Advice for a Red virgin!

[xshortx]

Ive been watching the forrum ever since I heard about the then upcoming Red One. Ive not registered until now because the Red One was allways a bit pricey for me. Obviously im new so go easy!! Now the Scarlet has been announced Im sure I need one (!!). Maybe not need but at $3000-ish who could say no?! My question is, to mainly the existing Red users but also those using HVXs and the like, I currently shoot with a Sony VX2100. How hard would the switch to Scarlet be? Having never shot on film and as Scarlet seems more film like than digital in its operation I have to admit Im a bit hesitant. Also as a quick last question, how big would the file sizes concievibly be? For say 1 minute of footage, un-compressed?

Sorry for all the questions but Im really excited about the camera but nervous at the same time!!

Thanks in advance!

If this is in the wrong section then I appologise and could a mod move it please?

[Fredrik Callinggard]

It's not film it's RAW. If you take a DSLR camera out for a spin, learn how the imagery function and what you can do in Photoshop afterwards (primary grading of course) you'll know what it's all about.


fredrik

[Gunleik Groven]

This will all be guesswork for a while, but let's guess...

I'm guessing that REDCODE 28/36 will also be available recording options for Scarlet, as long as it shoots to CF only.

In that case you'd have on or around DVCPRO 100 bitrates, which is 1 gb/min (this is NOT an accurate, but more like ballpark....!!!)

As to operation. Scarlet is announced as switchable between full automatic and fully manual. I GUESS they will add some in-between modes, like the DSLRs have. You'll probably be fine if you're used to 2100/PD-150. An hoyr to be used to where the knobs sit, would do it (my guess)

Focus will be a bitch, which it always is, but so much more in HD-land than in SD land.

I'd say: Scarlet is NOT a film equivalent, more like a HVX XXX/EX XXX killer.

Especially with the HD-SDI tap.

I think it's gonna be a fun little cam

Gunleik

[Steven-Marc C.]

There are at least two things you can do right now to get somewhat acquainted with the process:

1. Get a DSLR and shoot RAW with it. Process your pictures with any RAW conversion software and learn things like reading a histogram, correcting white balance and using curves. Once you get your Scarlet this knowledge of RAW processing will be invaluable.

2. Go on red.com and download RedAlert and/or RedCine, which are thankfully freely available. Then go to redrelay.net or the footage forum here and download some R3D files to play with.

[Andrew M.]

If you have some experience with RAW photography and you are good with computers, you have nothing to fear about.
Otherwise buy a good book about RAW photography or take a course about using the RED if any will be popping up soon.

RED is producing maximum of 36Mbytes/sec of data, so multiply by 60 sec.
Scarlet can go even farther up to 100MB, but this is for maximum quality or special 180f/s shoots.

[xshortx]

So its mostly the RAW shooting and focus that will be the biggest hurdles to get over. I can get my hands ona DSLR to play with RAW pictures. but histograms and stuff are fairly alien to me! I shall use a DSLR in RAW and play with photoshop! Thanks for the advice! (And for being kind to a noob!)