NEED HELP *** I am shooting a feature film on a red epic MX

[Ben Radut]

I am planning on shooting a feature film with my red Epic MX. I need a second camera and I was wondering if there is any red camera out there that will match perfectly with the red epic mx ? Or if I want the picture to be exactly the same should I be looking for a second red epic MX?

for example can I shoot on a red epic MX and a red epic dragon will they look the same? Please give me some advice on what second camera I should get. Thank you very much!

 

[Patrick Tresch]

They do match even if the MX has lower DR and "less" colors. Drangon is the sexiest sensor (read with character) Red has done so far. They tend to go in the more neutral (arri style) side now.
If you can work with a Dragon use it as your A cam. The downside for features using Epic body is the fan noise. You could tacle that problem using a FanPlate (made by Sonosax) and use adaptive mode with the fan temp set to the maximum.

Have fun.
Patrick

 

[Ben Radut]

Thank you so much for the great info! Appreciate your input!

 

[Mike P.]

In my opinion/experience, Pocket 4k/6k match MX closer than Dragon, granted using IPP2 across RED sensors does make things easier in post. The pockets, even the 4k, will definitely be sharper though.

You’re going to run into OLPF characteristic differences between the Dragon and MX that can not unilaterally be colour graded out. E.g. MX at “800ISO” is cleaner than 5K Dragon with STH at ISO400. Mixed lighting is better on Dragon, to the point where the colourist might have to window/mask to correct to a similar spot. FOV will be different with 5.5K Dragon being closest to 5K MX. Biggest thing is that MX needs IRNDs, while Dragon doesn’t, and using IR/non-IR interchangeably between them will cause non-gradeable colour casts/burgundy blacks.

Sidenote: you can probably buy a used Scarlet-X kit (with MX) for a rental price…. Like $1k~$3k barebones but shootable. Might be the easiest/cheapest option (although it’s limited to 4K/30p)

 

[Ben Radut]

Thank you Mike! That was very helpful. It looks like I need to find another red epic mx to be safe

 

[Marc Wielage]

You know, cameras are so cheap to rent these days (particularly older cameras like the MX), I bet if you tried Sharegrid or Kitsplit, you'd be able to find another identical camera for maybe a few hundred dollars a week rental.

From a post point of view, it's always better in an A&B camera situation to have identical cameras, set up the exact same way, using similar lenses and similar exposures. That way, there are no surprises once you get to final color.

 

[Ben Radut]

Yes Marc, that would be an ideal setup. Just have 2 red epics and we should have no issues. Thanks for you feedback!

 

[PatrickWebb]

Why not purchase a secondhand Scarlet MX? they go now for the price of a BMPCC4K :eagerness: then you have no tweaks to make and you still get 4K standard fps. I owned one for ages as a second body and was always happy to have that as my second cam to my Epic MX.

 

[Kresimir Knezovic]

If you are going to have low light scenes I recommend the Gemini. I had the epic MX and considered ISO 800 in LL as not useable.
gemini in LL @LL Mode is very Good at ISO 1600 and still useable at 3200

 

[Tyler Besh]

I shot an Indie feature with the Epic MX back in 2019. Can answer any questions you might have!

 

[David Peterson]

Thank you Mike! That was very helpful. It looks like I need to find another red epic mx to be safe

If you don't mind the bulk in your B Cam (as you can always use your own Epic MX if you ever need to do gimbal / steadicam shots) then the RED ONE MX would be a very very cheap way to get another MX camera with the MX sensor look.

The RED Scarlet MX is another lower budget alternative to consider as well.