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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Weapon - Carbon Fiber Vs Magnesium

J

Jack Shanahan

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Trying to decide on a upgrade package. I got my deposit in week of NAB last year so I have the AKS credit. Still on the fence though!!!!

CF:
6K - 75FPS @ 9:1
4K Pro Res
33x33x33 LUTS
3.3 lbs
New Magnesium PL Mount included
Upgradeable to 8K for approximately $20K (post NAB 2015 pricing)
Better priority placement for future upgrades


MG:
6K - 75FPS @ 11:1
2K Pro Res
17x17x17 LUTS
3.35 lbs
Upgradeable to 8K for significantly more than $20K ??

Am I missing anything to weight here?

Thanks,
Jack
 
Bob Gundu said:
Might as well consider MG not upgradable to 8k. It will be cheaper to sell it and buy new.
Click to expand...

Do remember though MG is upgrade-able to the new sensor tech when that drops in the future.
 
My main concern about 8K is the current lenses that cover are creatively limiting.

Also to add to the CF upgrade you get 2 years of warranty (only 1 year for Magnesium)

Anyone else stuck on the fence?
 
Carbon Fiber can also do 2k ProRes @ 120fps full sensor 6k
Magnesium can only do 2k ProRes @ 60fps full sensor 6k

It would be nice if Magnesium did 4K UHD ProRes since that is now a standard, in fact all RED cameras should really have that now. Now that RED is in the ProRes eco system why not fully embrace it.

Also note the Scarlet W and Raven can only shoot ProRes 2k @60pfs.

It would be great if RED could boost the ProRes 2k Frame Rates on the Magnesium to sit between the Scarlet W and the Carbon Fiber Weapon which makes sense....100fps ProRes 2k seems like a fair boost on the Magnesium:)

Im currently on the Magnesium Upgrade path but Im very tempted to go Carbon, but I could also take that 19k and buy a full Scarlet Package and then have two RED Cameras which is great because Im constantly shooting two RED cameras now - one living on a Movi or Ronin.
 
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Jack Shanahan said:
My main concern about 8K is the current lenses that cover are creatively limiting.

Also to add to the CF upgrade you get 2 years of warranty (only 1 year for Magnesium)

Anyone else stuck on the fence?
Click to expand...
Also red armor for the CF weapon is 1,500 vs I believe 2900 for the MG
 
Phil Holland said:
Do remember though MG is upgrade-able to the new sensor tech when that drops in the future.
Click to expand...

This is not an insignificant thing to remember actually so glad to be reminded of that fact.

I think for me it is important to really be honest with yourself about what you are doing. 8K is drool worthy to a degree but for 95% of all film work I just don't see it yet. You have to be realistic about your work, workflow, clients etc... And really pick the tool that is your best companion day to day. It gets said here repeatedly and yet there always seems to be this nagging sense of feeling one has to have the biggest and best. Maybe. But the fact is that if you are not really in a line of work to take advantage then there is an element of folly. Weapon 6K is so good and so exceeds what most of us need to begin with.

I agree MG should have better pro rez spec just cos you know it will come up sometimes, and esp since Raven and SW were so generously spec'ed. And I do not buy for one second the processor argument except as it applies to 8K. In Pro Rez only mode the camera should be able to do it.

By the numbers the MG is about as much camera as anyone in the 6K and below world would need for broadcast, film work, spots, docs, weddings, cats, dogs etc..... It gives great compression specs and will produce amazing 4K from 5K or 6K. And that squeeze down is where the magic lies.

If you are upgrading from an Epic M or similar and got the AKS credit, I think the MG was a true gift for the price. Its a significant step up from there and a lot of producers will be happy to work with WeaponMG or SW for sure. 8K can always be a rental except for those who can use it for their day to day shooting business. I can't rationalize it for still work with A7s and PhaseOne 100MPs in the world, so the motion 8K is a specialized area. I think the the smart money for many in 2016 is get the camera that fits your needs, blowing money on stuff you don't really need is so 2015.
 
I just recently got in line for the Mg Weapon. I’m a first time user/buyer into the RED eco-system. Been a longtime reader of RedUser. Very much looking forward to the camera. I’ve been an established Sony user, and am now ready to move on.

I struggled with really wanting the CF Weapon; and not for the 8K possibilities, but for the increased horsepower of the FPGA’s. Higher resolution prores, and faster frame rates with lower compression settings…all good stuff. However, after doing some soul searching, I’m realizing that I really don’t need that stuff. 90% percent of what I shoot is on a procyc green-screen. The R3D files would be what I’d work with anyway. Finally, the $14K difference in the package prices (Mg vs CF) doesn’t warrant the expense. For that matter, I could take the $14k and drop it on a Scarlet W package, and have two cameras for the price of one CF Weapon.

So, I’m grateful and excited for the Mg Weapon. It couldn’t come at a better time too. I work for a large EDA/IT company. They had me down at CES in Vegas last month. At some point in the process after dropping off my equipment cases with UPS to be shipped back to Portland, someone in shipping stole all of my equipment. Some of it has found its way to a Vegas pawnshop. The only items to return were two tripods. Nice! Three cameras, and loads of audio gear. Needless to say, I’ll do my best NEVER to ship this new Mg Weapon. :-)
 
Ronald Williams said:
Needless to say, I’ll do my best NEVER to ship this new Mg Weapon. :-)
Click to expand...

Our Epic-Dragon has been stolen on the trip back from the upgrade in the delivery truck! Your Weapon still could be stolen... or get it at the factory door!
Our equipment insurance was the only one to pay for it.
 
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