We have to admit, we’re quite intrigued by RED’s new modular camera system. Though RED is better known for camcorders than still cameras, their new system allows you to do both.
This new multi purpose system is based around a “brain” which would be available in a variety of price ranges ($2,500 to a scant $45,000) to control the various body parts (handles, lens mounts, batteries, etc). Along with Reds own lenses, the system is supposed to work with any Cannon or Nikon lenses you might already have via special adapters . According to Red, the new system provides “2,251,799,813,685,248 possibilities (as of today).”
As the world of photography merges into the world of cheap replaceable, upgradable, electronics, we’re interested to see how this concept plays out. Since we know the new digital camera we bought this year will probably hold it’s value about as well as a computer, it makes a certain amount of sense to replace the cameras “brain” rather than the whole body. This would work especially well once camera stores have specific pieces available for daily rental. We like the idea that we could possibly buy a camera and rent enough add ons to it for a few days to shoot a music video.  But since it’s not going to be released until spring, we’ll have no choice for now but to wait and see.