Red & Jim Jannard finally tell us what kind of company they are

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=660570#post660570

As I predicted in my last article RED needed to accept their place as a pro camera company & that is exactly what they did! As Jim Jannard's announcement indicates, RED is finally starting to get it and will draw the line better as it comes to what kind of company they are. Which, I think, should help them carve out a better niche for themselves. It was about time they admitted the obvious. My hope is that, now, the company will be finding its footing better and accepting its limitations even more. Then they can start to recognize who their true competition is. here's a hint... it's NOT Canon & Nikon!

My view of the digital camera markets can be compared to some degree with the old film camera markets...

Current Digital Camera Markets
1. DSLR's & prosumer cams ---> 2. Panny & Sony Broadcast Professional HD Cameras ---> 3. RED, ARRI, Panavisions & Studio developed experimental cameras.

As compared to the Film Camera Markets from back in the day...
1. Standard 8 & Super 8 ---> 2. 16 & Super 16 ---> 3. 35mm & other experimental studio tech.

Of course there are sub-markets within these as there is more experimentation and innovation (just like with Red) but these smaller markets will only flux temporarily.

This all makes sense because each of these markets are meeting distinct needs in the marketplace. Lots of filmmakers including Spielberg & M. Night back in the day started with a Super 8 shooting family events & small shorts films in their back yard- then they moved up to 16 in film school and then by that time they understood how the whole theory works and all the ensuing implications with lighting, developing, camera moves, etc. They could realistically handle the Panavisions and could deal with the greater responsibility of that. The same is now true with the DSLR's all the way up to RED, ARRI etc.

So, as you can see, my beef with RED is that they are acting ridiculous by making fun of DSLR shooters. Panavision would never be ridiculous enough to making fun of Ricoh, Rollei, Bolex or Canon back in the 70's or 80's because they shot on a smaller format and their sync-sound wasn't as good... or they weren't as smooth running... or they were too noisy to be used for proper filmmaking purposes... that is really only going to make you look like an idiot.

They, hopefully, will continue to admit they are in a different market & then they will stop making noise in the back of the classroom like annoying little brats. RED has to learn to not sling mud and to stand apart as a different kind of company. Let it be a plus that your cameras will be undercutting other cameras in your market... that is a good thing! And try not to make the Spielbergs of tomorrow feel bad for starting their careers with DSLR's...

By the way- HDR isnt that much of an advancement, RED. In many ways, no more advanced than 3D. Here's a Canon 5DmkII shooting HDR video on vimeo. Just get us a new camera that continues the next big thing in pro filmmaking... thank you very much! aaahhhh. LOL. Im just kidding!

But, all kidding aside, I do appreciate every bit of new filmmaking tech out there from your company and from ANY of these other great companies, so thank you very much Mr. Jannard- just please learn to respect your peers sir- Canon, Nikon, Panny... these other companies are still just as relevant as your company (even Panavision!). In some ways, more so. They have a more vibrant, colorful and profitable history than yours. You're the next big thing- but don't think the old guard are gone- they are just as relevant as ever.

I'm still hoping that there will be advances in digital screening technology with the help of RED at some point-- we need a slew of new high res theaters out there. IMHO it will help continue the resurgence of the theater experience for the film exhibition industry as well... then we will SEE the evidence of RED's advanced tech better as compared to the competition. Can't you see that this better screening environment will also greatly increase the amount of sales for your cameras? hmmmmm. That this isn't discussed concerns me. The screening tech must flux WITH the camera markets at some point- but, as most of use realize in this industry, there is not much innovation in the exhibition markets. LOL.

Good luck to you & congratulations on finding your niche RED!! In the meantime- I just got my hands on a Canon 60D and will be shooting what I can as a beginning director (no longer just a producer, scripty & videographer)- I'll be learning to work within the limitations of the tech & doing what I can to still tell stories. Whatever piece of equipment I can get to help me make better films... that's what I will buy. Wish me luck and hopefully by the time you come out with Scarlet- I'll be able to see how all this extra time working on it paid off! Or maybe by then you will deserve the ridicule & scorn you have heaped on others.