Whatever happened to DVX/HVX Killer?

[Mark Holmes]

While I understand what RED is trying to do with its new modular system, and am excited to see what the high-end produces, I have to express my disappointment with the 13th announcements.

I've been following RED since its first rumors on the DVX User forums, and was excited from day 1 that someone would finally give the prosumer users what we want: a sub $4K HD camera that shoots to solid state and 2K or 1080P at variable frame rates. A lens mount that would allow Canon or Nikon lenses would be a plus.

So I, along with many others, have waited breathlessly for every announcement from RED for something along these lines. When RED 1 was announced, I was disappointed, but still hopeful. Maybe next year, I thought.
Then Scarlet, with 3K for $3K, was announced. Great, wonderful, I thought, just a little longer to wait. 1st or 2nd quarter 2009 was a ways off, but I could hold off a little longer...

Then the confusion around the DSMC, more waiting, now the announcement of this new modular system and a lot of high end cameras, and what looks like a $4k?? (price TBD) fixed lens or $5K - $9k Scarlet. And when? Summer/fall/winter 2009? Or, maybe, spring/summer 2010?

Much of the enthusiasm for RED and its future cameras was rooted in the DVX/HVX/REDUser forums, and a lot of us just want a HD replacement for our trusty DVXs.

I'm sorry, I wish RED all the best, but it's increasingly looking like my best bet is a $3500 used HVX.

Whatever happened to our DVX/HVX killer?

[hunterrichards]

scarlet 2/3" with a fixed lens...

[J. Bernard Vallon]

Yeah, I dont understand the issue, its the one all the way to the left on the scarlet lineup.

[J Davis]

A used HVX is something I was thinking about for shooting a short next summer.
I'm sure they will be a lot of them on the market for cheap shortly after NAB.
my reasoning - it would be tight deadline to
1.buy scarlet 2/3
2.get something shot
3.and thru the post-pipeline in time for 2009 festivals.

[3B Digital]

I wouldn't say the Scarlet is a HVX killer, I would say it's a market changer. Once released, if the specs hold up; there may not be a cinematic reason to go with an HVX unless you already own the camera.

[Mark Holmes]

Yes, of course there is the fixed lens Scarlet. My point was that the price is yet to be determined, the shipping date is far off, and RED's commitment to what was orignally a high-priority item seems to be waning.

Maybe I'm wrong... And please, prove me wrong! But the Scarlet 3K for $3K seems to have disappeared.

[Birns and Sawyer]

I don't think it's the commitment, but probably just the fact that it's easier to produce a camera without a fixed lens than with a fixed lens. New specs could mean new plans for that fixed lens, thus the price TBA and the farther off date.

I think it would be nice if they would ship the 3K scarlet with a stock removable lense instead of a fixed lens. That would be a really nice option.

[Austin Glass]

Jim has stated on here that the fixed lens Scarlet will not exceed $4k. IMO, the nearest competitor for this version of Scarlet is the new Panasonic HPX170, at just over five grand. Unless you don't care about compression, it only makes sense to go for the HPX over something like their AVCCAM crap that isn't much better than HDV.

[Jaime Vallés]

2/3" Scarlet will kill the HVX and other similar cameras for indie filmmaking. However, if you want to shoot something right now, you can't really go wrong with an HVX.

[Douglas Underdahl]

Well, the $2,500 Scarlet, along with some fantastic used Switar C mount primes, should fill your needs. But of course, it doesn't exist yet. So, if you need to shoot soon, then go for the used HVX. I have a nice R1 set up, but my HVX still sees a lot of use. It's so quick and light and has so many format options - including SD mini DV tape - that for much of the work that I do, it's still my first choice. I just shot some footage of a congressman in PA (hooray, he got re-elected) with it on SD for the web. Client loved it.

So, even when the C mount Scarlet becomes available, you just might want to keep that HVX. Even if you find the Scarlet better in most every situation, it's always good to have a back up.

[Mark Holmes]

Jim has stated on here that the fixed lens Scarlet will not exceed $4k. IMO, the nearest competitor for this version of Scarlet is the new Panasonic HPX170, at just over five grand. Unless you don't care about compression, it only makes sense to go for the HPX over something like their AVCCAM crap that isn't much better than HDV.

Well, that allays my fears a bit. I guess more than anything I just am tired of waiting for what promises to be a fantastic camera. If the fixed-lens Scarlet were available today for under $4K, I would not hesitate to buy it. It just seems that the high-end users have already been taken care of with RED One, and us prosumers are still waiting and salivating over renders and promised specs...

I still am a huge RED fan, and think it is absolutely the future of filmmaking...

...and despite my cranky post, would like to thank Jim, Graemme, Ted and the whole RED team for their amazing work.

[C.H.Haskell]

The HVX produces pretty pictures today and you can most certainly return the 3500 you invested by the time scarlet comes. SCARLET is not here yet so if your comparing the two, well your choice is limited but if your looking for HVX killer then check back this summer :)