Scarlet Dragon Upgrades Begin.

[Brian Merlen]

Sony colors kind of suck tho, I am keeping my Dragon and getting an XT or Amira...I don't care about low end options

 

[Philipe Ratton]

Lol

 

[Anthony Berenato Jr]

While I understand that in the end RED is in the business to make an income, I definitely feel the heat like everyone else. I just started my business in March with a Scarlet purchase, and I was going to wait until 2015 to upgrade to Dragon so taxes wouldn't look like I dumped $25k+ into the red (Pun not really intended) and taking away from profits.

In the end, I'll probably rush to make the funds for the upgrade because I'd rather have $3k in my pocket that can be spent on a new 7" monitor than the government hate me.

I really find it to be a pretty outstanding "late upgrade tax," and secretly feel like the extra money is for the R&D and manufacturing of the new OLPF module and options, along with all the extra work that went into the camera after it was finished. Hopefully it's just an increase in manufacturing costs for whatever reason.

While I wish the upgrade hike was announced a while back as well (I was originally waiting for final Scarlet Dragon specs to be confirmed before saving up, but only recently became available), the camera is still a great tool and well-prices in the high-end market. I'm still very excited to get my hands on the upgrade in due time.

Guess I'll begin hustling.

 

[Noel R.]

Sony colors kind of suck tho, I am keeping my Dragon and getting an XT or Amira...I don't care about low end options

The color science and dynamic range is what attracts me the most about the Sony. It was good enough for Claudio Miranda on Oblivion...which is an understatement. I'd put it right on par with Dragon, and Alexa where the difference in image quality is really a moot point. The biggest downfall for me is the E-mount which will require adapters, but other than that the FS7 has A LOT more options that the Scarlet Dragon doesn't have. Low end? I think the line between what is low end or high end is very blurred at this moment.

 

[AndreasOberg]

Yeah, the price increase is a bit of a jump and unfortunately will hurt folks like me who can't afford it yet. Not sure how raising the prices helps anyone other then Red. It's not gonna make those who were on the fence to figure it out (since it's been years of advertising and waiting to get to this point). Guess somewhere the price 'redefine' is justified.

I wish the current upgrade price would stay a bit longer since we simply cannot afford an upgrade currently and of course really would like to upgrade. After all a whole Epic-x Brain cost 17.500$ so it costs almost as much as if buying a new camera.
My vote is for the current price to stay until next summer
/Andreas

 

[Jacobo Martinez]

+1 on Andreas request!

 

[BrendanLeahy]

All DRAGON upgrades move to $12,500 USD. If you have an existing order in the system and have not started the upgrade process by Dec 1, goes up to that price.

Does this mean, then, that we'll see an increase in DRAGON bodies as well? i.e. Scarlet Dragon brain, priced right now at $14,500, will jump to $17,500?

This would be hugely important to know.

 

[Cid J Salcido Uyarra]

Does it still cost $9500 for Scarlet-X to Epic-X as far as MX sensor goes. Or will there be a price bumb too.

Did a HiSpeed fashion shoot with Dragon and the compression ratios where kinda lame at the same time we where using 1.8" mags could be better with MiniMags?

As far as HiSpeed MX is still the champ in my opinion.

This announcement is a double edge sword.

Seems like less folk did the upgrade than anticipated I honestly don't know why they'd raise the price. Like everyone is stating since Dragon upgrade release you can go out and buy a 2nd camera and still keep your Red. Now with the $3k price bump I can buy a black magic for the price difference. What makes Red think they'll get more upgrades at a higher cost? Black Magic has been slashing prices and they've been selling out.

MX is still a great chip not as much range but it'll get the job done. All the Dragon gigs I've done we end up at 5K or even 4K. Its like 2011 all over again.

I really hope the next sensor stays 6K and can handle HiSpeed at lower compression.

 

[Kemalettin Sert]

If upgrade gonna cost more,there should be price increase with bodies too..

 

[Terry VerHaar]

No price increase for Scarlet-X to Epic-X trade-in has been announced; at least as yet.

 

[BrendanLeahy]

If upgrade gonna cost more,there should be price increase with bodies too..

I just realized with your post, Kemalettin, that maybe RED is going to surprise us all and drop the cost of new MX cameras and leave the new DRAGON bodies priced as they are now?

 

[Christof Paul]

Does this mean, then, that we'll see an increase in DRAGON bodies as well? i.e. Scarlet Dragon brain, priced right now at $14,500, will jump to $17,500?

This would be hugely important to know.

if sony and everybody else keeps pushing the way they are, i am pretty sure we can pick up epic mx bodies next year for less then 12500$ and that is a better deal then upgrading whatever you have.

 

[sam karr]

I guess I will pass on the upgrade. I feel like the dragon is still in beta and wanted to wait next year to be safe. Plus the fact that I kept the money for the upgrade a few monthes but then invested it as nothing was happening. And now, suddenly, 2 monthes to accept and pay or pay 30% more. Things are changing quickly these last monthes in the camera world. For 12500$ I guess we will have some nice opportunities with the historic brands + the newcomers. Maybe time to sell my good old scarlet.

 

[Brian Merlen]

is cheap 4k prosumer and even CONsumer 4k/uhd not all but inevitable? why do productions rent Alexas if the new iphone can shoot faster fps also at 2k? guys the consumer crap doesn't matter thats why and has no bearing on red/arri prices...ps oblivion was f65 not some emount camera i believe... and no way in hell do i think sony would release a consumer/prosumer camera to kill their higher end models...its obviously going to need to be flawed in some fashions... which is what attracted me to red and arri, they aren't on the cyclical release cycles of flawed cameras at various price points...the other companies are nothing but a racket, i bought them many times but prosumer crap just aint for me with all the built in flaws... red and arri both make really good cameras, upgradable cameras, and you don't see a new body being pushed out every quarter... comparing prosumer stuff to high end stuff isn't particularly relevant, clearly high end needs matter or everyone would use shotty iphones and BMC, and stuff in the low end spectrum

 

[Christof Paul]

is cheap 4k prosumer and even CONsumer 4k/uhd not all but inevitable? why do productions rent Alexas if the new iphone can shoot faster fps also at 2k? guys the consumer crap doesn't matter thats why and has no bearing on red/arri prices...ps oblivion was f65 not some emount camera i believe... and no way in hell do i think sony would release a consumer/prosumer camera to kill their higher end models...its obviously going to need to be flawed in some fashions... which is what attracted me to red and arri, they aren't on the cyclical release cycles of flawed cameras at various price points...the other companies are nothing but a racket, i bought them many times but prosumer crap just aint for me with all the built in flaws... red and arri both make really good cameras, upgradable cameras, and you don't see a new body being pushed out every quarter... comparing prosumer stuff to high end stuff isn't particularly relevant, clearly high end needs matter or everyone would use shotty iphones and BMC, and stuff in the low end spectrum

maybe you missed the FS7 announcement: 4k raw 14 stops DR iso 2000 same chip as F5/F55 and quite a nice package and in no way consumer or prosumer for about 12000$

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

maybe you missed the FS7 announcement: 4k raw 14 stops DR iso 2000 same chip as F5/F55 and quite a nice package and in no way consumer or prosumer for about 12000$

I think a lot of people are missing how much it'll cost to run. While i'm a bit confused about the price increase on the Dragon upgrade as well, the FS7 will still cost more then 12K if you plan on shooting raw.

The camera is 8K, module adapter is about $2,500. Then add on V-Mount power, Media for the camera/recorders. With the Cost of the R5, and or the Odyssey you're already a good amount over 12K. With that said I think thats a solid price and would consider it if I wasn't invested in RED.

The funny thing is the idea of the modular approach to RED was to get sensor upgrades to avoid having to buy new cameras. Initially at 6K, the price then jumped to 9.5K, and now 12.5K. They're approaching the price of another camera, and out pricing their own cameras with the upgrade cost. I'm not saying I won't do it, because if I can before the 1st of Dec I will. But it does feel like we're being put in a pinch to make a decision, but do appreciate the notice as well. Seems a bit like how fast RED got everything going back in 07 is going so fast the sensor upgrades cost more then quite a few of the new cameras. ut: Crazy how fast things move these days.

 

[Dan Kanes]

Doesn't do raw without an outboard recorder, plus you need some kind of additional back module on top of needing a recorder...

just an observation not a knock.

maybe you missed the FS7 announcement: 4k raw 14 stops DR iso 2000 same chip as F5/F55 and quite a nice package and in no way consumer or prosumer for about 12000$

 

[Ben Hasic]

Now that I've officially changed my order from Scarlet to Epic Dragon, to Scarlet to Epic to Epic Dragon, hopefully I don't get hit by the price increase.

 

[Ben Hasic]

Doesn't do raw without an outboard recorder, plus you need some kind of additional back module on top of needing a recorder...

just an observation not a knock.

The additional back module and recorder aren't that much of a draw back. Once kitted up properly, it's still smaller than a standard broadcast rig.

It's actually a pretty awesome camera, and holds up nicely with the F5 and F55. Used it as a 2nd cam against the F65, and it matched nicely.

Once my Dragon hits, will probably continue using it as a 2nd.

 

[Lliam Worthington]

I think a lot of people are missing how much it'll cost to run. While i'm a bit confused about the price increase on the Dragon upgrade as well, the FS7 will still cost more then 12K if you plan on shooting raw.

The camera is 8K, module adapter is about $2,500. Then add on V-Mount power, Media for the camera/recorders. With the Cost of the R5, and or the Odyssey you're already a good amount over 12K. With that said I think thats a solid price and would consider it if I wasn't invested in RED.

The funny thing is the idea of the modular approach to RED was to get sensor upgrades to avoid having to buy new cameras. Initially at 6K, the price then jumped to 9.5K, and now 12.5K. They're approaching the price of another camera, and out pricing their own cameras with the upgrade cost. I'm not saying I won't do it, because if I can before the 1st of Dec I will. But it does feel like we're being put in a pinch to make a decision, but do appreciate the notice as well. Seems a bit like how fast RED got everything going back in 07 is going so fast the sensor upgrades cost more then quite a few of the new cameras. ut: Crazy how fast things move these days.

Hey Jeffrey,

Yeah I'm struggling with this also. It's a pretty short window now that it's finally been announced. When a Scarlet brain costs $7,950, spending $9,500 for an upgrade to the brain already seemed counter intuitive, though I was considering it, but $12,500 to power up your old brain really doesn't seem to hit a very good price to value ratio.

I appreciate no ones holding a gun to my head, but this is not an announcement I find any excitement in.
I'll probably just hold onto my Scarlet as is as it's a great camera, and continue to rent when I need HFPS, and put the "upgrade" money towards getting a whole new camera in the future, be it an epic dragon or other.