Keep R1 or buy Scarlet?

[Rob Macey]

Hi,

I'm thinking about buying Scarlet and selling my R1... I get a little teary eyed just thinking about selling the camera that started it all. But, when I see red volts and side handles and small size rigging with less weight it seems to make sense to buy a Scarlet... Just looking for any advice on what other owner/ops have done.

Thanks so much.

 

[jimhare]

Hey Rob,

That's a tough one. There are some things the Red One handles better at the moment. One of the more significant is audio. Though the Epic/Scarlet have more sophisticated guts, at the moment it's much easier to record poor audio on them than great audio, something I always found easy and gratifying on the R1.

Beyond that the Scarlet is superior in many ways and its future is much clearer so there are good reasons to jump on the bandwagon.

I have an Epic and Scarlet, and though I miss my Red One for sentimental reasons, I have never smiled so much since seeing what I can do with the new cameras!

Hope this helps.

Jim from Sydney

 

[Rob Macey]

Thanks Jim,

I appreciate the advice. It does help a lot. That does make me feel better about going for a Scarlet. Thank you.
Love Sydney, My wife is from there.

 

[jimhare]

No problem Rob,

Hey, we have a lot in common since I'm an American with an Australian wife as well! Only difference is I moved here instead of her moving there! :yesnod:

Thanks Jim,

I appreciate the advice. It does help a lot. That does make me feel better about going for a Scarlet. Thank you.
Love Sydney, My wife is from there.

 

[Arnold F.]

As a camera operator it's hard to imagine making a decision on what camera to buy at this advanced level based on sound. If I were deciding between a GH1 and 60D I might, but at our level there should always, always be someone handling that half of the movie unless your shoots are your nephew's Bar Mitzvah. And that person (not your nephew) will have an audio recorder. If the producer asks you to be in charge of that half of the movie as well just say no.

 

[Oscar Ubilluz]

Great Topic - I've been wondering myself about what people would do if presented with that choice. If you (anyone) had the choice between a full RED One MX package or a full RED Scarlet package (full package means pl mounts, ssd drives, ssd cards, matte box, follow focus, LCD, EVF, etc) what would you choose?

 

[Frank Cueto]

R1 has the benefit of Higher FPS and 4.5K @24fps shooting. Some have argued that it being a BIGGER camera also makes some clients and talent take the production a bit more seriously (that is a tad subjective).

 

[Rob Macey]

Jim- That's great man! I love Australia. Been there twice.

Frank- Thanks. I hear ya. R1's large size/weight is what
I want to cut back on. I would miss 4.5k for sure. Although, Smaller Scarlet rig's would be helpful to me in stealth mode and in general.

 

[Rob Macey]

Oscar- Lately, I'm loving the idea of Scarlet over R1. The only reason for me is R1's size/weight. That's all.
Tactical cage? Rig a scarlet under a car chassis easily. Redvolts and ssd's make it an easier choice.
Light, small, easy to place anywhere are where it's at for me. Shoot and move, shoot and move...

 

[Oscar Ubilluz]

I'm with you on the mobility of the scarlet but I would hate to lose the high frame rates, 4.5k, and the extra inputs. My RED MX was a perfect camera for any high level professional project. I would match it against anything a scarlet could do, but still that small size and the scarlet rigging options has we pulling toward scarlet. I think it comes down to what project you are working on and old vs new.

Thank god I have my epic, I really wouldn't know what to do if I had to make that choice.

 

[Alan Skinner]

I traded in for the EPIC-X because of the incredible deal that was offered. If I had my RED One now and had to decide, I think the decision would be fairly easy. With the low price you could get for the RED One, I would keep it and start saving to also own the Scarlet. not worth dumping your R1 at the depressed value we are seeing right now. That is my .02 cents.