RED TECH LIVE | V-RAPTOR XL

[rand thompson]

by RED Digital Cinema


Join Jarred Land, Cleigh Reed, Jonathan Petts, and James Lucarelli for an episode of RED TECH Live this Tuesday, August 23rd at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST. Hear more about the flagship V-RAPTOR 8K VV sensor in an all-in-one system suited for studio configurations and high-end productions.

0:00​ Starting Soon Loop
04:14 V-RAPTOR XL Reel
05:44​ Intro
06:28 Zack Snyder On-Set
07:23​ Tease from Jarred
08:55​ V-RAPTOR XL Camera Overview & I/O
13:44 Built-in Electronic NDs
17:58 RED Accessories
23:16 Final thoughts with the RED Team
29:55 Live Q&A
59:14 Ending Soon - V-RAPTOR XL Reel



V-RAPTORXL ►

Multi-format - 8K VV + 6K S35 Sensor
Purpose-built - Unified Body
Industry Standard - Integrated I/O Array
Robust Professional - Interchangeable Lens Mount
Electronic ND System - 2-7 Stops with Control Down to 1/4 stops
Powerful & Versatile - 12V and 24V Outputs
Remote-production ready - Wireless Timecode & Genlock
Power Options - V-Lock & Gold Mount

 

[Alex Waugh]

Phil Holland

Interested to watch this in a few days. I'd also like to know if the upcoming eND for Raptor will be available in PL and EF flavours? It would make a difference to my next few months. Have you heard anything about this Phil?

 

[Patrick Tresch]

But the eND is before the mount, not in the mount.

 

[Phil Holland]

Phil Holland

Interested to watch this in a few days. I'd also like to know if the upcoming eND for Raptor will be available in PL and EF flavours? It would make a difference to my next few months. Have you heard anything about this Phil?

From what Jarred has said, Raptor XL ships first with the eND which is sort of now-ish, like this month/next month onward. Sounds like Raptor XL is getting a new EF Mount as well. The eND lives in the XL body and will be able to go from CLR to eND engaged.

For the smaller regular Raptor he said near the end of the year a PL Mount w/ eND is coming. To me that means Late Oct through December. I suspect strongly that going to CLR will be a "by hand" process in that case. Don't know if there's enough space to have a mechanism like that, but who knows. He has mentioned doing a dedicated EF version, but that will likely be after the PL one.

 

[rand thompson]

Just a reminder that the V- Raptor XL Stream will be LIVE in a few Hours.

August 23, 2022 10AM PST/ 1PM EST/ 6PM BST

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Hope their new smaller S35 sensor is 18mm hight this time.
But as it's aimed at wild life and sport (for long lenses and full 8k) and not specially made for Anamorphic/narrative work I bet it's still 17/9 and not 4/3...

Nothing new for me sensor wise... IMHO S35 is more a concept sensor like the Gemini. I'll stick to my Monstro for now with it's kippertie ND wheel.

 

[Phil Holland]

Hope their new smaller S35 sensor is 18mm hight this time.

To me it reads slightly smaller pixel pitch. Helium 8K S35 much like most of RED's S35 sensors are technically an S35+ format, sort of APS-H-ish in practice. S35 primes, actual ones, were designed with the S35 4-perf Full Aperture diagonal/image circle in mind. Jarred mentioned the wildlife and natural history filmmakers of the world in there as they like the punch the S35 gives their lenses. But particularly zooms like the 50-1000 would benefit from a "to spec" S35 diagonal.

Curious if RED will go with a unique sensor like the Gemini in DSMC3. Right now Raptor VV gets you what you want in terms of anamorphic height from an optical design and format perspective. Don't know if we'll see another 5K camera though at this point. 6K and 8K seem to be the way the world, or rather this specific general world, enjoys working currently.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

But I must say that the front SDI port with no (to none) delay is really good news!
I was among those who asked for it as framing with a lag of 1 to 2 frames is problematic.

That’s a big + for the XL.

 

[rand thompson]

RED TECH | V-RAPTOR XL | Electronic ND System


By RED Digital Cinema

 

[Nick Vera]

Something I could not ask because I was working.... is RED making a RF-EF locking ND mount for the OG raptor? Just like the PL. Would really love that. Feel like all the RF to EF mounts are flimsy

 

[Nick Vera]

Also when is the beta for the raptor going to be finished?

 

[Phil Holland]

Also when is the beta for the raptor going to be finished?

I think there is a broad misnomer in "beta features" versus the camera being in beta. Right now there are beta firmware builds and release firmware builds. Currently July's is the last release/stable build. But RED is very literally always working on things, adding things, etc. That's the beta aspect of things. It was on DSMC2 and DSMC1 as well.

 

[Phil Holland]

Okay. Did a brief inventory of various things in the video, the mini site, and looking at the accessories for XL.

One thing that stood out, and I'm the guy who's going to ask. There does seem to be a filter in front of the internal ND that does bolt on. I am very curious if this is something that can be considered an Interchangeable OLPF/CSF or not. Might just be protective.

I'm already calling the internal electronic ND the REND. I am very, very much looking forward to this white paper mentioned in the YouTube video on the mini site. I have a very, very high bar for ND now and testing this will be critical for me. If you're curious to date I haven't been using any of the internal ND solutions on productions to date and mostly deployed adapters for quick work. If RED gets this right or mostly right, more or less changing my mindset on all of this.

The reason I ask this is taking into account the new CSF in V-Raptor and potentially having a swap out "Low Light" or "Full Spectrum" filter, but RED might be doing this stuff elsewhere in the optical chain. Though I would film with the current CSF 99% of the time as it does cleanup the "orbs" when stopped down, a less aggressive one like the previous LLO could be about 1-1.5 stops better even. Which moderately is like a Dual ISO camera in practice if you think about it that way.

New batteries look very cool. A bit costly yet in between the range of similar concepts, but they do more than the normal V-Lock or G-Mount bricks. And I do like the rear display which is on my current Core batts too, just slightly different. Very, very cool that V-Raptor XL can take that wide range of batteries in terms of 14, 24, 26, and 28 volt bricks.

I asked that question about the ACN Wireless Timecode/Genlock to get the answer regarding using the camera as the hero/master clock. It does look like you need an external ACN for that and then you can sync your bodies from there. Very nice to have this integrated and useful for multi-cam, virtual production, and array work. I've already been using wireless genlock solutions for my array work which has been a time saver. Having this built in is a nice added feature.

The accessories are interesting and minimal as there's so much built in. But the rise plate is an interesting one. The LWS Bracket bolting on w/ 4X 1/4"-20 bolts is pretty intense.

I've seen it in person, but haven't tested it. Will report back once I do. Key things are TC/GL and REND as well as the body as a whole. Plus some of the questions I mentioned above. As Jarred showed, it's pretty similar to Ranger in size, but actually feels like a solid 8lb piece of metal. That's a good thing in my mind.

 

[Nick Vera]

I think there is a broad misnomer in "beta features" versus the camera being in beta. Right now there are beta firmware builds and release firmware builds. Currently July's is the last release/stable build. But RED is very literally always working on things, adding things, etc. That's the beta aspect of things. It was on DSMC2 and DSMC1 as well.

Sorry that was a terrible sentence on my part. I meant to ask when is the next fw release. Thank you for answering.

Let us know if you hear about a locking RF-EF internal nd adapter from RED. Haven't heard anything, but I would personally love to have that as well, next to the PL mount option. Just got my Kippertie Strata ND PL mount in the mail some weeks ago. But have not been able to test it or use it. I have been working out of state from LA and haven't been able to open any packages.

 

[Phil Holland]

Sorry that was a terrible sentence on my part. I meant to ask when is the next fw release. Thank you for answering.

Let us know if you hear about a locking RF-EF internal nd adapter from RED. Haven't heard anything, but I would personally love to have that as well, next to the PL mount option. Just got my Kippertie Strata ND PL mount in the mail some weeks ago. But have not been able to test it or use it. I have been working out of state from LA and haven't been able to open any packages.

Sounds like there will be one or two major firmware updates come fall/winter at a minimum tracking Jarred's last interview and today's event.

I'm more curious if there is enough space to do a pure RF to EF solution, but possibly I suspect.

I haven't been able to test the Strata yet either. I have my issues with the Revolva on Monstro, works well enough on S35, but I have hopes for Strata. But then again, now I may not need to be concerned about it if this system works well in terms of color accuracy, density accuracy, and optical performance.

 

[rand thompson]

RED TECH | V-RAPTOR XL 8K VV | Overview

by RED Digital Cinema

 

[Patrick Tresch]

I have my issues with the Revolva on Monstro, works well enough on S35, but I have hopes for Strata.

What are your issues on Revolva Monstro?
Thanks
Pat

 

[Daniel Bichler]

I still don‘t get the whole thing about Advanced Intelligent Focus (Let‘s call it AIF). Where is the benefit if there‘s no RF Mount? This has to be something revolutionary as there are obviously no PL lenses with auto focus capabilities and only slow EF auto focus lenses on the market. Besides that, who needs autofocus on such a pro level cinema camera.

This is what is shown on red.com

ADVANCED

INTELLIGENT

FOCUS OPTIONS


V-RAPTOR XL FEATURES IN-CAMERA AI PROCESSING AND ON-SENSOR ENHANCED PHASE DETECT AUTOFOCUS, OFFERING THE VERSATILITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR USERS TO BRING ITS UNPARALLELED CINEMATIC IMAGE PERFORMANCE INTO NEW WORLDS. UPCOMING ENHANCEMENTS ALSO INCLUDE FACE DETECTION AND OBJECT TRACKING.


So there are two major questions popping up from my side.

Will the new AIF just be any new type of „peaking“ or advanced „focus checker“?

or

Will there be any kind of lens motor connection which will benefit of the new AIF? Maybe even an upcoming RED FIZ control with motors?

Ups, ended up with a third question

 

[Phil Holland]

What are your issues on Revolva Monstro?
Thanks
Pat

I will start by saying I own and purchased two units. I also have tested virtually every ND solution on the market in front of lens and behind lens. Like I have boxes and boxes of NDs, mainly so I can do apples to apples comparisons at this point.

Revolva will work likely well for many, but I strongly think it was designed for an S35 image circle as it cuts off bokeh and a few other things. I suspect most will live with the pros as they outweigh the cons.

I am hoping the Strata solved my issues and I was told there were things taken into consideration with the new design. It's at the moment the only thing on the market I haven't tested because my preorder got screwed up through my vendor, which did waste about 85 days in that process.

To date, none, zero, zip of the internal ND solutions I have found are superior to front of lens options available optically, which is annoying on the premium cameras. Internal physical filters at this point that contain color shift as well as stacked ND solutions are not exactly a great way to go. There's now good behind the lens filters however, and likely better ones coming. So for people using that style of mechanism, I imagine they'll update the internal ND glass. I can't believe I can even say this as I have been a staunch advocate against VND, but there's some decent behind the lens solutions there now too, but also not "perfect".

ND is generally a balancing act between performance, expectations, and reality. Generally people just want the convivence over the IQ concerns, which is a fine tradeoff if that's your jam.

You likely understand why now how important it is to me for RED to get this eND right. It's not just me either. There's a few hundred filmmakers I can think of off hand that would on fire hot for this to be done well as everybody has hit the same frustrations I have stumbled across over the years.

I'll stress I'm also a realist on this front as ND tech has improved greatly during the age of digital cinema, but it is unfortunate even on premium products some of the things that are not investigated fully or even generationally improved shockingly.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

What let me thinking is why in this tech talk they didn't get the tech side of this eND?

No color / gate flare / bokeh / resolution test in this "tech talk" of their major add on for the XL...