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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 :)

Please, help me decide what to do.

Petri Teittinen said:
OK, here's my current shopping list. Please let me know if I'm forgetting something essential. Also please note it's more than likely I will never shoot anything commercial with this kit. I will use this set to learn the workflow and to study the RED ideology, so to speak, and will trade it in once Stage Four EPIC S35 kicks in.

1 x RED ONE body
1 x Nikon lens mount
1 x RED Pro LCD 7"
1 x Base Production Pack
1 x RED Rocket™
1 x RED Charger
1 x RED Brick
1 x RED-DRIVE
1 x Drive Cable
1 x DC Power Cable

If someone knows a good reason why I should steer clear of the RED-DRIVE, speak now or forever hold your tongue :tongue_smilie:

I left out EVF on purpose; I'm waiting for the Bomb. I'm also trying not to buy anything that is not compatible with EPIC S35. RED Rocket™ is still a bit of a question mark in that respect.

Comments, please, dear friends.
Click to expand...

Given the description of your situation, I would question the RED ROCKET at this time. It is basically a hardware accelerator that you really don't need, unless you are doing a significant volume of work. It is a great product an well worth the price for those who do a lot of work but it is the type of technology that fairly quickly will either come down in price; be replaced by something siginificantly faster/better; or be approached in performance by faster off the shelf computers/graphics cards.
 
Franck De Togni said:
Depends on the type of company, but I think he cannot sell these items bought as company gear. Or with severe loss. My opinion is still buy accessories and get payment from your company (price of the cam x2) sothat you get enough money to buy the cam later as an individual, AND THEN, sell it to your company(and get money back as individual). Think about it ! I bet this would be a great solution !
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Franck, my company type is such that there's very little distinction between myself as a private person and the company. I can't sell anything to the company as a private person, and I can't buy anything from the company either. The money and equipment belongs equally to me and the company. Thanks for a great-sounding idea nevertheless!
 
Michael Hastings said:
Given the description of your situation, I would question the RED Rocket™ at this time. It is basically a hardware accelerator that you really don't need, unless you are doing a significant volume of work. It is a great product an well worth the price for those who do a lot of work but it is the type of technology that fairly quickly will either come down in price; be replaced by something siginificantly faster/better; or be approached in performance by faster off the shelf computers/graphics cards.
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Michael, that is a very good point, thank you. I was wondering about exactly that at one point, thinking that wouldn't it be enough to have a really fast CPU and lots of fast system memory. I'm sure Rocket would beat even an overclocked Core i7 quite easily as it's specially designed for the task, but I can't see Core i7 being a slouch either. Are there any benchmarks posted on the net of a Rocket vs. fast CPU comparison?
 
Petri Teittinen said:
Michael, that is a very good point, thank you. I was wondering about exactly that at one point, thinking that wouldn't it be enough to have a really fast CPU and lots of fast system memory. I'm sure Rocket would beat even an overclocked Core i7 quite easily as it's specially designed for the task, but I can't see Core i7 being a slouch either. Are there any benchmarks posted on the net of a Rocket vs. fast CPU comparison?
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In terms of playback, there is a big difference if you need 4K playback. Hardware acceleration is necessary. It also aids in getting footage rendered out quickly. DPX can go very fast at full debayer. But if you are just looking at a small amount of test footage that you only need to playback at 2K and less and can take your time rendering it out, then sure no need for a Rocket. There may be other smarter places to invest the money.

I'm still not a 100% sure of what you plan to do after you test with the R1 and buy the Epic. Will it then be used commercially, will it be used to make your own films, what will you eventually plan on using the high quality format for? Just curious. It really does dictate what direction to go in terms of accessories.
 
Steve Sherrick said:
I'm still not a 100% sure of what you plan to do after you test with the R1 and buy the Epic.
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Steve, that makes two of us. I have some vague thoughts, a few script ideas, a cool idea for a TV series... but nothing more concrete than that. I'm perfectly aware that I could do all that with R1 and be perfectly happy with the image quality.

As a principle set in stone, I always buy the best equipment I can afford. Not because I would be so foolish as to think that the tools themselves could somehow magically conjure up great results, no. It's because with the best tools I have nothing but myself to blame if the end result looks like crap. That drives me to learn, to study and to improve myself. That's why my aim is to upgrade from R1 to EPIC (or Scarlet FF35 if RED's policies change drastically within the next 18 months). Did that make any sense at all to you?

I'm entering the RED world knowing full well that I might, and very likely won't, ever make a single dime from it. This could very well end up an expensive hobby, a bunch of rejected demos and maybe a showreel of nice images. But I would be perfectly OK with that.
 
Steve Sherrick said:
But if you are just looking at a small amount of test footage that you only need to playback at 2K and less and can take your time rendering it out, then sure no need for a Rocket.
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Steve, I think you have just helped me make up my mind about the Rocket. Thank you.
 
Here is an idea: instead of obsessing on what will come out in the future but what is available today and actually use it. You seem to be worried about perceived limitations of a tool that you have never laid your hands on or even know how you'd intend to use it. This whole thread is a bit ridiculous.

All that being said this is what you should buy so you can actually USE it (assuming you have a full set of FAST Nikkor primes):

Red One Body 17,500
base production pack 1,250
Nikon Mount 500
CF Module 500
CF card pack 1400
Red Drive 900
Pro LCD 2,500
Power Pack 1,450
Red Brick 450
Top Handle Extension 175
A/C Power Supply 135
Battery Belt Clip 290

Redrock Follow Focus 775
Redrock FF Gears (5) 300
Redrock Mattebox 840
Lexar CF Card Reader 60

Cam Total ~ $29,000 USD

This is similar to what I own and is very usable. The stock handle is not enough, the extension is essential (should come with the BPP IMHO). You will have 3 batteries to swap between the camera and charger and both a lightweight and large capacity storage solution. Tip: Take the clip off of the back of the battery belt clip and add some Velcro. Use it to mount the battery away from the cam when you need to.

Other things you'll need / want:

ND Filters for all of your lenses: .3, .6, .9
4x4 ND Grad.

Tripod $3000 ~ 5000

Mac Pro Dual Quad
CalDigit Storage solution
HP StorageWorks LTO4 Tape Drive 1200
ATTO SAS card 350
10 pack of LTO4 tapes
Bru LE

30'+ HDMI Cable $70
24" LCD TV with HDMI $134

If you want sound too: ~$4000
  • Sound Devices 302
  • Breakaway cable
  • Bag
  • Mics
 
Bob Gruen said:
You seem to be worried about perceived limitations of a tool that you have never laid your hands on
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Plenty of R1s in Finland, I've had my hands on a couple. I'm not worried about its limitations in the slightest.

or even know how you'd intend to use it.
Click to expand...
Oh, I've made a couple of award winning short films back in the day. I think I know what to do with a camera :biggrin:

This whole thread is a bit ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Only "a bit"? I guess I need to try harder!

All that being said this is what you should buy so you can actually USE it
Click to expand...
Some good suggestions on your list, thank you. I wasn't aware of Redrock FF, for example. Definitely have to check it out. I've got most of the list covered already, actually. Maybe not exactly the same stuff you listed but equivalents.
 
Petri Teittinen said:
Franck, my company type is such that there's very little distinction between myself as a private person and the company. I can't sell anything to the company as a private person, and I can't buy anything from the company either. The money and equipment belongs equally to me and the company.
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Oh ok ! Sorry then...! maybe the ideas of buying accessories and annual gift thing to someone you know really wellCould be a solution.
There's also giving money to non-commercial associations that allow you to decrease the amount of money charged at the end of the year. just an idea, huh !
 
I've abused my RR mattebox more than I like to admit, with no damage to it. If it has a shortcoming it's that it is not precisely in plane with the lens glass, which makes using some filters impossible due to ghosting (like hot mirrors). This is caused by the swing away nature of the design which makes changing out lenses a lot easier, so it's a trade off.

Durability is not an issue...

Bob
 
And I've seen a couple where you couldn't properly fasten the top and sideflags because the screws were just worn out after a year of frequent use.

The donut works, though, but it lacks a pola stage.

You should have space for an IR + ND + Pola... sorta.

So after being very geared towards the RR, I've sorta decided quite heavily against it.

The MB-20, on the other hand...
(Yes. I know about the price difference)

Chroziel also makes good MBs

There also seems to be consesus around the RR FF that you won't make too many ACs happy. But who needs an AC?

I know that it's silly to recomend Arri gear, all the time. Really do.

But it works quite well...

:emote_couch:
 
Gunleik, I was eyeing an Arri MMB-1 + MFF-1 combo at AbelCine just the other day. Oddly enough I can't find it on their website now. What do you think of such a combo?
 
I'm pretty sure this question has already been answered somewhere on these forums, but I couldn't find it.

If I get the Assimilate Rocket Fuel Bundle, will it be able to handle the resolutions and framerates of EPIC S35, or is Scratch Cine permanently locked into R1's resolutions and framerates only?
 
scratch

scratch

Petri Teittinen said:
I'm pretty sure this question has already been answered somewhere on these forums, but I couldn't find it.

If I get the Assimilate Rocket Fuel Bundle, will it be able to handle the resolutions and framerates of EPIC S35, or is Scratch Cine permanently locked into R1's resolutions and framerates only?
Click to expand...

I'd talk to Lucas Wilson (http://www.reduser.net/forum/member.php?u=208)
 
Eki Halkka said:
you'd be off the hook: as far as i understand they would then be part of next year's bookkeeping/taxes, and you'd have a year to decide where to spend the dough?
Click to expand...

Eki, in my understanding this is not the case. Once the invoice is sent, then one has to pay the taxes, at least the VAT although one did not get the money. The missing income goes into the debts/"balance due to", in Finnish "saatavat". Experienced this once, and my book keeper explained all the details as it took two years to get the money after sending a bill.
 
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