The F3 so far....
- Thread starter JCummings
- Start date
bill totolo
Veteran
Real nice work there, John. Congrats.
I've owned the F3 about seven months now, it's opened some doors but hasn't reshaped my business.
I shot a promo for MiB III for Sony Image Works. They requested a Cine Alta camera with output to a Ki-Pro for their effects work.
That was something I was never offered before and I greatly enjoyed it.
I do a ton of work on Varicams and HDX-900's and never considered these to be inferior, and in some ways, as you mentioned, are superior for certain types of work.
I shot a few shows for Travel Channel with the F3 and found it to be a real bear, running and gunning is not it's strong suit. Shooting 10+ hours with the F3 on my shoulder, even with a pad, really did a number on my shoulder.
I rented a pair of RPZ 18-50's for both the F3's on that shoot and that seemed a useable solution to our zoom needs. Then I switched over to a Nikon mount and some long Nikons for the super shallow dof beauty/product shots.
Then I moved into a feature length doc, 11 days of shooting, and though it was long days with the camera, I designed the look to be equally split between handheld and support gear and think we got a really elegant look (shooting S-Log to Ki Pro mini).
All in all I think the camera can stand toe to toe with anything out there and shooting 1920x1080 relieves a lot of the heavy burden of other systems that are more data intensive. I feel the F3 straddles that line for clients who want and appreciate an improvement in quality without having to redesign their post production infrastructure.
I'm a pleased cameraman and am always contemplating buying a second camera, if only I had a stronger base that demanded the product. Perhaps over the next seven months?
I've owned the F3 about seven months now, it's opened some doors but hasn't reshaped my business.
I shot a promo for MiB III for Sony Image Works. They requested a Cine Alta camera with output to a Ki-Pro for their effects work.
That was something I was never offered before and I greatly enjoyed it.
I do a ton of work on Varicams and HDX-900's and never considered these to be inferior, and in some ways, as you mentioned, are superior for certain types of work.
I shot a few shows for Travel Channel with the F3 and found it to be a real bear, running and gunning is not it's strong suit. Shooting 10+ hours with the F3 on my shoulder, even with a pad, really did a number on my shoulder.
I rented a pair of RPZ 18-50's for both the F3's on that shoot and that seemed a useable solution to our zoom needs. Then I switched over to a Nikon mount and some long Nikons for the super shallow dof beauty/product shots.
Then I moved into a feature length doc, 11 days of shooting, and though it was long days with the camera, I designed the look to be equally split between handheld and support gear and think we got a really elegant look (shooting S-Log to Ki Pro mini).
All in all I think the camera can stand toe to toe with anything out there and shooting 1920x1080 relieves a lot of the heavy burden of other systems that are more data intensive. I feel the F3 straddles that line for clients who want and appreciate an improvement in quality without having to redesign their post production infrastructure.
I'm a pleased cameraman and am always contemplating buying a second camera, if only I had a stronger base that demanded the product. Perhaps over the next seven months?
I decided for the work I'm doing and clients I'm after it would be best to own both the F3 and a RED cinema camera. So I still plan to drink the koolaid, its just a matter of when.
Trust me.... 30 days after you buy a scarlet, you will sell both for an Epic.
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
Did you sell your F3 Timur?
Yup. finally happened. but i sold it to a VERY close friend, so in essence it hasnt gone anywhere. its still in my equipment bin, and i use it often.
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
So it was more of a business decision rather than a creative one? or both?
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Aint that the truth.
LeavingTheCandy
Well-known member
Timur is right--I drank the Red Koolaid and promptly sold my Scarlet for an Epic. It took owning a Red to see the brilliance in it. I am very fortunate to still own my F3, which I'll probably take to the grave. (they are dropping in price, so it's worth more to me than I can get for it). There are many jobs I'll still choose the F3 for over the Epic. (shooting to ProRes, for example).
As the thread has indicated, there are also jobs that both cameras are totally wrong for. I have a fixed-lens camera for those, and would probably pull my hair out trying to shoot events, etc. with the higher-end cinema cameras!
Duke makes a very good/valid point, that one has to be prepared for the impact upon workflow and data management when choosing Red.
A final note: Sony's SLOG debacle (yes, I paid full enchilada for it) and shady FS700 "4K ready" crap has scorned me. Unless they release the holy-grail of cameras, I'll not be heading their way any time soon. Red can exhibit some ass-hattery, but they seem to take care of their customers and reward those who invest in their products. SHAME ON YOU SONY!rogar-Mark-07(DBG)
As the thread has indicated, there are also jobs that both cameras are totally wrong for. I have a fixed-lens camera for those, and would probably pull my hair out trying to shoot events, etc. with the higher-end cinema cameras!
Duke makes a very good/valid point, that one has to be prepared for the impact upon workflow and data management when choosing Red.
A final note: Sony's SLOG debacle (yes, I paid full enchilada for it) and shady FS700 "4K ready" crap has scorned me. Unless they release the holy-grail of cameras, I'll not be heading their way any time soon. Red can exhibit some ass-hattery, but they seem to take care of their customers and reward those who invest in their products. SHAME ON YOU SONY!
rogar-Mark-07(DBG)
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scocklin
Well-known member
LeavingTheCandy
Well-known member
Scocklin,
I looked at your site....love your ProMod dragsters video! If you shoot more of that and need help, I'll work for peanuts and bring my F3 to shoot! I used to race, shoot motorsports stills for a living, and still lust for horsepower!rogar-Smoke(DBG):
I looked at your site....love your ProMod dragsters video! If you shoot more of that and need help, I'll work for peanuts and bring my F3 to shoot! I used to race, shoot motorsports stills for a living, and still lust for horsepower!
rogar-Smoke(DBG):