Affordable 4k camera

[Peter Proniewicz-Brooks]

ok - but please tell my why I would need post stabilization if I shoot with a camera like the HXR-NX30E with a real "floating" lens? I can even jump around like crazy with this little cam and it will feel like a steady-shot (ok, maybe I'm leaning a bit out of the window here but you get the idea)... Sure; 4K is more "future-proof" -> the question is; do people pay me just once now for a "baked-in" product or do they re-pay me a few year later for a higher-res version? I think in 50% of the cases it's more realistic to be asked for 2nd wedding-video after a divorce from one of my earlier clients

You don't NEED it but its a nice thing to have, but then again were I to be using a Scarlet on one of those new movi rigs and for the hell of it a stabilized lens, I probably wouldn't either. But that was only one point.

And yes clients coming back is likely to be rare, but even at 1080p the delivery will be better when shooting at 4k over 1080p, so their result NOW is improved by 4k shooting and that's before you start re-framing shots in post...


Also buying a camera now, with 4k starting to appear at home, is a camera that gives acceptable to good results now what you want or one that gives great results now and will allow you to offer the new standards when people start asking for it. For many the former may make more sense economically but the latter may for others.

Another option is to Run several levels of quality, a bit like the SD/HD offerings many have (often all shot on the HD) Offer HD, HD+ and 4k. Remember that flagship ranges are often not the biggest profit maker, they are often there to try and recoup some R&D costs while manufacturing costs drop to a level they can be put in the more bulk offerings, and to sell to cheaper models. VW make more money from Golfs being sold by the connection with the Bugatti than they do off the Bugatti. Hell even the stuff you shoot just for the creative joy of it rather than for a client who's paying can sell your bread and butter stuff.

Work out your sums, and see what works for you, just because one method works for someone doesnt mean it will for you.

 

[Matt Gerard]

Rule #1: Buy what cost way more than what you actually can afford, then at least there is a chance that you only cry once...

Post of the day right here...

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

just wait long enough and you'll probably be shooting 4k wedding videos on a GoPro.

it's closer than you think.

 

[Jonathan Yonkers]

I am not too sure you guys get it...

I am not too sure you guys get it...

This is the problem I have: the technology to have the video features we all need do exist. Just not at below $5000, not even at below $10000.
Canon and Sony keep adding crappy shit looking codecs to all the cameras at all price ranges. They are even adding 4k at still shitty codecs. What? why?
The problem here is no the size of the image. The problem here is the codecs. So pleasy stop patronizing me with the 4K work flow drama. I will be happy to deal with 4K if I have too. I just do not want to deal with a shitty codec. Am I the only "non" Red shooter that actually enjoys grading their images? I hardly doubt it!

Since Sony, Canon and all others clearly dont care to add gradable codecs to their cameras, what are the options?
RED has the best cameras in the market to my taste and plenty of tech to do lots more. They just have nothing that can be ready to shoot under $5000 or even $10000.
I think a Scarlet mini, pocket camera call it what ever you want, would be a great thing.

A camera with a good codec that records up to 60p and cost below $5000 or even $10000 does not seem crazy to me giving that we are in 2013 and some of us are still shooting on codecs that belong to the caveman.

All Sony and Canon Cameras below $20k have codecs that simply are NOT ENOUGH. Jannard has said it for many years now. Canon and Sony do not get that and that is the whole reason why RED actually exists. So, now that RED actually does exits and can do the magic, I encourage RED to share the magic with all filmmakers, not just the ones at the top budget braket.

 

[paulherrin]

yonkers... you've gone bonkers

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicproductioncamera4k

 

[Wayne Morellini]

Too many fans and not enough chiefs.

Johnathan, there will soon be below $500 4k cameras, so a professional video camera below $5k is perfectly possible, even $2k if you give it consumer friendly features.

But Jim has stated they are not interested in a race to the bottom. So you should expect up to a 100% premium on Red models over what is possible. So, yes they could do 4k for $4k, even $2k when others do it for $1k. You will get what you pay for, others will offer little, Red will give higher quality. The market is moving to 16k+ holographic cameras. I am looking at doing 64k eventually, a lot, lot, sooner with good funding and good team.