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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 :)

NAB13- Scarlet Upgrade Program

Q: There were talks about a 5.5K resolution on Dragon to essentially be a similar size to the Mysterium-X's full sensor size.
A: In progress. Also, Red is investigating on how to allow the shooter to set their own custom resolutions.

I'm really loving this option if it comes to fruition. It's like working with the Phantom hi-speed cameras where user configurable resolutions are possible. Good for vfx work or custom digital signage work.
 
I was told on the floor by the head guys that RED ARMOUR transfers from original purchase date.

Stoked about this :)

I wish they'd tell the reps that. I called my BOMB SQUAD rep today and he was not able to answer most of my questions with any certainty. This is troubling, but I'm trying not to worry too much...
 
One of the most unique aspects of Red cameras has been their ability to hold value for an extended period of time. Their entire business is built on it. It is due for the most part to the incredibly high initial value of the tools, and the added value of the modular design. It seems to me that those who suggest Red should be engaging in a price slashing battle for the bottom of the market are overlooking this Red cornerstone. You can't slash prices and maintain value. Price slashing only works in the Canon/Sony business model where Obsolesence is the rule and a new camera is introduced every six months.

Edit: OK "only" may be over-stating my case a bit. I'm sure there are other scenarios that I am overlooking but price slashing (read: cheap) and value are diametrically opposed tactics.

They are not exactly cheap, and they don't need to run to the bottom, just on top of the competition. The cameras offer a lot more, so an operational Scarket Dragon configured like a BMD, for twice the price is a bargain, at $1k-2k more for the present Scarlet configured this way (plus screen handle and on set auto meta color balance/style) unpack and shoot, Scott, BMD would literally be burning under a Red sun, and Red making profit. One of the tricks to keeping future competitors out of the market is to be competitive enough so they don't get a foothold and enough profit to recover their investment. If Sony, Panasonic, to a lesser extent JVC, and Arri had done this, there would be no SI2k, and Red, if it existed at all, may have been a very different company. Any good business man, without a passion like Jim to do cameras, that looks at such a competition pricing scenario just gives up and puts his money elsewhere.

You can do under $500 raw 4k pro cameras today. So expect upgrades and depreciation to keep Red on top. I'm actually eyeing a future 3 inch long thin pocket camera that makes the BMD pocket look huge, for conversion to raw 4k+ recording out of personal interest. By no means a cinema camera, only a 1/2.5 inch sensor that you could put a super 8mm lens on, but you get the drift.

It's probably time to drop the Scarlet in it's present form, and introduce a cheaper Dragon camera configured like the BMD but with movable/removable and remountable display, operational handle, and able to take the modules. Best of all worlds. The competition would have a real problem convincing anybody with intelligence to go for much less at not much lower price.
 
Ya, talking with a RED Rep on the floor, he told me that there will not be a Scarlet Dragon. I had to show him Jarred's post... :lol:

I remember going to the Red Store in Hollywood around when it first opened. I was so disappointed with the people I met there. They were pretty clueless and quite obnoxious. Maybe they were just having a bad day... or maybe I was, LOL!
 
Is trading in/upgrading Scarlets the only option for the dragon sensor or will there be Scarlets built with the dragon sensor anytime soon? And if so, what would the price of the original Scarlet be?
 
Is trading in/upgrading Scarlets the only option for the dragon sensor or will there be Scarlets built with the dragon sensor anytime soon? And if so, what would the price of the original Scarlet be?

We should find out confirmed details today.
 
Ok I wanted to distant myself from all this calculating on here but here I go

Think about it: you ALREADY SPENT the $8K or $9K on the camera (if you were lucky $4K). The money is gone.

BUT: you don't have to spend $24K ON TOP of that. I have the feeling a lot of people are forgetting that upgrades are not standard in this industry! This is not software!

I agree... Those upgrade offers are gold !
 
I agree... Those upgrade offers are gold !

I feel like this is the only way to get max value out of our Scarlets. It's almost like getting $5k back if you think about it. If I tried to sell my Scarlet body now I would probably get around $5k for it. Then I would need to spend another $15k to get an Epic new rather then only $9500. In another year, Epic X to Dragon might be closer to another $5k as well. Dragon will be around for a while, so I'm thinking go to Epic X now, then Dragon in a year or two.
 
Jacek so far i"m torn between the two 50/50

"Frankly I'll take 3 stops of latitude and far better low light performance over a couple more fps at 5k any day. high DR and high sensitivity revolutionize the images you can create and the way you work every time you use the camera. Slightly higher FPS at a higher resolution don't so much, if you need more FPS, lower your resolution, if you need both, you can rent for that one rare job. Alexa is so popular primarily because it blows all other cameras out of the water for DR, you can cite other reasons but that is 90% of it and the main reason no one cares that it eats batteries twice as fast, is twice the size, twice the price, and half the resolution of Epic-X. If dragon does what they say it can and what it looks like it will, it will be a no brainer whether to choose Scarlet Dragon or Epic MX. Scarlet Dragon has the specs to be a capable A-Camera on big jobs where Scarlet-X often came up short. If priced similarly on release, and it sounds like that is the case given these upgrade/trade-in options, I would say Epic-X will drop in price quite a bit over the next year but Scarlet Dragon will hold it's value better and be more valuable in the future."

"I feel like this is the only way to get max value out of our Scarlets. It's almost like getting $5k back if you think about it. If I tried to sell my Scarlet body now I would probably get around $5k for it. Then I would need to spend another $15k to get an Epic new rather then only $9500. In another year, Epic X to Dragon might be closer to another $5k as well. Dragon will be around for a while, so I'm thinking go to Epic X now, then Dragon in a year or two."
 
Frankly I'll take 3 stops of latitude and far better low light performance over a couple more fps at 5k any day. high DR and high sensitivity revolutionize the images you can create.......

+1, at the end of the day, its all about the image
 
If you have a Red Armor - 1 year extension warranty - but still in the first year of the "base" warranty.... What happens to the armor when upgrading for an Epic-X?

I suppose the Epic comes with a new full year warranty, right?

Can the Armor be then upgraded as well to cover the Epic-X for 2 years? Or will we need to buy a brand new Armor?

I'm really looking forward to this program. Thanks Red team for such great opportunities.
 
Just sitting here at 12:23am Sydney, Australian time, waiting for the upgrade to be available.

I will not rest until I have ordered.

...and I have a flight in four hours.
 
Awesome Jarred! RED Rocks as usual!
 
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