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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

To buy a Scarlet or not to buy, that is the question…

Sounds like a blockbuster to me ...
 
Yea, i actually know somebody very close to Jim. I talked with him yesterday and he is saying that this may be the best RED to date. They just shot in some tropical locations for two weeks with the scarlet and it handled flawlessly. And it comes fully operational right out of the box. Im getting mine and cant wait. :)
 
Keep in mind that most of the Epics out there so far , including Mr. Bloom's, are Epic-M's and were sold with the caveat that it was the Beta version. The software and hardware problems some of the early adopters have dealt with are contributing to making both Epic and Scarlet better cameras.
 
Good point, David.
Again, we all gain through the expensive and often painful adventures of the early adopters.
Development doesn't stop when producion starts.

I'm curious what will be available for accessories, lenses, and workflow a year from now, both from RED, and from third party suppliers.
This thing is just getting started.
 
I read Mr Bloom's blog and felt he maybe did not understand the concept of the word BETA for the Epic M which was clearly stated by Jim at the start of Epic M program, nor did he express within his blog the concept of beta program to his readers which gave a slanted opinion, so if problems arise within the program which he signed up to by buying the camera, you don't bitch about them in public! but sort it out in private with RED. Or maybe Mr Bloom just has too much opinion full stop!
 
Hey Brian

Technically all software released is BETA and not perfect I hate to say it like this but you are the guinea pig. I did read some were that the software is beta but just like the current EPIC-M software.
 
Andrew Salter said:
I read Mr Bloom's blog and felt he maybe did not understand the concept of the word BETA for the Epic M which was clearly stated by Jim at the start of Epic M program, nor did he express within his blog the concept of beta program to his readers which gave a slanted opinion, so if problems arise within the program which he signed up to by buying the camera, you don't bitch about them in public! but sort it out in private with RED. Or maybe Mr Bloom just has too much opinion full stop!
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
I do understand Mr. Bloom disappointment about having troubles using EPIC. For example, if you are using BETA version of some kind of software for free - it is OK, no worries about possible glitches and other stuff. Once you paid 50+K$ no "BETA" word actually exists on that level - it could be some sort of limited functionality, but equipment must be 100% reliable. Otherwise you probably paying for someone else R&D :)))
 
Lets keep this all in context. Phillip did NOT post this here on Reduser. He posted it on his private blog.
Vargas put the link to his blog here at the start of this thread.
If Mr. Bloom doesn't trust RED cameras, he wouldn't continue to shoot with them.

Of course, nobody has EVER had an issue with an Arri or a Panavision on a shoot . . .
 
I don't think that everyone has had the same experience with the Epic that PB has, but I think that his honesty about his situation is valid. Heck when I buy equipment from B&H I read the reviews, even the bad ones. Especially when it's a new piece of equipment.
 
It is not as simple as "you agreed to have an unstable camera by using beta firmware". There are a lot of features not available in the release firmware including many that have been listed in the EPIC's spec sheet for months. This puts users in the tough position of having to use beta or even alpha firmware to get the most out of their cameras. Some people would rather have a new feature that has a chance of bugs than no feature at all. There aren't too many companies that charge $50k for hardware with fundamental features locked out unless you use beta firmware. RED is doing things differently, as are their customers, so I wouldn't blame either for various issues. RED offers things no one else does for prices no one else can, plenty of people want to take advantage of that, but there are issues operating the way they do and that can suck, but placing blame isn't cool. It is an unusual relationship that RED has with its customers, we take a chance on them (a bit more than with other manufacturers) and they do their best to give us unique products at unbeatable prices and expand features. Some people take chances, others do not. Those that are considering taking the chance, should be well informed, and PB was just helping us stay informed.
 
Epic-M's were sold with a specific warning that they were Beta versions with limited feature sets. Early adopters have done us all a big favor dealing with issues that as they are corrected make the production Epics and Scarlets better for all of us.
 
I'm just going to Throw out my personal opinion here:

Scarlet is going to be as stable as Late release builds of the Red One. Which, by all accounts is very stable.

Lots of "Red Problems" stem from Operator Error.

These aren't consumer video cameras. They are high Tech, professional devices. An Arri 435 Film Camera is not Bang-Dead Simple unless you spent a long time learning to be a loader, camera assistant, and then operator. Same with an Epic, Scarlet or Red One. Don't expect to open the box and be a master of it. This goes for use as well as care and feeding (aka troubleshooting).

I will stand by this claim:

Red Digital Cinema Cameras are the Premier Digital Cinema Cameras THE WORLD OVER. Dated 11/22/2011. Are they the Simplest or most "user friendly" maybe not - but they are the finest, and if you bring your brain to the table you will be more than satisfied.
 
Andrew Salter said:
I read Mr Bloom's blog and felt he maybe did not understand the concept of the word BETA for the Epic M which was clearly stated by Jim at the start of Epic M program, nor did he express within his blog the concept of beta program to his readers which gave a slanted opinion, so if problems arise within the program which he signed up to by buying the camera, you don't bitch about them in public! but sort it out in private with RED. Or maybe Mr Bloom just has too much opinion full stop!
Click to expand...

I am and was very aware of the epic being beta...I clearly said that. I love my epic, i just gave ome examples of issues iam having.

Honestly i am having to defend what I said way too much and the other post accusing me of being paid by Sony??? Where the hell are the moderators here? It's simply not on.
 
John Bellari said:
Deleted by Moderator
Click to expand...

Doesn't Philip Bloom test out and review pretty much every camera that comes out? I haven't read everything he's written about every camera, but it seems to me like he tells you all the pros and cons of every camera. The Scarlet article of his is just plain truth. It's not like he said the Scarlet is a shitty camera, he's warning people that it's a pro camera and that it's going to take pro money to fully operate it.
 
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The Ferrari and classic car forums have similar discussions. Some demand abs. reliability and utility, others opine occasional tantrums are part of the mystique and cherish every aspect of it.

Just because Philip formulated into words what others may have sensed but didn't coagulate into a coherent whole,
for fear of scratching the dream or simple nonchalance, doesn't mean that he is negative on the camera.
Reporting personal experience and sharing examples is as sincere as it gets and carries real weight.

Scarlet may not be as inexpensive as wished by some, for others it blends perfectly into the future reality.

As with classic + exotic cars, if you can't afford the maintenance/complete package, careful what you love.
But you won't know until you dive in.



>That is EXACTLY the response and reaction I was hoping for.

Only the wavering fall.




ps.

I wouldn't ask for the mods. Integrity stands on its own.
If some don't appreciate genuine sincerity and think corporate silence + self censorship is superior, that's their loss.



pps.

Pendulum swung in the other direction.
On one hand Philip is encouraging Brian to share his opinions freely,
without self or others' censorship, yet calls for John's post to
be censored by the mods because it questions his motives.
 
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Phil gives the pros and cons as he sees them and within the realm of the kind of productions he does, not much more can be asked of a person. The problem is that he is far less knowledgeable of cameras than he lets on (or maybe he doesn't know that he doesn't know?). He has lots of knowledge about how to USE them, but he constantly says flat out incorrect things about sensor design, codecs, sensor crops, lens characteristics, and so on.
 
Brad Webb said:
Doesn't Philip Bloom test out and review pretty much every camera that comes out? I haven't read everything he's written about every camera, but it seems to me like he tells you all the pros and cons of every camera. The Scarlet article of his is just plain truth. It's not like he said the Scarlet is a shitty camera, he's warning people that it's a pro camera and that it's going to take pro money to fully operate it.
Click to expand...

Everyone seems to forget he's bought an Epic-M and he's buying a Scarlet too...

His review was pretty unbiased considering he's had the Epic brick on him - plus he's carried on using it and making some of his trademark BloomFilms(tm) :wink5:

I feel sorry that, in certain forums, there seems to be a 'shoot down Bloom' vibe - it happened in DVXuser and seems to be going on here - that's very sad and unprofessional.

Philip blogs, shares insights and really does as much as he can to put information out there - I don't understand the issues people have.

But, I'm old and English... and remember what the industry was like before the advent of the 'interweb'... and digital (of any type!)... so I think negativity is just part of a generation that views information in a very different way.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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