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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

I know I shouldn't be allowed to buy this camera, but I will

J

Jack Wester

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I know nothing about film. I have no experience with either video or analogue film. So this will possibly upset someone, but I will get the Red One as my first camera. I think it'll be a great way for me to learn about the art of filmmaking. I know some will tell me that I should learn to crawl before I can walk. But that does not matter to me, because I'll get one anyway.

I'm a computer programmer and a painter, so at least I have some skills that could come handy???

What lenses will I need and why?

Thanks

Joachim "Jack" Wester

Stockholm, Sweden
 
Jack, the Red One owes it's design more to digital SLR still cameras than it does any video camera on the market. I strongly recommen buying a Canon or Nikon DSLR and a few lenses and learn it like crazy. Learn about ISO, focal lengths, shutter speed, aperture, manually focusing and even just general composition.
 
I assume you have spare cash in your bank account. Then I say go for it.

But start with as little as possible. That's my advice. One 35 or 50mm Nikon lens. A decent tripod that can handle the weight and then some (because you'll grow your camera package with time). As you get to know more, you'll add stuff. If you decide to keep the camera, you'll get addicted and start scouring the internet for more and more expensive lenses. It's worse than being hooked on junk.
 
Ha!
Good point Shawn.
I've owned Canon EOS 1D-SLRs for the past 7 years and after using up two shutter courtains (of the old EOS 1D) and about 2 million photos worth of trial and error I feel more than confident I can wrestle with my RED One when it gets here.
A good source would be to get the American Cinematographer Manual and also be a frequent visitor in this forum.

I admit the closest to shooting with a professional camera I've gotten to was with a Canon XL1 a few years ago and for the past 8 months I've owned a Sony A1.
I am learning new things every day.
 
go for it

go for it

if you're going to get one anyway then who cares what we think. but i don't think anyone should be allowed to tell you if you can buy it or not. put it this way, i can think of a few pro filmmakers out there that i would sooner tell to not buy red or even the cheapest camcorder-hacks.

it sounds like you're already well acquainted with a pc or mac so you're almost half way there. when you consider (not just editing) how much a digital cinema camera relies on pc horsepower and interface to put out a finished film/video, you'll find that you're way ahead of some non-technical filmmakers. you can get a good understanding of the art of filmmaking by using a $200 camcorder and a pc but buying into red now is a great way to also get an understanding of the tech side.
 
Ask Suze

Ask Suze

product_courage_cdcover.jpg


Whant to know if you can afford something? Call into the the Suze Orman show. You will be approved or denied. :tongue:
 
Shawn,

Thanks for the advise. I already use a Nikon D2H for photography, though I'm not very good with it.

I'm a computer programmer by professon and I paint for a hobby. So I some things about compression, artifacts and aesthetics. I'm not impressed by the camcorders I've been demonstrated at the local store. As a programmer, I would not like to deal with heavy artifacts if I were to create a post production algorithm for some effect. Maybe I'm in deep water here, but I can't see how I as a programmer would differentiate between artifacts and image details. So my simple theory would be that images with less compression would be much better suitet, right?
 
It's your life, do what makes you happy.

I have no skills (by traditional standards) to warrant owning this camera, but if all goes as planned I'm buying it anyway. Even if it sits on a shelf looking pretty (which it wont). Who, other than my wife, can tell me not to. :)

Enjoy your RED.
 
I'm a programmer by profession also, but I have had lots of amateur video camera experience. Over the last few year I have purchased progressively move expensive camcorders, and was never satisfied with the quality at all. I can not really afford this camera, but I feel like it would be a foolish move not to buy one :) I have a game project in the works that the camera would be perfect for, but I will need to do some renting or strike some deals to pay for the camera.
 
Eugene said:
product_courage_cdcover.jpg


Whant to know if you can afford something? Call into the the Suze Orman show. You will be approved or denied. :tongue:
Click to expand...

LOL! She would never approve of my situation.


Also, today is my 28th birthday and I'm living at my Mom's, I have no car, and I'm about to spend every penny I have on a Red setup (about $70k). Red will also be my first (I've only been on the post-production side of the biz). I've actually been waiting for about 5 years, but wasn't impressed with anything on the market. I started saving when I first heard about Red on HD for indies.

I say go for it! :clown2:
 
Wow, there are going to be a lot of 'hardly used' and 'as new' Reds for sale on ebay in a year or so.


_mike
 
Jack Wester said:
Shawn,

Thanks for the advise. I already use a Nikon D2H for photography, though I'm not very good with it.

I'm a computer programmer by professon and I paint for a hobby. So I some things about compression, artifacts and aesthetics. I'm not impressed by the camcorders I've been demonstrated at the local store. As a programmer, I would not like to deal with heavy artifacts if I were to create a post production algorithm for some effect. Maybe I'm in deep water here, but I can't see how I as a programmer would differentiate between artifacts and image details. So my simple theory would be that images with less compression would be much better suitet, right?
Click to expand...


GO FOR IT!!! Having this camera and experimenting with it is the best cinematography school you could possibly have. When I got my first computer and music sequencer software I didn't know jack about song structure or music theory-just a few chords. But through trial and error, and a lot of experimenting, I learned more than I ever suspected I would, and became a successful music producer that way. I even learned how to write music from the sequencer software..so go figure.
If you want this camera and can afford it, don't even think twice-go for it!!! 'cause only good things can happen;-)
 
wigby said:
if you're going to get one anyway then who cares what we think. but i don't think anyone should be allowed to tell you if you can buy it or not. put it this way, i can think of a few pro filmmakers out there that i would sooner tell to not buy red or even the cheapest camcorder-hacks.

it sounds like you're already well acquainted with a pc or mac so you're almost half way there. when you consider (not just editing) how much a digital cinema camera relies on pc horsepower and interface to put out a finished film/video, you'll find that you're way ahead of some non-technical filmmakers. you can get a good understanding of the art of filmmaking by using a $200 camcorder and a pc but buying into red now is a great way to also get an understanding of the tech side.
Click to expand...
Wigby,

I really need to know more about what lenses to get. With my DSLR, I simply purchased a 24-120mm lense with the camera and that was that. Are there standards? Do I need converters to mount the lenses? Should I buy them from Red?
 
It's a camera. You press record. You press stop. All the rest is just a tweak.

Get the cheapest zoom Red has and pray it doesn't breathe like I bet it will. Buy a Red Drive and the CF option. Depending on your shooting style carefully consider whether the EVF or the small LCD is best for you.

Anyone doing interviews will need the Red Drive because I've never heard of a 4 minute interview session. The CF will handle most everything else. Unless of course you are shooting doc style. Then you need to hope the Red Drive is fairly shock resistant. I'm betting it will do just fine at everything but heavy action.

Now, as to the notion you shouldn't be allowed. WTF? This is Red. There shouldn't be any notion about being allowed anything--if you can afford it, its yours. Remember--most people who buy Porsches and Ferrari's don't have Formula One experience.
 
Jack,

Do some searching of this site, in particular Evin Grants lens forum.
And while your at it buy two cameras so you can shoot 3-D. (joking)
 
Curran Giddens said:
LOL! She would never approve of my situation.


Also, today is my 28th birthday and I'm living at my Mom's, I have no car, and I'm about to spend every penny I have on a Red setup (about $70k). Red will also be my first (I've only been on the post-production side of the biz). I've actually been waiting for about 5 years, but wasn't impressed with anything on the market. I started saving when I first heard about Red on HD for indies.

I say go for it! :clown2:
Click to expand...
Curran,

Thanks for the inspiration. I'm not filthy rich so the camera will set me back quite a bit. I have been wanting to shoot film for as long as I can remember, and now I can afford a camera that at least somebody else can produce great photage with. As I've never ever seen someone produce great photage with a camcorder, a camcorder does not excite me. So I'm ready to place my order now as soon as I've learnt about the lense stuff. And ofcourse, if I'm all wrong and if someone would make a reasonable argument why I could produce greate looking photage with a cheaper camera, I would be very happy to hear from you now, before I empty the bank account.

p.s.
My wife won't know until the camera arrives :-)
 
lenses

lenses

Jack Wester said:
Wigby,

I really need to know more about what lenses to get. With my DSLR, I simply purchased a 24-120mm lense with the camera and that was that. Are there standards? Do I need converters to mount the lenses? Should I buy them from Red?
Click to expand...

you're asking the wrong guy. the red compact zoom will be the first lens i've ever purchased separately from a camera. but that doesn't mean that i don't know what i like when i see it.

you just need to build on what you already know. what kind of lens and dslr camera are you using and how do you like your 24-120mm zoom? there are mounting options available from red so that might make a good transition to the redone camera but eventually, i would suggest buying a red zoom. none of us can speak firsthand for the quality yet but i trust red and you can't beat the price when talking about new s35 cine lenses.
 
Jack Wester said:
... My wife won't know until the camera arrives :-)
Click to expand...

At least you're a thinking man. Knock yourself out, brother. Afterall, toys and boys go hand in hand.
 
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