Arri D20 vs. RED

[D_and_G]

I saw some D20 footage recently, and I was wondering how comparable (with the limmited info. we have now) the Specs of the RED camera match up to the Arri specs.

It would be interesting to get an Arri D20 spec sheet and mosey on over to the RED booth. (if Arri is going to be at NAB).

I loved the dynamic range of the footage, and I hope jim comes close to that with RED. :beer:


Cheers.

[Stephen W]

I was fortunate to be able to shoot part of my short film on the Arri D20 last year and it really is an impressive camera. It's limitations at present are mainly to do with recording options - we ran an HD-SDI output to an HDCAMSR deck as we were shooting on set and it was simple enough to do. You can currently also record to the Sony SRW-1 dockable recorder.

At NAB Arri will be showing the D20 with their new Arri Flashmag - which I understand is actually a Thomson Venom with an Arri sticker on! However, there is currently no way of recording higher than 1080p footage on the D20 - it actually has a native resolution around 3k - so the RED should score some points there.

Unlike the Genesis the D20 has an optical reflex viewfinder - no news yet on what the RED will have. The D20 is modular (as RED will be) so there's plenty of possibilities for future upgrades, though I would say from what Jim has said I'd expect the RED to be quite a bit lighter than the D20 which is a fair size. Also, the D20 is for rental only so you're not going to be owning one anytime soon!

[D_and_G]

Thanks for the reply.

It's good to here another personal user report. I've heard about how surprising and easy the night exteriors were using the D20 (the lighting package was minimal).

I'm a little surprised that its for rental only.

Hope you post your short somewhere (after it hits the festivals)




:beer:

[The Machinist]

I'm a little surprised that its for rental only.


I'm sure if you had the money you could purchase one. But I imagine there are only a few people in the world with the money to purchase one for private use.

[Stephen W]

I'm sure if you had the money you could purchase one. But I imagine there are only a few people in the world with the money to purchase one for private use.

I'm not sure enough of them exist for them to sell them.

[The Machinist]

That would be the hindrance i guess. Although if you could afford one and intended to make the purchase you probably already have one by now.

[D_and_G]

I was speaking of corporations purchasing one - Studios, Independent Production Companies, Advertising Boutiques etc ...

Also, I know of some blokes who took out home loans to own their own New 35mm camera + gear (about a 100K). And they actually paid the banks back... Anyway, I assume that's what the D20 will go for. So, it's not unheard of, but I meant primarilly in the corporate sector, of course.

Depreciation and amortization are great write offs BTW. Although, if your in that tax bracket, as a private individual,then who cares about cost :)

I wonder if the Arri name on a digital 35mm camera will make these type of cameras more prevalent on film sets ?

Either way, what is great about the concept of RED is a democratization of new technology, or newly applied tech. Some of these other hi-end cams have been rolled out is the complete opposite (understandable considering that you can count the units on one hand). The manufacturers' picked who they wanted using their camera (ex. George Lucas) making minimal units and keeping a supervisory role.

If RED comes to fruition, then it won't be a few units with select directors but a wide field of possibility for a creative groundswell of folks eager for the abilities RED encompasses. Yup, I know cams don't make talent, but I'd rather see how a three hundred folks with varying backgrounds apply it, then one or two directors set in the traditional hierarchy...Just my opinion. I think the paradigm of film/directing/distribution etc.. needs a revolution.










:beer:

[BLUESPIDER]

We ask Arri if they would sell and their answer was absolutley no. They will only rent the D20. The camera was priced around 300k. A frame of the D20 looks just like a 6megapixel Nikon D70. You're better off renting one of these. I have no idea about the RED camera.