Sell it all or wait

Sell it all or wait

  • Keep the 7D system and get better at it?

    Votes: 20 43.5%
  • Sale the 7D system before the Red announcement and wait until release to buy a Scarlet?

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Keep the 7D system until Red's announcement then sell it, according to the Scarlet delivery dates?

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • Keep the 7D system and make $ from it to pay itself, then buy a Scarlet to pair it with?

    Votes: 21 45.7%

  • Total voters
    46
  • Poll closed .
I really appreciate people who have posted stuff - it gives me a glimpse at what the 5D and 7D can do, but I personally am holding off until I get a project that demands it. And you know what? I haven't crossed that bridge and I doubt I will anytime soon because most production teams don't want to shoot with them.

Instead I tell them - but I can get a RED rental for you for just $500 /day including lenses!! And that's on the few interviews I've been on the last few months - it seems extremely competitive for DPs for anything right now - probably because there are far fewer indies shooting now than last year cuz of the economy and equity melt down.

I think the 7D is awesome if you have your own personal projects to do RIGHT NOW, but I don't. I'm happy to execute a director's vision, and sit on my own ideas until I feel I really have it right (which may be never) and watch my stocks rise so that I can afford to take some time off and travel a bit and maybe consider buying a Scarlet when I get back.

Yeah, I'm just a lurker, and I do appreciate all the stuff I'm learning about the 5D/7D/GH1 here. Thanks! :happy:
 
Since you asked for opinions, here are mine. This is basically what I'm doing.

1. Buy the 7D. Be smart and try to buy kit that makes sense with non-DSLR cameras. While many think DSLR cameras are the future, I don't. I think large CMOS cameras may be the future, at least for a while, but I don't think the DSLR form factor will quickly become the de facto any time soon.

2. Work it to death. Really, get every penny you can out of it. Returning the investment shouldn't be difficult, and making profit should happen pretty quickly.

3. Look around to the future. "Rumors" abound of Canon/Sony/Panasonic cameras that are coming soon with large CMOS sensors and RAW or compressed RAW codecs. Learn about what those mean. Learn about what it takes to really handle RAW or even compressed RAW.

4. Look into RED. Learn about REDRAW, REDCODE, and the evolving workflow. Learn about the way the cameras work. Learn that the 3K scarlet will actually resolve about 2.25K, the 4K scarlet about 3K. Learn that the 7D resolves around 1.4K. Ask questions: do you need REDRAW workflow? Do you need greater than HD resolution? Do you need modularity, ramping, significantly reduced rolling shutters, etc... Look at some of the footage (stills and the izzy vid shot) from the scalrets, and keep looking for more - do you need that? It's all nice, but do you need it? Is there something cheaper or easier that will suit your future needs better? Also, learn about their intended product range - will a 2/3" chip mean anything to you? If you shoot lots of really fast documentary or POV sports and need the deep DOF, it might be great. If you are used to a 5D and having the talents nose in focus but their eyes out, it will drive you up the wall.

5. Wait. Use your equipment in the mean time, and watch and listen. RED seems to be a little bit ahead of the "Big Three" here, simply because their rumor mill has been turning and we know production has been going on creating an effective and efficient large single CMOS bayer pattern camera for some time now. We are still waiting on successful implementation of their ASICS, however. If Canon, Panasonic, and Sony recently flipped the switch, it may be a while before a great solution makes it to market. And who knows what on earth Nikon has been doing. They may really really surprise a lot of people. See what comes to pass in October in terms of announcements - rumors are this one won't carry the "things will always change" badge. See if other companies start making their announcements. Even if you order as soon as you can, remember there are 6,000 current RED ONE owners who could easily be in front of you. Bide your time learning about what all this future technology means, because it will be different than what we've got right now.
 
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Sorry Barry (re RED bashing), I really didn't articulate this properly, but I am not a RED-hater. I don't wish them to fail. It's in my best interest for them to do well, make money, please customers and roll-out Scarlet.

But, as you addressed later in your response to my post, there is a frustration because RED plays in "a different way," and does not hold themselves to some of the same standards of the big companies... which, hey, may be a good thing, who knows, I'm not a business man. I just know that all of the delays and problems has made me reticent, as a potential customer to jump in early when their low end product line is finally released. And yes you are right that they were open to buyers that RED was a work in progress.

I don't think that critique should always be considered bashing, and it is a fine line between the two. But my post, after re-reading it, displayed more frustration than constructive observation. For that I apologize. RED has made a lot of filmmakers happy and that's whats important.

However, one thing I'll stick to is that, yes "we grant them the power over us," but in my circle of filmmaker friends, many of us looked forward to, planned around, and lost time as a result with all of the changes and delays with their products. We are not victims and we don't want or need any tiny violins, but it really sucked. Simple.

However, it is a blessing in disguise, because I'll never ever plan a project or a job around a product that is not in people's hands! It's an important lesson that maybe a lot of us needed. I was spoiled by the smooth XL1 to DVX100 to HVX200, announcements, rollouts, and transition.

As for the R1s without a home after Epic lands...... Well, if they resell them under 10k with a basic kit to work out of the box, I bet they'd have a lot of buyers. Let's see, the s35 Scarlet is 7thousand USD, outfitted properly... hmm, 10k? If they price the R1 between the 2/3" brain and the s35, with a basic kit. They'll fly off the shelves.

Depending on the image quality, I'd be torn between the size of Scarlet, even with the 2/3" sensor, and at a similar price point, the bulky R1 with a much larger (and older generation) sensor.

It will be interesting to see what happens. In any case with all the cameras, software, low cost comps, and the new HDSLRs, there's never been a better time for film... except for next year, and the year after, etc. So Cheers!
 
:Drogar-Shock(DBG):

...what?!

How isn't this bigger news? Doesn't the HMC40 have 1/4 chips? Are you talking about sharpness or something?
Yes it has 1/4" chips. And yes I'm talking about sharpness; I posted res charts from both that show the little HMC40 has an image just as sharp, with the same CMOS smooth texture.

The EX1 is way more sensitive of course; 400 ISO vs. 64 means the EX1 is 2.5 stops more sensitive.
 
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