Stage 4 - Reservations are now Open.

[Pedro Faerstein]

I Have been following Red since it was an Idea on Dvxuser. At the Time I had an HVX200 with a brevis, and all I wanted was to be able to make the plunge. Unfortunatly at the time I couldn't. Then I upgraded my equipment to an 5D and been waiting for the scarlet for the past 2 years. But in this two years I have earned a good position and I'm very happy to say that I just put my deposit in for the epic x.

What feels incredible to me is that i will have in my hands the best camera in the world. No compromises. The same camera the biggest films are being made in. I just finished a feature yesterday here in Brasil shot on an Alexa (as a 1st AC). While it's a good camera, I could never get past the fact that it's just a 1080 camera. 60 fps? so 2006...

But now arri released a firmware that enables 120fps. But wait... You have to buy a license for that.

Well I'm very happy that after 4 years following this company, I'm now a part of this revolution.

Cheers, and have an epic 2012!

 

[George Butterfield]

As I said, I know it was not popular opinion. But still, I think I have not heard yet why the change of rationale.

First, there is no change in rationale. Read the offers, where is the change? Think of the offers as the Blue, Pink and Green offers, you are still getting a Stage III offer. And if that doesn't satisfy you, remember, anything can change at any time. I also am Stage III and I am getting antsy, I have had money sitting in a US Funds account for a while and my roof is leaking. I'll be nailing on a few more shingles tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, but if it doesn't rain, what's the point?

 

[Luis Otero]

Pretty simple. We have to wait for a Stage 3/3.5 to come back to us for trade-in. If just one Stage 3/3.5 is out on a prolonged shoot and cannot come back to us for a year, should we sit here with EPIC-Xs on the shelf and Stage 4 orders in the system - and not ship anything? We cannot control when you send in a Stage 3/3.5 camera, you do.

BC

Brent,

What you are describing is an extreme situation that I will never expect you to hold on for a single camera. But, again, those are not the rule, but the exception. What I was asking, in a very sensible way, is to get to understand why previous stages had such advantage, and this stage not. Again, without the intention of any animosity, or reducing the enjoyment of getting our cameras, just an explanation.


PS: I did not accept a job just to have the camera ready to be shipped to Red.

 

[Ben Jackson]

I ordered as soon as I got the email! Had a Scarlet on order but have cancelled it and taken the plunge with a full Epic! I kept getting nervous about crop factors and 1k 120fps, so despite the extra money (and canceling the red rocket to help cover the difference!) I think this is a great decision. just glad the price was JUST reachable for me! thank you RED!

 

[Sulekh Suman]

Thanks to everyone that is joining in with us in our RED world with your new EPIC orders. Was a fun night last night talking with so many people that have been shooting all kinds of wonderful things on RED ONEs and EPICs. And so much excitement about the ability for new customers to order EPICs now.

+ Ted

It was great meeting with you yesterday at Band Pro event. Here is to an Epic 2012 I posted the photo you took on this thread.

 

[Nathaniel Haban]

Brent,

What you are describing is an extreme situation that I will never expect you to hold on for a single camera. But, again, those are not the rule, but the exception. What I was asking, in a very sensible way, is to get to understand why previous stages had such advantage, and this stage not. Again, without the intention of any animosity, or reducing the enjoyment of getting our cameras, just an explanation.


PS: I did not accept a job just to have the camera ready to be shipped to Red.

The way I understood the situation with stages 3/3.5 and 4 shipping simultaneously, is that 3/3.5 would get priority (and rightly so) over stage 4. Say that RED has 100 Epics ready to ship, but there is only 50 stage 3/3.5 owners who's R1's have been sent in and inspected. So, the first 50 would go to stage 3/3.5, and whatever's left would go to fulfill stage 4 orders. If this is not the case, anyone from RED feel free to correct me. This situation seems very reasonable, and with Epics being produced at the clip it's been said they are, I wouldn't think Epics would ever be taken away from stage 3/3.5 and given to stage 4.

 

[Brent Carter]

I think you'd be surprised how many people cannot send in their RED ONEs right away. We have had other programs like the audio board upgrade and sensor upgrade program with the RED ONE, so we have historical data on how quickly people send in their camera when eligible.

And, as Jarred said, Stage 3/3.5 still has an advantage. If we have a pending Stage 3/3.5 order, it is going to get fulfilled before a pending Stage 4. And the other advantage of being able to trade in your RED ONE for up to $17,500 of credit towards an EPIC-X.

BC

 

[Marcos Montenegro]

Does anyone know when a Stage 4 order will be fulfilled? I'm in the fence at the moment as I have a Scarlet-X on order, but I don't want to cancel it and wait around for 6 months before my Epic arrives.

 

[Luis Otero]

... And the other advantage of being able to trade in your RED ONE for up to $17,500 of credit towards an EPIC-X.

BC

And I, as well as many people, feel an immense gratitude for it.

 

[Jonathan Carbonaro]

So Brent,

For the people that will have their Stage 3 Red One's available, will you move through that portion of the list and not wait to allocate epics for those who can not send in their cameras yet? ie. my camera is currently sitting next to the shipping box ready to go, but I am far down the list.. It does feel a little off that the general public can now buy Epic-X and will most likely receive their cameras before a lot of us on the Stage3/3.5 list.
I too am grateful for the arrangement, and we all know things change.
I guess my question is. My Red One is ready to be sent. So when Stage 3/3.5 actually starts, will someone like me have the opportunity to get the exchange process started, before a bunch of Epic-X's are allocated to stage 4?

respectfully, just curious..

 

[Luis Otero]

Holly @#$%..! That was my posting "666"...!!!

 

[Luis Otero]

So Brent,

For the people that will have their Stage 3 Red One's available, will you move through that portion of the list and not wait to allocate epics for those who can not send in their cameras yet? ie. my camera is currently sitting next to the shipping box ready to go, but I am far down the list.. It does feel a little off that the general public can now buy Epic-X and will most likely receive their cameras before a lot of us on the Stage3/3.5 list.
I too am grateful for the arrangement, and we all know things change.
I guess my question is. My Red One is ready to be sent. So when Stage 3/3.5 actually starts, will someone like me have the opportunity to get the exchange process started, before a bunch of Epic-X's are allocated to stage 4?

respectfully, just curious..

This is a perfect example of what I was trying to express. This new rule was just mentioned, not explained, and the consequences on us, no matter how much appreciative we are, and how much generous Red is and has been with us, are monumental.

 

[Luis Otero]

Do not want to add more bad-karma, but the first post is clear: "We have a few Stage 2 orders to still mop up, so Stage 4 will not start shipping until those have been completed and the process of Stage 3/3.5 has begun." OK, stage 3/3.5 already began since its firs step is to pay the deposit. So, would this mean that while my Red One is in route for evaluation, someone can pay for the Stage 4 and get his/her camera before me? I must be very close to the first batch since I have #711, and paid it immediately, and received my shipment Feb/14/08. But stll is possible, if I am understanding well the implications of such statement (sorry Jarred, nothing agains you).

Respectfully,

 

[Jarred Land]

Stage 4 cameras will not ship before Stage 2 cameras are complete. Stage 3.. its a process.. remember, we are taking back cameras that are sometimes years old and giving you just as much money as you paid for them the day you bought it... remember that part before we get into a bunch of drama again

Anyways.. we need to be able to take new camera orders during that long stage 3/3.5 process... because it is going to take along time.

As generous as we are with this trade in program, we are still a business, and still need to make money...we can't give away money forever while blocking new orders because of some perception of order and still keep our doors open. its really as simple as that.

If you ever want to see a program like this again... or want us to keep doing what we do for years to come.. you guys need to be a little more gentle and understanding.. OK?

 

[Lee Saxon]

If you're getting full trade in value on a 5 year old camera, you should probably try less hard to find something to whine about.

If it were my camera company, the trade-off for this massive gift would be that you'd be LAST in line. Gotta make my paper first

 

[M.D. Hilton]

Do not want to add more bad-karma, but the first post is clear: "We have a few Stage 2 orders to still mop up, so Stage 4 will not start shipping until those have been completed and the process of Stage 3/3.5 has begun." OK, stage 3/3.5 already began since its firs step is to pay the deposit. So, would this mean that while my Red One is in route for evaluation, someone can pay for the Stage 4 and get his/her camera before me? I must be very close to the first batch since I have #711, and paid it immediately, and received my shipment Feb/14/08. But stll is possible, if I am understanding well the implications of such statement (sorry Jarred, nothing agains you).

Respectfully,

Heck, if I was Red I'd have sent out the full priced cams before I sent out the discounted packages/cameras. I'm actually flabbergasted that they gave away all those packages for loyal customers at all, I've never seen any company do that before.

 

[Jonathan Carbonaro]

I think we all understand Stage 3 is quite a process. And are still very appreciative for the Stage 3 program.
No Drama intended.
Any clarification on time frames, and overall process with Stage 3/3.5 is always appreciated, when the information is available.
Personally, I'm obviously very hopeful that Stage 3/3.5 wouldn't suffer any delays due to stage 4 cameras being allocated and shipped.
We realize you guys are slammed, and doing everything you can, and also understand that this is business. We're just always hoping for Good News, and for Stage 3/3.5, this felt less like good news...

Again, respectfully, and appreciatively..

 

[Ben Jackson]

Agreed Jarred. It's a pretty amazing deal, very generous, and it makes sense to need to also take new orders. Seems fair to send out a new Epic once the old Red is received, and in the meantime to also be sending out to new people rather than leave them on the shelf as I think Brent said due to some people not sending their old camera in yet.

The way you get passionate about things and care deeply is one of the reasons I am attracted to RED as a company, even if sometimes the Philip Bloom's of the world get upset. I run my business the same way and don't mind saying go away to customers who just don't get it. (www.alphashows.com.au I'm talking about, not my production company)

Anyway, all the best for the holidays and can't wait to start shooting in the new year sometime

 

[AndrewThomas]

The consequences don't seem to exist at all. As stage three owners send in the cameras and they have their evaluations complete, that camera gets priority in the allocation order ahead of stage 4 cameras. The issue here is that Red can build the Epic-X cameras (likely) significantly faster than they can perform the evaluations on the stage 3/3.5 cameras, so why hold up orders for stage 4 when allocating those cameras won't affect the delivery date of the stage 3 camera?

 

[Ben Jackson]

Makes total sense to me Andrew, nice logic