This just in: the DxOMark scores have been published, the new 6K RED Epic Dragon camera beats out the old king-of-the-hill, the Nikon D800E. The first video sample for the Dragon surfaced in August, 2013 and we've been excited to see how it would perform ever since. The RED press release surprised many with the camera being advertised for both video and stills. At around 19MP this camera system might just give high-end Nikon and Canon DSLRs a run for their money.
In terms of color depth and dynamic range the RED Epic Dragon beats out all the competition by a pretty decent margin, at 0.9 bits better color depth and 0.5 EV better dynamic range than the D800E. The only area the RED Dragon gets outclassed is in terms of low-light capability, where it is bested by the superior high-ISO performance of the D800(E). All this performance is thanks to the new sensor that RED developed for the Dragon as reported here.
In 2012, Peter Hurley teamed up with Fstoppers to compare the images from his Hasselblad H3D to the RED Epic (the full post can be found here). He found that even then the gap between stills performance and images grabbed from the RED was shrinking. With the RED's dynamic range and color depth now besting the old champion, the D800E it wouldn't surprise me if we start seeing more stills photographers shooting small bursts of video to pull images from, the technology is clearly there.
Will increasing video performance influence the way you shoot stills?
[Via The Phoblographer]
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"Will increasing video performance influence the way you shoot stills?"
Not at those prices! If you have to spend a small mortgage on a camera for a few points difference in DR and image quality on stills, your either too rich or crazy. If your creating a film or TV show and want to do stills also, then save the 3 three grand extra from buying a dedicated body. When the quality of the Red Dragon becomes affordable to use, then you'll have a change in the industry that is significant.
The RED camers aren't marketed for the average man, or the average feller who got a DSLR from his wife last weekend and decided to call himself a photographer. There is a market that RED and Hassleblad aim for specifically and it's not the everyday internet photog or instagram user.
So anyone who has no use for a Hassleblad or a RED should not consider themselves a photographer? They are just some guy whose wife gave them a DSLR for Christmas?
That is really patronizing.
I would say the RED isn't even marketed to most pro photographers working today. Most photographers don't need its capabilities for the images they create. For most pro photographers, trying to find one frame out of a group or hundreds would stall their workflow (essentially, you are talking about a super high speed "spray and pray"). Most photographers don't need the file size even a D800 produces. As business owners, it is not cost effective to have a piece of equipment around that does not work for your needs.
In fact, I would say the RED is for a very limited market. For those people that can use it, it will be a god send. Everyone else will never shoot with it because it is not cost effective and/or will produce too much info (large files and hundreds of frames) to wade through.
What you took from my my post was not my point at all. I'm not into the elitist attitude when it comes to gear. I was talking about the market and who what equipment is aimed toward. Which is what your post continued to speak about. My apologies if I hurt your feelings.
LOL, a run for it's money. I believe the D800 is about One tenth the cost of a Red Epic and the Red Epic slightly edges out the D800.
But does the D800 take 24-100 photos per second?
Did Capa need 24-100 photos per second?
Irrelevant. Robert Capa wasn't interested in sport photography.
Very relevant.. no one was talking about sports photography.
I'm not sure who was arguing FPS either. 24-100 FPS still doesn't negate the fact that the D800 is actualy 1/10th the price and is narrowly falling behind a $30k camera.
I'm referring to the fact that the Epic can essentially shoot video where each frame would be higher quality than a D800 still.
Wow! Someone is bitter. But thanks for the laugh!
ok I'm sold! I'll take 2 of those Red Dragon thingies.
RED Epic Dragon Bests Nikon D800E on DxOMark
Ferrari Testarossa bests Kia Sports in 0-60 mp/h
Ferrari gives Kia really a run for its money.
lol, you got to be kidding.....
The footage is amazing! I own a D800E but wouldn't mind adding this camera to my bag, just need and extra 30K
Wait, are there people that actually care what DXO Mark says????