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What is the minimum accessories to start shooting except brain with low budget?

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Alexey Datsenko

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Could you tell me please What accessories except brain need I at least to start shooting?
For example I have only 15 000 USD and I will buy Scarlet FF35 (it is 9750 USD and because FF35 is needed for shooting independent movies ). I understand it is not easy to get everything required for 5000 USD to start shooting movie but may be is there any tricks to get some way to get accessories are needed for example may be buy some cheep lenses or something like that?
So
The first point is:
1. Scarlet FF35 brain - 9750 USD
2...?
3...?
Advise me please the 2,3...,n points are required to start shooting in consideration of my left 5000 USD with some compromise if is it possible of course?
 
Hi Alexey,

It's very hard to say as prices have not yet been announced (and most likely will not be until the first Scarlets and Epics begin to ship), however, I think you will be hard pushed to get a solid system together for $5k in accessories...

You will need, at least, the following:
1) Storage. Perhaps two Red drives, or some CF cards.
2) Power. Maybe 4 batteries and a charger, minimum.
3) Lenses - these will be a major problem on your budget - can you borrow or hire these?
4) Control - a redmote looks like it will be necessary for controlling the camera.
5) I/O - unless you don't care about recording any audio (even guide mixes) to the camera, or are prepared never to run a directors/ACs/clients monitor over HD-SDI (highly unlikely, I would imagine), you'll need an I/O module.
6) Viewfinder - you'll need some way to see what you're shooting! Either an EVF or LCD - LCD would be cheapest, but you could maybe find a second hand Red EVF when the Bomb EVF ships.
7) Lens mount - not sure if the brain price includes a mount, but you'll certainly need one!

That's pretty much the minimum, but you'll need some cables (for EVF/LCD if nothing else) and some spares...

From current pricing, you're looking at about $2k min for recording media, $1.7k for an LCD screen (second-hand EVF would likely be a similar amount), I would imagine the I/O module and redmote will set you back at least $1k between them, plus $500 for a mount if necessary, current power rig for the above is about $2.2k, iirc.

That's $6.9 - $7.4 with no lenses and no spares, depending on the lens mount situation...

Now, the good news is that I don't think you need to go for the FF35 brain - you say FF35 is "needed" for shooting independent movies, which I simply don't agree with. I think S35 would be a far better choice, giving plenty of resolution, a beautiful DoF (the same as 99% of hollywood pictures) and less focus issues for your AC compared to FF35.

Now, going for the S35 brain as opposed to the FF35 model would save you $2,750, putting your accessories budget at $7,750 - just enough to get you a basic rig (still minus lenses, though) with hopefully a few dollars left over for the inevitable incidentals you'll find you need once you put the kit together.

What you still need to figure out is how you're going to get your hands on some glass (but going S35 opens up rental options for cine glass, as well as stills lens options) and whether whatever tripod you have or have access to will be up to the task. You also don't have a mattebox, follow focus or any other niceties, and you will have to think about how you're going to ND the lens down when shooting exteriors.

In short, you're pushing your budget heavily, even for the S35 system, but for true indie work - if you can lay your hands on some lenses you can afford and you go S35 rather than FF35 - you can probably just about pull it off...

HTH,
Dom.
 
I agree with everything that Dom said, and I'd like to add one more thing. The S35 scarlet is coming out MUCH sooner than the FF35, so you will likely have to get the S35 if you're planning to get a scarlet in the relative near term.
 
FF35 is needed for shooting independent movies
Click to expand...

I disagree with this tremendously.

ANY of the scarlet cameras will be able to give you beautiful pictures totally adequate for independent film.

there have been quite a few Hollywood movies shot on 2/3" sensor cameras, and even a few shot on 1/3"

Shot composition, camera movement, sound and lighting are what make a movie "feel like a film"

Your DP (and gaffer) have a lot more to do with the "filmic look" of your movie than the size of your sensor or the DOF of your lens ever will.

if you're on a tight budget, get a cheaper scarlet. Then, if your project is successful, just upgrade the brain and youve got a whole new camera :)
 
Well maybe he was talking about the ability to use cheaper SLR lenses on the FF35. S35 lenses are 5-20 times as expensive, which I find hard to believe in a supposedly free market. But I count on the red-hype to change that soon (even though Fuji went in the other direction with their new 7kg zoom, those poor fools :rolleyes5:).
 
It's got nothing to do with free markets - it's got to do with economies of scale and the very small size of the market for motion picture lenses. That's getting larger with more and more digital 35mm sensor cameras in circulation, and so we will certainly see prices drop (as we are doing), but I wouldn't expect them to ever get near the price of stills lenses or you'll be disappointed.

I think that the OP's thinking was, indeed, that for economy he want to be able to use stills glass, hence (in part) my decision to recommend S35.

The new Fujinon zoom looks fantastic, by the way - 18-85mm @ T2 is nothing to be sniffed at...
 
Rick Presas said:
Your DP (and gaffer) have a lot more to do with the "filmic look" of your movie than the size of your sensor or the DOF of your lens ever will.
Click to expand...

and also.. in digital cinema color grading.. is a huge part of it too..
as a digital cinematographer, I feel that there is more POST required by the DP..
 
Nikkor lenses and REDS

Nikkor lenses and REDS

I'm very interested in the application of stills glass as I have a fairly good collection of Nikkor lenses, access to a wide range of Canons and maybe even some very long and fast lenses courtesy of press sports mates leaving the business. Does anyone have first hand experience of using Nikkor primes and zooms on RED cameras?
 
Alexey Datsenko said:
tricks to get some way to get accessories are needed for example may be buy some cheep lenses or something like that?
Click to expand...
something that is sometimes glossed over ... the lens is the single most important feature of an imaging system ... if high "quality" is the desired output. If you're not willing to invest in good lenses ... maybe get a lower priced "complete" system ... maybe start with the 2/3 inch fixed lens Scarlet ... learn the workflow etc ... make films while figuring/dreaming of obtaining "better" equipment. I saw an audition the other day which reminded me that the single most important ingredient was the Actor.
 
Adam Levins said:
Very true, an understanding of the basics of color grading is essential...

time to start playing with apples new version of color released today http://store.apple.com/uk_smb_67752/product/MB642
Click to expand...

This is totally random and basically off topic, but thanks for that post because I hadn't realized that the new version of Final Cut Studio was out! So I just ordered it...

I would think that as much as I buy from Apple and the fact they have my e-mail address, they would actually send me a newsletter or announcement about it. I guess that's asking too much. Not like I've spent more than $30,000 with Apple in the last 4 years. Oh wait, yeah I have!
 
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