Used Red Camera Buyers Guide ---- First time buyer

[Ben Williams]

Hey All,

I'm planning on entering the RED world. I planning on purchasing a used camera within the next few months. I feel like I've topped out within the DSLR world, tired of investing in DLSR systems, and ready to start investing in a system that can capture some of my creative ideas/visions. It would be super helpful if you could contribute to any of my questions or provide any advice for a first time buyer. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone who has bought used through RedUser? If so, what was your experience like?

What is appropriate pricing for a used brain? ~150-200 hours (I usually calculate all accessories included in a kit, which then leaves an estimated price for the brain)

Epic X Dragon -
Weapon Dragon 6K MG-
Scarlet W -


I've been looking mostly at used Weapons vs brand new Scarlet W's. What are your thoughts on the future (+3 years) of both of these cameras systems? Seems like it's still pretty hard to find a good Scarlet-W used, as they have yet to tumble down into the used marketplace circulation. I've been also scared to invest into the old DSMC system, which is why the Weapon Dragon 6K camera has been appealing to me.

Let me know your thoughts.

-Ben

 

[william howell]

Be careful. Google the seller. Do your research. Negotiate.

There are scammers on both sides of the coin..

and there are real, honest people on this forum. Most of the people I've dealt with were completely up front with all info.

We scored a great deal on a scarlet and two dragons.. haven't regretted it one bit.

Nows the time to step into the epic dragon pretty cheap (compared to a few years ago).. the newer cameras are going to be far more expensive... good luck...

 

[Tom Dowler]

Buy from someone on RedUser if possible - there's a list of Red cameras for sale in the "Marketplace: Red stuff" area here.

 

[steven strobel]

I heard red is going to stop servicing epic sensors. Is this true?

 

[Reto Scherrer]

I heard red is going to stop servicing epic sensors. Is this true?

I think it was only the MX sensor

 

[Alexander Thomson]

I heard red is going to stop servicing epic sensors. Is this true?

They are not outright discontinuing service, but they have warned that cameras with Mysterium (2007) and Mysterium-X (2010) sensors will become harder to repair as sensors become more scarce.

Epic-X is available with Mysterium-X and Dragon sensors, and Epic-W is available with the Helium sensor.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Ben,
I’m in a similar boat to you and I’m upgrading from my C100 MkII. It is great camera for sure, but I need something with more space for me to grow and learn. When it comes to cameras and gear, I try to stay somewhere in the middle and away from the extremes as that is where the ardent fanbois live. I love Canon and their products but a lot of the reason I’m going to give RED a go is because after I’ve done my research, what they currently have in my price bracket doesn’t cut it for me. I, like you, had many questions and concerns that echo yours. I'll try to elucidate as best as I can on my experience and what I've learned so far.

Has anyone who has bought used through RedUser? If so, what was your experience like?

I’m in the process of buying my first RED camera (used) from off of this forum. So far it has been pleasant. However, to echo what one of the previous commenters said, be careful. I’ve taken quite a few measures to ensure my own safety. I’ve sent multiple messages asking about the condition and use of the gear. Anything I had a question about, I asked. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! It is your money. I also set up a video call, made sure the unit powered up fine, did a basic test showing its functionality, and so on. Lastly, I used Escrow.com. For the amount of money that I was going to put down, I was not going to just “trust” someone I didn’t know on the internet. That being said, the user I’m dealing with is a great guy, very nice, and has been a Reduser for quite a while. Do your homework. Take your time. CYA!!!

What is appropriate pricing for a used brain? ~150-200 hours (I usually calculate all accessories included in a kit, which then leaves an estimated price for the brain)
Epic X Dragon -
Weapon Dragon 6K MG-
Scarlet W -

I can't really provide you with well-founded and empirical numbers as I didn't physically track and monitor used camera prices. I didn't even consider an Epic-X so I'm afraid I'm no use to you there. Initially I considered the Scarlet-W. For the record, the Scarlet-W is a solid camera and I’d have no problem owning it. So I had some quotes drawn up for a new Scarlet-W package and with all the odds and ends that I’d need to get shooting (purchasing it all new), it was close to 30K. Now I could have bought just the brain and piece-mailed it all together, but honestly, I didn’t want to invest all the extra to do that (time vs ease vs opportunity). Again, that was my personal choice. It could potentially save you some big bucks by doing it this way. Just be aware you will have to be constantly hunting the forums for used gear. Also, like you mentioned there aren’t a lot of used Scarlet-W brains out there. So if you are wanting to do a full used package, you’ll likely be competing heavily against many others as it is currently a very desired camera (in my opinion).

I also thought about purchasing an older Dragon. A few things kept me from doing this. The biggest of them was the fact that I really didn’t want to buy into a DSMC system now that DSMC 2 is out. I wanted the camera that I chose to be able hold its own for quite a few years into the foreseeable future. I move a lot, but should I be in an area where it is conducive for me to safely rent my gear, I’d like to be able to have that option. Talking to a few different people and just looking at public numbers, it seems to be safe to say that newer equipment tends to rent more often.

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that getting a used Weapon MG 6K would probably be perfect for me (most of the packages I’ve seen have been around 30K+ depending on what comes with them). I don’t need 8K at the moment, and probably wouldn’t really put it fully to use. However, 6K would give me lots of room to grow and learn, for a great price point, that suits almost all of my needs.

I think it is helpful to physically write-out what you want to your next camera to do and what features you want it to have. Here is what my list looked like:

Must haves:
-Ability to use Canon lenses (its what I have for glass so I need the baseline support in some form)
-Portability (or the option for it, modular or smaller cameras)...I typically don't have people with me, so the smaller the package and the more streamline and easy it is to operate as a single person, the better. Modularity is obviously a big boon here.
-Slow motion capability (very important for my pet films)
-An intuitive and quick workflow (as a one man bad I simply don't have enough time to spend all day editing, grading, etc)
-Internal 4K ProRes (4:2:2) (helps me future-proof, for a few years at least as I probably won't be replacing my camera for quite a few years)
-Can mount camera to MoVI pro (or similar)
-DPAF or something similar, to assist me with autofocus while I'm doing my solo thing
-Something that doesn't put me into debt for the next half century
-Flat log profile of some sort

Nice to haves:
-Ability to use both Canon and PL lenses (gives me growing room if I choose buy a set of professional PL lenses)
-RAW
-Ability to mount camera to drone
-Good low light sensitivity
-Third party support/accessories
-Good color rendition/color science
-Good resell value and rentability potential
-Ease of use/intuitive controls/menus

Now your list might be drastically different from mine, and that is ok. Also keep in mind that the camera I ended up choosing didn’t meet all of my criteria but considering some of the trade-offs I’d have to make, I’m ok with it. That is something you’ll likely have to deal with is that you’ll have to have balance your wants/needs against what the camera can provide in relation to other cameras.

I hope this post helps you find the right answer to the question of “what camera should I get next”. Good luck!

Edit: BTW, you've got a solid last name. Some would say the "best".