Thinking of Purchasing Scarlett-W

[Derian Hartmann]

Thinking of purchasing a Scarlett-W but wanted some opinions from more experienced RED shooters;

We will be mounting it to a tripod, monopod or hand holding it by the side handle and lens (DSLR style)

The following is everything (minus the battery itself and the SSD/Reader) that we plan to purchase aside from the brain itself.

DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O EXPANDER - Thoughts? Do you recommend the V-LOCK over the RED VOLT?
DSMC2 RED TOUCH 4.7" LCD
DSMC CANON MOUNT
DSMC2 LOW LIGHT OPTIMIZED OLPF
DSMC2 STANDARD OLPF
DSMC2 SKIN TONE-HIGHLIGHT OLPF
DSMC2 OUTRIGGER HANDLE
DSMC2 TOP HANDLE
RED MINI-MAG SIDE SSD MODULE

Anything i'm missing? Anything I should add or change? This is my first time buying RED so I have not a ton of experience.

 

[Drew Thomas]

I think the scarlet w comes with the mini-mag module so you don't need to buy it separate. I don't think the dsmc2 outrigger and top handle can be mounted simultaneously. Maybe outrigger plus universal handle, which would help with your batteries clearing the handle on the v lock module unless you get some lo profile ones. I like v-locks over red volts personally.

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

You should look at the interfaces between the camera and tripod / monopod.
Some include rod support (such as the modular assault plate).
Look at the quick releases - invaluable.

 

[Alberto Guglielmi]

Consider you might be up for a long wait on the scarlet-W.
Accessories:
I prefer v-lock to red volt. More options and easy to rent extra if needed.
You don't need the mini side module. Included in the camera (media bay).
The side handle in my opinion is better option than the outrigger one. More options to control the camera.

My suggestion is to get the camera. Go to a local dealer, and try few option based on your shooting style.
Also for handles you can look at wooden camera and smallrigs for a much cheaper alternative.

 

[Derian Hartmann]

Does the camera not have threads on the bottom? I was going to mount it to a Zacuto VCT plate for my rails/quick release.

 

[Stacey Spears]

Does the camera not have threads on the bottom? I was going to mount it to a Zacuto VCT plate for my rails/quick release.

Yes, it has threads on the bottom.

 

[Alex Kiritz]

Don't waste your money on a LLO OLPF. It's basically the same as the standard.

The 7" screen gives you a lot more versatility. The 4.7" is way more limiting.

The Side Handle is pretty good; definitely a better investment than the outrigger. When the Redvolt-V batteries finally come out it will be even easier to shoot handheld.

The old redvolts are dead. V-locks allow you way more versatility. For instance, if you want the lightest handheld rig you can get the v-lock belt clip and a jetpack expander. Companies are making new v-locks all of the time with different new features.

 

[Larry Cheuk]

I second all the opinions here.

The Side handle: If you're shooting run n gun style with a small crew or one man band, definitely the side handle is a worthwhile investment rather than the outrigger. It's really important to have more buttons you can customize to make it easier to control in the field.

Batteries: V Mounts are versatile and they can be used for other gear like lights too. Investing in v mounts can help simplify your power solutions for multiple pieces of equipment.

4.7 LCD: The 4.7 LCD is kinda small, but it works fine in the field. There's a nice cheap sunhood from smallrig / coollcd that I find important to have because of the awkward placement of the included top handle. If you go for the 4.7 LCD, you may want to consider how you're going to rig the camera up in general and where the monitor will be placed. I find it very awkward that the newer LCD designs doesn't swivel from left to right. The newer pogo connection design doesn't allow for that side to side turning of the monitor. That to me makes it very awkward to shoot with in any other position other than looking straight on or down at it.

OLPF's: If you work in set environments where you have the crew and the time, getting multiple OLPF's are fine, but I find for one man band or small crew productions, the changing of OLPF's and dealing with tiny torx screws are a real pain. The Standard OLPF is great for multipurpose usage.

And yes, you'll probably have to wait like 4-8 months for it, if you put the deposit down now (based on my experience and many others on the SW Queue thread). And your bomb squad rep really won't be able to give you solid info on when to expect it, so it's best not to plan productions around having the camera within the 4-8 month time frame.

Hope that helps.

 

[Homer Dulu]

Derian, I've been shooting run-and-gun style since I got my Epic-W. I have it all set up in a backpack, and all I need to do when I pull it out is attach the lens, battery and monitor, and inserting the SSD. It's that quick. Pretty much the only downsides for me are a lengthy startup time, and battery life.

What the other guys have said is spot-on. 7" monitor, Side Handle and maybe the belt-clip depending on how heavy you want it. No need for the LLO OLPF - the Standard one will do just fine, even in low light situations. However, I have a Skintone OLPF for situations where I have more controlled lighting, but yes, it's slightly time consuming to swap out OLPFs.

What battery are you planning on using? You might have clearance issues with the DSMC2 Top Handle unless you use something like a top plate or riser.

One other thing that I would recommend is a Variable ND if you're shooting outdoors in a run-and-gun situation. I use a Tiffen, there are some great solutions out there.