Via Prolost, here’s another Scarlet mock-up render from Red Digital Cinema. This one shows off an optional accessory “smart handle” that makes Scarlet look a lot like a typical DSLR. Indeed, the camera does feature a still image mode. This is an interesting layout…I can see pro photographers getting comfortable very quickly with this configuration for dual-purpose still/video shooting.

Red’s Jim Jannard admits that the latest render is not 100% accurate to what will be delivered, for competitive reasons:

We apologize for not being able to give you the exact render of the final Scarlet. For competitive reasons, we are forced to show you “kinda” what we are “sorta” going to do. We appreciate that everyone wants to know every detail. We just can’t give you exactly all the details. Suffice it to say that we are giving you what we can. We want you to know we are thinking about every aspect. We expect that Scarlet will have more possible configurations than almost any camera released in history. If we screw this up… we shouldn’t be allowed to be a camera company.

As we get closer to release in the 1st half of 2009, we will certainly give you more details. As we go along, we’ll post more possibilities for Scarlet. But we can’t let the “cat out of the bag” too early. I will say that the specs have changed… for the better.

You can view a few more renders here. And to recap a few previously posted details on Red Scarlet: the camera will be 3K Redcode RAW capable, as well as 1080P RGB to dual-CompactFlash media. Announced framerates are 1-120fps, with a 180fps burst mode. There is a still image mode, and some sort of planned “wifi control.” Scarlet has been said to feature a non-removeable 18-144mm T/2.8 zoom lens (that would be the S35 equivalent…35mm still equivalent would be 28-224mm. In typical consumer camcorder terms this is about 8x).

There will be HDMI and HD-SDI outputs, a built-in mic + balanced stereo audio inputs, and a massive 4.8″ flip-out LCD screen. Both auto and manual modes will be available. Pricing is expected to be sub-$3000 USD, though I’m sure fully kitting out this camcorder will require quite a bit more investment. But still, color me impressed if they can pull off this featureset in production quantities by their current April 2009 target ship date.

UPDATE: There is a new render of Epic in the wild.