Delivery Update...

[TimPipher]

If you are talking NAB 2007, you are looking at March 2008.

Jim

I ordered early (about 9:00 AM) the first day of NAB 2007. With 1,475 orders before NAB, wouldn't that put me in the first 1,600 -- January 30, 2008?

 

[Jannard]

I am not very happy with this slip. mine is 610 that means that ours has slipped a month, yet people ahead of me are getting 600 cameras. Can you include 10 more units in that schedule? I am sure you will say "no" because if you did it for me you would have to do it for others....it's just that a month is a pretty big deal.

Let me say that as a once developer of a raw camera myself I would be MORE then happy to be a hard core beta tester and get mine faster. no joke. I don't care if it works 1/2 the time and I can't get anything out of it for "real" productions.

thanks for any help on this Jim.

Obin... I like you and all of your posts. It pains me to delay anyone. I am trying to accelerate all aspects of this program, not delay. But I have a responsibility to tell it like it is. If we can find a way to speed up production, I will. The 1st part of this is the hardest.

Jim

 

[JFirestone]

I appreciate your commitment to your customers. I've also known that being an early adopter meant that we would be the ones testing the workflow and dealing with early issues. I'm a beta tester, and have been for years, and I don't mind getting a product while it's still in the works. I know that's probably not the case with most of your customers. I was really getting ramped up to work with the camera in November. Too bad you don't have a beta program. I'd take mine as they are now if it meant I could begin testing in November.

 

[Jannard]

I don't know what kind of new math you are using, but I got bumped from Oct 10 to Oct 30 to Nov 30.

I don't like this anymore than you do. We know who you are. We read all the posts. This process is painful. The images are incredible that RED makes. We just need to make sure that there are no complaints about how well everything works before we ship more cameras.

Jim

 

[Raul Gonzo]

What,s a few more weeks people? In the end we,ll all have our cameras and be eternally gratefully to Jim and the RED team for doing everything they do. AND- if it wasn't for them who knows how long we would have had to wait for a camera like this.

 

[Greg M]

take a deep breath guys...I ordered mine on the first day of NAB 2006. I am just as sad as everyone, but honestly do you think Jim and Co. are doing this on purpose? They are acting in our best interests...cut them some slack. I was really looking forward to my camera next week, but I'll get over it (after I finish yelling at my kids).

Once we get our cameras we will forget all about the delays.

 

[Chris Gearhart]

Cool. It's good to know the schedule. Thanks, Jim, for your openness. Now I can go home for thanksgiving!

 

[Sam Druckerman]

If you're going to ride a rocket, there's bound to be some Ups & Downs.

No one likes delays, But clearly Team Red is working to make the Impossible... Possible, Everyday. So....

Thanks guy's for all your Hard work.

Let's all remember our character is defined not by our successes, but rather how we handle our challenges.

Go Team Red.

 

[JFirestone]

No offense, but everyone from 50-300 has been affected this way. Our group hs been pushed back four times now - and that's since the original delivery slip post-NAB.

None taken. I should have checked the accuracy of that statement.

 

[number6]

Those who complain bitterly about their order number being shipped later should take personal responsibility for their plight. If you wanted your camera earlier, you should have ordered earlier. Next time, ORDER RESPONSIBLY!

 

[Mark Crabtree]

Another Delay

Another Delay

I am an early bird at number 100 and so I will receive my camera before most of you. I work now mostly with Varicam which I have down to a science. My customers all know about the Red camera and are constantly asking me if I have it yet. I know they are excited for me and they want to have the latest and greatest used on their projects but I am constantly reminding them that this is a development project and that we are on the cutting edge here. Just because I get the camera delivered say by October 15th does not mean I am ready to shoot a project on it. I will need time to do tests and not perfect but at least establish the work flow at my facility. Yes, I and my clients and everyone waiting for their cameras are excited as we near delivery, but lets all remember that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves alone, we make up a community of people who together are going to change the industry the way Geoge Lucas predicted it would be changed about ten years ago. The worst thing that could happen is for Jim to rush out the cameras at an almost ready state with bugs that make serious work too difficult for us to sell to professionals. All the nay sayers since the start would proclaim we were a pipe dream. We are not a pipe dream. We just need a few more days to be as spectacular as we all know we are going to be.

 

[B Newberry]

I don't like this anymore than you do. We know who you are. We read all the posts. This process is painful. The images are incredible that RED makes. We just need to make sure that there are no complaints about how well everything works before we ship more cameras.

Jim

No worries Jim. I know the camera is worth the wait. I really appreciate all that RED is doing. The delay is helping me get all my ducks in a row. I only meant to point out that his statement was just not accurate.

 

[David Battistella]

Serial numbers 1-50 Delivered
Serial numbers 51-100 October 15th (50 units)
Serial numbers 101-200 October 30th (100 units)
Serial numbers 201- 600 November 30th (400 units)
Serial numbers 601- 1100 December 30th (500 units)
Serial numbers 1101- 1600 January 30th (500 units)
Serial numbers 1601- 2200 February 30th (500 units)
Serial numbers 2201- 2700 March 30th (500 units)
Serial numbers 2701- 3400 April 30th (700 units)
Serial numbers 3401- 4100 May 30th (700 units)

Since the Canadian dollar is at par, would RED consider advance payment for the Camera and accessories at this time?

David

 

[JFirestone]

Those who complain bitterly about their order number being shipped later should take personal responsibility for their plight. If you wanted your camera earlier, you should have ordered earlier. Next time, ORDER RESPONSIBLY!

I like that...Order responsibly.

But seriously some of us ordered at NAB 2006. That's pretty early.

I'm not bitter, I'm just frustrated that I missed the cutoff. I thought I was going to be in the 100-300 group that shipped by the end of October.

Jon #232

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Heres the deal guys. For the past 15 years that I've been involved with hardware and software purchases in this industry I have found that far too often products are rushed to shelves because someone in the marketing department needed to make a deadline. The integrity of the product was put in jeopardy. Just get it to market, we'll work out the bugs later. And then we all become beta testers. I'm sure you have all been there. New version of NLE comes out with great features, lots of excitement, and then wham, darn thing doesn't work as advertised. But I dropped $500 for this upgrade, what do you mean that feature isn't quite working yet. It's very discouraging.

Red seems to be taking a different approach. Get the thing right the first time (or as close as you possibly can) and the payoff will be wide acceptance throughout the industry. The people who were in the first batch of cameras, including the Hollywood testers were well aware of what they were getting into. But Red will find it much tougher to justify problems as the real production cameras hit the streets. And by real, I don't mean the others were not working well, just that from here on out, these cameras are going to the masses and they will be under even more scrutiny.

At this point, I want a camera that works well, has been battle tested, and is nearly 100% enabled. I believe that is what Red wants for me too. So, I am willing to wait the little extra time it will take to get it right. Keep in perspective what they are pulling off here. It's pretty incredible stuff.

Steve

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I have two project in preproduction which are the most important thing in my life(and I do not have much left of it) but RED give me food for my passion and my vision, I want this cameras more then anything else, for them I will sale house car what ever, and I want them now too, but I will be patient and supportive till I get them, end of november(349) and end of december(851/852) I hope, but if not I will stay patient and continue to support Jim and the RED team incredible journey taken in building this camera of fantastic images, great accessories and a truly ground braking workflow, just thinking that I now will swap CF with RED and my Canon DSLR is just amezing, but more amezing remaines the price tag on this dream camera.

We must not forget what it cost to get a Viper filmstream or Sony F23(Dalsa and Arri D20 are not for sale) and they do not have nor the image or the workflow capability of RED, no counting incredible Production value and delivery to Post.

So I say lets try to give some true support to this guys, it is fun to chat with them when they post great clips and stills but we must be ready to chat in the same way when post such as this one inform us giving bad news.

I still can not believe how Jim has been up front and open in this tremendous projects, and I do not know if in this moment He is still pleased with His choice of doing so, my self I truly hope so cause I have enjoyed very much following the journey they have taken to get here today.

Time for my Medications.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
www.KETCHFRAME.com

I get e-mails from BANDPRO still trying to sale me a Sony F23, I say I have 3 RED cameras coming and there is no changing my mind.

 

[Poi Boy]

I'm really bummed !!! On the other hand, I just had to return a $30K Hasselblad that I've had for two weeks because it keeps giving me an error message.
The repair may or may not be expedited, I'm waiting to hear back from them....for a week so far.
Thanks Jim for doing it right.
Aloha
-A

 

[mhandy]

Since the Canadian dollar is at par, would RED consider advance payment for the Camera and accessories at this time?

David

Forgive me if this is obvious - but you could buy your US dollars now, open a US dollar account and buy short term fixed income assets (depending on when you are getting your camera) and keep the interest. You can do all of this at a bank with a half intelligent branch manager.

On a $40,000 order that would be around $100 of interest per month (=more accessories); and you've locked the exchange rate.

The prevailing opinion is that the US dollar will strengthen over the coming year ($1 CAD = 0.90 USD) - perhaps after the election - but it could still get worse first. No one knows for sure.

Hope that helps.

Matt

 

[David Battistella]

And by real, I don't mean the others were not working well, just that from here on out, these cameras are going to the masses and they will be under even more scrutiny.Steve

I agree, consumers will be expecting the camera to accomplish anything that the competition can do, AND DO IT BETTER. All of the "wait and see" people will want the reliability they are used to. People making the investment will be looking for a camera that can work right out of the box.

I am not sure what the plan for firmware updates will be, but I hope that once there is a very stable release, that the releases come monthly or quarterly or something (if necessary).

At this point, I want a camera that works well, has been battle tested, and is nearly 100% enabled. I believe that is what Red wants for me too. So, I am willing to wait the little extra time it will take to get it right. Keep in perspective what they are pulling off here. It's pretty incredible stuff.
Steve

This is what I never try to loose sight of. Part of what I like so much about the project is the fact that people have the guts to attempt it. I really respect that. Someone looked a the landscape and said, "I want to make my mark" and it has happened. They set very high goals here and they continue to push.

David

 

[David Battistella]

Forgive me if this is obvious - but you could buy your US dollars now, open a US dollar account and buy short term fixed income assets (depending on when you are getting your camera) and keep the interest. You can do all of this at a bank with a half intelligent branch manager.

On a $40,000 order that would be around $100 of interest per month (=more accessories); and you've locked the exchange rate.

The prevailing opinion is that the US dollar will strengthen over the coming year ($1 CAD = 0.90 USD) - perhaps after the election - but it could still get worse first. No one knows for sure.

Hope that helps.

Matt

Matt. This is a nice idea.

Thank you!

David