Throwing catnip to RED users – and aspiring RED users – Element Technica (ET) has announced the Atom, a new compact 3D beamsplitter rig built specifically around the spanking new RED Epic camera. It accommodates two Epics fronted with full-size PL and PV prime lenses or even smaller zooms, like the Angenieux Optimo 30-80mm, the company says.

By building the rig specifically for the Epic, ET was able to keep the design streamlined and lightweight. How light? The aluminum Atom weighs in at just 18 pounds in a handheld version, or 23 pounds in a studio configuration. Depending on how much gear you attach, the system weighs as little as 40 pounds loaded up with two Epics. The Atom sells for $64,000.

How low can you go? Got an extra $20,000? The $84,000 Atom Magnesium, or Atom Mag for short, loses five pounds, and your ready-to-shoot system weight drops to a theoretical 36 pounds.

If you’re looking to go extra-trim, another $20,000 will get you the magnesium Pro Kit, which eliminates three external components by integrating muxing, sync, and power-conditioning electronics. It also routes signals to a single connector, reducing the amount of cabling required out of each camera and out of the rig as a whole.

The price tag may seem pretty high to users who gravitate to RED’s cameras purely on a bang-for-your-buck basis, but if the Atom doesn’t find its way into most users’ collections of RED paraphernalia, it should be a popular rental option for 3D stereo projects with a budget to justify the sleekest gear available. Everything you need to know is spelled out, along with many more pictures, at the Atom page at Element Technica’s website.