Now Chicago shooters can be on the same page as stratospheric directors James Cameron, Peter Jackson and Bryan Singer, who are shooting their latest big-budgets 3D features with Red Digital Cameras’ breakthrough Epic-M.
Two Red Epic-Ms have just arrived at 3D specialists Daufenbach Camera – the only Chicago outlet to date that has them.
3D revolutionary James Cameron is the Epic’s biggest supporter, Daufenbach notes. “He just bought 50 of them.”
Three years in development, the Epic is touted as “the answer to the professional’s wildest dreams and exists as the most sophisticated and capable camera ever engineered.”
“The Epic, in and of itself a 2D camera, works well integrated with 3D rigs and studio applications,” says Daufenbach. It’s one-third the size of the game-changing RED One camera and packed into its 5-lb. body is a 5K MYSTERIUM-X™ sensor and the most advanced image processor of its type in the world.
It has the look of a piece of sophisticated military equipment: its body is constructed from rugged aluminum alloy and a titanium lens mount. It records to solid state digital media cards made by Red.
The camera features many options to modify and control settings and levels, Daufenbach says. “So it has the ability to move from dark areas to bright ones and have detail in your shot that’s closer to what the human eye sees.”
It comes with a 5-inch multi-touch monitor with an intuitive graphic user interface. “You can control the camera using a REDmote—a proprietary controller that is synced with camera settings and then wirelessly operated, or with the camera’s side handle,” Daufenbach says.
Daufenbach purchased the Epics for a cost of $58,000 each, plus accessories, and he expects to buy another two or three when available and if the demand justifies it.
Rental rates are being worked out. “We want to tailor the cost of the packages for each production, so there’s no official rental price yet.”
Red One packages rent from $500 to $1,100 per day “and the Epics probably will rent for more. L.A. rents them for $2,000 to $2,500 a day,” he says.
The Epic-Ms give Daufenbach a total of nine cameras, lining up with five Red-MXs and two Panasonic AF100s, plus camera accessory support.
Daufenbach has a staff of six: senior rental tech John Waterman, and techs Steven Wheeler and Curtis Davis; Eric Bednarowicz, communications director and Austin Griffith, development director. Intern is Columbia College photography major Jaime Fliehler.
Daufenbach Camera will host an Epic introduction party May 24 at its facility at 320 N. Damen. Starting at 5 p.m., the party will feature live camera demonstrations and screenings of Epic and 3D footages. Food by Phil Stefani Catering and beverages from the Cream Wine Co.
A second and equally good reason for the party is Daufenbach Camera’s anniversary, which 25-year Lawrence founded two years on June 1.
To RSVP, phone 312/226-0042 or click here.
