Things I like about Scarlet

[combatentropy]

CompactFlash. It's good they picked a common format, that you can pick up at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc. The more that manufacturers focus on common standards, the more prices will diminish.

Two card slots. With two cards, no event or shot is too long. You can indefinitely switch out the full card while the other records.

Metal. Metal is cool. In an age of disposable electronics, it's refreshing to see a company make something out of classic materials.

Price. 3 grand is grand. But I'm not sure how much to credit Sony, Canon, et al, for overpricing their products and lowering my expectations.

120 Frames per second. When was the last time you shot 3K at 120 frames per second? No, when was the last time you shot 640x480 at 120 Frames per second?

2/3" sensor. This may be the best size for Swiss-Army-Knife cameras, due to optical physics. I once pined for Super 35, but I have yet to see a decent zoom that is much shorter than my forearm or weighs less than 10 lb. Plus, I've never really tried to shoot motion in 35mm -- and I am not so sure that I can pull my own focus.

8x zoom Again, I think this reasonable, considering the size of the sensor. An 8-64mm against a 2/3" sensor would be like 28mm - 230mm in 35mm full frame still photography terms. Most of those 12x or 18x video lens are mostly in the long side, and end up at 500mm 35mm equivalent. Now, do you really need the 230-500mm part of their lenses? If you do, that's nothing that a 2x converter attachment wouldn't solve. Stop thinking 8x. Start thinking 28-230.

4.5" screen. They're making it about as big as they can while fitting on a handycam-style camera.

2 audio inputs. I must admit, I really did start to wonder whether it was left off the printed specs or really not going to be on the camera at all, until Jim confirmed there will be audio.

Some of these things you might have expected in a camera in 2008. But Sony, Panasonic, and Canon all disappointed me this year. So I guess it makes me even more happy with Red's announcement.

 

[KeithHill]

These are all great features. It absolutely revolutionary and what I have been waiting for. I'm just not at the Red One purchase yet (though things are good here at present). I've made my living using the DVX100A and it has served me well. I have been sitting and watching technology roll out and am impressed with offerings from Sony and their EX-1, Ex-3 releases.

I was of the mind to wait until NAB to see what was going to be coming and now, that Scarlet is announced I have to wait on the camera. I would rather rent what I need until then. This also helps me to commit to the Canon HV30 in the meantime as well.

3K in a camera at this pricepoint is amazing and everyone at Red who is committed to this must be congratulated!. My hope is that Red Digital is ready for the next level of demand that they are about to be pressured with. The DVX was revolutionary when it came out and there are 10's of thousands in the world. Is Red Digital ready for that level of production? I hope so.

I've read all of the thread of those that don't like the fixed lens approach. Sometimes I think the manufacturer has to share the train of thought so folks can understand why they made a choice to go in a direction.

Personally, I have no idea what it like to have a 3k image in a hand held camera of this size. So, as soon as possible I think some images from Scarlet should be released to show some of what is possible and being done in the lab. DOF with this next gen X sensor needs to be understood. Also, is adaptors something that 3rd parties can come on board with as in the case of the DVX, EX-1 and other type cameras?

Regardless, this is great news and a pricepoint that enables me to get in right away. As soon as it's available.