other RED or other cameras in centre crop mode. Am I missing something? When I read "dual format" I just thought it would be something revolutionary like a dual base ISO or dual gain output rather than just standard sensor cropping on a standard sensor.

I guess I’m looking at it less as a marketing worthy feature and more of fundamental to the VV sensor. Being able to shoot s35 lenses at still a respectable 6k capture.

I assume Red is trying to educate the unknowing portion of the market about their VV, especially if they aren’t planning on a future s35 sensor, which they may be, if they’re pushing the “VV does it all in one” thing. But that’s just speculation on my part.

 

[Russ Fill]

I guess I’m looking at it less as a marketing worthy feature and more of fundamental to the VV sensor. Being able to shoot s35 lenses at still a respectable 6k capture.

I assume Red is trying to educate the unknowing portion of the market about their VV, especially if they aren’t planning on a future s35 sensor, which they may be, if they’re pushing the “VV does it all in one” thing. But that’s just speculation on my part.

After just now receiving my camera and doing a couple quick test in the garage I see what your talking about with the menu dedicated 8Kvv and 6K S35. And at the bottom of the menu for formats it says All Formats. Or something similar to that. When you click on the All other formats it then displays all the formats as usual.
I think that RED just wanted to declutter the format menu page for those who in most cases will be shooting S35 or Full Frame/VV. And minimize the possibility of picking a format next to the one you intended to use. After using the camera I don't see any intent to create any hype about duel formats or anything like that just quick ways to change to the more common formats.

 

[Phil Holland]

If I have any recommendations on the menu it would be to lay it out like this, which is also how I do it on my charts and in my mindset with this format:
8K = VV
7K = FF35 (should likely just go in the VV quick menu)
6K-4K = All should go in S35 and that covers U35, S35, and Academy 35 essentially.
3K-2K = S16 and 16.

This way all the major formats are at your fingertips and still sensibly identified. Right now 7K, 5K, 4K, and 2K are not in the quick format menus, but can be accessed in all formats. Not a big deal, but a sensible decision.

What people will discover is sometimes 6K won't work with some S35 lenses, and they'll result to frame extraction or switching to 5K. 5.5K is "frame safe" for glass. All of my notes are on RED's VV format are littered throughout REDuser for years, but I'd like to see this implemented this way.

I personally don't "need" the .5K resolutions like we have on Monstro, but 5.5K is pretty important to the S35 image circle and 5K is the "width" of the format. Similarly 7K is about the same width of widescreen formats like 17:9 and 2.4:1 on FF35. On a 3:2 sensor you get to about 7.5K for 16:9. Another reason perhaps for a .5K res in there.

RED's been aiming at simplifying things as of late. And I do really like the locked in VV and S35 anamorphic modes. They make sense and make that a bit easier in my mind as they are more or less keeping you in "4K safe delivery land". But I could see firmware updates pertaining to this that others might like.