Scarlet as B camera on a 2.40:1 show?

[Alex Disenhof]

Hi all, I'm currently prepping to shoot a movie in Africa, and I'm being forced into using a Scarlet as a B camera to an Epic. We are shooting at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and I'm planning on using the Epic at 4.5K for this. The cameras will never have to be exact matches in terms of focal length, and will often sit on different rigs (crane vs. steadicam) and thus will not shoot simultaneously, so I'm thinking I'll shoot the Scarlet at 4k and crop to 2.40:1. That said, I'm concerned about having a noticeable dropoff in resolution on the big screen from the Epic to the scarlet. This movie will 100% be shown in theater settings but unfortunately I wont have the opportunity to test the different resolutions on these size screens before we begin.

Anyone have experience with this?

Please help!

Thanks
Alex Disenhof
www.alexdisenhof.com

 

[Daniel S Williams]

Considering you're limiting the Epic to 4.5, and shooting 4k on the Scarlet and not 4k HD, you are only working with a horizontal resolution difference of 500 pixels or so. I think the difference would be somewhat noticeable on a big screen, but definitely indistinguishable on a home consumer flat panel.

In my experience in shooting scarlet and epic together, the scarlet has a good half stop higher noise floor at 800 ISO as well. Others may disagree. It's nothing scientific, just an opinion after looking at a ton of footage in RedCineX.

The scarlet always came out a bit noisier at the same ISO. It could be argued that higher noise will lead to a greater amount of compression per an equivalent compression ratio, as a greater amount of small variances in high spatial frequency detail are perceived.

 

[Joshua Reis]

Might be more beneficial to go with a Red One MX as a B camera, which supports 4.5k for the 2.40 aspect ratio?

 

[Wey Wang]

I think it depends on what your final output is going to be. If you're doing a 2k DCP, then the 4k of the Scarlet should be more than enough.

 

[Joesef o.]

simple answer is finish your film in 4K there will be no difference.

 

[Alex Disenhof]

Scarlet 2.40:1 B Camera

Scarlet 2.40:1 B Camera

Might be more beneficial to go with a Red One MX as a B camera, which supports 4.5k for the 2.40 aspect ratio?

I thought of that too but we have a Scarlet at our disposal on location in Kenya, and we will be flying our B camera on things like a hexacopter, steadicam, and in very tight situations, so the Red MX becomes less practical.

We will go through a traditional 2K DI, the environment, lighting, and production design are all very gritty, and the footage will all be pretty heavily graded, so I'm hoping that I can intercut between cameras without anyone really noticing.

Does anyone else have any suggestions on how they would do it, if they have a Scarlet and an Epic?

Alex

 

[Nick Gardner]

It's really a non issue. The images will match just fine. I assume that you are going to be doing a 2k master anyway. You guys have fun, sorry I couldn't come along ;-)

Nick

 

[Wey Wang]

I've shot side by side Epic/Scarlet. And the only way you can tell a difference is if you're peeping into the shadows at 200% magnification. This is really a non-issue.

 

[Ryan Fitzgerald]

My guess is that unless its being played back on a 4k projector in 4k... it will be unnoticeable. Even then, the 4.5k will be down converted ultimately to 4k for playback. So I don't see how it would be noticeable in the end. I would do some tests on the "noise floor" thing. The epic does seem to get less noise and my guess would be the 5k resolution vs 4k. Have a great shoot down there!

 

[Alex Disenhof]

Thanks all! I wish I could do more extensive testing but time and $$ are tight over here in Kenya. I'm sure I'll post more as we go!

Alex

 

[Paul Ellington]

Thanks all! I wish I could do more extensive testing but time and $$ are tight over here in Kenya. I'm sure I'll post more as we go!

Alex

Non issue -- unless you have a 5K projector. Resolves generally to 4K, a lot of people do 2K... Depends on where it will screen. Finish in 4K you will love your pictures...