Scarlet Upgrade Possibilities, Best Way to Spend Money

[Gary Paul Walker]

Hi Gary, so you reckon this is a price for the fixed scarlet? Mate,i actually considering to fly to states at the end of the summer and get one of these beasts shipped to Michigan where my relatives live... And then hopefully i could blag on the customs that its my stills camera which been purchased years ago,years..

I was actually basing it around a post from Justin O'Neill, where he suggested a 'minimum shooting package':
2.3" Cinema brain + CF side module + 16gb CF card + 2.8" touchscreen LCD + Side handle + 16mm miniRED prime - $6,545
(http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38283&page=2)
At present exchange rates that comes out at £4,020.63 and I tagged on the extra few hundred for safety.
But (and let me preface this by saying that it is my opinion, and could easily be way off), VAT on Jan 1st goes back up to 17.5% and there are varying degrees of Import Duty based on the item, but it could go up to 4.5% - so you can see the cost start rising.
Please be incredibly careful of buying abroad and bringing it in to the country. Customs are savvy to this and have specialised people who are able to do valuations on items
(I know this because a friend tried buying a PRS guitar aborad and bring it back - only to have the guitar valued when he got in and then hit with a £1,300 import duty).
My best guess (and everyone elses' opinion on this in other forums) is to go through Red at Pinewood as they can negotiate the import better than a customer - you'll still be libal for import and vat, but the cost may be less.
Having said all this - we have at least 6 months until the camera is released and much can change in this time.
If anyone else can correct me on what I've said, please do.. because as I've said - this is just what I think based on much reading of Import regulation and VAT...

 

[Jeremy M Lundborg]

Any thoughts on price fluctuations for RED One rentals once the new cameras are on the shelves?

 

[Gary Paul Walker]

Being organised enough to know when your actors need to turn up is a very basic fundemental of a successful film. You don't have to pay actors, you have to prove to them that them taking time to work on your project is worth it, and your going to produce something worthwhile for them at the end. I have never, ever paid an actor/actress, and I've had two films shown at nearly 20 festivals in the UK and abroad in the last two years. When you make your first film that people actually sit down and go, hey that's not bad, you'd be very, very suprised how easily actors are willing to work for free. You just need to be able to pay expenses, get good locations, show them there is great potential in the project your asking them to work on. That should be easy with all the money you saved not ploughing into buying your equipment, right? That's the crux of my argument. Quality absolutely outstrips quantity any day of the week. People don't want to watch lot's of films, they wan't to watch quality films. Lot's of bad/mediocre/average films won't get you anywhere. One great film will get you anywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that great planning isnt the key to sucess in all films - in fact I've worked on many films that have gone very smoothly that have worked with unpaid actors and production staff.
I suppose my point of view is that you have to balance the use and investment of this or indeed any camera.
Is the longevity of the camera going to carry itself across enough projects to make it a worthwhile investment instead of renting.... ie can you get it to pay for itself?
Personally, if I choose to make the purchase, I'll be making it work hard to generate some income that will, in turn, assist in the production of creative projects.
I think we have much the same ideas of approach to film - just that I think I prefer to own equipment, perhaps to retain some independance. I'd happily spend a lump sum now and use the camera as and when I please.

Although, it seems a little pre-emptive make any commitment to an outright purchase, Red could decide its just too good to let out of the workshop for less than $7,000. Then the converstaion would probably shift towards renting lol

 

[Yuri Kudeiko]

cheers for the input Paul,now we have to wait and see

Purchasing scarlet at Red Pinewood is definitely an option. I just wondering whether they be able to deliver the cameras at the end of the summer, assuming that scarlets will drop in the first part of the summer..


waiting game.. heh

 

[Eugene Lehnert]

Fixed Scarlett then upgrade

Fixed Scarlett then upgrade

The fixed Scarlett looks like a great deal. I can't imagine the brain itself will fetch much selling it a year later but I would like to purchase the fixed lens camera and upgrade to the S35 at a later date since I have so many Nikon lenses for my D200.

 

[David Rasberry]

If you buy the 2/3" fixed with all the necessary accessories, in a year you can add an S35 brain only with the Nikon mount and all of the accessories will carry over. That is the advantage of modularity. You don't have to buy a complete new package. I would keep the 2/3" fixed for a B-cam and for high frame rate shots.