James Cameron buys 50 Red Epic-M cameras, probably for Avatar sequels

April 25, 2011 By Adam Rosenberg

James Cameron buys 50 Red Epic-M cameras, presumably to boost the second and third Avatar movies to a 5K resolution.

James Cameron seems to be getting himself set before he goes into production on the next Avatar movie. A pair of upcoming sequels to the 2009 sci-fi hit were confirmed late last year, with stated plans to drop Avatar 2 in 2014 and Avatar 3 in 2015. He shot the initial movie using a set of Sony HD cameras and, for the 3D, a modified version of the 3D digital Fusion Camera System, which he developed with Vince Pace. It seems he might be going with one of the increasingly popular offerings from Jim Jannard’s Red Digital Cinema Camera Company for the two sequels.

In a brief post on the company’s REDUSER discussion forums, Jannard wrote: “Jim Cameron buys… 50 EPIC-Ms. An official announcement to follow.” That announcement hasn’t yet followed, but the purpose of the purchase, part of it anyway, seems clear enough. Maybe Cameron has big plans for a relative’s upcoming wedding, but the more likely conclusion here is that he intends to use some or all of these cameras for the Avatar sequels.

Cameron picked up Red’s Epic-M cameras, which are reported to run for roughly $58,000 apiece. They shoot at a 5K resolution — the top of what’s out there right now — which means that when Avatar: The Big Huge Special Edition Trilogy box set comes out for whatever the reigning high-def home video format will be in 2020, it won’t look like crap on your futureTV.

Cameron joins a small yet growing group of other filmmakers who will be the first to make magic happen with Red’s Epic-M line. Peter Jackson nabbed 30 of them for his upcoming two-part telling of The Hobbit. Steven Soderbergh used them for his 2011-releasing ensemble action flick Contagion. Red will also be used for Ridley Scott‘s Alien prequel/spin-off/whatever Prometheus and Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man.

Showing 6 comments

HDjedi at 1:26pm 26th April 2011 The entire camera backbone was Sony. Pace Fusion Rigs hold cameras, cameras were 100% manufactured by Sony. The cameras were affectionally dubbed "J Cams" and were a modified HDC-F950 444 camera system with custom T head interfaces built specifically for light storm entertainment. Pace Fusion can certainly build rigs, they dont build camera imagers. If they did, why would they need Red or Arri or Sony?
1. Ian Bell at 1:44pm 26th April 2011 I think you are confused. Adam isn't saying they didn't used Sony cameras for the 3D filming, he is saying that they used the Fusion 3D camera system (which includes Sony hardware) for the 3D part. Here is a good explanation of the system from James Cameron: http://www.etcenter.org/2010/08/james-cameron-sho... That was my take anyways...
  1. podgypig at 4:56am 3rd May 2011 Funny that he is holding what looks like a panasonic AG-3DA1 in the picture.. which isn't even mentioned in the article. http://www.gearfactory.co.uk
Adam Rosenberg at 5:52am 26th April 2011 Hey, thanks for the heads-up. You're partially right. The Pace Fusion 3-D was used as well, for the film's 3D (naturally), which you left out of your comment. As for speculation... it's never too early. =)
HDjedi at 12:24pm 25th April 2011 Actually, Avatar was shot with Sony Cameras. F950's F23 and F35's. Check IMDB.com. Cameron also announced a strategic alliance with Arri two weeks ago to the day, and is pictured here with a Panasonic ... a little early to be speculating what he will me using on a movie that wont even start production for another two years.
1. daveinpublic at 6:51am 5th May 2011 HDjedi, the Fusion Camera System isn't a different brand of camera, it's the rig used to hold two cameras. The author was correct when he said Cameron used Sony cameras and the Fusion Camera System for 3D.