On this page

RED V-RAPTOR Face-Detection Autofocus Now Available Via Beta Firmware Update

October 10^th, 20238

RED V-RAPTOR Face-Detection Autofocus Now Available Via Beta Firmware Update

by Omri Keren LapidotOctober 10^th, 2023

RED recently released a Beta firmware update to its flagship cinema camera, the V-RAPTOR 8K VV family. Firmware update 1.6.1 Beta includes many interesting tweaks but face-detection AF overshadows most of them, especially when applied to a professional cinematic tool.

Alongside the Beta face-detect auto-focus feature, the update includes an auto online firmware upgrade function. The V-Raptor is a professional tool, so RED added an on/off toggle on the auto-updates, so it won’t get in your way unless you want it to. Also included are advanced playback controls, RED Connect updates, and more, which you are welcome to view here, or head straight to the company’s downloads page, where you may find respective downloads for the V-RAPTOR XL and S35 as well.

Blurring boundaries

Cinematic workflow is almost exclusively based on manual focus control. Unlike other domains where focusing is merely a task to complete or a checkbox to tick off, for the cinematographer, the action of focusing is a medium of expression.

Since time is not of the essence, no decisive moment is to be masterfully captured and nothing is more important than a perfect shot – autofocus hasn’t been paramount in filmmaking. Therefore, there wasn’t much of a demand for it. But ours are times of blurring boundaries. Video cameras possess resolution fine enough for large-scale prints, while still cameras can record industry-standard ProRes files, and that’s not all. It’s in this kind of environment where a strictly cinematic manufacturer adds a feature such as face-detect autofocus, which was until recently considered amateur at best.

RED is rightfully known as a rather unorthodox camera manufacturer. Breaking boundaries and stretching performance envelopes are its bread and butter (alongside some of the best sensors in the industry).

If you were paying attention to the company’s trajectory, face-detection AF should come as no surprise. RED was never too zealous about “pure” cinema camera characteristics. It was about providing powerful tools for creators to work with. I wouldn’t be too quick to call these devices useless.