While researching photographies about the 1934 longshoremen strike, I came across these two pictures showing how press photographers looked like back then.
We can see both the gravity of the occasion – Police is about to attack the strikers, and the photographers prepared themselves with gas masks, goggles and rain hats – and a typical way of handling it – joking about.
Source: The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.
ASC member and DP for the long-running 24 series, Rodney Charters, gave a 20+ minute interview, showing off his RED One rig that he used to travel around the world. Equipped with the Birger Canon mount (about 1.200$), he uses the Canon 16-35mm 2.8 (1.450$), the Canon 24-70mm 2.8 (1.190$) and the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 (1.190$; $1.700 with image stabilisation) lenses. From Sim Video he has a special handle (1.200$) that doubles as EVF and battery holder.
He also had some custom made handle bar system, that does not need any rods – thus shedding off a pound or two, and saving further space (sorry, no link).
The whole set fits into one smart looking bag (the Think Tank Airport Acceleration, about 200$) that can be taken onboard a plane.
The whole interview can be found on the excellent Reel Show.
Cooke make great film lenses with a passion. Back in the early 90s I went to one of their presentations of a new set of lenses, and they are designed with everyone involved in film production taken care of. For the DP they offer great picture quality. For the AC they have about the clearest markings in the market, which makes it much easier getting the right focus. Very smooth running mechanics. And they take literally years to develop a new lens.
So it was with great satisfaction that I read today that Cooke are launching a set of 4 lenses specifically for the Red camera.
The Cooke RED Set includes: a Cooke S4/i 15-40mm, T2.0 CXX Zoom and Cooke S4/i 50mm, 75mm and 100mm, T2.0 Prime Lenses, a protective glass cover for the CXX Zoom lens and a rigid carry case to hold all four lenses.
The RED ONE camera is fully /i compatible and will communicate directly with Cooke S4/i lenses via special contacts in the camera’s lens mount. There is no need for additional equipment.
No mention about the prices, but I would imagine that they are worth every single penny (as they are made in the UK). For more info on the Cooke zoom, click here. More data on the primes here. UPDATE: looks like the set of lenses will go for just under USD 100k. Ouch! Looks like more of a rental option…
Geoff Boyle, British DP of cinematography.net fame, is currently shooting a feature film in 3D, where one of the 3 camera packages is a Red camera. His crew has experienced some difficulties with the camera, but because of its excellent quality, the camera has gotten a – very rare – second chance. That the camera gets good comments from a critical voice such as Geoff is (owner of an ARRI 435, if memory serves right), means something. Read his blog here.
Maybe our next camera will be a Red?
