Scarlet Vs. Scarlet Dragon Low light?

[Ryan Lightbourn]

So I've read a bit about some Scarlet/Epic Dragon users being disappointed with it's low light capabilities (although I know the new DEB feature is supposed to help with it), and was wondering how Scarlet > Scarlet Dragon upgraders feel about the new low light capabilities?

I'm shooting a feature in Nov., and the only reason (out of absolute necessity) for me to go with Dragon over regular Scarlet is if the low light capabilities are on par with something such as the 5D3 or Blackmagic 2.5K w/ Speedbooster (I'm fine with the Scarlet's original DR, resolution, and frame rates...but it would be nice to have those options upgraded as well).

We will be shooting a great deal of scenes with limited lighting scenarios, and because of production time constraints I'd rather budget for a low light camera upgrade vs. a more complex lighting & power package. I own an A7S, so it's either an Atomos Shogun & some kit vs. quite a bit more cheddar to go with Scarlet Dragon.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Nick Morrison]

If you want to shoot lowlight, you can always get the LOWLIGHT OLPF...which should be able to let you shoot 2000 ISO quite easily.

Also, Dragon Scarlet shoots 5K 48FPS, FYI. The framerates got a nice boost on upgrade to Dragon.

best.

 

[Björn Benckert]

The new OLPF measure about the same in the dark as MX... but, and thats big... DEB and ADD makes Dragon new olpf far far better than MX even in lowlight. It's out of comparison.

And there is so many reason why you should go for it if possible. Colors are far better, noise looks nicer. And most of all the highlight protection stop makes it so that you can open up to get light into those lowlight without clippling the highlights.. that is a very very good lowlight feature atleast as I see it, I do not care much for cameras that can see into the dark if it clips the only light that is there to do so...

I had MX, old and new dragon olp and I would have no doubt I would get the new olpf.

The old olfp might give you a stop at the bottom over the other options but the artifacts it's comes with makes it, at least to me not an option to shoot a feature with, you would get quite a few shots where the olpf flare is an issue. So perfect world you get a dragon olpf2 for most shots and then a night camera olpf1 dragon but I think you would actually use the olpf1 for most dark stuff any way.

 

[Mike P.]

You're assuming that the Scarlet upgrades will be happening in numbers by November (have they even started? I thought it was only new purchases being fulfilled at this point). Honestly, I think you're gonna leverage the A7s a lot more than a Dragon for low-light. Even at ISO2000, you're not gonna be nearly as light sensitive as an A7s, and probably not even in-line with Canon C300/500 or F5/F55.

Also, you could GH4 with a SpeedBooster and get 4k, s35 FOV, and an extra stop of light from all your lenses, plus off board recorders (for both your A7s AND GH4), for a heck of a lot less than $9500...

How "low-light" are you talking about?

 

[Ryan Lightbourn]

Thanks for the info guys.

Mike, I'd either buy a used Scarlet or brand new Dragon. I sold my Scarlet right before NAB, so a brand new Scarlet-Dragon is essentially cheaper and more 'instant' vs. the poor souls who opted for the $9,500 upgrade.

I'll probably be shooting a few 2000-3200 shots, plus I looked at a ton of Scarlet-Dragon videos yesterday & I'll be much happier buying a used Scarlet body & Shogun for the A7S. The $7,500 extra I'd pay for Scarlet-Dragon is unfortunately not worth it for my needs.

Out of curiosity, do you choose an OLPF when purchasing Dragon and have the option to buy a second one? I don't see anything in the Red store.

 

[Mike Garrick]

Having just ordered one, you don't get asked.

I assume its the new OPLF ( what I wanted ) unless you request it through your bomb rep.

P.S. Bjorn thanks for confirming what I thought, one way or another I work with light.