A simple reminder....Thank you RED!

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Maybe i'm alone on this, i'm hoping i'm not. I've always been one to openly voice my opinion and problems i've had with my RED camera, and really anything camera wise anywhere. Sometimes i'm to negative, sometimes there are needs for praise and positivity. I feel strongly on what the Dragon upgrade needs to be for the price, but outside that, looking at what we have now... and onto the story...

I have been cautiously curious in investing in a FS700 for awhile. Today I finally got a full hands on experience with one. It felt really odd going back to that kind of camera after so much work with my Scarlet even though it's been dormant lately due to other projects and a over saturated market. It felt like a plastic toy, It felt like using a Game Boy compared to a Ipad, I can't really put a finger on it, obviously it's low light ability is outstanding, but I couldn't even look at the footage when it got to the computer. At the time being, I'm also editing a bit of my footage and work together for a reel, and almost all of it is RED Scarlet footage. The little bit I have just puts it to shame.

I could go through all the obvious of what makes RED quality better, but the bottom line is it's just a night and day experience. The control you have, the amount you can change, and edit for the better is amazing. The quality is just in another world. So for today and everyday I forget how thankful I should be, RED you guys have my investment for life, i'm not loaded and won't spend the most money in your store, but you did it right. You did it for us. Sorry if this is taking up space in the thread, I just felt it's something I should post. I'm looking to drop my reel shortly and some of your guys' smoke mine but I'm blessed to be able to own this camera, and be in this community Thanks to all the members here for being awesome, knowledgeable and supportive and helping eachother.

I've got some Wine in my hand after dinner with my wife. This is to you RED! Thank you for being here for us and taking care of us!

 

[Elsie N]

Jeffrey, couldn't agree more. Red cameras and a glass (or two) of Red wine just gives one that warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[Ryan Emanuel]

I thought for a project I would be able to cut fs700 slo mo with scarlet to get a make shift epic, but the footage did not cut well, they are indeed in different leagues. fs700 is great as long as a dv look is tolerable, but if your a narrative man, and you have experienced scarlet, the fs700 can't be used for anything important.

 

[Martin Christien]

Here here Jeff. It's good to pause and take note of the positive.

 

[stu aull]

Happily no problems at all with my Scarlet (not that I expected there would be). Big jump from SD Betacam to what I expect to be my last pro camera and while it has been a daunting ride, I have enjoyed the challenge - and the support of this community and the Lads at RED. Best $$ I ever spent on pro gear. So Jeff, well said.

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska

 

[Philipe Ratton]

Best $$ I ever spent on pro gear. So Jeff, well said.

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska

+1000

 

[Tony Reames]

agreed

agreed

Jeffrey. cool post. looking forward to checking out your reel when you post it.

 

[Lliam Worthington]

Ha! Cool thread Jeffrey! How are you mate?

I'd been really interested to see some FS700 side by side with a scarlet, so nice to hear your opinion. Though I'm happily not surprised by it I know you would have been the first to say if you felt the Fs700's footage was comparable.

I'd hazard once the paid log update and 4K comes through it will likely perform more F3 ish? Which I'd say would be an improvement. Though may well cost more than the F3 used to sell for too - especially depending on what's required to record at 4k.

Anyhow, incredible times to live in as shooters and film makers. And I think only the bitter would not concede that RED has been very instrumental in that change.

So, cheers to Scarlets. Cheers to RED. And cheers to you mate

Best

Lliam

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Ha! Cool thread Jeffrey! How are you mate?

I'd been really interested to see some FS700 side by side with a scarlet, so nice to hear your opinion. Though I'm happily not surprised by it I know you would have been the first to say if you felt the Fs700's footage was comparable.

I'd hazard once the paid log update and 4K comes through it will likely perform more F3 ish? Which I'd say would be an improvement. Though may well cost more than the F3 used to sell for too - especially depending on what's required to record at 4k.

Anyhow, incredible times to live in as shooters and film makers. And I think only the bitter would not concede that RED has been very instrumental in that change.

So, cheers to Scarlets. Cheers to RED. And cheers to you mate

Best

Lliam

I'm good! Thanks Lliam, I know we had an email chain going for awhile until I got so busy I couldn't keep up. I've been on multiple projects that have had nothing to do with shooting since probably the early part of July. Headed up in a plane this next week to hopefully catch the Aspens turning here in Colorado. How have you been?

In re-gards to the FS700, it's really hard to down talk it. I mean it's a great camera and does everything it should do as advertised. Having high frame rates in 1080 with no cropping is wonderful. And i've seen some astounding images from this camera. To me the major draw back in shooting is having to wait for the clip to buffer to write to the card. It takes a somewhat painful amount of time if your in a fast shooting scenario. I've shot with a couple Epics and having the ability to start and stop without having to let your camera buffer to save what you shot is huge! But in the end it just falls short in about every way possible. I might end up with one to have as a cheaper camera rental/work option so I don't have to undercut other REDUsers for jobs, but it wouldn't be my go to camera. I've just grown to accustomed to raw footage and the overall gradeability of it. Even though i'm no colorist, it's nice and you can see the quality and control you actually have. Where the dynamic range tests I did with the FS700 really just didn't give me any kind of results. It was much harder to save the highlights and shadows. Although the built in ND filter is awesome!

I'm sure if I had more time with it I could get some better results, as it takes time to learn new camera systems. I'm not sure if it's the cost, or what it is, but pulling a FS700 out of a bag, felt like getting a EX1 ready for a job. Nothing like the excitement I get everytime I take my Scarlet out of my pack.

My understanding of the 4K upgrade is it will be 12 bit raw, this is straight from a Sony Re-seller. Like I said keeping this camera in mind for lower paying jobs as it still produces a great image and different jobs might call for it. But it would never be my go to tool. It just doesn't hold ground in comparison to the Scarlet in it's barest form.

As for the F3 type comparison I'm sure it would be closer, and hope it would be with cost and a 4K sensor. Talking to a previous Sony rep that worked at this location, he tried to explain to me how RAW was only for stills and S-Log curve is much better for video than raw...although I think they were un-aware I owned a RED. Neither test was methodically shot in a studio with proper lighting, or standards or same lenses. Just straight out of camera shooting. The difference is visible. I simply shot some ducks at a park. And I could just not feel comfortable putting it next to footage I've already shot with my Scarlet. Even graded...

I thought for a project I would be able to cut fs700 slo mo with scarlet to get a make shift epic, but the footage did not cut well, they are indeed in different leagues. fs700 is great as long as a dv look is tolerable, but if your a narrative man, and you have experienced scarlet, the fs700 can't be used for anything important.

I thought it might as well. Hence my reasons for wanting to test it. I'm sure with some proper grading and what not on my end it could be better, as could more time with the camera. But it just doesn't have the out of the box lets go kind of feeling to it. This is why I'm thankful to RED.

 

[Shane Kelly]

I thought for a project I would be able to cut fs700 slo mo with scarlet to get a make shift epic, but the footage did not cut well, they are indeed in different leagues. fs700 is great as long as a dv look is tolerable, but if your a narrative man, and you have experienced scarlet, the fs700 can't be used for anything important.

FYI here's fs 700 footage composited with epic. Works pretty well in my opinion.
http://www.curiosityshoppe.com/work/mom-up/

 

[Elan Gunos]

Right on! I couldn't agree more. I always toke up after a good Red shoot.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

FYI here's fs 700 footage composited with epic. Works pretty well in my opinion.
http://www.curiosityshoppe.com/work/mom-up/

Thanks for sharing Shane. Like I stated on my end I felt like if I had more time and ability I could've gotten more of what I wanted out of it. Good to know someone else has!