Announcing WEAPON DRAGON 6k Magnesium

[Arthur Woo]

I see "Improved low light performance" on the website for the Weapon description. Does that mean with the current Dragon sensor w/ LLO OLPF, or is there something new that actually improves the low light performance?

 

[Mark Andersen]

So at first glance the upgrade feels like a kick in the balls… Epic X Dragon to Mag Weapon $34,500 - $15,500 = $19,000 = Ouch!

But if I am doing my math correctly here's what happens…

You get the following included…

WEAPON BRAIN (Magnesium) w/ Integrated Media Bay
1 WEAPON Sidekick (Magnesium)
1 WEAPON Base Expander
1 WEAPON REDVOLT XL Module
1 WEAPON Top Handle
1 WEAPON Lemo Adaptor A
1 WEAPON Package Case
1 1-Year Standard Warranty

That's $4,795 in accessories, some of which you can sell…

Throw in the $5,000 in Red store credit…for things you will buy anyway…

So the actual brain upgrade is more like $9,205 am I right?

Thats one way of looking at it. Most of the added goodies are things you are gonna want, or at least part of the basic camera and not fluff. And the credit you will definitely use. I think the deal is more than fair but I know may people are gonna say "the Epic is good enough" and I think RDC expects this to be the case. We are getting into luxury mode here, for those who want the absolute newest and best gear they are going to have to pay. its not like your Epic Dragon is suddenly a pice of crap, its still the second best camera in the world as of today.

 

[Sergio Perez]

I honestly think the current Dragon with LLO OLPF is more than enough low light... I was really hoping for 6K Vista Vision from Dragon Weapon, to be honest... Anyway, looking forward to hear everything about the advantages of Weapon Magnesium vs my current Epic Dragon!

 

[Nick Morrison]

We'll have to see, but this announcement has beenvery underwhelming so far.

I remember Jarred saying Weapon gets extra DR out of Dragon, and red.com mentions better lowlight....not sure about fps...but if Vista can do 70fps at 8k (right?)...imagine what it could do at 6k, 5k, 4k...

 

[Kemalettin Sert]

So any info about intersex module? i just want to use my old Quickplate V Mount Module on Weapon.

 

[Michael Jensen]

So confusing. Would love some clarification on whats included for the upgrade price. And can the Magnesium be upgraded to the 8k version?

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

Yep, I'm out. Last ride with RED. I love my Dragon but 19.5k+ for what amounts to things long overdue (prores, quieter, ACTUAL MODULES...) just seems too little for the cost.

 

[DC Chavez]

As a person who has a stockpile of Anton Bauer batteries (that I use with other gear as well) I have no interest in paying extra for a kit that uses RedVolt XL. Any options for people like me that want a non-XL kit?

Also, Jarred mentioned something a while back about the 1/8" SSD to mini-mag upgrade program. Any news on this?

 

[Terry VerHaar]

I feel sorry for Scarlet owners that just dropped 9,5k on a Dragon upgrade just to get 5k credit. They would have been better up spending that on a new Wagon. Way better deal.

As said individual, I will strongly disagree with you. I decided to upgrade to Scarlet Dragon before to keep myself on the possible upgrade path and I am very glad I did. I am very much looking forward to shooting Dragon and, while I probably won't jump on the deposit for Weapon right now, I like that I still have upgrade possibilities, including, it now seems, going to Epic Dragon.

I like my options. If this were a paper asset with no functionality, then maybe it wouldn't be a good deal. But, I get to use this camera every day while I decide on my next move.

 

[Patrick Elliott]

This is my initial thought. I am worried to just keep my Epic Dragon after the way the Red One MX was essentially phased out. I know the word is that the Epic Dragons and Scarlet Dragons will be supported for "a long time" but that is not comforting enough.

I also share the same concerns as you Isaac, but my main problem is spending 19.5k+ and then next year being told you cannot upgrade to the next level because I do not have the CF model. That is a ton of money to not be in the loop with the entire upgrade path.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yep, I'm out. Last ride with RED. I love my Dragon but 19.5k+ for what amounts to things long overdue (prores, quieter, ACTUAL MODULES...) just seems too little for the cost.

My guess is Weapon is more than just a body/features upgrade - Jarred has mentioned additional DR, website mentions better lowlight...

But agreed - Weapon appears to be the announcement of a new "elite" line of cameras, and not an evolution of the entire system. At 35k and 50k (and eventually 70k for VV?)....the Weapon line is certainly in a more distinguished price range...

 

[Damien Molineaux]

I can't upgrade now.

How about an Epic-X to WEAPON DRAGON 6k Magnesium upgrade path for those that get left out right now, next year?

What do you keep when upgrading form an Epic-Dragon to a WEAPON DRAGON 6k Magnesium ? More than the sensor? Can that not be taken form the Epix-X, or if added at the time of the Dragon upgrade, thatn add it with the Dragon sensor at the time of the Epic-X to WEAPON DRAGON 6k Magnesium upgrade.

Why do you force peopke to upgrade to Dragon now? We have both an Epic-X and an Epic-M Dragon, the Epic-X is cleaner is low light. I don't want to upgrade now, and the truth of the matter is, I can't afford it.

Pity, this forefull incentive to upgrade now or be punished (financially).

Another 2 cents,
Damien

 

[Kemalettin Sert]

https://vimeo.com/124391398

Fuck! its turns on in 5 seconds.

 

[Abiodun Shote]

Power Options

Power Options

Will the current Quickplate Module and the Module Adaptor work with Weapon?

 

[Ivan Cortazar]

Same here. I've been with red since early RED ONE. But at this point I can't justify $20,000 plus for this upgrade. Plus another amount later next year for next sensor, 8K?

I think this is great news for rental houses as many indi/owners that were able to take a cut from offering camera+operator services will stay with their current Epic/Scarlets, and rent weapons when need it. But that's just my guess.

Well, it's been a fun ride, and Epic Dragon is more than enough for the kind of work I do anyway.

I know I'll be criticized for saying this, but I have a feeling that other cameras have been getting cheaper and cheaper, and Red has become more and more expensive. That being said, I'm still grateful for all the trade in credits we've benefited in the past years.

 

[Scott C]

If Magnesium is a dead-end that will not offer an upgrade path to 8K down the line, I like many others am probably at my last stop on the red train. I bought a hyperdeck shuttle 2 years ago that records ProRes, it cost me $350.

 

[Martin Stevens]

Does the WEAPON M Upgrade Package come with an OLPF? If it does, it does not say which one?

 

[Jarred Land]

I see "Improved low light performance" on the website for the Weapon description. Does that mean with the current Dragon sensor w/ LLO OLPF, or is there something new that actually improves the low light performance?

The Weapon squeezes about half a stop extra out of the Dragon sensor from the new internal processing.

There are new OLPFs as well for Weapon optically matching but the carriers are smart that will automatically tell the Weapon what OLPF is inside it so you don't need to manually switch when you change filters.

 

[Zeb B]

When is this page going to be updated?
http://www.red.com/products/weapon-dragon#tech-specs

 

[Alex Boothby]

Confused about the upgrade path for Lens Mount. On Red.com it says:

"When it is time... you will be responsible for shipping the BRAIN®, Side SSD Module, and a lens mount (PL mount required, if applicable) to a RED upgrade facility."

So, does red give us our same lens mount back, installed on Weapon, or do they keep it for some reason?