Scarlet At $10K

Mark David Williams · November 6th, 2011, 05:06 AM

They could always buy an Ikonoskop.

Brian Drysdale · November 6th, 2011, 06:19 AM

In reality it's the SI 2K, which seems to have found a niche in 3D films. However, it's rather more expensive camera than the 2/3" Scarlet and perhaps now due for an upgrade.

Although, I've just been reminded that you can window the new Scarlet at 2k, which gives a slightly less than Super 16 size image.

Mike Calla · November 6th, 2011, 08:36 AM

Scarlet is a beautiful camera, really, i mean 4K for $15,000!

I don't see any reason why a production that can afford to use this camera would not use this camera.

none!

Brian Drysdale · November 6th, 2011, 09:11 AM

Not all productions want to use a RAW workflow, The Alexa has been a popular choice for TV productions using ProRES and even HDCAM SR rather than RAW.

How reliable the new camera is also remains to be seen. There are a number of factors to be considered when selecting a camera.

Dylan Couper · November 6th, 2011, 09:50 AM

I'm imagining a lot of Scarlet production will be done at ProRes 4:2:2 as well through external recorders.

Brian Drysdale · November 6th, 2011, 10:34 AM

I expect many productions will take up the ProRes option, those external recorders are getting cheaper.

Matt Gottshalk · November 6th, 2011, 11:44 AM

I think it was a great move for RED.

I placed an order and look forward to it making my business good money in 2012.

Greg Penetrante · November 6th, 2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

Not all productions want to use a RAW workflow, The Alexa has been a popular choice for TV productions using ProRES and even HDCAM SR rather than RAW.

How reliable the new camera is also remains to be seen. There are a number of factors to be considered when selecting a camera.

I've had an Epic and Red MX crash and overheat on me durIng several shoots. Very embarassing to me. Even though im still a Red fanatic, my faith in Red is lessened.

Best,
Greg

Buba Kastorski · November 7th, 2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

Not all productions want to use a RAW workflow,

to me it was the most important part of the deal, I've spend a lot of time playing with R3Ds- love that post production freedom;
I've been waiting for that camera for three years, I didn't get exactly what I've been waiting for, but no doubt Scarlet X is a very good deal, well, at least I'd love to think that way,
mine should start shipping Nov 17, as soon as I'll get it will post comparison to all cameras I have 1D, 5D, EX1 and maybe even G10 :))))
I'm excited

Brian Drysdale · November 7th, 2011, 12:32 PM

The post route is a decision made for each production. Many productions have little or no grading work done on them and that includes broadcast television.

I had a conversion with one cameraman regarding the 2/3" Scarlet for use on documentary programmes and he made the point that you wouldn't let some producers anywhere near RAW. Basically, they just wouldn't get it.

Jon Fairhurst · November 7th, 2011, 12:57 PM

Yeah, for fast turnaround TV production, the heck with 4K and RAW. Consider all of NBC's Thursday night comedies. Not a one of them needs more than a basic scene matching grade.

But for documentaries, I liked the idea of 2/3" RAW. Focus wasn't perfect? No big deal. You grabbed the camera, set a close-enough exposure and didn't have time to set the color balance? It might be a bit noisy or blown out, but you got the shot and the colors look natural. You shot indoors, outdoors, and under every kind of light imaginable? No big deal, you can match your shots in post.

It's not that documentaries need extreme grading; it's that the material might be all over the place and you don't always have time to get it perfect. Often you don't know the story until after it's shot, so setting a fixed in-camera look might not be the best approach. (A doc about a celebrity honeymoon might change if the next morning, a dead body appears... Don't get any ideas, folks!)

I'm more of an S35 narrative guy, but I can really appreciate the disappointment that many feel about there being no 2/3" announcement this month. There's still a need for a 2/3" digital cinema cam.

Brian Drysdale · November 7th, 2011, 01:07 PM

I think it's more difficult to hold consistency with the LCDs you get on the cheaper cameras. With the higher end 2/3" cameras you can set up the V/F correctly and set the exposure manually quickly by eye. As one documentary cameraman I know put it "you set the exposure for what looks good".

Dylan Couper · November 7th, 2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba Kastorski

mine should start shipping Nov 17, as soon as I'll get it will post comparison to all cameras I have 1D, 5D, EX1 and maybe even G10 :))))
I'm excited

How do you know when yours is shipping?

Heath McKnight · November 7th, 2011, 04:09 PM

Just to verify, Scarlet is S35, not 2/3-inch, correct?

Heath

Chris Hurd · November 7th, 2011, 04:13 PM

Correct -- it is the same size sensor as Epic X (in fact, they are factory seconds from the Epic X line).

November 6th, 2011, 05:06 AM	#46
Mark David Williams Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hertfordshire UK Posts: 414	Re: Scarlet At $10K They could always buy an Ikonoskop.

November 6th, 2011, 06:19 AM	#47
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Scarlet At $10K In reality it's the SI 2K, which seems to have found a niche in 3D films. However, it's rather more expensive camera than the 2/3" Scarlet and perhaps now due for an upgrade. Although, I've just been reminded that you can window the new Scarlet at 2k, which gives a slightly less than Super 16 size image. Last edited by Brian Drysdale; November 6th, 2011 at 06:51 AM.

November 6th, 2011, 08:36 AM	#48
Mike Calla Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Shanghai Posts: 344	Re: Scarlet At $10K Scarlet is a beautiful camera, really, i mean 4K for $15,000! I don't see any reason why a production that can afford to use this camera would not use this camera. none! __________________ boxoutsidemedia.com

November 6th, 2011, 09:11 AM	#49
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Scarlet At $10K Not all productions want to use a RAW workflow, The Alexa has been a popular choice for TV productions using ProRES and even HDCAM SR rather than RAW. How reliable the new camera is also remains to be seen. There are a number of factors to be considered when selecting a camera.

November 6th, 2011, 09:50 AM	#50
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Scarlet At $10K I'm imagining a lot of Scarlet production will be done at ProRes 4:2:2 as well through external recorders. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

November 6th, 2011, 10:34 AM	#51
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Scarlet At $10K I expect many productions will take up the ProRes option, those external recorders are getting cheaper.

November 6th, 2011, 11:44 AM	#52
Matt Gottshalk Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Potomac Falls, VA Posts: 215	Re: Scarlet At $10K I think it was a great move for RED. I placed an order and look forward to it making my business good money in 2012.

November 7th, 2011, 12:32 PM	#55
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Scarlet At $10K The post route is a decision made for each production. Many productions have little or no grading work done on them and that includes broadcast television. I had a conversion with one cameraman regarding the 2/3" Scarlet for use on documentary programmes and he made the point that you wouldn't let some producers anywhere near RAW. Basically, they just wouldn't get it.

November 7th, 2011, 12:57 PM	#56
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Scarlet At $10K Yeah, for fast turnaround TV production, the heck with 4K and RAW. Consider all of NBC's Thursday night comedies. Not a one of them needs more than a basic scene matching grade. But for documentaries, I liked the idea of 2/3" RAW. Focus wasn't perfect? No big deal. You grabbed the camera, set a close-enough exposure and didn't have time to set the color balance? It might be a bit noisy or blown out, but you got the shot and the colors look natural. You shot indoors, outdoors, and under every kind of light imaginable? No big deal, you can match your shots in post. It's not that documentaries need extreme grading; it's that the material might be all over the place and you don't always have time to get it perfect. Often you don't know the story until after it's shot, so setting a fixed in-camera look might not be the best approach. (A doc about a celebrity honeymoon might change if the next morning, a dead body appears... Don't get any ideas, folks!) I'm more of an S35 narrative guy, but I can really appreciate the disappointment that many feel about there being no 2/3" announcement this month. There's still a need for a 2/3" digital cinema cam. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

November 7th, 2011, 01:07 PM	#57
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Scarlet At $10K I think it's more difficult to hold consistency with the LCDs you get on the cheaper cameras. With the higher end 2/3" cameras you can set up the V/F correctly and set the exposure manually quickly by eye. As one documentary cameraman I know put it "you set the exposure for what looks good".

November 7th, 2011, 04:09 PM	#59
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Re: Scarlet At $10K Just to verify, Scarlet is S35, not 2/3-inch, correct? Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 7th, 2011, 04:13 PM	#60
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Re: Scarlet At $10K Correct -- it is the same size sensor as Epic X (in fact, they are factory seconds from the Epic X line). __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!