EPIC M "Beacon"

[Jannard]

Before you think about placing an order for a machined EPIC-M, here are some things you need to know.

Some features are being disabled for stability on the EPIC-Ms until the production EPIC-Xs are released. Then a firmware upgrade will turn these features back on.

1. Audio
2. Playback
3. eHDR (HDRx will be enabled and is the professional solution)
4. Various lower resolutions... but all 5K options will be enabled.

Again, we will turn these options back on when the production cameras ship (or sooner).

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Thanks for the update Jim, is that why there is no I/O module to ship with EPIC-M?

We didn't want to force anyone to buy that module since it is not mandatory to shoot a movie... but it does make sense to not own one until audio is enabled... although it does do a lot of other things.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Jim, is the EOS mount available when these Epic M cameras ship? I am very eager to try the Canon 600mm on the Epic.

Yes. Me, too.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Will live 1080p output/monitoring work? ... this would be crucial for us as we are looking to use ours in a live switched studio environment.

Yes. I have pretty much said what won't be enabled.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Jim,
When will you know how many Epic-Ms you will produce? Are you going to severely limit it as you previously suggested (< 100) or will you make as many as are ordered?

Secondly, if you get a bunch of orders (hundreds) will you delay production units to finish the Epic-Ms?

Thanks!

Not sure yet... seeing how many parts we can gather up in a short time period. But no matter what, it won't delay production. They are two separate lines.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

...

(HDRx™™ will be enabled and is the professional solution)
...
but all 5K options will be enabled.

Seems like it has what counts. The other stuff can wait 'til whenever...

Although, one side-effect I can see in regards to not having all the other resolutions enabled is possibly some lack of higher frame rates.

You only have 5K 2.37:1 at 120fps. Bummer.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

If I had the money I would be so in... there is nothing here that is a deal breaker.

Even at this price its cheaper than some ENG cameras that are far lower spec, like the HPX3700.

I will definitely be waiting until the shipping units for my Epic.

Out of curiosity when are Epic Stage 4 units likely to ship? Anytime in 2011, or are you guys looking at 2012?

What about Epic Light or whatever you decide to call what used to be Scarlet S35? 2011? 2012? Later?

Both in 2011.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Hello Jim,

Can you tell us now what the COMPLETE differences will be between the Epic-S and the Epic-X?

I have a feeling that my old screen-saves of your product matrix are not so valid anymore.

We haven't completed the list yet but will post as soon as we can.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

To me, it almost seems as if the Epic-M's are now what the original Tattoo's were meant to be, considering they're only making a handful and they'll be reserved for early adopters.

There were the 1st Tattoos that told us we needed to add +13mm in length to the brain. Now there are +13 Tattoos that are being used on some jobs but can't be upgraded to production cameras because there needed to be internal modifications for boards... and can never have all features. The machined EPIC-Ms have all changes and modifications and are the same in every way to production cameras... except they are machined.

Hope that clears up the confusion.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Hi Jim, two questions:
1.if Epic-M can't playback the clip, then can we use the 3rd party tools to record the HD-SDI such as 'Ki Pro'?

Regards

Sure. And playback, along with the other disabled features, will be enabled by firmware upgrade in the near future.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

You cannot change sensors inside the brain. You can only change brains. That has been clear from the beginning. The only exception has been the RED ONE.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Don't bother looking, Justin. Its a semantic exercise. brain/sensor, whatever. I am not interested in the precise wording. I am interested in my original question:

Will I be able to buy an Epic Lite and upgrade it later to a regular Epic?

Because 2 years ago, you had to buy into one of the two systems, you could swap sensors/brains within the system, but you could not change a Scarlet into an Epic.

You can upgrade your camera by buying a new brain... if you want to sell your old brain I'd bet there is a pretty good market for it.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

OK, I see now that I have been operating under a fundamental misconception. I went back to the original announcement from 2 years ago: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22547

I was under the impression that the parts that could be changed were inside the shiny black boxes and, because the EPIC had a bigger box to begin with, its internal parts would not physically fit inside the Scarlet box. In other words, I thought there was a card inside that could be pulled out and swapped within a family, but not between the two families). I blame it on my Maker/Hacker/DIY background. I can now see that the brain/sensor is the entire shiny black box, not just some of the internal parts.

Now Jim's message makes sense. You don't "upgrade" by paying for the difference between a $7,000 S35 Scarlet and the $10,000 FF Scarlet; you have to buy the $7,000 S35 Scarlet, then buy the $10,000 FF Scarlet, and perhaps sell the S35 Scarlet on the secondary market (most probably for less than $7,000). I had thought there was a $3,000 brain/sensor card that you could buy. That was obviously a misconseption.

Message received. Thanks.

Now, about those 3rd party mounts......

Any 3rd party can make mounts for the system...

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Hi, Jim. Would it be possible to get an update on how Epic M production is coming along? I put in an order request and I'm super excited at the possibility of getting a chance for an early Epic M. Epic is going to change the entire way I shoot my current film project, mainly due to its form factor, weight and resolution. I know you guys are extremely busy right now, so I appreciate it.

We should be in better shape to update you in a couple of weeks.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

You'll continue seeing EPIC-M releases happening... actually two have been sent out (006 & 007). Gibby is next. Things will start to roll pretty quickly after that.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

More EPIC-Ms will be shipped soon.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

Hey Jim,

How would I go about potentially purchasing an Epic-M?

Thanks,
Alexander

Brent and Kelly are the keeper's of the "Q".

Jim

 

[Jarred Land]

Keslow Camera just took delivery of their first 2 Epic-M's as well.

 

[Jannard]

EPIC-M owners are in the same boat as early RED ONE owners... firmware upgrades and features being enabled on the fly. There is an added responsibility buying an EPIC-M.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

I know Dino gets his next week...

Jim