Incredible value

[Bob Franco]

I think the new Red cameras are an incredible value made even more so by Jim's commitment to make them as obsolescence proof as possible. I have about 50 thousand dollars of obsolete equipment under a table in the corner of my edit room. I've spent much more than that equipping edit rooms over my 20 years in this business. I made my money back so I'm not crying about it; just pointing out that the stuff is now pretty useless to me and worth almost nothing. It costs some serious dough to be in this business. When I started, a high end camera was 50 thousand dollars. Two years later nobody wanted that camera. I don't like to throw money away but the difference between three thousand dollars and three thousand seven hundred dollars to a working professional for a camera with the specs of the Scarlet is not at all significant even over a short period of time in which it earns money. The Scarlet 2/3" cameras are practically gift for what you get. With Scarlet, Red now has a camera to suit any serious professional's price range. I'll never buy a Sony F25 or 35 but I can see myself getting a Scarlet or two or an Epic and feel like I got the deal of the century. And that's because it is a great deal. Keep up the great work and attitude Jim. There's probably a lot of professionals like me that rarely post but keep track of what's going on and I'm impressed. Can't wait to see the new cameras working.

 

[Martin Weiss]

Amen.

Thanks for some real-world perspective.

 

[Craig Ryan]

Stick around Bob! The learning ones like me value the input of the hard working pros around these parts!

 

[Paul Brand]

I think the new Red cameras are an incredible value made even more so by Jim's commitment to make them as obsolescence proof as possible.
...
With Scarlet, Red now has a camera to suit any serious professional's price range.
...

Thanks for your perspective, Bob. I've been pushing at my work (a small production company) to hold tight on the conversion to HDTV, because newer technology and better, cheaper cameras are around the corner. My theory is to crawl, walk, run. So we've started transitioning via HDV right now on a FX1. Our output is to DVD anyway, so the pictures from the FX1 actually look considerably better than what we were getting from a DSR250 before that.

My point is that technology is changing so fast. The RED Scarlet is a giant leap for what we will be able to do with it. We constantly balance our immediate needs against our long term plan for providing content. The transition from SD to HD has everyone examining how they will upgrade not just their cameras, but their entire system and workflow. Having a camera that offers the kind of upgradeable modularity that the RED does will help make it useful for a long time.

Just my 2 cents,
paul

 

[Jason Francois]

I agree with RED being a great value in general and especially as technology goes, as Bob and others mentioned.

I think it's an even better value when you think of the fact that we probably aren't even paying the full cost of R&D in the price of RED products. Jim's a businessman, so I'm sure one day it will even out, but I just can't see that this isn't being driven a bit more by passion than fiscal responsibility to the RED pocketbook. Now, of course, I could be way off-base, but that's at least how it feels based on what I've seen and what is being sold to customers.

To complain about having to spend $4k for what Scarlet is offering or even paying $30-50k for what Epic can do just seems silly based on the competitions offerings. Add in the continuous upgrade potential and that argument becomes almost ridiculous.

Are things going to change? Yes. Will the competitions prices become a bit more competitive? Yes. Will that make RED any less of a value when others lower their prices? I seriously doubt it.

Jim, is very thick skinned person to hang around these boards. Luckily there are plenty of people that "get it" or are at least forward thinking and open-minded.

Best,

J.

PS_I'm not a fanboy here. I am actually a die-hard FILM lover that is taking the transition to digital a little hard....but RED is making it hurt a bit less. I also think there have been plenty of sticky points in getting RED to where it is now, but it's how they handle those sticky points that defines the company's character for me.

 

[Thomas Dobbie]

Bob,
Great post,totally agree with all you say,it's good to see some sanity return to this forum.
Tom.

 

[Albert Armes]

I think incredible value. I just found out about red and started reading. It sounds like red really take image quality seriously.

 

[Kyle Presley]

Thanks for that Bob. That's great to hear and refreshing to hear it from an industry pro. With all the naysaying after every major announcement, I'm just glad Jim still keeps on trucking. Many would not have patience to remain so transparent in business practice.

Why do grown adults act like children when the anonymity of the internet becomes part of the equation?