My Diary For A EPIC X Stage 4 Delivery

[Iain Philpott]

Hi Guys,

My name is Iain Philpott. I have been a member of this forum for some time. I have sat back, read lots but never posted anything. I am a stills guy, well respected, shooting beauty and fashion in London. I have directed commercials for Pantene & L'Oreal but got really disillusioned by various factors too long to go into here (in this post). Continued with my stills and have thoroughly enjoyed the advent of the 5D and the film making possibilities I have been able to offer my clients. I won't hear any negative comments about the 5D - it has supplied my clients (online) with material that they love and is more than acceptable for what they require. While not diluting the capabilities of the 5D I wholly except it's downfalls which is why I am trying to place an order for an EPIC X.

I would love to hear from people what I should include within my order when I am able too and what I should not. For example I have invested a bucket load of money in Redrock - would the EPIC X function on 15mm rails and the Redrock Mattebox?

Many many thanks and I will keep this updated as and when I know anything on my order. As it stands at the moment it is as follows,

 

[jimhare]

Hi Iain,

Glad you posted and broke the ice! Would never say anything negative about the 5D, sounds like you use it for what it does best, fantastic stills and amazing motion for the price and form factor. And moving up to Epic for uncompromsed motion is a fantastic move.

As far as Epic accessories go, first and foremost would be the Canon mount, so you can use what I assume is a very impressive collection of Canon glass.

You can definitely get 15mm rails and use all of your existing Redrock toys.

I have just placed an order for a bunch of Epic stuff, including the 19mm quick release, SSDs, cables etc.

The truth is you don't need a great deal of additional equipment. As long as you can power the Epic, mount a lens, monitor what you're shooting and support it with a good fluid head, there isn't much else you need.

I have shot on the Red 1 for a few years and 80% of the time I have it stripped down to nothing, with minimal accessories. When I do build it up it's usually with a matte box, follow focus, wireless mic receivers, and NDs.

Is there something in particular you want to do with it where you may need additional or unique accessories? As you have no doubt discovered, the community here is very open with advice and happy to help.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Welcome to Reduser Iain,
even so you have been here for a while, since you didn't post, no one had a chance to do so...

I toto did came form the world of Still Photography, and the 1Ds was my first Digital, and now still have the 1Ds III, while enjoying the use of my "L" series Canon glass on one of our Epic M,
so yeah the Red Electronic Canon mount is an absolute must... This is why...


Canon's motors, especially on the 1D bodies make is it a superior combination, a little better then on the 5D, but on the EPIC... Well, be prepared to see an improvement.

What I also would suggest is a light wait set up, and even so I shoot Cine Style, and have set up one of the cameras with Full Cine gear, one of them is almost always set up in a very light
system, using a GITZO sticks, one is the GIANT and the other is the standard, with 100mm Bowl adapter and a Miller Compass 15 fluid head, perfect combination.

The RED PRO clip on MB is also a must, to stay lightweight with Cine glass, or with use on Canon glass, just use what I supposed you have been using all along, screw ons.

Accessorizing your Epic based on your style of shooting and needs will be a must, so at the end only you really know what is that you need, but I will be sure to get the EVF, and the Spinner,
with Top mount, few Nato railings, and a side handle grip of course, for using the Red Volts, and have the camera set up as you would with a DSLR.

Just be prepared to strengthen your wrest and arm, as, even I which have been accustom to shoot the 1Ds with the 400L 2.8, and the 200L 2.0 hands free, have come to appreciate the solid body and weight of the
EPIC combined with accessories and Lens, which even with a 85L 1.2 makes it a nice work out, by the end of a shoot...

There is literally so much that you can accessorized your EPIC with that pages can be filled up, yet not even touching precisely what your real need is.

But I imagine that elaborating as the replies come in, in what is your real need and what you look to shoot with EPIC, then a clearer view can be had and a better suggestion on accessories be made.

 

[Liam Hall]

Good advice Ketch and Jim. Apart from what has been mentioned I'd get a copy of Adobe Production Premium CS5.5 if you haven't already got one.

And if you need any help on one of your lingerie shoots give me a shout

 

[Iain Philpott]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies! I've even had a PM of a guy in the UK about to take delivery of his Epic X willing to collaborate on some tests! Truly awesome - thank you. Couple of questions sparked by your posts. Liam Hall - why do you suggest Adobe Premium CS5? I have Final Cut, does RED footage work better with Adobe? Ketch what is roughly the weight of your rigs? I am about to purchase a new tripod and would love to buy something that covers me for both my 5D rig and a future Epic. I was considering a Sachtler DV12? Is that going to work?

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Iain Philpott]

Oh and one last thing. I shoot a lot of handheld. Hate using the Canon lenses (despite there quality) on the 5D. I have been using all my old super fast Nikon glass. Manual lenses with a decent amount of friction. Interestingly as a by-the-by I have recently been using the Nikon 85 1.4 over my Canon 85 1.2 on stills shoots - just has a nicer, better bokeh, slightly more organic feel to it.

So to the question - do I go for PL RED Primes or Zeiss Compact Primes? I'm sure this is opening a massive can of worms........looking for gut feel simple answers............

 

[Liam Hall]

Yes, Adobe has native support for RED.

Sachtler make great tripods (I've owned several), whether the DV12 is right for you is dependent on the weight of your rig - the rule-of-thumb being to chose a tripod where max load is twice the weight of the rig. If you like Nikon glass it might be worth waiting for the Nikon mount.

 

[Iain Philpott]

Yes, Adobe has native support for RED.

Sachtler make great tripods (I've owned several), whether the DV12 is right for you is dependent on the weight of your rig - the rule-of-thumb being to chose a tripod where max load is twice the weight of the rig. If you like Nikon glass it might be worth waiting for the Nikon mount.

Jeepers - 'twice the weight of the rig'? Does that not take me out of the DV12's £3.7k into £9/10k? What tripod would you recommend? Re the Nikon glass - Do you think 35mm stills glass can actually get the best from 5K footage?

 

[Liam Hall]

Jeepers - 'twice the weight of the rig'? Does that not take me out of the DV12's £3.7k into £9/10k? What tripod would you recommend? Re the Nikon glass - Do you think 35mm stills glass can actually get the best from 5K footage?

It's only a rule-of-thumb. On my documentary jobs I'll use Epic + Canon lenses on a Sachtler FSB8, which is only rated to 10KG. But, it's super lightweight, which is perfect for me as I have to carry it all!

How heavy's your 5D rig? The DV12 is rated for a payload of 20KG - that's quite a lot in DSLR-la-land, but nothing in cine land. Again, it depends on what you're sticking on the rig and your style of shooting - how mobile you need to be, how many on the camera crew etc. Assuming you're not using large cine zooms, you should be okay with a DV12, but you do need to weigh your current rig and factor in the additional weight of Epic and the modules/accessories you choose.

Yes, 35mm stills glass can get the best resolution with Epic. It can with a 1DSMkII - CP2s are rehoused ZFs/ZEs after all... ...The question is whether cine glass can be used on the type of shoot you do.

 

[Iain Philpott]

What a week! I decide that EPIC X is the way to go. 'Top of the range and will ship before Scarlet' - future proof job done! Hold on a moment, now Scarlet is announced and that we can order very soon. So will that come before Stage 4 EPIC? Also if it comes with an S35 sensor.......will be cheaper. It all seemed so simple a few days ago..........

 

[Malvin Ng]

Waiting for the Stage 4 to be available here too >.<

 

[Paul Leeming]

Iain,

if you're using Nikon glass on your 5D MkII already then I assume you're using mount adaptors? If so, you won't need to change a thing as you can just keep the mount adaptor on your lens and mate it straight to the Red Canon EF mount.

Or wait for the Nikon mount, which will come at a later date.

I'm eyeing the Miller Compass 25 fluid head and some CF Miller Solo sticks as a lightweight (in cinema terms) tripod package for solo work.

HTH!

Cheers from Tokyo,

Paul

 

[G Lap]

Hi Iain,

I notice that you contacted RED. com to enquire about an Epic order. I don't know if you are aware but there is RED Europe (located at Pinewood Studios) and you can order most things RED from them (although, as you've discovered, not yet an Epic Stage 4 ). If you ask Alan Piper there nicely he might let you take a look at their Epic M, if it's not out on location.

If you haven't yet handled an Epic it's worth doind so for all sorts of reasons, not least to get an idea of it's weight for handheld work (hint...heavier than a 1D series with large lens and even more so compared to a 5D with lens, imho of course). Scarlet was going to be lighter but specs might have changed and won't now be known until November 3rd. Incidentally, UK orders for Scarlet will be available online via the RED.com store .

 

[David Wyatt]

Hi Iain,

The Red Nikon mount should start shipping in November with production ramping up in December, so I imagine by the time you get your Epic-X the Nikon mount will be shipping in good amounts for you to use with all your lovely Nikon glass :smiley:

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?63377-Module-Ship-Dates....

All the best,

 

[Iain Philpott]

Iain,

if you're using Nikon glass on your 5D MkII already then I assume you're using mount adaptors? If so, you won't need to change a thing as you can just keep the mount adaptor on your lens and mate it straight to the Red Canon EF mount.

Or wait for the Nikon mount, which will come at a later date.

I'm eyeing the Miller Compass 25 fluid head and some CF Miller Solo sticks as a lightweight (in cinema terms) tripod package for solo work.

HTH!

Cheers from Tokyo,

Paul

Thank you all REDUSER members for all your tips and advice. I am really thankful for it. Tripod wise I note your option to go the Miller route. Any advise here - I have been looking at the Satchler DV12. In an ideal world I would love to get a new tripod that would cover both my heavier 5D rigs as well as an EPIC set up. Anyone know this Sachtler?

Many thanks

 

[Iain Philpott]

Hi Iain,

I notice that you contacted RED. com to enquire about an Epic order. I don't know if you are aware but there is RED Europe (located at Pinewood Studios) and you can order most things RED from them (although, as you've discovered, not yet an Epic Stage 4 ). If you ask Alan Piper there nicely he might let you take a look at their Epic M, if it's not out on location.

If you haven't yet handled an Epic it's worth doind so for all sorts of reasons, not least to get an idea of it's weight for handheld work (hint...heavier than a 1D series with large lens and even more so compared to a 5D with lens, imho of course). Scarlet was going to be lighter but specs might have changed and won't now be known until November 3rd. Incidentally, UK orders for Scarlet will be available online via the RED.com store .

Hi George,

Thanks for that. Good advise and I will call Alan this week. I was kicking myself because I only found out about the EPIC REDUCATION course at Pinewood on the day it started!

 

[Iain Philpott]

Hi Iain,

The Red Nikon mount should start shipping in November with production ramping up in December, so I imagine by the time you get your Epic-X the Nikon mount will be shipping in good amounts for you to use with all your lovely Nikon glass :smiley:

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?63377-Module-Ship-Dates....

All the best,

Hi David,

I so nearly sold all of my Nikon kit including lenses when I switched to Canon Digital many years ago. I have the following Nikon glass, in your experience with the EPIC sensor do any of these perform better or worse?

35mm 1.4
50mm 1.2
85mm 1.4
105mm 2.8 Macro
180mm 2.8
300mm 2.8

And last question, would I see or feel a significant image improvement by going for Zeiss Compact Primes. I have sort of discounted RED Primes just because of size and weight or is that a mistake to?

Many thanks

Iain

 

[Martin Widerberg]

Hi Iain
Welcome

The Nikon G-lenses are something you could consider.
Allstar and Optitek does Nikon mounts for Epic with iris control.
The IS function on some of the Nikon and Canon lenses together with Epic focus control is something I'm really looking forward to.
But if you want to pull focus by hand you could just stick with your nice collection of old Nikkor lenses. You could add the 28/2.8 ais and the 24/ 2.0.
Or have a a look at the 14-24.

Interesting times

 

[Brett Clements]

Hi mate

Never look back. No need to. I've shot the Sony PDX, the Z1P and the X1, and the X3. The last two Sony models were 'crisp as'. Unless you had a Letus mount, you couldn't get depth or add glass. And Letus was a rip. Then along came the d90 and then the 5DMII. And, no doubt about it, the 5DMII bloody mugged it all. Not in quality though. Only in perception. Throw some X1 footage against some 5DMII footage (1080) and the X1 mugs it. Every, single time. For quality. At 2k. Red Digital Cinema is a company that's invested in passion not price. I have no doubt the RED Epic will blow everything I have shot out of the water. And that's quite a lot. www.platinumhd.tv. Nah.

 

[Iain Philpott]

Having watched (or rather tried too!) the Scarlet announcement I did wonder for a while whether Scarlet would, for a lot less money, be the camera of my dreams and be available sooner than Epic Stage 4 but........ Having studied all the stats on it, weighing up my genuine need of a camera covering all my motion 'beauty' needs (slow-mo swinging hair etc) and fantastic stills pulled from possibly 96fps etc I just don't think it will cut it. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me I still need to wait for my EPIC. Scarlet is an incredible camera but I think the stills fashion boys and magazines will be still be shooting on EPIC?