Need some preliminary help

[Jimmy Odom]

Ok guys I'll get right to it, but first of all I want to begin by saying I'm sure this has been discussed in great extent, but I need input from you all for myself.

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Scarlet, like everyone else, so nothing new there. while waiting I bought and quickly re-sold my 7D, for obvious reasons, but most of all I knew the release of some new camera was going to destroy its resell value, so I got out while I could. and good thing I did because it did.

So I've managed to stock pile ~$10250 for my RED purchase. Now I need this to get me a reasonable shooting package to start out with so I began considering my options, and found myself honing in on the one for me (Scarlet 2/3 Cinema w/3 mini primes)

I didn't go for the Fixed because I felt by having the faster glass from the mini-primes I'd be able to squezze just alittle bit more DOF from the sensor than I would if I were only using the fixed zoom, pluse the variable FPS added to the purchase of the 2/3.

I was reading a post from Jim the other day, that got me thinking, well most of his posts get me thinking, but this one in particular, when a guy asked what'd be better S35 Scarlet or RED ONE M-X'd?.

Slight advantage to Scarlet S35 (no FF35 Scarlet) at 3K due to pixel size and sensor size (5.4 micron pixels vs. 3.3 micron). But the 2/3" performs incredibly well for a 2/3" sensor. Incredibly well... did I say that?

Jim

So with the quality of the footage we've been seeing lately from the SWEET looking M-X Red Ones' which direction should I pursue.

1.) A practically full 2/3 Cinema package

vs.

2.) A Scarlet S35 with the skeleton type base package, possibly not able to shoot w/o renting additional components, but end up with SUPERIOR quality, and the ability to use Prime Glass

What are your suggestions?

 

[rafael de]

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Scarlet, like everyone else, so nothing new there. while waiting I bought and quickly re-sold my 7D, for obvious reasons, but most of all I knew the release of some new camera was going to destroy its resell value, so I got out while I could. and good thing I did because it did.

Why would you write that? It's obnoxious and the reason why people joke about the posters over here. Talented professional cinematographers have used that camera to great effect.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Hey Jimmy

I have to say its about your shooting style.

Personally with that money I would get a fully fleshed out 2/3 setup.

Personally I might go 2/3 fixed with matte box, rail system, nice fluid head, HDMI field monitor, extra batteries and CF cards... maybe a SSD setup if there was enough left.

If you want the mini prime route, its a few grand more, and harder to have the complete rigging, but you can probably do it.

losing the frame rates would also be losing choice for me at Scarlet S35.



my whole point is that I like something that is totally complete and ready to go whenever I need it. No rentals, no waiting. Pull out, turn on and roll. Which is also great for being very familiar with the camera.

good luck! And good question!
Jeff

 

[Jimmy Odom]

Why would you write that? It's obnoxious and the reason why people joke about the posters over here. Talented professional cinematographers have used that camera to great effect.

:troll:

Kinda sounds to me like you are a 7D owner who is self conscious of his purchase. DUDE, if you like it, GREAT. If your happy with it, GREAT. Professional Cine's are using it with awesome results GREAT.

But don't come over to MY THREAD, criticizing my literary expression. I gave a take from my experience, and mine alone. So if you don't like that don't read it.

 

[Jimmy Odom]

Why would you write that? It's obnoxious and the reason why people joke about the posters over here. Talented professional cinematographers have used that camera to great effect.

And particularly why I labeled you as a ''TROLL'' was specifically because you apraently hadn't read my post before responding, nor did you even attempt to engage in a meaningful discussion, geared towards answering the question posed in this thread; which should've been why you were here in the first place.

But do you not disagree that Canon is a horrible manufacture, when it comes to their care for the early adopters of their technology, point in case (550D). They release this camera no less than 5months after the 7D for 1/2 the price with AlL the same specs as the 7D, which is similar to what they did with the 5D mkll, regarding it's price and the 7D's features.

I absolutely HATE Canon, and WILL never buy from the EVER. They have shown me how much they value their customers, so I'll show they how much I value them, by not giving them a dime if my $.

Now I must say, just so people understand where I'm coming from.
Yes I had a 7D, sold it, just before the new release of said camera. Now I got pretty much ALL of my investment back but I know some who haven't, and probably never will. But hey that's Canon for you.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Jimmy, it seems you are enabling more than rising above and focusing on the point of your own thread.

Ignore and move on?

Jeff

 

[rafael de]

Yes I had a 7D, sold it, just before the new release of said camera. Now I got pretty much ALL of my investment back but I know some who haven't, and probably never will. But hey that's Canon for you.

Most professionals pay off their gear by working. Good to know where you are coming from. The 7D was paid for with one job, the 5D with two. I use Sony and Panasonic too. The DSLR's are not perfect by any stretch but if you know how to work with their limitations they can produce beautiful results.

Every camera will have limitations even the Scarlett which, going by the information, I would love to have and will purchase. Shame you sold your camera because in developing your craft with this camera you would be a much better shooter with your Scarlett.

But from your post it looks like you are not making money with your gear so none of this matters. Good for you that you can afford RED without having to generate income from it.

 

[Nick D]

Hi Jimmy,

I may not be able to provide an answer right out the gate, but feel in the same boat based on insufficient real Scarlet Footage at this stage. Heck, I don't even know if it comes with an AC cord (unfortunately, not a joke) ... maybe you know?

10K goes by pretty quickly in Red gear before even considering workflow and storage after acquisition, and I also want to make the right purchase right out of the gate.

I might suggest contacting a couple of the local rental houses here in Chicago and get some feedback about what they plan on stocking in the rental department upon release. I contacted one and got not the expected response I thought I would. When it comes in, ask to rent or see which for a few moments appears to meet your needs best, and what looks best to rent with what you'd buy according to their first impressions and lens selection.

What I hate about this approach is I'm likely not be the first to get it, BUT I'll make the right call instead of having to sell off an otherwise perfectly good piece of shiny Red gear.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

....

I contacted one and got not the expected response I thought I would.

....

what did they say?

Jeff

 

[Jimmy Odom]

Yeah Nick I hear ya, and also don't want to make the wrong purchase out the gate.

I'm pretty set for Post Workflow (2.26 Octo Nahalem Mac Pro 12g ram w/3 HD monitors) I just need to add a Drobo with several Terabyte drives and I'll be good to go.

The 2/3 Cinema is REALLY calling my name, and from what Jannard has said the Mini-Prime glass is SERIOUSLY Cinema grade and will be spectacular. My only problem, or rather hesitation is that once I buy those Mini-P's they'll only fit on a 2/3rd Scarlet, and most likely nothing else. So that $4K+ now means I'm committed to the Scarlet years to come.

But on the other hand the Scarlet S35 can easily take some Zeiss ZF primes, and even Red Primes and I'd have those no problem for years to come, and as I progressed in my craft and income I could re-use them on other cams in the future.

So the Mini-P's add greater latitude to the 2/3rd model Scarlet, because they are faster, but they also carry with them the draw back of only having the ability to be used on a 2/3rd Scarlet; hence my dilemma.

I'm curious as to which direction I'll end up in. I'm almost positive it'll be the Cinema with about 3-4 Mini-P's but not there all the way yet. I mean I love the idea of the Fixed, but just believe that the glass on the mini-P's will make having that 2/3rd worth wild, otherwise why would RED even offer them, if their isn't any discernible differences between the Fixed Zoom glass and the Mini-P's. Not to forget to mention that Zoom lenses are almost always less in terms of image quality capruting tools than their Prime counterparts. I'd be amazed if this was the one time when that wasn't the case.

I'm "POSITIVE" RED will make this happen for us this year. no insider info, and I'm not being overzealous, its just that I'm having faith; and something inside me tells me it'll happen SOON. So its just a matter of when, and which model , with which accessories will show up at my door step when they do.