RED is adamant about being at the forefront of 8K video capturing, and its latest pro camera could be proof of that. RED has announced the V-Raptor ST, its first camera in the DSMC3 family, according to DPReview. The body is only slightly larger than the Komodo, but it features a brand new 35.4-megapixel VV full-frame sensor with a large 17-stop dynamic range and twice as fast scan speeds as any other RED camera.
It’s also possible that you won’t have to sacrifice quality for speed. The V-Raptor ST can shoot 16-bit REDCODE RAW video at 8K and 120 frames per second, while slow-motion pictures can be captured at 600 frames per second at 2K. While RED may be boasting by suggesting that you can “always deliver” at higher resolutions than 4K, you might sense a regret if your production team spent $60,000 on a Monstro 8K that can only manage 60FPS at full resolution.
Other creature comforts are included in the new camera. Improved cooling (including a silent 60mm fan) helps you work in harder conditions, and a dedicated user display on the side helps assistants modify settings and remember presets.
Two 12G-SDI outputs, nine-pin EXT (for breakout boxes), USB-C, and the necessary pogo pin connector for a monitor are the available ports. On the side, the ODU output can be broken out to XLR or 3.5mm audio. RED supports compatible CFexpress 2.0 Type B cards that can record R3D and ProRes at up to 800MB/s.
The price is aimed directly at professional filmmakers. The body alone costs $24,500, but a “Starter Pack” with essential extras like a 7-inch touchscreen, a RED 660GB CFexpress card (including the matching card reader), and a pair of batteries costs $29,580. That doesn’t take into account the RF-mount lenses and adapters you’ll need if you’re new to the RED environment. If you regularly film 8K videos, this could be a good deal if you’re looking for high-end video gear.
