Why Buy an Epic?

[Zeb B]

Hi Josh, you've made a careful analysis of all details and what you say makes a lot of sense. Especially so, as your list seems is on the cognitive level pretty complete.

The emotional side of the coin is: Having limited amount of resources available, it's amazing to have the camera I would bought although had an unlimited amount of resources. This reality today with the camera is something I could not even dream in my wildest dreams ten years ago. And knowing I need not to make any compromizes due to a camera that is not good enough is rather inspiring. Moreover, when I see that I didn't get as good images as somebody else, there are no excuses and can only try to learn for the next occasion.

When bought the Red One I was bit worried of the weight of the system and the amount of batteries I need in shooting there in the wilderness. The Red One setup was at least twice as heavy as my previous system. But I was strongly driven by the idea that the Red One creates way better images than my previous cameras. And despite the weight, haven't regret. Instead, bit unexpectedly, the images of the camera have trained my eyes to see things I didn't see before. One big reason for this is, RED enables one to fully exploit the power of the RAW files and gives control to all details. In my opinion to an extent that goes beyond what one can do with DSLR raw files.

Summing up, feel there are things that cannot be predicted by a priori rationality. If you can afford the Epic without risking your economic situation, recommend to go on with it.

Thank you Lauri for the insights. I too dove in over my skill level on a still camera purchase this year that would, in concept, push me to be worthy of its quality and user base. I had been shooting for years with the top range Canons when I attended both Hasselblad and PhaseOne events. What I experienced with the medium format products was not just an order of magnitude increase in resolution - it was the dynamic range and nuanced color tones that blew me away. After that experience, my Canon CR.2 files started to feel like 8bit JPG's so I just can't take important remote destination / event photos with my Canons without feeling like I'm not doing my best. For weddings, sports, casual events and kids the Canon is the weapon of choice. When I go to the moon or have a chance of sighting the Loch Ness Monster I pack the Phase.

The issue with the camera I purchased (Phase IQ180) is that the kit is a beast when compared to the 1D/5D much less the GH2. One concern I have for the Epic is: although much smaller/lighter than the cameras it replaces, when full fitted out does it become unwieldy for remote field or travel shooting without a Sherpa? The mythical Scarlet would seem to be the answer by combining RED RAW with DSLR portability but I want it all: why climb to the top of the mountain to get a shot then take that shot with a 2/3", fixed lens camera?

I will agree with your statements about the emotional quality of having a substantial best of class tool in your hand. With the Phase my fashion / nude / portrait photography takes on a whole new dynamic. There is something about the look, feel and sound of the Phase that makes everyone involved in the project take their game up a notch. Also, since it shoots less than one frame per second, you instinctively study all four corners of the frame, the background, look for little details out of place and direct the talent better - rather than "spraying and praying" then searching for the 1 out of 100 hero frames later, which is the current style of most DSLR photography.

Thank you again for your words of experience. Oh and . . . keep making that Finlandia Vodka!

 

[David Battistella]

Any 2/3 inch camera needs to be a complete system out of the box with audio video I/O, timecode, genlock, 1080p live output etc.

It's basically an EFP cam made by RED instead if SONY and Panasonic.

But the question is whether RAW attracts EFP shooters or repels them. I'd say most people who shoot in this category want HDxdcam. I might be completely blind, but I don't see the market.

I do see a market for a low cost 5k scarlett camera that accepts interchangeable glass.

I hope by Nov 3 I'm pleasantly surprised, but something other than what has been discussed has got to be put into the mix.

David

 

[Zeb B]

????

OCD / ADD
Most of the self-made success stories or important works can be traced to an individual who, maybe as a young person, was viewed in school by others as not able to fit in or had attention span issues with the standardized product they were delivering in the classroom. Going further, I would also hazard to suggest that most successful people exhibit Excessive Compulsive personality traits. Jobs, Eisenstein, Tesla, Kubrick or even our own Jannard - you find me someone who made a dramatic difference who wasn't obsessive or suffered fools for more than a minute.

To which I say . . . it's not a Disorder - it's a Behavior bitches!

OCB and ADB Rules!!

 

[Antony M]

Oh hell.... they cloned me and called my clone Josh Beadle
Well, you are saving me from having to type my thoughts.

Do you have a link to your portfolio?

 

[ethansigman]

Id tend to agree with most of the comments here and have put some thought into the same problems recently. Getting my Epic-M this week and Im gonna park it right next to my Varicam2700 which is my run and gun/doc/reality/sports cam. Marks math is solid but i think you can safely depreciate, ammortize, or lease your cam back to your company over a longer term to make more sense of the cost. Over 3 years it'll cost you closer to $60/day and still have residual value so if you sell you will recoup some (high) percentage. Your risk is your consideration and it amounts to any interest on financing you pay + the depreciation on the equipment between now and the time you sell + (the most valuable part) your time. Its not a steep depreciation so if you don't hurt yourself financing it, id say its closer to being free than to putting you in the poor house. If you pay cash, you can't get caught with negative equity against a loan. My Varicam was a pricey package 3 years ago but carries a 5 year warranty so my risk for repair bills is reduced and the residual at the end for a factory maintained cam is higher. I have a canon 14x4.3 with 2x extender, proxy card, gps, stereo shotgun, zylight z50, and two channel lectro reciever in the slot mount, all powered by an a/b. Its pretty capable cause it travels fully built on my shoulder and i can unzip the bag, power up and be shooting in 10 seconds. My servos and connections are insane but the weight means it needs to be shoulder mount.

2/3 is the right format for run and gun but at a very low price point its going to be hard for scarlet to get the features and ergonomics that have evolved in the broadcast world. The resolution is nice, but broadcast is stuck at 1080 so it might be overkill for a lot of tv projects. it seems people will need to start putting them on shoulder rigs and accessorizing them to get them running for actual run and gun work and the cost/complexity of that process changes the cost/benefit analysis of the camera. To me the value of scarlet is an affordable b-cam to epic and red that keeps post workflows consistent but its use will be to add a second angle to high value shots and give the capability of 2 cam interviews but the fixed lens look will be an issue. For now, im shooting 5d as b-cam to my epic and keeping the varicam and i still have a full hvx package i toss out for timelapse and other stuff. You can always fall back on some safe sage wisdom for rational purchases....if you're not sure if you need it, you probably don't.

 

[Zeb B]

Oh hell.... they cloned me and called my clone Josh Beadle
Well, you are saving me from having to type my thoughts.

Do you have a link to your portfolio?

You'll always be the original clone-bro. My still photog port is being recoded and transferred over to a new ISP. I'll include the link in my signature line once up. My current inadequate film port needs some work before I post it among the mighty oaks on this forum.

 

[Sabyasachi Patra]

A Super 35 interchangeable would be great. 2/3rd fixed lens with deep depth of field plus AF abilities will be of help in those remote shots mounted on a toy all terrain vehicle. However, I can't afford it being crushed under the feet of an elephant. So I don't plan to buy a 2/3rd fixed lens scarlet (if that is what is going to be launched).

The Canon cameras give exceptional low light abilities. I am not sure what is going to be the max ISO/gain of the Scarlet. And for that matter no idea what is the max ISO of Epic.