I am thinking about my next camera purchase today, November 1st, 2011, days before Canon and Red have independent announcements about their next cameras.

Red is expected to announce that their Scarlet camera is ready to ship with a yet unknown feature set. The Scarlet was originally announced at NAB 2008 as 3K resolution for $3,000 based on a fixed lens ⅔” sensor. All kinds of rumors are flying about the new specs.

Canon is also set to announce something on Nov 3rd, although nobody who knows will say. The rumors are flying fast and furious that this will be a true cinema camera with features pro’s need (unlike the 5D MkII).

While it’s fun to think about these options, but when it comes time for me to spend my hard earned dollars, i need to evaluate my real world needs versus my cinematic desires. Big resolution alone does not make a camera great.

I have always been more of a realist than a dreamer. I know that most of my work will never see that big screen. Sure, I have entered my share of short film competitions, but the corporate and web work that I do pays the bills.

I am quite happy with my purchase of the Panasonic AF100 camera. It serves my needs of pro controls and shallow images, but there are things I would like in my next camera. For me, instead of chasing bigger sensors, and higher frame sizes, I would rather see other features developed.

I am fascinated with the idea of the HDR feature in the Red Epic. This is a feature that would be a home run in the lower budget everyday production cameras. I have walked into many situations where a overblown window in an office ruins an otherwise decent shot. How many of us would really love to have a highlight or lowlight protection? I know i would.

I am equally fascinated with the light field camera technology, where one can change focus after the fact. Lytro has announced a camera that does just that. https://www.lytro.com/camera

So imaging for a moment, a cinema camera with the ability to protect exposure and re-focus a scene in post. Give this to me in HD resolution, I am fine with that. SD cards, fine too. Just price it under $25K. Who wouldn’t want this? I would be the first in line.

To build these features in a high end hollywood camera seems to miss the mark. Hollywood jobs have the budgets to carry crew and equipment to make ANY camera look good. It’s the guys in the trenches, running around with a Lowel DP kit, trying to fight a 15 foot wall of windows with 2 guys that needs these advanced tools.

Who I ask, will be the first to build me this camera?