7d vs 5D vs Red vs Scarlet vs Epic...Why?

[jean-michel tari]

Hi all,
I have read a lot of comments and, sometimes, "fights" about the differents benefit of these differents cameras.
I just wanted to add my 2 cents and share my thoughts on this very delicate matter.

I am more on the Directing side and for me, my 7d is just a tool. A super little thing but a tool just beautifully designed to allow me to show and share my vision of the world. I perfectly know that I will have to trade it for something else pretty soon. But I considere the price to be not so expensive for such a result.
In the other hand, I've bought what I considere like being high end accessories. Zeiss lens, Canon L Prime Lens, Marshall monitor, Redrock rig, follow-focus, mattebox...because this is what matters. Later I will probably change the body for Epic or Scarlet or the new Sony (that nobody know about for the moment) or the Nikon, or perhaps just rent it...but who cares? The important things are all the accessories that I will continue to use for years (my Zeiss will probably stay after my death) but even all this don't really matters.... what is important is the imagination and the passion to do anything with any piece of hardware. The same passion that allow Jim and his team to create the most famous movie camera in the world.
The biggest lesson I've ever heard from a producer was this simple and famous one..."Just take a camera...any camera...and shoot!"

Happy shooting to everybody, on any gear ;-)

[Steve Sherrick]

I agree with you Jean, the more you shoot, the more you learn, and the better chance you have that other people will want to watch it. Stories can be told on any camera. Some stories may be better told on your 7D than say a Hi-8 camera because you can control what the audience pays attention to in a frame a lot better on the 7D, but you could still make something worth watching on the Hi-8. I will say, I've never had so much fun shooting than I have with the Red One. Although I do long for a smaller rig at times, the image quality and the control I have over the image are amazing.

[Tom.Wong]

agreed! but the point is also discussing the limitations and benefits of all these available tools is important too, which is the point of these forums so that we can learn and share knowledge on how to maximize the entire arsenal that is out there for us to use and make the creative work we seek. it ends up being what's better then this arguments all the time, but i think the general point is to be super critical about all of it so we know what's best for what job. it's also a wonderful thing to see everything that is available to us compared to 10 years ago, and it's beautiful that we truly have choices now.

[Joe Ogiba]

In 2008 we witnessed the birth of HD-DSLR Cameras.

In 2009 you will be introduced to cameras that can see in the dark better than the naked eye.

Just a little over a year ago my jaw dropped when I stumbled upon the 5D MKII and saw 1080p video coming off of a full frame chip for the first time.

Just a little over two weeks ago my jaw dropped even harder when I took a prototype of the Canon 1D MKIV outdoors to test it at night. I was on the road, it was late and I had just rushed back to my hotel to get to the unit. I was expecting a 1D body, with 24p, a 1.3 crop factor sensor, 10 fps for stills, a new AF system - 60 fps at 720p - and of course 1080p video.

Nothing prepared me for what happened next.

I set the ASA to high - and I pointed it towards an area lit by a single flood light. The image was overexposed by 4-5 stops. I then started to play with the settings, pointing my light into an area in complete shadow (my eye saw nothing but black) but on the rear of the LCD I saw sharp, green leaves as crystal clear as if it were shot in daylight.

I think it’s safe to say that every single filmmaker and photographer has always dreamed of cameras that can see what our naked eyes can see. This time these cameras can actually see more. Sure - they may not have the dynamic ranges of our eyes just yet - but they see more than my naked eyes can see in low light.

Vincent Laforet

Nocturne video

[Joel Kaye]

I think all comparisons are legitimate because so many people live at different places along the price/performance continuum (can I say that?).

"What does an extra $30k really get me when I buy a RED?" is a totally legit question and deserves a thorough comparison. It can be fairly compared and contrasted with any camera IMHO. Same with Sony vs. RED. They aren't in the same price range at all... but surely some producer is considering 3 RED's or 1 Sony F35. Surely some producer is considering 10 7D's or 1 RED.

To me, price is a critical PART of any comparison. There are people that believe you get what you pay for. Period. I certainly love customers like that when I'm selling... but as a buyer I know that's not always true. Further inquiry is required.

[morgan_moore]

Lets open this by me saying that I think that the Red is 4 X Better than the 5/7D at least

I am a also a pro stills photographer dabbling in motion, Im not doing paid broadcast or theatre motion right now - if I was Id have a Red not a VDSLR

Right now there is no comparison

BUT

I own a Hasselblad MF system, this cost me $15-20kfour years ago, it was a system that could trump any DSLR at a price

Nowadays it is comparable quality to the 5d as a stills camera, a little better, but comparable

a 5d and a couple of lenses are $4k maybe, the Hassy stystem as lost 80% of its value, thats fine - I earned it back in those four years

My concern with Red systems is that DSLRs 'may' get 80% as good in two or three years and this can impact them, red, as an investment

it is therefore, indeed the price/performance/investment continuum that makes both comparison and watching the market relevant, not the quality of of the images today

It will take a lot of persuasion for me to justify a big investment again (scarlet), knowing how DSLRs can affect the value of that investment as they catch up

S

[Sanjin Jukic]

Morgan Moore, would you be so kind to calm down!!!!!

You still don't reach anything what you were talking about especially about R1 or even with its R1 M-X sensor....

or Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Panasonic, Casio,...

[Jason Ramsey]

Morgan Moore, would you be so kind to calm down!!!!!

You still don't reach anything what you were talking about especially about R1 or even with its R1 M-X sensor....

or Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Panasonic, Casio,...

His post seemed quite calm, and a respectful expression of his point of view, and his needs.

Would you please calm down?

later,
jason

[R.ChilD]

Vincent Laforet

Nocturne video

that is one sexy footage

[Sanjin Jukic]

His post seemed quite calm, and a respectful expression of his point of view, and his needs.

Would you please calm down?

later,
jason

I do not get what you mean????

Obviously you impose here with your post a sort of DISCRIMINATION.

That's look and sound pretty intentionally!!!

Or I have to make another way of analysis to those sort of "correction" in a right STREAM...

Jason, would you please calm down?