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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Scarlet Dragon >>> Epic Dragon upgrade path update?

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Bill Stengel

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Is there any insight as to whether or not we will see a Scarlet-D>>>Epic-D upgrade path open up in the future? It makes sense that there hasn't been an upgrade path because of the need to accommodate M-X>>>Dragon upgrades in order to get the field ready for Weapon. Since M-X>>>Dragon upgrades are ending this summer and Weapon has been announced, shouldn't the next logical step be to give us the opportunity to upgrade to Epic?

I'm not looking to upgrade any time soon, I'm just curious to know if there is any word on the street as to how things may unfold given the recent announcements.
 
Very much NOT expected to happen. Even less so now that the future is Weapon.
 
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There's a chance that you might not be interested in going from Scarlet Dragon to Epic Dragon after we get the details on the Weapon models and the upgrade costs from Scarlet Dragon.

I have a Scarlet Dragon and I doubt I'd want to go to Epic Dragon, since the future is Weapon and it will have new system of modules. I guess it also depends on if it's worth it for RED to keep the upgrade assembly lines open, based on demand from Scarlet Dragon owners. Maybe a poll thread after NAB would help.
 
Akin A said:
There's a chance that you might not be interested in going from Scarlet Dragon to Epic Dragon after we get the details on the Weapon models and the upgrade costs from Scarlet Dragon.

I have a Scarlet Dragon and I doubt I'd want to go to Epic Dragon, since the future is Weapon and it will have new system of modules. I guess it also depends on if it's worth it for RED to keep the upgrade assembly lines open, based on demand from Scarlet Dragon owners. Maybe a poll thread after NAB would help.
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I totally understand that, Akin. But I'm not a bleeding-edge person. I'd be perfectly content with an Epic-D as a five-year camera. While that may not be the most future-resistent plan, a Weapon upgrade plus the new media and modules are bound to be more than what it would cost to bump up to Epic. I'm a stills shooter primarily and have been slowly making more progress into motion work, so I could "find" $10k for an upgrade, but beyond that it becomes a bit more of a challenge to justify. As you said, we need to wait for all the details before making a decision. The Scarlets are the last in line for the upgrade to Weapon anyway, so we're likely looking at 2016 which would be plenty of time to squirrel away the extra cash.

As is everyone else, I'm eager to see how this parses out for us Scarlet folks.
 
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You're probably looking at selling the Scarlet Dragon, and buying a new or used Epic Dragon if you want to make the jump.
 
Doug Beatty said:
We were told that upgrading from Scarlet MX to Scarlet Dragon was the end of the line.
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As anyone knows who has been around here for awhile... [FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]"Everything in life changes... including our camera specs and delivery dates..." Apparently upgrade paths can change, too. :smiley:[/FONT]
 
I think that it was stated several times that there won't be an upgrade path from Scarlet Dragon to Epic Dragon and that you should have considered this before choosing an upgrade path for your Scarlet.

That was one of the reasons many went with a Scarlet MX - Epic MX option.
 
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Demetri Zuev said:
I think that it was stated several times that there won't be an upgrade path from Scarlet Dragon to Epic Dragon and that you should have considered this before choosing an upgrade path for your Scarlet.

That was one of the reasons many went with a Scarlet MX - Epic MX option.
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Demetri - I sympathize with you a great deal because I thought the same thing based on what was being thrown around. It was pure dumb luck that I held off trading up to Epic-X. But, I was pretty sure that if I upgraded to Scarlet Dragon, it was the end of the line.

That said, in looking back, I think it was more the assumptions and the echo chamber that created that "fact." RED did make it clear there was no path from Scarlet Dragon to Epic Dragon. From that fact (still true) I think everyone inferred that Scarlet Dragon was EOL. But, I don't think RED ever came out and said that Scarlet Dragon had nowhere else to evolve; that was just us making assumptions based on incomplete knowledge. I was guiltier than most.

I think they ones who recently went to Epic-X do have something of a dilemma. There has been only a very short window after the Weapon hints came out and now you have to come up with another $9500 to get back on the train. That has to hurt. Perhaps the only consolation is that you do have a great camera. And, you still have until summer to go to Dragon.
 
Count your blessings if you went from Scarlet MX to Scarlet D. I chose the Epic path, and now I'm up for another 10k (approx) if I want to stay in the upgrade ecosystem. You can go direct from Scarlet D to Weapon, so if you're strapped for cash, it's quite a good situation for Scarlet Dragon
 
Josef Gatti said:
You can go direct from Scarlet D to Weapon, so if you're strapped for cash, it's quite a good situation for Scarlet Dragon
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I sense that that's gonna require a lot of cash
 
Demetri Zuev said:
I sense that that's gonna require a lot of cash
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Yup. I have a Scarlet Dragon of my own and this is the camera I'm thinking about upgrading to Weapon, depending on price. My Epic-M Dragon will not be able to be upgraded for some time... But I imagine going from Scarlet Dragon to Weapon will cost twice as much as going from Epic.
 
I'm glad this thread has gotten some traffic. Thanks to everyone for chiming in.

In the past few months, I've seen allusions to the Scarlet-D>>>Epic-D path opening up. I'm pretty sure they were in posts by Jarred. Of course I can't find the specific quote(s). These references are what caused me to start this thread. I wouldn't have started another "What about _______..." thread otherwise.
Yes things change, and we can only wait until the details are announced.
I suppose leapfrogging the Epic and going straight to Weapon has few downsides except for the additional cost and trouble of switching to the Mini-Mag media (if one hasn't done so already), and the few additional modules/adaptors that will be necessary to meld the two systems.
 
I would think you're right, probably will cost a fair chunk more to leapfrog Epic to Weapon.

I guess the point I'm making is at least the option is there, unlike myself, who is stuck on Epic MX. Jarred has stated Epic/Scarlet Dragon aren't going anywhere anytime soon, which makes me think you'll have quite a large window to make the transition.
 
Sounds like the MX to Dragon path is going to end this year. Just got an email. No word on WHEN this year, though...I'll probably just live with MX until the end.
 
BrandonChristensen said:
Sounds like the MX to Dragon path is going to end this year. Just got an email. No word on WHEN this year, though...I'll probably just live with MX until the end.
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Correct, it's been mentioned here on REDuser for over a month. Mysterium-X to Dragon upgrades end this summer, likely around June. After that those Mysterium-X bodies out there will remain Mysterium-X forever.

Some have been making the upgrade to Dragon pre-NAB to lock in the early adopter discount that's being offered at the moment, but we're a week away from the show and that discount will likely end during or after NAB. Then there's a two month window to upgrade to Dragon and then that path ends.

There's a variety of reasons for this, but much of it is due to the lines clearing up for Dragon to Weapon upgrades and also the expense versus volume of continuing the older upgrade path no longer being totally viable.

Once the gates open for Dragon to Weapon upgrades and new Weapon sales it's going to be a busy, busy time working on cameras down in Irvine at the RED HQ.
 
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