HVX200 vs RED

DavidBeier

DavidBeier

Veteran
I know this sounds like a stupid question but hear me out.

I've owned an HVX200 for my business for almost two years now and it's served me well. I know the ins and outs of the camera, am happy with the results I've gotten from it, and feel very comfortable using it.

In a short time I'm going to shoot a short film. Recently, I found that I MAY be able to use a RED for the shoot. Now, I'm incredibly torn. If this was possible, I have to wonder if it would be worth it.

I'll have a very minimal crew of mostly untrained (at least on the RED) guys. My DP and Gaffer have worked with 35mm before but never a RED. I've never worked with a RED. I don't even know if I'd have the ability to edit the footage.

On the one hand, it would be awesome to shoot with such an amazing piece of hardware. One the other hand, I don't know what kind of results I could get out of it with such a lack of experience and I also worry that working with something less mobile than the HVX200 would slow down the shoot and take me away from the process of being a director (I'm one of those arrogaunt, Ridley-Scott, mofos who wants to operate his own camera).

Should I just say to myself, "your story and your actors are what's important here and don't let the prospect of using a better tool (camera) get in your way," or will I be missing an opportunity to produce something that will look a lot more professional?
 
Eh, I think in your case you know the HVX200 workflow and are confident about using that camera, freeing you up to focus on the story and other elements. I would say it's fine using the HVX200, as long as you can make it look nice. If you asked me this same question with a feature, I'd have problems with it, namely that you're trying to shoot a feature with that skeleton of a crew, blah blah etc. But it's a short and it'll look great on the HVX200 if you know what you're doing...

Using the RED isn't just changing cameras, it's changing workflows entirely. That's our issue with it. We have a very good HVX200 workflow developed that works nicely. We could switch to using the RED for high end stuff no problems as far as our computers go, everything is basically top-of-the-line, but there's still a learning curve, there are still other issues with using it, a lot of the support gear wouldn't work with the RED, etc.
 
I'd say to hedge your becks and bring both and see what comes out in the wash.. so to speak. I think pure toy fever, you go for the Red and get the best crew you have. Anyone halfway decent and motivated will be able to figure something out... and if not... you got the fatboy HVX to step in as a scab and finish the job. I always think like the Scottish filmmaker that I am and go for something for free and see what happens. You already know what the HVX will do.. give the Red a real shot and then put her away if it's a pain. If it works out, lookk how much more knowledge you'll have.
 
You might be able to find more crew to work on a project just because it was shot on a RED.

The jump from camera to camera is a lot smaller than the jump from video to film, at least without video assist. If the DP is comfortable with it, do it. In theory the process should be the same for the directors and producers. You might want to find a person just as a focus puller, though.
 
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