RED: Why bother making a "fixed" lens Scarlet?

[GPSchnyder]

True, except that the fixed Scarlet is T2.4 and the mini primes are around T1.5, which is over 1 stop faster, which means a bit shallower DOF.

Of cause the T1.5 is faster, but "only" 0.9 Stops ;-) Which does also make a lot of difference. But we will be able to zoom, and if you buy a T2.4 Zoom for your interchangeable Scarlet Cinema you can also buy a fixed one, as the price will not that much differ, plus you have another cam.

And try to do this cheesy zoomflights from the 80ies Shaw Brothers Flicks with your Primes :tongue:

George :gun:

 

[Lawrence Bansbach]

Of cause the T1.5 is faster, but "only" 0.9 Stops ;-)

No, as Chris noted, it's more than a stop faster -- something like 1.25 stops.

 

[GPSchnyder]

No, as Chris noted, it's more than a stop faster -- something like 1.25 stops.

Really? Why's that? I don't understand the Math than... Could you explain that? Would really like to know that.

Thanks in advance,
George

 

[Alexander Christ]

Really? Why's that? I don't understand the Math than... Could you explain that? Would really like to know that.

Thanks in advance,
George

The stop scale is a geometric sequence, so you have to multiply one number (stop) with √2 (1.414) to get the next number (stop), e.g. f/2 x √2 = f/2.8.
The full-stop scale looks like that: 1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22,...

 

[GPSchnyder]

The stop scale is a geometric sequence, so you have to multiply one number (stop) with √2 (1.414) to get the next number (stop), e.g. f/2 x √2 = f/2.8.
The full-stop scale looks like that: 1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22,...

Ahh, good to know, thanks for the clarification. Didn't know that.

 

[Bob Gruen]

yes Bob, thankfully you are wrong. Depth of field is a characteristic of focal length and aperture. Whether it's a zoom or prime lens has no bearing on depth of field.

Also I and tens of thousands of others will be buying this model. For action sports there simply isn't anything else that comes close to what this is capable of and you'd be surprised at how many people spend $5000-10,000 to capture skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, and other similar sports.

Wardo,

What you are missing is that lens design has a direct impact on overall aperture.

Zoom lenses have to have a lot more moving glass within the housing to make the physics work. Due to the optical properties of glass zoom lenses must be limited by the designer to the light that is only going down the more central portions of the lenses within the assembly (when compared to a fixed focal length design). The broader the zoom range the more glass and the more this limitation comes into play. I am a bit skeptical that Red will be able to achieve the lens with the speed and the range that they are currently claiming. Right now it is a goal that has been set by a very sharp design team, but I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately trade some range for speed or vice-versa. From a design POV, every zoom lens is a compromise.

In addition to this the quality of the circles of confusion matters. The more glass the light gets manipulated by the more difficult it is to create a pleasing bokeh.

As far as your niche application, to say that there is nothing else is to ignore the products from Panasonic, Sony, and Canon. Whether or not you choose to admit it, these products exist and are very good at what they do.

I just don't believe that red will sell 'tens of thousands' of these fixed lens cameras. One large market for Scarlet will be colleges and film schools training on Scarlets prepping for working with the bigger cams the same way they have purchased 16mm to train for / learn 35mm. They will want the student to work with changing lenses as it is a big part of cinematography.

I see the Scarlet as a big seller, but my prediction is that the vast majority will be fitted with 35mm still lenses. If I were Red I'd be working with Eric at Birger Engineering to license the Canon EOS mount and have it as a factory fitted and fully integrated option. That would be the best selling version of the Scarlet...

Bob