We entered the market way back when with a 4K camera. Our thinking was that 1080P was not good enough to replace film. We were right apparently… 7 years later.
What we learned along the way was that while 4K acquisition was certainly better than 1080P… it was not ideal.
A 4K finish from a bayer pattern sensor (what everyone does) begs for more captured resolution than 4K. A 1080P sensor (1920×1080) does not fill up a 1080P box. A 4K sensor also does not fill up a 4K box.
Our M-X sensor captured 4.5K in a RED ONE and 5K in an EPIC-X (or EPIC-M). Much better. The 4K box was almost full. 6K… the 4K box is overflowing.
Going forward, we realize that down-rezzing has a HUGE advantage to final output. Hence the 6K Dragon.
Not only do you have the option to recompose, stabilize, and zoom… the idea of down-rezzing gives a much better final output to a 4K delivery. It lowers noise. You get apparent sharpness without sharpening.
So while the others have joined the party… they have entered where we were 7 years ago. They have thrown the ball to where the receiver was… not where he is.
At some point you need to decide who you believe will deliver the future. The company with the vision, or the company that follows the vision. Who is ahead and who is behind?
If the company with the vision also happens to embrace their customers at all costs (upgrades instead of all new cameras)… you win every which way you look at it.
The choice is yours…
Jim
What makes me wary on the argument of downrezzing for more quality is there is no 6K or even 5K 16×9, so even if you go to a ProRES recorder you will get black bars on the top and bottom and have to spend time converting the higher resolution material and downscaling and pan and scanning. I think it makes sense for features, but for 1080, the non 16×9 resolutions really don’t make much sense.
Still I would love to have a RED EPIC with Dragon sensor if I could afford it.