The Evolution Of Red Cameras: Where Are They Made?

RED Digital Cinema is an American camera manufacturer specializing in digital cinematography. The company is headquartered in California, with studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles and offices in London, Shanghai, and Singapore. RED cameras are known for their high-quality and powerful performance, often used in Hollywood productions. With price tags ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, these cameras are sought after by professionals in the film industry. So, where are these prestigious cameras made?

RED cameras are manufactured in Irvine, California

RED cameras are made in the USA, specifically in California, which is about an hour away from Hollywood. The company was founded by Jim Jannard, who is also the founder of Oakley. Jannard is a self-described "camera fanatic", owning over 1,000 models. He started RED with the intention of creating an affordable 4K digital cinema camera.

The company's first camera, the RED ONE, was released in 2007. Since then, RED has released several new camera models, including the Epic-X, Scarlet, Weapon 8K VV, and the Komodo. The RED camera lineup offers powerful, advanced, and versatile cinema camera performance, with groundbreaking imaging technology.

RED cameras are crafted and assembled by factory technicians, with the process starting from a blank piece of metal being machine-cut, assembling the circuitry, and placing it inside the camera body. The company has provided a behind-the-scenes look at its manufacturing and production facilities through a video on its website.

The decision to produce its cameras in the USA allows RED to have closer oversight of the production process and labour standards and enables tighter integration between design and manufacture.

The company is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California

The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company, also known as Red Digital Cinema, LLC, is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, in the United States. The company was founded by Jim Jannard, who is also the founder of Oakley. Jannard, a self-described "camera fanatic", started Red Digital Cinema with the goal of creating an affordable 4K digital cinema camera.

The company's headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, serve as the central hub for its operations and decision-making processes. Foothill Ranch is located in Orange County and is known for its scenic beauty and thriving business community. The location provides Red Digital Cinema with access to a talented workforce, innovative partners, and a supportive business environment.

In addition to its headquarters, Red Digital Cinema also has a significant presence in nearby Irvine, California. The company's manufacturing facilities are located in Irvine, where skilled technicians craft and assemble the high-end cameras. This allows for a seamless integration between the design and manufacturing processes, ensuring a high level of quality and innovation.

The decision to be headquartered in California reflects Red Digital Cinema's commitment to staying at the forefront of the digital cinema revolution. California is known for its strong presence in the film and entertainment industry, with Hollywood being just an hour's drive from Irvine. This proximity to the heart of the film industry allows Red Digital Cinema to stay closely connected to its customers and partners, fostering a culture of innovation and responsiveness to market demands.

Red Digital Cinema's presence in California also extends beyond its headquarters and manufacturing facilities. The company has studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and retail stores in Hollywood, New York City, and Miami. This widespread presence in key markets ensures that the company remains accessible to its customers and at the forefront of industry trends.

RED Digital Cinema was founded by Jim Jannard

Red Digital Cinema, LLC is an American camera manufacturer specialising in digital cinematography. The company was founded by Jim Jannard, who previously founded Oakley. Jannard is a self-described "camera fanatic", owning over 1,000 models. He started Red Digital Cinema with the intention of delivering an affordable 4K digital cinema camera to the market.

Jannard's idea for the company came when he bought a Sony HDR-FX1 video camera and learned that the files had to be converted with software from Lumiere HD and were not viewable on Mac OS. He collaborated with Lumiere HD's owner, Frederic Lumiere, who introduced him to Ted Schilowitz—Red's first employee. Early team members then began researching how to make a digital camera feasible for Hollywood productions.

At the 2006 NAB Show, Jannard announced that Red would build a 4K digital cinema camera, called the Red One, and began taking pre-orders. In March 2007, director Peter Jackson completed a camera test of two prototype Red One cameras, which became the 12-minute World War I film Crossing the Line. The Red One first shipped in August 2007, and was used to shoot Che, The Informant, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

In 2010, Red acquired the historic Ren-Mar Studios in Hollywood, renaming it Red Studios Hollywood. By 2011, the company had over 400 employees. That same year, Red Digital Cinema and the Red One were widely credited with accelerating the transition from analogue to digital cameras in the film industry.

On August 19, 2013, Jim Jannard announced his retirement from Red, leaving Jarred Land as president. The company was then acquired by Nikon in 2024.

Jannard's goal was to deliver an affordable 4K digital cinema camera

James Jannard, an American designer, businessman and founder of Oakley, Inc., started the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company in 2005. Jannard, a self-described "camera fanatic" who owns over 1,000 camera models, founded Red Digital Cinema with the goal of delivering an affordable 4K digital cinema camera.

Jannard's interest in creating an affordable 4K camera was sparked by his experience with a Sony HDR-FX1 video camera, where he encountered issues with the files not being compatible with his Mac OS. He collaborated with Lumiere HD's owner, Frederic Lumiere, who introduced him to Ted Schilowitz, who became Red's first employee. The early team conducted research on how to make a digital camera feasible for Hollywood productions, opting for 4K resolution instead of the more common 2K at the time. They also had to achieve the focusing quality of DSLR cameras without sacrificing frame rate, which they solved by developing a sensor with a physical size comparable to analog film.

In 2006, Jannard announced that Red would build the 4K digital cinema camera, named the Red One, and began taking pre-orders. The Red One was shipped in August 2007, and was used in productions like the medical drama ER, Peter Jackson's World War I short film Crossing the Line, and Steven Soderbergh's Che. The Red One was Red Digital Cinema's first production camera, capturing up to 120 frames per second at 2K resolution and 60 frames per second at 4K resolution. It was made of aluminum alloy and weighed 10 pounds.

Jannard's company and the Red One camera played a significant role in accelerating the transition from analog to digital cameras in the film industry. By 2016, over 25% of the top 100 grossing domestic films that were shot on digital video used Red cameras as their primary system. Jannard's pursuit of an affordable 4K digital cinema camera not only influenced the technology in Hollywood but also contributed to the broader adoption of digital cinematography.

RED cameras are used in Hollywood movies

One of the key advantages of RED cameras is their dynamic range, which provides excellent low-light performance. This feature is particularly useful for shooting in challenging lighting conditions, such as at night or in dimly lit interiors. The RED Gemini, for example, offers a "low-light mode" that maximizes ISO levels while minimizing noise and grain in the image, resulting in clean and crisp footage even in low-light environments.

The user-friendly interface of RED cameras is another factor in their popularity among Hollywood filmmakers. The control interface is designed to be intuitive and easily navigable, resembling the familiar layout of an iPhone. This simplicity allows filmmakers to quickly adjust settings, switch between resolutions, and activate slow-motion modes with ease. The lightweight design of the RED Gemini, weighing less than 5 lbs, also makes it convenient for handheld shooting and long production days.

RED cameras have been used in various Hollywood productions, including "Che," "The Informant," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Hobbit," "Prometheus," and "The Great Gatsby." The cameras' ability to capture high-quality visuals, coupled with their dynamic range and ease of use, has made them a preferred choice for many filmmakers seeking to enhance their cinematic storytelling.

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