modifoo

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Red has just released their newest firmware for the camera, featuring not only many new features (such a loop recording for 10/30 seconds - this is great if you are waiting for something to happen. You just leave the camera in loop, and then when you push record, you get the last 10 or 30 seconds as well) but a greatly improved noise floor. Here´s a quick test done by Alesniak that shows the difference in the blue channels, comparing the current with the previous build.

Here´s a full list of all the major improvements:

* New .R3D file format - requires the use of new versions of QuickTime Component, RED ALERT and REDCINE (not currently available)
* Digital Signal Processing optimization.
* Image Compression Optimization.
* Support for 4K 16:9 recordings in REDALERT and QuickTime based applications.
* Fixed high detail scene codec errors in 4K 16:9 recordings.
* Fixed polarity of audio recording relative to MIC and / or LINE inputs.
* Improved audio sample to video frame synchronization (lip sync accuracy).
* Reduced RED-LCD display tearing on last few lines in 4K record / playback.
* Addition of REDspace and RAW viewing modes.
* Updated file name structure to eliminate duplicate file names.
* Addition of Pre-Record (10 sec or 30 sec loop) mode.
* In-camera 1080p playback of REDCODE RAW .R3D files.
* Improved display precision and color response of RED-EVF and RED-LCD.
* Seperation of Sensitivity (ASA) and Exposure (Compensation) parameters.
* Extended exposure times of up to 1/2 sec enabled in TIMELAPSE menu.
* Added RED-EVF control over Audio, Shutter, ISO and Varispeed parameters.
* User programmable Tonal Response Curves menu.
* Look Around available on HD PREVIEW outputs when LCD and EVF are active.
* Improved video Genlock (Tri-Level Sync) lock for 23.98, 24.00, 25.00, 29.97.
* Added 1.85 and 2.40 Safe Action and Safe Title Protection Guides.
* Improved indiction of image magnify mode with new “X” cursor
* User programmability of A, B, C keys and USER 1, 2, 3, 4 keys
* Allow return to last menu position before exiting menus, when SHIFT-SYSTEM is pressed
* Disabled auto-reset of reel counter on change of project time base.
* Decreased boot time. Roughly 68 seconds.
* Also need new FCP Log & Transfer plugin (will be available soon)
* Red Alert will not loose audio tracks when re-generating QuickTime reference files
* QuickTime codec now supports full resolution reference files and full render quality output

Most other camera makers would make you buy a new cameras for all those new features. At Red it is not only downloadable, but the download is for free.

It’s probably been in the cards for a while, but we have ordered our Red One camera. Sometime before the end of the year (fingers crossed), we’ll be able to churn out pictures at such high resolution that they can be used for digital cinema. We’ll be able to use variable frame rates. I’ll be able to chose from many different lenses. We’ll be able to tell our stories better.

Just to give you an idea of the firepower of this camera, look at this picture, showing proportionally the full size of the Red picture, and in comparison that of Standard Television 4:3. It is about 6 times the resolution of even High Definition Television. And it meets or succeeds the specs for digital cinema (Norway is aiming to become the first country in the world to be completely digitized in cinemas.)
But it is not stopping here. Red One is also a very low-noise camera. Here is a 1:1 crop from an image exposed at ISO 2000. Click on the image to see it in full. (Read more about this here.)

This is nothing short of amazing, and will enable us and many other documentary makers to tell stories that simply couldn’t be told before. Brace yourself for a whole new world of clarity.

For comparison, here is the same 1:1 crop at a modes 320 ASA/ISO:

And for further comparison, here’s a framegrab from our current camera, a Sony DSR-570, which is the best DVcam money can buy. Properly exposed. You’ll see noticeably noise in the background. More than the Red even pushed to the extremes.

(Framegrab from our Documentary “Words and Shadows” with the former prime minister of Norway, Mr. Odvar Nordli.)

Here’s an interesting example of what you can do with high-speed filming (though I would have used more fill- and eyelight):

Action Figure slow motion video from Stig Nordas on Vimeo.
I am looking forward to learning, and to push myself to new borders.