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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 :)

Is anyone buying the new Redone?

Don Whitley

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May be a dumb question because I just bought one, just received it yesterday. Now I'm kind of undecided if i want to keep it or not or just send it back to red and wait on the epic. My original thought process of buying the camera was to rent it out and I go as a DIT on this film project that was to start filming in mid oct but my big film project was canceled.

Now I have and unused red seeking work. So the question is should I just send it back and wait on epic and rent the red one for smaller projects.

And how close are the chips in the Redone MX and Epic, are the the same and besides the Epic shooting 5K or better is the Redone a good choice to purchase and keep.

I ask that because if i decide to keep it I wonder if my red will be able to get work in the future because of old technology being that the Epic is around the corner and everyone may want there projects shoot on Epic.

Any advice will help..
 
No doubt people will want to have the newer technology, specially in the digital world. The first month or two, Epic prices will be high but a lot of Epic are going to hit the market afterwards so prices will go down fastly and will drop and there fore spill a big shadow on RED ONE MX.

My 2 cents.

Pat
 
Many who need a camera now will be buying and using the R1.
If you need a camera, it is infinitely better to have one than to wait for one... (Look at the scarlet threads if you need an illustration).
The sensor is the same, but the tech behind the sensor is widely different. I would expect more DR on the Epic than with the R1, even though the sensor is the same. The AD converter, bit-depth and just about any parameter you can think of are all new and "better".

RED has repeatedly said that MX R1 and Epic images will cut well. That sounds right. But they're not the same camera, that's why we're all standing in line waiting.

If you plan to get an Epic, I think the best way to get aquinted with the workflow and imagery is to work a lot on set on getting to know the cameras quirks and in post to learn how the redRAW codec responds. This will probably all be better on the Epic, too - but more of an evolutionary than a revolutionary step.

Your R1 MX or M, Scarlet 2/3" or even Epic will get work in the future only because of your capacity to master it and give good advices to others when you're not shooting yourself.

I'd have kept it and gone heads on into work....
 
Gunleik is right, even if technology changes, you still will be able to work as a DIT and give valuable inputs to productions, but that's really up to you.

Pat
 
Jim's said that the sensors are the same. The Red One MX is limited more by its hardware than anything else. Realistically if you are not within the first two stages of the release program for epic it could be quite a while before you'd be able to buy an epic.

The epic will undoubtedly become the new flagship camera for Red. The lack of hdr in the red one might be the one thing that will really turn people away from using it compared to the epic (and after that different iterations of scarlet). With that being said, the Red One MX is and will still be a lot better than many professional digital cameras.
 
The RED ONE M-X is an amazing tool and arguably the top digital cinema camera in the world right now. But even so, the camera does not rent itself. Because of it's low price point, the R1 has become fairly accessible, and the only way to get work as a DIT on professional shoots is to know EVERYTHING about the camera system. Just copying and pasting R3D files onto backup drives doesn't cut it anymore.
Forgive me for assuming, but from the questions in your post it sounds as if you are newer to the RED system. So I would guess that it will take you a few months to build up the knowledge and clientelle to make your RED profitable. By that time the Epic could be released and you may get left behind.
I'm not sure whether or not you should keep it, but these were just some thoughts that came to me.
 
I'd say it also depends on how you financed your purchase, and what exactly you purchased (ie. do you have a fully operational kit?).
 
I'm new to shooting on the red, I have only shoot three shorts on the red everything thing else has been on my 7D and Sony EX1, but on this project they ask to have it on Red.

So I bought the Red One because of the film project that I thought was lock down but at the last minute everything went bad. The project would have been for 4 weeks I would have made what I paid for the red or at least over half just on rental alone.

So now I may decide to keep it just shoot everything that I would usually shoot with my other cameras, ( ie, Music videos, shorts, other low end stuff) just to get some practice, and by the time Epic or Scarlett comes out I hope my ROI will be enough to buy at least a scarlet.
 
I'd say it also depends on how you financed your purchase, and what exactly you purchased (ie. do you have a fully operational kit?).
I purchased most of everything I need except for the glass kind of undecided. also wish I would able to find a red drive I purchase three 16gb CF cards also. I would rather purchase maybe just one maybe 18-50 or new 17-50 and just rent everything else until the money starts to come in any suggestions on a lens that would do for most jobs.
 
I purchased most of everything I need except for the glass kind of undecided. also wish I would able to find a red drive I purchase three 16gb CF cards also. I would rather purchase maybe just one maybe 18-50 or new 17-50 and just rent everything else until the money starts to come in any suggestions on a lens that would do for most jobs.

If you have other projects for which you think the Red One might be suited and you have not gotten yourself into too much debt, I'd say you should keep it. It is possible to shoot R1 with a stripped down kit. You could get a cheap second-hand 18-50 or use still lenses. Ideally, since you probably have good EF lenses for your 7D I'd recommend you to get a Birger Canon EF mount which performs beautifully on the Red One but unfortunately Red and Birger had a falling out and the Birger mount will now void your warranty. We had been announced other EF mounts, including one by Element Technica but none of them ever saw the light.
Even if you don't manage to ROI the camera by the time Epic/Scarlet becomes available you will have gained a lot of experience with the camera and workflow. As others have pointed out, don't expect to get jobs/rentals because "you have a Red", but if you already have contacts and are in demand, the Red One will definitely up your game. My $0.02. Obviously I know nothing about your financial situation.
 
Some thoughts about Epic's availability.

I own a RedOne since early 2008. Working with it is no witchcraft, on the contrary. Red's efforts regarding software development in the last 2 years were very worthwhile - working with the RedOne does not need more than horse sense and the common skills that help to make a picture looking nice. Don't let you scare away by "pros".

My RedOne has a legacy M sensor. I haven't spend the 5k on MX yet because the latest software (0K) improved colour rendition vastly, and the M sensor is still a great imagery device - completely satisfying my needs. Ok, MX would be nice but in the moment I spend money rather elsewhere - the RedOne M is a great camera, full stop.

Concerning the Epic upgrade program I'm on stage 3 because I don't need two S35 cameras. The market is saturated, Arri's Alexa is another successful competitor - and I'm not a rental house. The very generous upgrade program for early adopters is not rolling yet. It's even not clear wether the first Epic prototypes (tattoo) are out already - the HDR R&D seems to set the Epic a big step ahead of every other competitor but is also a significant reason for further delay.

I don't think that I will receive my EpicX before Summer 2011, I even predict Autumn/Winter 2011. This is another year to wait. I don't mind really, the RedOne does (almost) all I need. Before new Red customers will be able to purchase an Epic there will be another 6 months to be added, at least because Red's Epic won't be produced in masses. We are talking Summer 2012.

If your RedOne has an MX sensor it will last as an valuable cine camera at least the next 1 1/2 year. It took me just about one year to return my investment - and I hardly rented it out. But as an expensive professional system you need a market. If you are not already working in such an environment it may be a risky enterprise. Go figure.

Hans
 
It's all about relationships - built on trust and goodwill. If you have these relationships, you will do fine.
 
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