Raven for Wedding Films

[Josiah Duncan]

how do you like the screen in the daylight for focusing?

Using the SmallHD AC7 temporarily until the Scarlet-W comes in, then ill use a 4.7 inch on the top and the ac7 on the bottom. It's a bitch in the daylight, so I'm generally at the mercy of the histogram for exposure. No different than the 5D3s I used to use, except the screen size is much better. I often have my assistant grab the sun hood and put it on for me when it's sunny out. The ac7 has good focus peaking when it's hard for me to discern details, but I like to keep it in normal color mode as the screen is large enough that I can usually focus off of that.

 

[Reuben Evans]

This is a great thread. Very cool read.

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

well @steve, you clearly already made up your mind long before you even created this post. You asked for feedback and opinion from other's who've attempted using RED for weddings and have obviously ignored our opinions advising to RENT and try it out. (so what was the point?).


That being said, my experience with RED vs DSLR ( GH4) is as such:

I own both and would throw the gh4 on glidecam/ gimbal and keep the Red on sticks. The RED was simply too heavy, ate up too much media, and was a battery hog. Matching the two footages was always pain and there was always a subtle but distinct difference. Then one day a bride said to me one day... why is the moving footage (gh4) so much more SHARPER and cleaner than the the static footage (RED). It wasn't that it was cleaner, but as we all know, RED's have a softer, more filmic look. She preferred the Sharper, moving shots of the gh4 (like all brides do) . It was then i realized that a few 1lb gh4's (a7s), shooting 4k, on a glide-cam , Edelkron slider, Pocket jib, and drone would bring a lot more production value to my wedding videos , at far more affordable price than one $20,000 RED package ever could.

So i reserved my red for narratives films / music videos... and go smaller for weddings.

Everyone's experience will vary... Best Of Luck buddy....

your right I did have my mind made up, months ago, hence "What do you think of these 2 packages abelcine put together" never did I ask if anyone thought it is appropriate to use red cameras in a event setting or feedback regarding that

My style is not a supermodern look, that is why I use the leicas, they have a certain softness to them I like.

and for the millionth time

I currently use more batteries and media shooting with the gh4 and pix than I would with a red.. I have a gimbal, edelkrone slider, had a pocket jib (sold it), have a drone, its now time to move on.

I do get commercial work, I just dont enjoy it, just like I really dont like making indie films

and if anyone is wondering to stay on topic this is what the package is shapping up like-not sure on 1 w and one raven or 2 w

[TABLE="width: 169"]
[TR]
[TD]2 scarlet[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 512 cards[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 vlock expanders[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 top handles[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 4.7 screens[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]outrigger handle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 240 card[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 nikon mounts[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]red station [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4 slim core[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]charger[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Björn Benckert]

your right I did have my mind made up, months ago, hence "What do you think of these 2 packages abelcine put together" never did I ask if anyone thought it is appropriate to use red cameras in a event setting or feedback regarding that

My style is not a supermodern look, that is why I use the leicas, they have a certain softness to them I like.

and for the millionth time

I currently use more batteries and media shooting with the gh4 and pix than I would with a red.. I have a gimbal, edelkrone slider, had a pocket jib (sold it), have a drone, its now time to move on.

I do get commercial work, I just dont enjoy it, just like I really dont like making indie films

Go with the red, good looking picture goes a long way and to me I find it difficult to create better looking pictures than what Im able to get out of the reds. And fiddling around with smaller more low cost cameras... in the end that has cost me more than what I paid for the red cameras I had.

and with the (k cameras comming I think prices for 6k rentals will drop like a rock so having a raven to learn with and then when that big wedding comes up go and ask the rental place for a dragon or weapon. Then you know exactly how it works and already got most of the stuff needed to use it. And I for one much rather rent out weapon to a raven owner than to a guy that only used GH1. I even trade 2 days of raven for one day of raven. GH1 guys do not get that deal.

 

[Michael Reiken]

Steve - get at least 4 slims per camera...

 

[Shaeden Gallegos]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but RED now has new packages with everything except the MINI-MAGs, which you pick separately. Sorry, if this was already talked about, but these packages look to be helpful.

 

[Les Hillis]

It's already been mentioned, but you might find use for the battery belt-clip - http://www.red.com/store/products/battery-belt-clip-dsmc

Also wondering if you'd find the larger 7" touchscreen monitors more useful than the 4.7" ones?

Having enough media and batteries was the main concern I had with your initial setup, but it looks like you've got that covered now (I think?).

 

[Rutger Groenhuijsen]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but RED now has new packages with everything except the MINI-MAGs, which you pick separately. Sorry, if this was already talked about, but these packages look to be helpful.

Where can we find those packages? Don't see them in the Red store.

First post on the forum btw, do I need to introduce myself somewhere?

 

[Josh Wilkinson]

I would go with a Scarlet-W and a Raven personally. I just personally bought my first Red (Scarlet Dragon) less than 3 months ago, that I'm growing into for an upcoming feature I'm DPing. What I have found is the Scarlet is very heavy, I've been having trouble with rigging it in general (mostly cost).

I'd say getting at least 1 scarlet would be good because of the swappable low pass filters and extra res (cleaner down res) for worst case filming. Then the Raven, because its easier to rig and use rigged longer.

Sample from last month - https://youtu.be/ImBYdxSGlEs
Scarlet Dragon
Leica M glass

 

[Aaron Nanto]

Sorry I've not read the entire thread yet but.....I used to shoot weddings every single month and the reason why I didn't go with RED back then was because if the fan kicked on it would literally RUIN the ceremony. I know the new DSMC2 have much better thermal/fan behavior, but isn't there still a chance that the fan could kick on to 100% during a long-duration, continuous recording like a ceremony?

 

[Michael Reiken]

Yeah but can't you set the fans to quiet mode while recording?. Plus if it's indoors it shouldn't heat up to 100%

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

I am thinking for any ceremony over 20 minutes I am going to use the gh4's. I am going to strictly use the reds for controlled details shots in the morning and some reception and photo stuff. Been dialing in how to get the most out of all the gear

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I am thinking for any ceremony over 20 minutes I am going to use the gh4's. I am going to strictly use the reds for controlled details shots in the morning and some reception and photo stuff. Been dialing in how to get the most out of all the gear

Good strategy!

 

[William Ciani]

But how many figures are the weddings?

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

But how many figures are the weddings?

like what the couples are paying for their entire weddings, 60K-100K+. Just like almost every wedding in the ny/nj

what am I making? I think that wouldnt be in great taste to say

 

[William Ciani]

also all my films are delivered in 4K via cloud and streaming services. You would be surprised when a couple is broaching 5 figures for a 4 minute film what is to be expected. Having 4.5k will help with simulated slider moves, Bing able to crop and and get 2 angles from one camera plus much more.

Oh.

 

[David Peterson]

I've shot a lot of weddings on GHx bodies, from the original GH1 to the latest GH4. And if I was to drop serious coin on wedding cameras I'd be going with the Sony FS5 (even smaller and lighter than the FS7, better featured slow motion, and groundbreaking variable internal ND filter) all the way over any RED, as the ease of use and speed of GHx/FS5 vs REDs is incomparable. And to get the best wedding footage it is about being in the moment and capturing those fleeting moments just right, you want equipment that helps you do that rather than gets in the way.

Plus remember the GH5's launch is only a handful of weeks away, we might very well get 4K 60fps 10bit internal with internal image stabilization (like the GX80) all for a very low cost.

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

10 bit internal would be the only thing that really would make a difference as I use pixe5h now which are 10 bit

 

[Peter Normandia]

Plus remember the GH5's launch is only a handful of weeks away, we might very well get 4K 60fps 10bit internal with internal image stabilization (like the GX80) all for a very low cost.

Never say never, but none of panasonic's other cameras, except the varicam, have anything better then 8 bit internally. I don't think we are getting 4k 60fps in 10 bit on a GH5. I'd bet 4k 60p, maybe even a 6k option or something headline grabbing, but realistically, I don't think you are going to see any new codec. I wish, but i don't think so internally. Rumor has it as the same as the GX80.

I've got a gh3, and 2 gh4s and I'm on pre-order since October for a Scarlet-w. I'm a raven switcher. I've thought about waiting for a GH5, and saving the expense, but the truth is, while I would happily purchase a GH5, I'm not so sure it really saves me much.

Think about it. I'll spend countless hours researching about it, and playing with it to master its ins and outs. Then I'll get the necessary peripherals to adjust to its form factor, and probably an external recorder when bit depth is necessary.

Then in a few years, i'll get the gh6, and do it all over again. Research. Practice. More Accessories. And in 2 years or so, the GH7....

That's why I decided to get the Scarlet-w. At least for the next 5-7 years, I'll have a camera with the Red Codec, ability to do high frame rates, and the ability to shoot up to 5k. It's upgradeable whatever that means. More importantly, it is modular, so there will always be a way to adapt it to my needs. I already have ample experience with the Dragon Sensor on an epic, so the learning curve is small, and something I'll only have to master once.

I also can shoot 8k and whatever else is capable from the DSMC2 form factor, as my peripherals fits the better cameras should I need something more.

When I add up the time, body & accessory costs of hanging only with the GH series over the probable life span of the Scarlet-w, the RED doesn't seem that BIG of an investment after all.

The truth is it took me a good year and a half to really master the GH4 for my needs. I'm tired of starting over every few years.

Now, while that seems smart, I also suffer from GAS, and will probably wind up with a GH5 anyway