Working RED EPIC camera demonstrated at NAB 2010

Well, RED promised that it would be demonstrating a working RED EPIC camera at this year's NAB show, and it's now delivered. In case you're not up to speed on all things RED, the EPIC is a 5k camera, and can be used in a whole range of different configurations from a small handheld setup for video or still photos, to a fully-outfitted camera rig suitable for a feature film. Head on past the break for a pair of videos from the Scarlet User Podcast, and hit up the source link below for plenty more shots of the camera -- not to mention some accessories including the just-announced RED Station.

[Thanks, Zac]

Update: We just heard from the tipster Zac, who says he was on the shoot and wanted to clarify that the microphone was reportedly working fine for the entire day prior to this interview.

[richb93 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:17PM]

OMG working?! No way!!

/s

(Sorry, I'm a boob)

[crawdad689 Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:43PM]

@richb93

Man.... talk about gorgeous modular industrial design.

Jizz in my pants!

[One Love Posted Apr 15th 2010 5:13PM]

@richb93: don't be, i like boobs.

[josephhutson Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:16AM]

@richb93
Glad you guys are liking Zac's and my video. RED Day was a total blast...

[hero785 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:21PM]

NIce but I'll pass. I mean I can get a very descent camera and hella lotta great gadgets for the price of this thing!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:50PM]

@hero785

Ummm, this is a tool one uses to put food on the table and pay their rent. 'Decent' and 'Gadgets' are 100% irrelevant to this conversation.

[hero785 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:52PM]

@(Unverified)
I know but I can imagine some ppl buying it for the heck of it and take everyday pics and such. But true, I would buy it if I was a pro and needed it. other than that, it's a great piece of work!

[Mr Oos Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:35PM]

@hero785

absolutely no one would buy this for the heck of it. you'd only shell out b/c you're seeking pro-quality equipment to do more than normal every-day shooting

[dec Posted Apr 15th 2010 5:38PM]

@hero785 Way to completely fail at life.

[hero785 Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:43PM]

@dec
Fail at life? lol that the weakest comment I have read. I have seen people, that I personally know who shell out mad money for high end gadgets and barely put them to use. So til then, you might be the one failing at life because I have the proof of such fools!

[DetlevCM Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:21PM]

What does "Epic" mean?

I'm sure some people know - but not all do.

Same as Canon EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lense) - I'm sure EPIC on a RED has a meaning... but which?

[roxics Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:26PM]

@DetlevCM
It means "Epic"
I'm sure they named it based on its resolution and the fact that it's the type of camera you might use to shoot an epic motion picture.

[DetlevCM Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:27PM]

@DetlevCM
OK I can answer myself from video two - its the camera's name.

[DetlevCM Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:28PM]

@roxics
Thanks for the reply :)

[Batman Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:22PM]

Excellent. I'll have one of these mounted on my ride. That Duke Nukem won't know what hit him, that imbecile. I hate him so much...

[sshole Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:25PM]

@Batman Holy shit batman! Now the Joker can film Vlogs and spread his anarchy throughout the internet!

[Michael Scrip Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:22PM]

I love how the on-screen information is *outside* of the frame... I wish all cameras were like this!

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs465.snc3/25532_1317957349123_1236420567_30977940_1972703_n.jpg

My DVX100B screen is so cluttered with info...

[roxics Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:30PM]

@Michael Scrip
I agree. I think in the case of the DVX however, the screen is so small to begin with.

[Michael Scrip Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:42PM]

@roxics

True... but that camera design started back in what... 2002?

Only recently have cameras been getting 4.3" LCDs... but they are ~$8000.

And if you've got that much money to spend, and big projects... you've probably got an external monitor anyway.

[seanGadget Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:23PM]

"What's in the bag let's get down to business"
twss

[Anatidae Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:24PM]

Hey Engadget, where is your contest to enter to win one of these? if you could just privately email me that URL too... no need to bother anyone else here.

[adrock Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:33PM]

@Anatidae Engadget didn't take these photos REDuser did.

[Anatidae Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:13PM]

@adrock Shhhhhhh! What are you trying to do, ruin it?

This is exactly why we don't get giveaways like this. -1000 Internets!

[andyroo77 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:27PM]

Hey Engadget, how about clicking the White balance eye-dropper on that table-cloth and giving us some half-decent color photographs?

[Zacatac Posted Apr 15th 2010 8:49PM]

@andyroo77

Hey, I'm Zac, the one that shot and uploaded these all, I was rushing to get these onto Reduser and really didn't have time to color correct, or reset the white balance, cause they were playing with the lights every other time.

Sorry about that, I am recoloring them as we speak.

[andyroo77 Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:20PM]

@Zacatac My comment re: White balance was a little pedantic of me and also a little tongue in cheek. I realise there's often a rush to get pics online so don't sweat it! Also the red(ish) color cast at least goes with the post!

[Zacatac Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:49PM]

@andyroo77
No worries, I only made an account to reply to the guys down below us complaining about audio. :D

Glad you liked them

Zac

[techlord Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:39PM]

Price?

[indeed Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:43PM]

Pricey!

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:45PM]

@indeed
Red cameras are seriously for professionals -- of course they are expensive, lol...they are also of superb quality as well though.

[CrymeLord Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:54PM]

@techlord

If you have to ask...

[stepheng Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:21AM]

@techlord - It's really incredibly cheap, comparing it to other cameras like Arri's new 2K Alexa (coming soon) that is ~$60,000 (body only). The Epic has 2.5 times the resolution and can shoot up to 100 frames per second full frame. I think the Alexa may be able to go up to 60fps in comparison.

EPIC Body - $28,000
RED Side CF module - $500
RED Side handle - $750
Redmote - $550
5" LCD Touchscreen - $1,600

Not sure about the lens on that thing but I think it's a new RED 17-50mm T2.9 zoom - $6,000.

Altogether that's $37,400

[BogdanGC Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:49AM]

@stepheng
wow, $1600 for 5" LCD Touchscreen? And we nerds complain about iPad / HP slate pricing...

[josephhutson Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:50AM]

@stepheng Yes, it was the RED 17-50 lens... http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs045.snc3/13313_1338834763832_1620030223_812023_8385886_n.jpg

[gamedude360 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:46PM]

I wanna see the red epic 28k res package

[JS Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:46PM]

What's the dynamic range of these .. any good?

[wigby Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:26PM]

@JS

13.5 stops dr in latest testing

[JS Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:53PM]

@wigby

If that's what RED is claiming I guess it's really about 9 (since when RED measured their previous one they claimed 11.5 but it was really about 8).

[JKooL Posted Apr 15th 2010 11:29PM]

@JS

Considering modern Canon DSLRs without a raw codec can shoot 10-11 stops I imagine this can at least match them.

[josephhutson Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:36AM]

@JKooL I believe Jim told me they are getting about 13.5 stops of DynamicRange...

[Mayhoff Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:48PM]

About time

[ncarlin Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:51PM]

i would like the feature film and also it does 3d!

[kaplanfx Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:58PM]

So want, but for no reason I'm just a hobby shooter. In fact, the 1080p 24 footage that come out of my GH1 often blows my mind up.

[bigsofty Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:03PM]

Wonderful piece of tech!

[FX120 Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:43PM]

Wow the audio on that demo video was terrible. Yay for not knowing how to coordinate your wireless so it works from more than 3' away from the receiver.

[Information Central Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:13PM]

Seriously, WTF. Why on earth did they use wireless anyway, when they were using a hand-held mic from one foot away?

Talk about hurting your credibility.

[Zacatac Posted Apr 15th 2010 8:54PM]

@Information Central

Hey Guys, we were shooting on a steadicam pilot for every other interview, so we needed something wireless, if you go to any of our other interviews over on www.vimeo.com/landmine, you can see all the other videos, audio is perfect, no problems. We had done a sound check right before we shot, headphones for testing (don't you worry) but the operator took them off because the cord kept getting caught in the arm of the steadicam. And for some reason after that the audio got major interference.


WE had no plans of posting the video, but the Reduser, SCarletuser, and even Ted gave us a call to post it, amid the audio problems, because they all wanted the information out. So if you didn't like the audio, apparently what he was saying wasn't that important to you.


Zac

[Nitesh Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:06PM]

I think he indirectly said you were not important, Engadget...

[Nitesh Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:08PM]

@Nitesh
Whoops, never mind. He said Zac was unimportant :-P

[THJ Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:08PM]

I love the the RED site disclaimer:

"Specifications, prices and delivery dates are subject to change. Count on it.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone with a bad attitude."