Monstro Upgrade Question Still Open

[George A.]

Dear Jim,

Congrats on the incredible M-X sensor program! From the footage I saw, the difference in quality from the Mysterium sensor (which is also incredible!) is SIGNIFICANT! The M-X clips are simply amazing, both in terms of sensitivity and low light performance. I am truly very excited.

As a RED ONE owner, I still plan to upgrade directly to Monstro. Based on your statement, we would also be able to trade our RED ONEs towards an Epic Monstro 6K. Does your promise still hold true? I certainly hope so! I know many more people are asking the very same question.

Speaking for myself, I can be satisfied for the moment just with upgrading my RED ONE to M-X. This would be enough. I plan to make the BIG switch and commitment when Monstro appears, instead of making two big purchases (M-X in between and only then Monstro). This is also because of the lenses I own (full-frame).

I hope things are still the same, as you presented them last year. I know the upgrade paths RED provides are already incredible, but it would be a shame to revert the policy referring to Monstro. Many RED customers are thinking of just that and can wait one year (or so) with M-X on their current REDs.

Thanks and all the best Jim!
George

 

[richard peterson]

what I might like to do is upgrade my Red to MX then trade it in when the Monstro is shipping... kinda want to ride the sensor wave above all else. Just asking

 

[Julio Quintana]

Also curious about this. Although by the time the Monstro is released RED could potentially be receiving 4-year-old RED ONES, which seems like a total bend over backwards, even for them.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

I also would love some info in this regard.

While I'm still a few months from receiving my M-X upgrade notice I am prepared to pay for it along with the Red Rocket card bundle now...but the question still remains as to the when and how of the upgrade path(s), particularly when there has been little or no chatter about the 645 and/or 617, and Scarlet is on the horizon -which is likely going to be the largest product for Red.

While I'm sure other users along with myself understand the company has quickly grown and has a ton of stuff on its development and release plate, it would be hugely useful to know if this is six months, a year from now, or greater, and of course whether we're able to continue along the upgrade path to Monstro.

I will also say I'm hugely thankful to Jim and his team for the constant upgrades to firmware and RedCine-X to make the product better each week or month...which must take up copious amounts of time themselves.

 

[George A.]

Dear Jim and RED team,

I hope the silence after almost 800 views is not a bad sign

I hate to bump this thread... especially after the incredibly generous offers that you put in place for the EPIC-X.

However, I certainly hope nothing is changed as far as the previously mentioned upgrade to Monstro is concerned. I think there are a few people (besides myself) who would rather choose a direct upgrade to Monstro - probably based on the lenses they own etc etc (and being more than happy with their amazing REDs in the meantime).

If nothing is changed, that would truly be amazing. If things changed, it would surely be understandable, but hope dies last as they say.

All the best Jim,
George

 

[Julio Quintana]

I would also just like to know one way or another. Either way is fair.

 

[George A.]

To answer your question, you cannot upgrade your Redone to an Epic with a MONSTRO chip. Jim NEVER promised that.

Hi Jason!

Please don't confuse people here with statements which are not true. Jim stated that RED ONE owners can upgrade to any EPIC. I copied and pasted below that particular announcement. Including a FAQ answer that makes it very clear.

Of course, it is up to Jim if he wants to amend his promise.

George

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are a RED ONE owner’s upgrade options?

Keep your RED ONE and shoot great images. Get continual free firmware upgrades.
Keep your RED ONE and upgrade your sensor to Mysterium-X for $4500.
Trade your RED ONE in and receive $17,500 credit towards the purchase of an EPIC X S35 Private Reserve package, which is only available to RED ONE customers.
Trade your RED ONE in and receive $17,500 credit towards the purchase of an EPIC FF35 Pro Cinema “Brain”.
Trade your RED ONE in and receive $17,500 credit towards the purchase of an EPIC 645 Pro “Brain”.
Trade your RED ONE in and receive $17,500 credit towards the purchase of an EPIC 617 Pro “Brain”.
Keep your RED ONE and purchase a Scarlet System (one time only) with a 12% discount.
And additionally,
Keep your RED ONE and buy an EPIC X S35 Private Reserve package at the $28K offering. The EPIC X S35 Private Reserve package is ONLY available to RED ONE owners.
“Use one time only”. Any selection of #3-#8 causes your RED ONE to be marked “Executed” and will no longer qualify for an additional consideration, including discounts, trade-ins or special packages.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is the upgrade program for RED ONE owners limited to or specific to just the EPIC X?

A RED ONE owner can upgrade to any EPIC camera; EPIC X, EPIC S35, EPIC FF35, EPIC 645 or EPIC 617. The upgrade is a one for one program and the serial number is marked as “Executed” upon completion of upgrade.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Jason Ing]

Sorry, I guess I missed that post. I deleted my post since I don't want to be on of those many contributers of misinformation on RedUser.

But doesn't this answer your own question? I guess you're wondering if Jim changed his mind?

 

[Cüneyt Kaya]

everything is subject to change,
but it seems a little to much to ask to have a stage 3 option for epic monstro.
who knows, maybe owners of MX`ed R1s get a stage 2 option for epic monstro.
--keep/upgrade your MX r1 and get a discount for epic monstro.

anyway, we already have an option to get into the new system...i would totally understand if there is no trade in towards monstro.

 

[Peter Hodgins]

George, I think the October 30th announcement is the current plan of action ....I see nothing there that implies you can trade-in for a Monstro chip based brain, etc.
(but I suppose it hasn't been specifically ruled out either ... there might be some price point at which it might be viable). But obsolescence is obsolete when you do the current Epic upgrade.

 

[Jason Ing]

Now that I think about it, I do remember this line of questioning before. Hard to keep track of these things. Sorry again, just trying to be helpful

From what I remember, the difference between this upcoming trade in vs the others is that you get a complete system vs brain only.

 

[Jason Ing]

George, I think the October 30th announcement is the current plan of action ....I see nothing there that implies you can trade-in for a Monstro chip based brain, etc.
(but I suppose it hasn't been specifically ruled out either ... there must be some price point at which it might be viable)

Actually, after reading it through again, the "fine print" below stage three does refer to "future trade-in rights". Considering that's the last stage for this upcoming Epic-X S35, this is consistent with the RedOne owner's upgrade options.

http://red.cachefly.net/A/OctoberPost.jpg

 

[George A.]

The way I see it - and again, it might be just me - is that Jim has stated that you can upgrade to any Epic, as a RED ONE owner. Get a special package if you want to upgrade to EPIC-X (extra modules etc), or just the brain if you want one of the other Epics.

I believe the last announcement only explains in detail the upgrade plan to EPIC-X - one of the several upgrade options you still have. Jim himself has stated that some questions/details (about the other trade-in paths) remain open for the moment.

Judging from your angle, Jason, would mean that the promised 12% discount towards a Scarlet is all of a sudden not considered anymore, too.

I firmly believe that Jim will keep his promises toward the RED ONE owners, offering all the upgrade options already mentioned, depending of everyone's pocket (upgrade to Epic-X, or if you can afford it, to Epic Monstro, or if you can't afford either, downgrade to Scarlet). At least, that's my take on it.

Of course, my question could be irrelevant at the moment, since everything is subject to change at RED; besides, Monstro will take longer until it hits the market. My hope is that RED is trying to figure out exactly what will come out of the Monstro program, so they can know better how to adjust the trade-in path (just like with Epic-X).

Regardless, I am amazed with M-X. I will upgrade my RED to the new sensor and await clarifications whenever they can offer them. But it doesn't hurt to ask, in order to plan in advance.

 

[Julio Quintana]

We can debate this all day, but Jim just needs to clarify. I don't think anybody will get their feelings hurt either way. But this frankly DOES affect my decision so it would be good to know.

 

[Jannard]

We can debate this all day, but Jim just needs to clarify. I don't think anybody will get their feelings hurt either way. But this frankly DOES affect my decision so it would be good to know.

What is the question?

Jim

 

[George A.]

Whether or not the direct upgrade path from RED ONE to EPIC Monstro (bypassing Epic-X) is still a valid option for current owners.

Thanks Jim!
George

P.S. Trade-in only towards the Monstro brain, of course (no other extras) - as previously mentioned.

 

[Jannard]

Whether or not the direct upgrade path from RED ONE to EPIC Monstro (bypassing Epic-X) is still a valid option for current owners.

Thanks Jim!
George

P.S. Trade-in only towards the Monstro brain, of course (no other extras) - as previously mentioned.

Yes... at the last published prices AND if the RED ONE has not been used for any other option.

Jim

 

[George A.]

Great Jim! That's amazing.

P.S. 1 - We can still upgrade our REDs to the M-X sensor, right?

P.S. 2 - By the way, Stephen Williams just lost a bet I believe...

 

[Jannard]

Great Jim! That's amazing.

P.S. 1 - We can still upgrade our REDs to the M-X sensor, right?

P.S. 2 - By the way, Stephen Williams just lost a bet I believe...

You can still upgrade your RED ONE to M-X and it still has the same trade-in value as the original.

Jim

 

[Julio Quintana]

Wow. So by the time Monstro comes out, someone could potentially trade in a 3-year-old camera at full value. RED's generosity never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for clearing this up, Jim.