Epic or Scarelt

[Tom Chase]

As I posted before I am working on a project that will entail capturing and archiving several thousand talking head interviews over the next 5+ years. The key to this process is I need these interviews to last 15+ years in the highest quailty format. Up until just a few days ago I was content with looking at the scarlet, but the group that is going to be at least in part funding me has asked me to take on some narrative/documentary projects which will include shooting over 60FPS for some scenes. I know the Scarelt is great for 4K work up to 48FPS and with the narrative slow-mo shooting it only needs to be youtube 1080p quality. But is the 5K @ all frame rates but that extra 1K of resolution worth the extra $8k? I ask because I honestly am confused on which way to go, I know the dragon sesnor is coming out very soon for the epic which would put me at 6K if I upgraded and since the Scarlet upgrade hasn't been anounced yet I don't know what those specs would be and when it would be coming out.

Anyways would love feed back - right now my current funding is looking between $35-40 which would include a Ziess Cinelens (which I don't really need - since either the epic or scarlet I would be purchasing the EF mount and I am a canon photographer so I have quite a few "L" series lenses), and other support great which insome was are redundant from my DSLR setup.

Thanks ahead of time

Tommy

Tom Chase
Founder - The Death Cheaters Project
www.deathcheaters.org
714-724-6897

 

[Steve Sherrick]

For maximum flexibility I would go with Epic. You could do well with Scarlet or Red One MX as well, but Epic gives you max resolution, the frame rates you may need, and the widest FOV.

By the way, thank you for your service and I wish you success with this project as it sounds like a very important one that will have an impact.

 

[Tom Chase]

@Steve thank you. When you say widest FOV - I'm a little confused.

 

[Gunleik Groven]

If you have the choice... :Epic.

 

[Martin Weiss]

FOV = "Field of view", because the Epic can shoot 5k (i.e. full sensor) in motion, you get a wider angle out of your lenses.

If the budget allows, I would indeed go for the Epic for you, as you are concerned about resolution and long life. Shooting 5k will also give you the freedom to do slight reframes while maintaining 4k resolution.

 

[Tom Chase]

So I guess I didn't realize that the Scarlet isn't full frame. That makes the choice a little easier. Like I said I have good canon "L" series glass so I may be able to make the budget work for the epic using the EF mount.

Thanks for all the advice

Tom Chase
www.deathcheaters.org

 

[Paul Ellington]

I too would go Epic.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

I would go with the Epic... and the FanPlate

;-)

Pat

 

[Wil Wong]

love my Scarlet but I would get an epic if you could afford it. If it is out of reach, then the question comes down to how soon can you afford it and how fast do you need it. It's better to get many jobs then to wait and get no jobs... if your plan is to use it as income (rental or service).

 

[Brian Pascale]

With the new pricing it seems like a no brainer to me - Epic. Definitely worth an extra money.

 

[George Su]

Epic if you can afford it, but....

I recently shot pick-up interview days on a doc, and the setup by the original DP was 3K 7:1. And this was for a well-funded theatrical doc.

 

[Matthew Scott]

So I guess I didn't realize that the Scarlet isn't full frame. That makes the choice a little easier. Like I said I have good canon "L" series glass so I may be able to make the budget work for the epic using the EF mount.

Thanks for all the advice

Tom Chase
www.deathcheaters.org

Keep in mind that Epic isn't full frame either. It's a 1.3x crop.

 

[Robert Hart]

The dilemma of the constant pursuit of just staying in the game that electronic imaging has beset us with. -

　

It is not so long ago that Super 16mm film was being marketed as "future-proofing" for productions. -


For a five-year span, product end-of-life becomes an issue. The chances of the Epic still being around and comprehensively supported are probably better than for the Scarlet. However the original Red Ones are still with the world and are by no measure two-year-old feather dusters held onto for sentimental reasons under a patina of dust in the back shed.


Future-proofing the integrity of the audio-visual archive might be the greater concern for me. Migrating such an increasing mass of data and buying the succeeding generations of enduring storage and recovery may be the greater financial committment than the actual cameras used to aquire it. This will need to be budgeted for - and with currency inflation calculated. Fifteen years is a long time. - Dispersal of multiple copies will also be a desirable hedge against such things as natural disasters and civil disturbances.


Audiences accept the inferior rendition of older media, especially if a human constant has aged along with it. The "Seven-Up" series of documentaries are a testament to that. Changing a camera once or even twice mid-stream I do not think will be such a biggie. Technology may well be able to do better with upsampling than it can now. News and current affairs shot way back on 16mm film looks so much better now when recovered on modern scanners.

 

[Kirk.Attard]

I am still very much undecided if to go for the epic upgrade or not. I purchased the scarlet for short films mainly but I do msic videos once a while. I like the scarlet 4k quality but I would like slow mo for both the shorts and music videos. i.m not sure if ii should rent when i need slow mo or just go for the upgrade.