Delay news... sort of.

[Andrew Benz]

Gavin, you didn't miss a thing by skipping pages of this thread.

Yes this thread has become as useless as tits on a mule (southern colloquialism for our non U.S. friends). Can we get lockdown?

 

[readyandaction]

Hi Jim - and all reservation holders.

(Even though there only seems to be a small % of customers complaining, I thought it would be important to weigh in on this from another perspective - a non-reservation holders POV).

I just wanted to say that (as disappointing as it might feel for early res holders), I believe RED is doing the right thing re: beta testing. I also believe that it may SEEM unfair since it is new information, but really is no different than them testing in house before they are released to customers. After all, as far as I know, these are most likely Jim's own units and they will not be sold to anyone, merely taken on location with field techs, used on production, and then returned to RED for more testing.

If I'm not mistaken, Jim said there were new boards spun that were recently finished... it seems that these new Rev. boards (plus any of the other changes we are unaware of) should be put through all of the grueling conditions of some real-world productions similar to "Crossing the Line", before they are mass produced. What if other hardware issues are discovered in the field? These types of problems are NOT what end-users should be dealing with. It would be terrible for people (as well as RED) to have to send their units back into RED for replacement parts, troubleshooting, etc.

Releasing units that are hardware complete and fully tested, but have incomplete SOFTWARE, is another story, and I believe that most early res holders would be ok with taking delivery of such units. I just don't think they are quite that far yet.

I have worked for major Video Technology companies and I can't stress enough how VITAL it was for us to do real-world testing of our hardware before sending out even the early beta units. However this testing is done does not matter, as long as it reflects real-world production conditions. For a professional cinema camera, there seems no better place than on various professional film sets/locations to test it. If it can survive those conditions, and workflows, then it is ready for the real world.

Again, I understand the sense of a small percent of people with reservations that were hoping to be a part of that hardware beta testing phase, but I do not think that was ever stated by RED. From what I read, the shipping cameras were to be hardware complete, but lacking in some software features in the first 100 or so. Remember also that a production line will be in place at some point to mass produce these. So the beta units will need to be extremely reliable before the production run is given the green light. Then it will most likely slowly ramp up from there like a finely oiled machine, eventually hitting full steam with hundreds of units shipping in a given timeframe.

And last but certainly not least, please keep in mind your unique position here. I have been following RED for a couple of years now, and as some of you know, have done alot on my own to help promote the Camera in various industry circles and productions I have had the priviledge of working on. But because of my financial obligations, I did/do not have the opportunity to put in for a reservation... so for now, I must live vicariously though others, such as yourselves, until I can one day find a way to own one (and hopefully more) of these amazing cameras. Please do not take for granted your fortunate positions!

*This post is not intended as a personal response to anyone in particular on this forum and is only meant to help paint a bigger picture of how this project is being perceived by all walks of life. Please don't mistake my good intentions. Thanks so much. (Oh, and Jim... hope to see you at CineGear!)

verry well stated. I wait for upcoming news.

 

[Roberto B]

Shawn... I've always liked you. But I disagree with you on this point.

Thanks again for my NAB present.

Jim

Okay, thanks for noticing. I am glad you disagree! I'm simply noticing that the window between when my camera is ready and when everyone else's is ready appears to be narrowing. If this isn't the case or if there is some other advantage to being #27 that I don't know of, then I'm cool. I mean, I really am just talking about whether I get the cherry on the banana split at this point. Please don't mistake my questions or comments for genuine grousing.

I'm glad you like the present! I enjoyed getting to meet you.

it's not difficult to understand what shawn want to mean..

he isn't just a jerk like so many here.. i know this hurts because this is a friendly forum.. blablabla.. BUT:

as real RED SUPPORTER WITH MY MONEY (bringing others with me..) LIKE MORE THAN 1500 RESERVATION HOLDERS (and not only as a virtual poster magnifying a cool entrepreneur..), letting the film gurus going here.. dictating the rules, it's not really a clever attitude..

the same for the manufacturer.. letting any manufacturer dictating the rules of the game, it's not really a (much) clever attitude..

 

[Häakon]

Yes this thread has become as useless as tits on a mule (southern colloquialism for our non U.S. friends). Can we get lockdown?

Agreed, and request granted.