Not upgrading to Weapon

[Meryem Ersoz]

ha - I'm leaving some for the next generation!

I'm not dying. I'm just stepping off the upgrade path. I intend to spend more time shooting what I have and less energy pondering what I don't, in the coming weeks.

Weapon will be a cool camera. But my Dragon and I are just getting started - Its one year anniversary is still 3 weeks away!....

If I find the means to buy a Weapon outright, down the road, that'd be nice. But I'm just not ready to give up my Epic to obtain it.

 

[Gabriel Scindian]

There is a new sensor update every 2 years which due to the jumps in technology my fall to sensor updates and new high resolution cameras every 1 year. However, I want more dynamic range and to shoot with a 65mm equivalent sensor. I love the images my medium format sensor produces for stills so I could imagine the awesomeness of 65mm video. If weapon is the way to achieve this then I will bite the bullet and upgrade or wait until 2017 when the Weapons price gets reduced due to a newer and better "Unobtainium" camera being dropped at NAB 2017. Either way the current Dragon is a MONSTER of a camera and I LOVE shooting with mine.

 

[Elsie N]

ha - I'm leaving some for the next generation!

I'm not dying. I'm just stepping off the upgrade path. I intend to spend more time shooting what I have and less energy pondering what I don't, in the coming weeks.

Weapon will be a cool camera. But my Dragon and I are just getting started - Its one year anniversary is still 3 weeks away!....

If I find the means to buy a Weapon outright, down the road, that'd be nice. But I'm just not ready to give up my Epic to obtain it.

Good to hear. '-)

 

[Russ Fill]

Ok Ill play the happy romantic that thinks that maybe there might be some things that are not let out of the bag yet about the Weapon and or the 8K sensor...because they might not work as planned yet or are still in development. Think R1 first release vs R1 latest release.. Or Epic first build to lastest build...

I get it, its a lot of money and there are a lot of us that are quite happy with our present camera and setup. But Im pretty sure that Red just didn't say hey, lets see how little we can change the Dragon camera and still sell cameras. Ill bet there is a lot more to the Weapon that we are going to find out in the future that we will say, Hey why didn't they say that at NAB.. Im not saying its news that will move mountains but we are talking about a new sensor that is probably a half a year away and by then there might be some more features that are added to the Weapon that were just ideas or wishlist by RED for the camera at present time...
Anyone else have this feeling that by the time the 8K sensor is available the Weapon will be a lot more camera than it is now presently stated? Or am I just wishing this to justify my upgrade?

 

[Elsie N]

Ok Ill play the happy romantic that thinks that maybe there might be some things that are not let out of the bag yet about the Weapon and or the 8K sensor...because they might not work as planned yet or are still in development. Think R1 first release vs R1 latest release.. Or Epic first build to lastest build...

I get it, its a lot of money and there are a lot of us that are quite happy with our present camera and setup. But Im pretty sure that Red just didn't say hey, lets see how little we can change the Dragon camera and still sell cameras. Ill bet there is a lot more to the Weapon that we are going to find out in the future that we will say, Hey why didn't they say that at NAB.. Im not saying its news that will move mountains but we are talking about a new sensor that is probably a half a year away and by then there might be some more features that are added to the Weapon that were just ideas or wishlist by RED for the camera at present time...
Anyone else have this feeling that by the time the 8K sensor is available the Weapon will be a lot more camera than it is now presently stated? Or am I just wishing this to justify my upgrade?

I think that's a fair observation, but with the new RED unwilling to reveal what they "hope" to discover, I think any surprises will be seen by both us AND RED.

 

[Stacey Spears]

Ok Ill play the happy romantic that thinks that maybe there might be some things that are not let out of the bag yet about the Weapon and or the 8K sensor...because they might not work as planned yet or are still in development.

Or they want to manage expectations better this time. Anything is possible.

 

[Dion Eusepi]

Jim Jannard was pretty clear in his NAB post that there will be an alternative path forward for Epic and Scarlet Dragon users. It is clear that the path must include the Dragon sensor. It would appear that most users fear that statement may not be accurate. I'm not sure why that is the case, but it seems many already feel seduced and abandoned at this point. I do not count myself among them. I too am not interested in a path that includes the current Weapon upgrade and I am confident that Jim's statement around an alternative path is real. From a business perspective, I just don't see Red alienating and abandoning a huge installed base and just walking away from Red Epic and Scarlet Dragon users that will opt out of this upgrade path . Doing that would harm the company's credibility and it would leave money on the table. I don't see Red doing that either.

So it is clear if Red doesn't move aggressively to compete with Arri they will loose industry market share at the higher end. I think the Red Weapon is only one part of a broader strategy to do that and more and that this is only Act I of bigger play. I plan to be patient, have a little faith, and see where it goes. Besides, cameras don't make great movies, but great filmmakers do!

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

Jim Jannard was pretty clear in his NAB post that there will be an alternative path forward for Epic and Scarlet Dragon users.

But remember everything can change.

I wish I could run my business with that motto in mind.