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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 :)

Almost pulled trigger on 5D M2

Mark Weatherbe said:
You want to shoot? One word solution.

RENT!

Exactly like Steven Sodergurg, Michael Mann and the rest of us.
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Also there is a psychological aspect to this. Some days I just want to pick up my bag and run out the door to shoot something interesting. If I had a specific project in mind of course renting is an option and an MX would be first choice until Epic. Until those projects come up then I am buying.

Lots of opinions here so thanks again everyone. Just had a look at the Zacuto Shootout 2010. I can highly recommend watching every episode as they test all the camera's we are talking about up in different lighting set ups that strain the latitude etc against fuji and kodak 35mm. Not only that but Goldblatt and Hurlbut are in the theatre and give their valuable opinions. Link here http://www.zacuto.com/shootout
 
The Scarlett is revolutionary so it may take longer than end of year. I would definitely wait for announcements. If nothing is new, go with a T2i and Tamron 17-50 f2.8. This is what I am doing. I couldn't get the juiced link box to work, so I am going with a Zoom H2N and pluraleyes software.

You can always use this as a b-roll or back-up camera later.
 
Linda Barzini said:
The Scarlett is revolutionary so it may take longer than end of year. I would definitely wait for announcements. If nothing is new, go with a T2i and Tamron 17-50 f2.8. This is what I am doing. I couldn't get the juiced link box to work, so I am going with a Zoom H2N and pluraleyes software.

You can always use this as a b-roll or back-up camera later.
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Linda's got it - T2i for $800 is an unbeatable value - S35/aps-c sensor with same video and stills as 7D except 3.5 fps stills instead of 8fps. Almost no financial downside and will make a great second camera or behind the scenes/continuity, etc.
 
I also have bought a T2i while waiting for Scarlet S35. What can I say? This camera is great to shoot with and it's teaching me a lot of things for the time I will get my hands on the Red.
Get some good lenses and keep them for all your life.
 
I own 2 reds, and I bought a t2i just because it's tiny and fun. Makes pretty respectable video. I think it makes better pictures than my varicam. Look for refurbished or new open box, I got mine for 699, kicked myself for not buying one for 600.

Nick
 
I can't think of a worse idea than suggesting that today's filmmaker should rent a camera. That makes as much sense as telling artists to rent paint brushes, or musicians guitars, pianos; and writers typewriters....
Own: live with it, sleep with it, invite it everywhere, listen to everything it has to say. Make it yours.
 
Bill Anderson said:
I can't think of a worse idea than suggesting that today's filmmaker should rent a camera. That makes as much sense as telling artists to rent paint brushes, or musicians guitars, pianos; and writers typewriters....
Own: live with it, sleep with it, invite it everywhere, listen to everything it has to say. Make it yours.
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All this is fine in the ideal world. However, paint brushes, computers, or even pianos, cost a lot less than a RED One.

A writer can write a great book with pen and sheets costing a few cents. Filmmakers can't do that. It is an expensive medium. RED and associates are bringing the technical image acquisition and editing/processing costs down dramatically. However, they still don't account for collaborators/crew, sets/props, and various other production costs.

If a person has $2000 to spend on a short film, clearly, the best option is to go out and rent a camera.

If money were no barrier, of course, I completely agree. A filmmaker should live with his filmmaking tools.
 
Under the philosophy all your top hollywood DP's would be owning every camera they love most, but they simply don't, and they definitely have the money to own several RED's or cameras several times the price of RED. Their philosophy is typically, either the technology changes so quickly there is no point in own, or simply why use their own money when production is going to get any camera they want anyway? Owning is nice for when you are doing strictly your own projects, even to make some money back on renting it out. but renting in general has been and will be a common practice because it makes a lot of sense any way you look at it.
 
Sudhap, it seemed unnecessary for me to say that one should consider renting a camera if one can't afford to purchase one: I was obviously wrong.
My post was in response to: if renting is good enough for " Soderbergh" then it's good enough for you. The cost difference between a pen and a RED is not the issue, the issue is "owning versus renting" (given the choice, like "Soderbergh" ) and everything that that connotes for the creative spirit.
 
Another thing to remember about using a T2i or the like is that you don't have to start out with Zeiss ZFs. I started using contax yashica zeiss with an eos adapter on my RED/Birger EF mount, which are basically the same lenses, same T* coatings, same super smooth mechanics, etc. but about a third the price used.

But the truth is almost any good manual focus SLR lens will drastically outresolve 1080P video, so for instance you can use the Yashica versions of the Contax/Yashica lenses with very good results. A very good f1.9 50mm Yashica lens can be had for about $15 on ebay. Same goes for many of the Tamron T-mount lenses - good quality at very low prices and you can get a T mount to canon ef adapter for about $20. Older manual Tamron Prime lenses run $15 to say about $120 for the very popular 90mm macro (which is the one I believe was converted to PL mount and used by the planet earth people)
 
Michael Hastings said:
Another thing to remember about using a T2i or the like is that you don't have to start out with Zeiss ZFs. I started using contax yashica zeiss with an eos adapter on my RED/Birger EF mount, which are basically the same lenses, same T* coatings, same super smooth mechanics, etc. but about a third the price used.
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Hi Michael

Thanks for the post. Do you know of any good reviews of the contax zeiss lenses and do they cover the full frame of the 5D sensor?
 
J. P. Sendall said:
Hi Michael

Thanks for the post. Do you know of any good reviews of the contax zeiss lenses and do they cover the full frame of the 5D sensor?
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Here's a review from 1998 when the c/y versions were still made:

http://photo.net/equipment/contax/shea-lenses

Here's an adapter for using them on Canon. It is the AF confirm version which has contacts and a computer chip that allows the camera to indicate when it is in focus (the red boxes in the viewfinder light up and you get the beep) , just as a Canon lens would when used in manual focus mode.

http://www.amazon.com/Contax-Zeiss-Yashica-Confirm-Adapter/dp/B002OKXMJK

The C/Y lenses were all made for full frame 35mm film cameras - so yes will cover 5d sensor. Carlos Prio just shot a major project on these lenses with his 5D.
 
Once again thanks Michael. I hunted around after reading your links and found a post that said someone had difficulty with the aperture, that they couldn't stop all the way down. I guess this would be a problem with the Contax top EOS adapter? Have you heard any problems with the aperture?
 
Well ever since I went into business for myself many eons ago, I forced myself to put on the blinders by differentiating between want vs need.
I may want cool camera X but do I really need cool camera X. If you have the need, then by all means don't put off business waiting on a pipe dream camera. Get to work!

As far as the Zeiss C/Y lenses go, I have an extensive set, and have never had a problem with the aperture in any way shape or form.

Good Luck!
 
Bill Anderson said:
Sudhap, it seemed unnecessary for me to say that one should consider renting a camera if one can't afford to purchase one: I was obviously wrong.
My post was in response to: if renting is good enough for " Soderbergh" then it's good enough for you. The cost difference between a pen and a RED is not the issue, the issue is "owning versus renting" (given the choice, like "Soderbergh" ) and everything that that connotes for the creative spirit.
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Just because you rent for a production doesn't mean you don't also own.
I would guess many DP's have Red's in their personal collection regardless of wether they rent for productions or not.
 
J. P. Sendall said:
Once again thanks Michael. I hunted around after reading your links and found a post that said someone had difficulty with the aperture, that they couldn't stop all the way down. I guess this would be a problem with the Contax top EOS adapter? Have you heard any problems with the aperture?
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Same as david, never had any kind of problem with aperture (or anything else). These are EXTREMELY solid lenses.

BTW The adapters have nothing to do with focus or aperture - it is all manual. The AF confirm just fakes the camera into thinking an ef lens is on there so when a subject is in focus the little red focus rectangles light up - just as it would with an EF lens focused manually.
 
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