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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 :)

My Review of the F55

danbrazda

danbrazda

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Spent the day thoroughly testing out the F55 alongside my Epic-X. Here's my review:

COSTS MORE. DOES LESS.

Thank you all. Carry on :biggrin:
 
What about Global shutter ...the holly grail. Anyone tried a few whip pans !
 
It's $10k more than Epic!

Up 240 fps 2K with Optional AXS-R5 vs Epic's 1-300 fps 2K
Sony - 64GB SxS Memory Card PRO Price: $1,099.00 vs Red's Mag 64GB $725.00

Sony's effective[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] [/FONT]Total: 11.6 MP vs Epic's 14 MP

Epic 5K > 4K enough said.

Epic is a year+ older, it is better. Sony lost this battle before walking inside the ring.

Dragon is not even out, yeesh! Dead much?!
 
Jake, you of all people know that graded right, all the "big boys" (Alexa, Sony F55, Epic) can look pretty much the same. You set a look objective, and if shot right they can all take you to the same places, even though Epic takes more knowledge to get to commonly desired color objectives - it doesn't look that great out of the box.
 
Robert Ruffo New said:
Jake, you of all people know that graded right, all the "big boys" (Alexa, Sony F55, Epic) can look pretty much the same.
Click to expand...

"Can" look similar is not "do" look similar. If you replace the body panels, a Corvette "can" look like a Ferrari. But it doesn't look like that when you buy it, and making those changes doesn't make it a Ferrari. Fact is, grading is a destructive process, by definition. If you're changing an image from one camera to look like something from another camera, it's not going to do that as well as something whose natural tendency is to look that way. And the chances that you'll get it right without the other image as a basis for comparison are not good. Besides, all camera manufacturers have their products turn out images with particular characteristics for a reason, and the fact that they're all a bit different should be celebrated and used for a creative advantage, not homogenized by trying to make it something it's not.
 
M Most said:
"Can" look similar is not "do" look similar. If you replace the body panels, a Corvette "can" look like a Ferrari. But it doesn't look like that when you buy it, and making those changes doesn't make it a Ferrari. Fact is, grading is a destructive process, by definition. If you're changing an image from one camera to look like something from another camera, it's not going to do that as well as something whose natural tendency is to look that way. And the chances that you'll get it right without the other image as a basis for comparison are not good. Besides, all camera manufacturers have their products turn out images with particular characteristics for a reason, and the fact that they're all a bit different should be celebrated and used for a creative advantage, not homogenized by trying to make it something it's not.
Click to expand...

I agree - but shooting raw on any of these cameras will reveal more about the limitations of the DP and color grading artist than the camera. You could achieve virtually any look with any of those cameras, although a hyper-clean, fashion look with an Alexa I have found tough. It always wants to look "organic" and sometimes that is not desired - so I suppose I agree with you more than it may seem.
 
That was a thorough, deep, insightful, and very accurate review. I can't argue with anything you said.
 
Shouldn't you be comparing it to the F5 instead? TBH i'd prefer a F5 over a MX Epic right now.
Better DR, better ISO, better skintones and it's cheaper than the Epic.
 
Granted this is a red forum. But doesn't this one camera to rule them all mentality get old? Every camera is its own film stock these days. And as Mike said each camera will give you a different look and feel. U can match well in post but there will always be different nuances tto each camera. Been working with the f55 and it has some great things about it. Color accuracy is spot on. While with competing camera things may look great but not so accurate. And you pick your film stock according to your needs as with a digital camera. Where product shots need to be as accurate as possible, maybe a f55 is a better choice to save time and money in post. Its whistle clean at 1250 asa, camera body is even lighter than an epic, and it can do a pretty good looking compressed 1080 and 4k codec. The system isn't perfect, and a lot of firmware updates need to come but those issues are with every camera.


Its not always about the price since a great deal of productions rent cameras not buy them. For a owner operator perspective that would be a different argument
 
FWIW Tom I think the sensitivity level on RedUser is partly due to the level of inaccurate FUD ladled on to the RED cameras by people who should know better.

IAC, the F55 has some excellent qualities and even offers a live UHD/4K monitoring tap. In fact, you could theoretically do a live UHD/4K multicam show with F55s which is impossible with Epics. Just sayin'

Cheers - #19
 
I recently worked on a reality show that wanted the look of Epic but the user interface closer to an ENG camera. They settled on the F55 with the Fujinon 19-90mm zoom and it works great. Built in ND filters, audio pots, white balance preset switches, auto audio levels, long battery life, quiet fan, etc.

I own an Epic and love it, but there are jobs where functionality and convenience are more important than image quality. For run n' gun documentary type work, I would use countless other cameras before pulling out my Epic.
 
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