Samurai or Pix for EPIC/Scarlet?

[Raphael Varandas]

Samurai or Pix for EPIC/Scarlet?
Pros and Cons at each one?
Thanks you in advance guys.
Cheers

 

[stu aull]

Never handled (in person) a Samurai, but have heard nothing bad about them.
BOUGHT the PIX240. Build quality is first class: alloy chassis, beautiful fittings and switchgear. Touch-screen ops on Samurai was a deal-breaker for me in cold-weather use.
Previous owner of Sound Devices mixer and I cannot emphasis how beautifully made their stuff is. Menu system quick and intuitive. GREAT tech support, with regular software updates. Very customer-responsive.
Specs between them speak for themselves (no criticism here, just saying you can read that stuff on their sites).
240 is very RED friendly with file name-matching features to your R3D recordings, which is nice, and an exclusive I believe.
I would urge you to actually SEE/touch these before you buy. I think the PIX240 is more expensive, but you'll see why the second you hold it.
oh, and images they record are beauty in HD...

Stu Aull
S-X #00199
PIX240
Alaska

 

[Matthew Scott]

Great points there, remember battery life too...Samurai destroys competition there

 

[Daniel Stilling]

I had a Samurai and now have the Pix 240.
the Samurai is a great little recorder with some limitations when compared to the Pix. The mini BNC is a real huge pain. Other than that it works great.
i went for the Pix for the sound inputs and time code options and the fact that the files receive the same exact name as in the camera.
both are slightly crippled by the fact that the 1080 out has black borders. RED please fix this!

 

[Mike P.]

Whoa, so the pix also has the border too? I didn't read the 240 thread in Recon so I don't know if they mentioned it. Red does plan on fixing that, right?

 

[Uli Plank]

They said they are working on that.

 

[Sam Edwards]

Your camera's SDI and HDMI outputs have the black border. The Pix and every other recorder just record it. Waiting on the promised fix.

 

[stu aull]

Great points there, remember battery life too...Samurai destroys competition there

D-tapped mine into main battery so non-issue (PIX makes a cable to do this)...
PLUS PIX will allow you to shut off LCD display quick and easy if your trying to save power, or just not using the monitor....
Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Matthew Scott]

D-tapped mine into main battery so non-issue (PIX makes a cable to do this)...
PLUS PIX will allow you to shut off LCD display quick and easy if your trying to save power, or just not using the monitor....
Stu Aull
Alaska

I wouldn't call it a non issue since it's still draining your brick, but it's a better solution than standard Plus, the Sam is two touches away from turning the screen off for even longer battery performance.

 

[Matthew Chuang]

How does the PIX240 rate as a preview monitor? Decent enough or do not bother?

 

[Olivier Madar]

I have both of them.
I agree with all the comments i read here : you really have to use and touch them to know what you need.
What is great with the Samourai : the weight, the price, the battery life,
What is bad with the Samourai : the screen, the cheap construction, the SDI cable, the audio section, the card reader (no esata)

What is great with the PIX : The build, same as audio product, the audio, the screen, the input SDI with all data, the ambient clock, the reactivity on this forum...
What is bad with the PIX : the weight, the price (but not the much in fact)

I have 3 more to buy, and I will buy the PIX.

Olivier

 

[stu aull]

How does the PIX240 rate as a preview monitor? Decent enough or do not bother?

Good, not evaluation-great tho. Which is OK since that isn't its intent. Last firmware upgrade brightened and color-corrected the monitor. So Preview/jib/dolly - great. Evaluation, nope.
Usual caveats in bright sun apply here as with most monitors. PIX has a sweet snap on hood (magnets!) available too.

Stu Aull
S-X #00199
Alaska

 

[Raphael Varandas]

Thank all of you guys.
Very constructive.
Cheers

 

[Tim Bradley]

Has the Samurai firmware been updated yet to use red File names?

Also has the black border issue been addressed yet by Red?

 

[Simon N]

From Thread Camera Firmware + RCX Pro Build 13 beta (includes RED player and Photoshop Plugin )

1) I can tell you that properly scaled full screen 4k HD is coming just around the corner though.

Within the NAB-Questions thread Jarred says that there is a major new build out within the next 2 weeks. I assume this will include the black border issue.

 

[Shane Kelly]

From Thread Camera Firmware + RCX Pro Build 13 beta (includes RED player and Photoshop Plugin )


Within the NAB-Questions thread Jarred says that there is a major new build out within the next 2 weeks. I assume this will include the black border issue.

Apparently it does. It's adding 5k, 3k and 2k resolutions.