Zoom lens needed with camera release

[Video Sceptic]

How can a purchaser hit the ground running without the stock zoom lens, zoom motor, and matte box?

[Brook Willard]

I'm guessing by your name that you're coming from the ENG/EFP/video side of the camera world rather than the film side. If I'm telling you thinks you've known for years, don't be offended... I just don't know your level of expertise. :)

Professional cine-style cameras never come with those parts. Generally such things are saved for ENG/EFP style cameras and prosumer cameras. A "stock" lens is unheard of in the cine industry, as would be an included mattebox or powered zoom.

I'll save more details until after you reply... I don't want to write an epic "introduction to cameras" thing if all I've done is misinterpret your question.

RED's 18-85mm zoom should ship by the end of 2007. If that's the lens you're referring to, well, you'll be renting lenses in the mean time.

[donatello b]

i don't recall a RED matt box or zoom motor ...
you buy a 3rd party zoom , matt box , zoom motor ...
or you RENT the items you need ...

[Video Sceptic]

Brook-
Red is coming out with a zoom. Unlike Arri or Aaton. Why is it not shipping with the first camera out of the block? Renting a lens is not realistic. Using a 10:1 boat anchor is not realistic. Using a Nikkor or B4 adaptor is a clumsy compromise. I guess Cooke must be the bottleneck.

Red is supplying rails, and batteries, tweeked out monitors and high end inexpensivee EVFs, things most manufactures can not supply, why not go all the way with a matte boxes and zoom motors--keeping it all in the family? I bet Oakley could make a killer matte box judging by their sunglasses.
I think immediate application is essential for the launch of a new product. All the nuts and bolts must work together in a convenient fashion for a wide range of customers. Is red subcontracting Preston for zoom controls?
What if Preston gets swamped and you can't find such a control.
When you construct a house, you want to move in asap. God help you if your have a 25 percent lease interest rate and want to pay this baby off ASAP.

[Evin Grant]

Skeptic, if you do not have a reservation, which it seems from your post you do not, then the 18-85mm Red lens will be available right about the same time you would take delivery from your Red #1500 or so. It's us early adpoters that will have to wait for the Red glass. With all due respect the camera really isn't going to be available to the general community till about Nov./Dec. so by then you may very well find all those things your looking for.
P.S. I have no inside information on product developments just speculation based on the project/company evolution.

[damonbots]

How can a purchaser hit the ground running without the stock zoom lens, zoom motor, and matte box?

That same question's got me scratching my head as well, but I sure wasn't going to ask. You can pretty much assume that RED's priority is the camera body first, and thankfully so! Building a 4K camera from scratch and working out all the bugs has got to be a task of biblical proportions. I'm sure the zoom will follow soon enough. There was a test photo released from a Nikon lens (??) that looked incredible. I think that's a decent option until the zoom comes out.
Once they get the camera and accessories done, they'll probably want to take a very deep breath and then tackle new projects like zoom motors and matte boxes, but that could be serious wishful thinking on my part.

[Gopher77]

For one thing this is a new product coming from a new company. While they can leap buildings in a single bound, they can't develop a camera and full line of lenses and accessories in just a little over a year. Be patient, I have a feeling that red one is just the begining. Not that I have any information to back that up, just seems Jim and that red team are having too much fun just to stop at a camera and lenses.

[Brook Willard]

RED's 18-85mm zoom should ship by the end of 2007.

Brook-
Red is coming out with a zoom.

Yep.


Renting a lens is not realistic.Nearly every movie that is made resolves through rented glass. What sort of shooting are you doing?

[Martin Ludwig]

How can a purchaser hit the ground running without the stock zoom lens, zoom motor, and matte box?

I told you already, some will be surprised with their Red. and...


Skeptic, if you do not have a reservation, which it seems from your post you do not, then the 18-85mm Red lens will be available right about the same time you would take delivery from your Red #1500 or so. -
Did anybody heard about the amount of zooms Red will build? I don´t think they will have Zooms in stock. I think they will make only the reservation mount first.
we have to see.

[Evin Grant]

I think they will make only the reservation mount first.

That would be uncharacteristically stupid of them. I think they have a very good idea what the demand will be and how to supply it.

[Volker Ehlers]

Hi guys,

After all the discussion about lenses - Here comes a question I´ve had in mind for quiet some time but never asked since I believe its too obvious -
Will my BP-8 from Arri fit under the Red body? I assume that 19mm support should be possible and in optical center. Since I want to run my lovely Cooke 18-100mm and my MB 14 and all my other ARRI gear (like FFIV) on the RED soon. Only remember the mention of 15mm rods so far and cant work out how the cage would allow 19mm system to fit...

Cheers
Volker

VastValley Ltd.
Red #818

[Dominic Jones]

Red cage/rod system is Arri standard 19mm as I understand it, so you're fine.

15mm video standard is accomplished with an adapter, for those interested in 15mm accessories.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

video sceptic:

like Brook said.. basically all films rent glass.. if not the entire camera.. depends on the DP if he has his own gear or not.. but like brook also said.. by your name u sound like a eng style shooter.. which makes sense to buy a lens or 2...

But for your statement "Using a Nikkor or B4 adaptor is a clumsy compromise" i dont know about the B4 cuz i dont use those lenses but nikon is defiantly not a clumsy compromise.. especially for the indi or budget minded cinematographer. so far we have seen some incredible Nikon glass tests.. sure breathing occurs.. but show your average movie goer and i bet they would have no idea.. my girlfriend doesnt even know the difference between 3ccd video 24p and super 35mm kodak film stock..


as for matte box.. there are sooo many options out there. i dont think RED is in a hurry to produce a REDBOX but... Im sure it will happen!.. a super hot carbon fiber oakley style box would be a nice treat in the future.