Alexa, Red MX & Sony F3 Camera Test Comparison

[SeanBrown]

Please lets see a Epic test. Also what about the new Shootout they are doing at Zacuto ?

 

[Max Fischer]

Obviously this thread has moved from the test footage (which I agree isn't that useful) to a more interesting debate. I'm not a "fanboy" of any camera, and fanboyism drives me nuts.

But as a DP/small rental house owner, and someone who has a deposit on both an Epic and an Alexa, I am very torn. I'm definitely going to buy the Epic. But should I drop $80K on the Alexa? Tough question, and it all depends on what my small client base demands.

So last week on a shoot, an agency creative director from my biggest client says to the producer "We should be shooting on the Alexa." Ugggh. I love how camera choice is now dictated by what an agency creative read in some magazine. Does it really matter if we shoot a box of cereal on an RED One, Epic, or Alexa?

All the cameras make great images. As a DP in the commercial world, I get ZERO say in the look that happens in post, so it doesn't matter to me what camera I shoot on (post can make them all look as identical or different as you want).

As a rental house owner, ROI, reliability, and product/technical support are important to me. The RED One return on investment has been VERY good to me, and I know the Epic would do the same. Can the Alexa? Hmmm....

Well, I made the decision last week. Im going to pass on the Alexa. And I've put in my request for an Epic M!

There were a lot of factors that went into this decision, which I'd be happy to share. But RED has proven themselves beyond my expectations, and are thinking ahead. That means a great deal to me...

Max

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Please lets see a Epic test. Also what about the new Shootout they are doing at Zacuto ?

Please let us not see published Epic comparative tests until RED says it is not beta...

We know that it can out-do most cameras on most things. But fact of the matter is that it is not done yet, and until then one should not do public comparisons. If you have the fortune to use an Epic NOW, you should rejoice for the goodies, and talk with RED about whatever you find lacking.

The cool thing about RED is that by this approach: It will eventually get fixed...

 

[Jannard]

There are several areas where EPIC will continue to improve, but one obvious area is HDRx. Posting examples as we progress along is fine, but posting technical tests when newer and better Graeme tools haven't hit the ground yet seems disrespectful to the HDRx program. People tend to see the 1st tests and lock into their brain forever what those tests represented. RED is fluid. At least wait until we are out of Beta.

Jim

 

[Dj Joofa]

Please let us not see published Epic comparative tests until RED says it is not beta...

..

And, if Red never says that they are out of beta :w00t:.


Sincerely,

Joofa

 

[Gunleik Groven]

And, if Red never says that they are out of beta :w00t:.

The truth is that Red has released a product so they must be brave enough to own it. Red has done some great things, it is not easy to make a good digital camera, so full credit here. However, in my lowly opinion, it is not appropriate to give the excuse that it is beta, etc.

Sincerely,

Joofa

See your point, but to put up an analogy:

Noone published anything really meaningfull on the Alexa until Arri said it was out of beta. Until then it was all "Love at first sight".

After that, it was ok to comment that it still felt a bit beta... )

Point is:
While stuff is still in "beta", mostly select users get to use the product under certain conditions.
The alternative being mostly: Noone gets to use it.
I do prefer the extended beta-community, as long as they know that that is what they're handling.

As it looks, Epic could well have been out of beta, as one of the key beta-marks: Random shutdowns,
seems to be non-existing, from the reports.

but still, I think it is good practice not to deeply analyze a product until the manufacturer says it is "done".

If not for anything else, because the wall of hard-to-die FUD that was created with the initial RED reports, experienses and misunderstandings.

I have worked RED on Avid and FCP since March 2008. Looking at some current comments, that should still be close to impossible.
Never had issues with it on either platform. As long as I had a vague idea as to what I was doing...

Now RED is trying to push the bar once more, (and I have my stakes in that game - so I am not unbiased), and I think it would be fair if RED was treated with at least 50% of the respect Arri had when releasing the Alexa.

And to most of us, the product does not seem to be released just yet, even though we would very much like it to have been released.

BTW DJ, what happened?
You used to be all over this place way back when.

 

[Dj Joofa]

See your point, ...


After that, it was ok to comment that it still felt a bit beta... )

Point is:
While stuff is still in "beta", mostly select users get to use the product under certain conditions.
The alternative being mostly: Noone gets to use it.
I do prefer the extended beta-community, as long as they know that that is what they're handling.

but still, I think it is good practice not to deeply analyze a product until the manufacturer says it is "done".

If not for anything else, because the wall of hard-to-die FUD that was created with the initial RED reports, experienses and misunderstandings.

Gunleik, you are one of the most reasonable members here so I would agree with what you say here. Though, I have a few reservations on the beta program, but I shall resist the temptation.

BTW DJ, what happened?
You used to be all over this place way back when.

May be I have mellowed down :smile5: Also it gives the Red team some breathing space to enjoy the comfort zone in their home territory. :w00t:

Sincerely,

Joofa