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RED WEAPON - Info and Data Sheets

Phil Holland

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** 04.26.2016 Update

phfx_NAB2015_REDWeaponMedallion.jpg



What is Weapon?

Weapon is an addition to the RED Dragon camera family as the new "highest end" camera brain.

The Dragon Camera Line-Up now looks like this:
- Scarlet-X Dragon (DSMC)
- Epic-X Dragon (DSMC)
- Epic-M Dragon (DSMC)
- Epic Carbon Dragon (DSMC)
- Raven 4.5K (DSMC2)
- Scarlet-W 5K (DSMC2)
- Weapon Dragon 6K Magnesium (DSMC2)
- Weapon Dragon 6K Carbon Fiber/Forged (DSMC2)
- Weapon Dragon 8K Carbon Fiber/Forged (DSMC2)


Upgrading Options and NAB 2015 F.A.Q.

RED has put together this useful FAQ:
Weapon NAB 2015 Information

Scarlet and Epic Dragon bodies can be upgraded to Weapon. Upgrades are beginning this July.

Specific pricing and trade-in credit can be found here:
Weapon Pricing Details

General Weapon Features

RED Weapon is the evolution of the DSMC camera body concept. The camera is smaller, lighter, and more powerful than before. Additionally this has opened up possibilities by making Weapon modules much more compact.

- Simultaneous R3D and Apple Prores recording in-camera to the same media.
- Consistent naming and internally accurate timecode (easier workflow than external recorder)
- Apple ProRes 4444XQ, 4444, 422HQ, 422 or 422LT
- As well as tethered streaming ProRes - ProRes recorded proxy can be sent to Ethernet, while R3D master sent to media
- 1D and 3D LUT Suppport
- Faster Data throughput. Up to 50% higher data rates to card. Existing RED MINI-MAG 512GB cards are already ready for transfer speed increase.
- Dual monitor ports on Brain for EVF/LCDs.
- Automatic sensor calibration. Select exposure times from 1/8000s to 1/8s without calibrating. Wider operating band for sensor temperature.
*You still Black Shade, however that single calibration in this case gives you a 10 stop shutter speed range.
- Better thermal management. No Front Fans. Newly Design Top Fan and Rear Ventilation. This means a quieter camera with more stable operation temperatures.
- Integrated Top Plate
- Integrated wireless control connectivity
- Interchangeable and removable I/O options with accessible port placement.
- Interchangeable OLPFs with smart detection of which OLPF is installed.
- Monitor flip and mirror on all outputs, including SDI.
- Integrated dual digital front microphones


General Weapon Model Differences

There will be two main Weapon Dragon models and they represent slightly different features. Weapon Dragon 6K Carbon Fiber has more "under the hood horsepower" than the Magnesium version.

The two major differences we know of today are:
- Weapon Dragon 6K CF supports 33x33x33 3D LUTs, while the MG model supports 17x17x17 3D LUTs.
- Weapon Dragon 6K CF supports 2K ProRes simultaneous recording up to 120fps, while MG supports up to 60fps.

Also, notable. The Carbon Fiber model has the horsepower to support the upcoming 8K Dragon Sensor Upgrade.


Weapon Dragon 8K Carbon Fiber Details

Weapon Dragon 8K Carbon Fiber is a large format "Full Frame" or "VistaVision" digital cinema camera. It features a sensor that's 40.96x21.6mm and can record up to 60fps at 8K FF. At 8K WS it can shoot 75fps.

The 8K Dragon Sensor Upgrade is expected to ship near the end of 2015.


More info here:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?130609-8K-CF-Weapon-Sensor-Upgrade


Modules, Media, Displays, and Other Important Things

- RED Weapon uses only MINI-MAG media. RED has announced two new MINI-MAG capacities and available SSD sizes are: 240GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

- Weapon is compatible with existing power options such as RED BRICKS, REDVOLT, and REDVOLT XL batteries. You will however need new Modules to attach those batteries the Module Connection is different on Weapon than the Epic/Scarlet brains. The good news is Weapon does not need a Module Adapter in front of any of the new Modules as they connect directly to the Weapon Brain.

- Existing RED EVF and LCD are compatible with Weapon using the WEAPON LEMO ADAPTOR A

- Weapon features two plated hard mounting points for new "cableless" display connections. This also means that there is also a new WEAPON RED TOUCH 7.0" LCD as well as a forth coming newly designed OLED BOMB EVF.

- You can use the new Weapon LCD with LEMO Connectors/Cables by using the WEAPON LEMO ADAPTOR A to WEAPON LEMO ADAPTOR B. This is useful for those times when you need to be compact, but also flexible in situations where it may call for the display to be further away from the camera.

- There is an additional plated connector on top of the Weapon brain. Currently one accessory that uses this connection is the new WEAPON TOP HANDLE which features a handy start/stop record button.

- There will be more battery Modules on the way, but currently you will need the WEAPON REDVOLT XL MODULE to power the camera. More info soon on this.

- The new Weapon SIDEKICK is Weapon's version of the SWITCHBLADE. SWITCHBLADE units are not compatible with Weapon.

- DSMC SIDE HANDLE is not compatible with Weapon. However, a new Weapon Side Handle is under development by Element Technica. More info soon on that.

-"I/O" can be achieved currently with three Weapon Modules. The WEAPON BASE EXPANDER, the WEAPON REDVOLT EXPANDER, and the WEAPON JETPACK EXPANDER which is designed for handheld and general gimbal shooting.

- RED has also opened up Module Support and Development to select 3rd parties. OFFHOLLYWOOD's OMOD series of Modules are a good example of some of the possibilities being developed.

- The RED Rocket-X works with Weapon footage.


RED DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] BRAINS - FORMATS and FILM




RED Weapon 6K and 8K Image Circles and Lens Coverage





Quick Answers to Common Questions

Q: What does that little screw at the base of the front of the camera do?
A: That is the new placement for the Back Focus Adjustment, which is much easier to access than before.

Q: Any improvements on what we can get out of the Dragon Sesnor?
A; From Jarred: "Weapon Dragon is aprox. half a stop better in the low end than Epic Dragon. This is from the new processing."

Q: Improvements on REDCODE Compression Ratios?
A: Epic/Scarlet is 200MB/s , Weapon MG is 225MB/s, Weapon Carbon is 300MB/s. Still working on hard numbers to how this translates.

Q: What about our LEMO A/C Adapters?
A: Your LEMO A/C Adapter will work on various Expander and Battery Modules that feature a LEMO DC IN port.

Q: Are current base plates and base plate accesoriess compatible with Weapon?
A: Yes. Bolt on points on the bottom of the camera are the same. As is the rod standard heights to lens.

Q: Can Weapon record "just" ProRes?
A: Yes, that is supported at 2K at the moment scaled from the capture format you are in.

Q: How much do the CF and MG Weapons weigh?
A: With media bay: CF = 3.27lbs and MG = 3.35lbs



RED DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] Camera Lineup One Sheet

I whipped up a RED DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] Camera Lineup One Sheet. This is a quick ways to see the difference between Weapon camera models and compare feature sets across the new DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] cameras. I'll be updating this as relevant information arrives.



- link to higher resolution version

Also, incredibly useful information regarding many of the DSMC2 camera features can be found here:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?139164-DSMC-2-The-Weapon-The-Scarlet-W-and-the-Raven-and-the-improvements-that-they-bring
 
Last edited:
Awesome Phil.

You be da best!
 
I personally think and hope that this Red Weapon is both a new camera body and a new sensor.
 
Thanks Phil

Could use just a tad bit more info and data though. Request please.

Why don't you and a few more of the LA based reduser boys take Jarred out for some drinks one of these nights.

:)
 
Thanks

Thanks

Hi,
Thanks Phil.
This make things easy.
But has this been put anywhere that this is not a sensor upgrade and only a new body upgrade????
Harcharan:rolleyes:
 
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Thanks Phil

Could use just a tad bit more info and data though. Request please.

Why don't you and a few more of the LA based reduser boys take Jarred out for some drinks one of these nights.

:)

More is coming. Keep in mind much of this just dropped in the last 48 hours. I didn't think we'd hear a peep until NAB, but we got a little February surprise hear.

I'm going to try and visit RSH soon, but any info released is going to come through Red and Jarred.
 
Any news if the current Mini-Mag SSD Module will fit on the Weapon?
I know they will only take Mini-Mags. I wonder if the camera will be as modular as the EPIC, I imagine so.
I hope they bring out 256GB Mini-Mags.
Just to make an upgrade from the 1.8" Mags to the Mini-Mags will cost £5,490.00
Having 256GB Mini-Mags would really make that progression into the Weapon a heck of a lot smoother. :thumbsup:
 
You will send in your Dragon with your mini mag module and it gets upgraded along with the rest of the camera body.
 
Thanks Phil!!
 
If I ever decide to get off the RED carousel, I will just quietly stop buying RED products and go buy something else. Vote with your feet, as the saying goes.

Why do people feel compelled to announce in a RED forum that they intend to buy a different camera? Just seems weird to me.

Maybe because other camera companies don't run active and interesting forums? I really don't know. It's just such a strange phenomenon. I didn't buy an AJA Cion either, but I don't feel compelled to tell AJA all about how I'm not buying their product.....

This is a good thread, Phil, definitely needed. But maybe a lock, stickied version might be in order....to keep that signal to noise thing controlled. (she says, thereby adding to the noise....)
 
Totally psyched to hear and see more about this upgrade. Hopefully we can all get order info as soon as NAB opens it's doors.
 
I changed the line a bit. By the nature of the benefits of owning a Carbon Dragon (and maybe even the line to upgrade to Carbon Weapon if that exists) they have a separate "line" at RDC to upgrade. But, yes. The time stamp on your order is the most important thing.

I'm personally curious to see how the upgrade process goes. Red did a lot of advancing of the "lines" during Dragon's upgrade process. We obviously don't know the complexity of the Weapon upgrade just yet, but if can be trimmed to the realm of 5-10 business days it would make many happy.

Just was thinking how neat it would be if RED found an inexpensive way to make a Carbon Fiber body they could incorporate as standard. This would be a great way to lighten the load.
 
Will it be "who hits the button fastest"?

Will it be "who hits the button fastest"?

The real question I have is how does one get an early time stamp for the Weapon upgrade?

I was at the RED NAB booth when the show floor opened at 9:00 in 2013 and the Dragon upgrade queue opened. By the time I was able to go online and get in line there were hundreds of folks ahead of me. I came away from that experience feeling like I should have sat in my hotel room until I got my time stamp and then headed over to RED's booth.

There are likely several hundred of us, maybe more, who are already planning to Weaponize as soon as possible. If RED sticks with the same protocol as in 2013, is it just a matter of getting on RED.com and hitting refresh repeatedly until the order button goes live? That's what Zeb did in 2013 and he got his Dragon upgrade notice 6 months before I did. I would sure miss the excitement of being one of the first people at the RED booth and sharing the moment with all the RED peeps...

Have the details of the Weapon ordering process been announced yet? I got the impression that wouldn't be known until closer to NAB, but if there's a thread I missed…

Cheers - #19
 
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Have the details of the Weapon ordering process been announced yet? I got the impression that wouldn't be known until closer to NAB, but if there's a thread I missed…

Cheers - #19

The ordering process and details haven't been expanded on yet other that what's at the first post of this thread.

NAB will answer much of these questions though and if there's any news I'll be keeping this up to date as much as humanly possible.
 
Hi Phil,

Could you link me to any reference about Epic MX upgrades to Dragon ending? I can't seem to find any. If this is true my heart will truly be broken. I've been working on a feature film for the last 18 months for pennies and have not been able to afford the upgrade, and I'll likely be in this boat for another 6 months. I want to upgrade but this is just not possible for me right now.
 
Really excited for more information :)

I am somewhat unhappy that the mini mag is being shoved down our throats though...

I really think its just a practical reality. I believe they are faster, which is necessary for the new data rates. I don't think it's any more nefarious an issue than that.
 
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