<And when the day arrives, can I come and pick her up?

[Gunleik Groven]

I've been thinking for a while, that it might be worthwhile to take the trip over the pond to pick up Red 930 in person.

There is not much common ground on the camera arround here (Norway), and if it was possible to get the lowdown (and maybe see where I've been thinking tremendously wrong as to accessories) by taking the trip.

But will this be possible?

Cheers!

Gunleik

[Michael Schrengohst]

That is an interesting thought. I was wondering about that as well.
I would like to come into a RED store and see the accessories and
try them on.

[Jordan Schroter]

Any idea of where Red stores will be located and how many branch's will be opened?

[Gunleik Groven]

I'm not really envisioning a shop. More like coming to Orrange County and knocking on some battered office-door...

Gunleik

[Zakaree Sandberg]

Any idea of where Red stores will be located and how many branch's will be opened?

dont think that will happen.. im pretty sure you were joking.. but in case i was wrong than yeah.. wont be happening..
Red isnt a consumer or even a prosumer company. Its professional.
Where is the closest panavision store?

[donatello b]

i also prefer to pick up my RED ...
before i hand over my coffee can ($$) that is buried in the yard ... i would like to try the REDrails on my shoulder ( i'll know then if i like em or not) .... i want to try the super grip ( again i'll know if it is yes or no) ... same with the 18-50mm zoom or other lenses available ( don't need to do test with them ) .... the EVF is a YES ( tried it out at NAB)...
i want to see the LCD image outside/inside - then i'll know if it is a "deal or no deal"....

PLUS - i can stop by and see Gibby either on way down or back up !!

[Jim Arthurs]

I agree with Donatello and suggested the same a number of months ago. Since RED is so modular and so unique, I think it falls into a different catagory than Arri or Pana rentals and prep.

I'm not talking about "hanging out" with the RED team, but simply showing up SOMEWHERE and trying the different configurations before purchasing, with the aid of a qualified RED Tech and all optional accessories on hand to try.

I'd think that this would be real important for the lower number reservation holders, but even at #411 I would benefit... as I doubt all the other local RED purchasers in line before me will get the full line of accessories... the same with any rental houses in play with the lower RED numbers...

... And Donatello... you use a coffee can? My money is in a pillow case... coffee cans are too high tech for me...

[Finner]

Where is the closest panavision store?

Theres one in Calgary where Jordan lives.

I can see how you would think there would be stores Jordan but for now there is just one big shop. Who knows what will happen in a few years if red and its product line expand.

[Mark L. Pederson]

dont think that will happen.. im pretty sure you were joking.. but in case i was wrong than yeah.. wont be happening..
Red isnt a consumer or even a prosumer company. Its professional.
Where is the closest panavision store?


well ... stranger things have happened.

When the Soho Apple store opened here in NYC, it was funded from a marketing budget, and was expected to operate at a loss due to the insane rent. Pretty sure they are not running at a loss now.

They could put a small RED STORE in the major markets. LA, NY, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, etc. - a place for service, training, etc. - (they could also SELL ACCESSORIES in the Apple stores of major markets - don't laugh - that is exactly where I would sell a pocket camera -

now I personally DOUBT that Jim has any plans for RED STORES, but if he did - I bet the DESIGN would just kick ass -

and there's Graeme ... stuck behind the RED Genius bar .... (LOL!!)

[I Bloom]

I'm not talking about "hanging out" with the RED team, but simply showing up SOMEWHERE and trying the different configurations before purchasing, with the aid of a qualified RED Tech and all optional accessories on hand to try.

Seems like there is a building sentiment on site for this kind of try out session.

IBloom

[Mark L. Pederson]

Seems like there is a building sentiment on site for this kind of try out session.

IBloom

I doubt that would be viable.

I'd suggest to RED that they do very detailed video demos of products on the site and perhaps a return policy on some accessories - there will be plenty of reviews floating around the internet - and come on, there are just not that many options that require "tactile" try out - I think a bit of this is just, "I want see and touch everything," etc. -

[digitalnirvana9]

Any idea of where Red stores will be located and how many branch's will be opened?

I was in the Promax store in Irvine a few days ago and the salesperson there told me that they would be selling the RED camera. Hope this helps.

[Sam Druckerman]

Promax? Hmmm...

I've always believed that Red was able to keep prices down because they planned to sell direct to customers, and not have to support the overheard of stores, or share profits with retailers, etc.

And now it looks like they may not have to spend any money on advertising as well.

I don't think we can have our cake and eat it to. We are all thrilled with Red's pricing structure. I'd be really surprised if Red goes the way of retailers. But, I've been wrong before.



I'd suggest to RED that they do very detailed video demos of products on the site and perhaps a return policy on some accessories -

Detailed videos is a great idea. But I'd like to suggest that they be posted on the RED web page.

There will have to be a some type of "satisfaction guarantee" to sell accessories to customers without them being able to handle them.

But, I'm betting that's already in the works. Jim isn't going to be happy, unless his customers are.

That's my guess how this will all play out, anyway.

Remember that unless you're reservation is in the first 50, you'll have a lot of feed back to help decide where to put your money.

[Gunleik Groven]

(...) I think a bit of this is just, "I want see and touch everything," etc. -

Sure thing.

That's sorta how I came to buy a couple of cars, and a house and...


-;)


Gunleik

[Zakaree Sandberg]

I was in the Promax store in Irvine a few days ago and the salesperson there told me that they would be selling the RED camera. Hope this helps.

this is 100% bullshit

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

dont think that will happen.. im pretty sure you were joking.. but in case i was wrong than yeah.. wont be happening..
Red isnt a consumer or even a prosumer company. Its professional.
Where is the closest panavision store?

Woodland Hills! Ok, it's not a store, but it's a nice facility anyway. Was on Stage 1 about three to four weeks ago.

[OwenR]

or red within apple stores ?? ..............

[Corrado Silveri]

Maybe the compact pro... iRed!

[Paul Leeming]

As far as seeing and playing with accessories etc, while I'd love to do that too I can see that the pragmatic solution for Red would be to do some for of Flash application that can "build" your camera for you with the parts you want, then you can spin it around in all three axes to see how it works and looks puts together, with maybe a running weight number (and cost) on the side or something as you add/subtract parts, so you can figure out the right tripod head or carry weight for example.

I know that won't please everyone who wants to actually hold the thing but it would go a long way towards that goal for most.

[Blair S. Paulsen]

As the lucky holder of serial #19 I have been considering offering folks interested in the camera a testing opportunity for a reasonable price. Camera tests are SOP for many shooters and it could be a nice way to generate a little revenue to help pay off the rig.

I am located in San Diego where shooting outdoors is rarely a problem. I have an eCinema DCM23 monitor and a Sony Pearl SXRD based 1080P projector for image evaluation. What kind of testing of the rig (I am planning to get pretty much every accessory available) do you think people would want to do? What seems like a fair price?

I wonder if I need to check with Ted about this? Anyone think I would be stepping on toes? I would be clear in my advertising that I am NOT an official RED facility. How I choose to use my camera would seem to be my own business. Thoughts...

[Zakaree Sandberg]

you can use your red as a sex toy in a live act in TJ for all we care. its yours.. do what u will:)

[Keith Nealy]

Used in RAW format, of course.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

naturally

[Mark L. Pederson]

As the lucky holder of serial #19 I have been considering offering folks interested in the camera a testing opportunity for a reasonable price. Camera tests are SOP for many shooters and it could be a nice way to generate a little revenue to help pay off the rig.

I am located in San Diego where shooting outdoors is rarely a problem. I have an eCinema DCM23 monitor and a Sony Pearl SXRD based 1080P projector for image evaluation. What kind of testing of the rig (I am planning to get pretty much every accessory available) do you think people would want to do? What seems like a fair price?

I wonder if I need to check with Ted about this? Anyone think I would be stepping on toes? I would be clear in my advertising that I am NOT an official RED facility. How I choose to use my camera would seem to be my own business. Thoughts...

After you pay and get your camera, you can do anything legal you want with it - it's your camera.

I don't know how many people will actually PAY to test a RED camera - I never pay to test any equipment, but I do have lots of relationships with vendors, and my company does lots of beta testing - etc. so I don't actually know what the "norm" is - and I guess RED is so outside the "norm" at this point -

My 2-cents, if there is a demand - serve it - I'm just not sure people in the industry will pay to test a camera -

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I wouldn't think people would pay you any meaningful amount of money to test or demo your RED. Now, I'm sure you'll have no trouble renting it out for actual use. Likewise, I'm sure lots of people would gladly stop by and play with your camera. If you gave them half a day to really explore the camera and try all sorts of options with accessories and whatnot, they might feel inclined to buy you a beer, maybe even lunch. :)

I say rent it out. ...if you don't mind the extra wear and tear and risk involved.

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

I'll pay you $20 to check it out. ;)

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps I'll just have to pay it off the old fashioned way :gun: .

[Darwin]

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps I'll just have to pay it off the old fashioned way :gun: .

With number "19" I would think there are alot of ways to pay it off fast!

[Finner]

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps I'll just have to pay it off the old fashioned way :gun: .

The old fashioned way? Your going to become a hooker?

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

No kidding dude, color me jealous!

Actually to be honest one of the main reasons I'm jealous of early reservation holders is not so much that they have the camera to rent out earlier and make more money on, because that's just money, or even just because they get their cameras earlier to use (which is obviously very cool), it's more because years from now they will be able to say they were one of the first people to use the RED, and they supported an early technology by reserving before it was even fully clear the project would be as good as advertised, etc.

I would have perhaps been one of those early reservation holders if I had come into the industry sooner, but I wasn't even in this until April and I ordered my RED about a month later, so for me I hadn't even heard of the RED until late April. I thought about it for maybe ten days before I placed my order.

So hats off to the early reservation holders, they are pioneers.

[Marque]

It might be nice for the reservation holders to get a more hands on demo perhaps even if its NY, LA, and say London. As much as this is a professional product since the number of people who have gotten thier hands on it is so few.... perhaps a getting to know the camera party might be nice...bring your "R" and tease the press outside the door...

~Marque
Barnstormer Corp.

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Thanks for the compliment Finner, I figured I was too old to make any bank hooking these days... Of course I'm not the one whose avatar is wearing a thong :clown2: .

Rental houses maybe happy to offer free testing to paying clientele, but if you are buying your own camera you are not their renter.

In the role of Director, PM, AD or DP pre-production just might include: realistic assessments of lighting requirements, zooms vs primes, makeup tests for a format with no history, etc using material that you shot yourself, that you could copy onto a hard drive and take home for a host of post-production pipeline tests. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.

Maybe I'm just paranoid but if I had a later rez number and a big show coming up I would consider such testing simple due diligence. I believe most people will consider the cost of testing cheap insurance.

[Stephen Williams]

Maybe I'm just paranoid but if I had a later rez number and a big show coming up I would consider such testing simple due diligence. I believe most people will consider the cost of testing cheap insurance.

Hi Blair,

People will always test equipment before deciding what to use for a production, usually rental house's will be happy to oblige, if not it's time to find a new rental house!

It's also important to test the actual lenses & camera you will use on the production.

Stephen

[laguun]

Hi Blair,
People will always test equipment before deciding what to use for a production, usually rental house's will be happy to oblige, if not it's time to find a new rental house!

Depends.

Usually, if there is $$.$$$-$$$.$$$ budget for a rental contract for a feature, ~5-15% of the days are free for testing and rehersal.

Also, if someone is simply interested in testing new gear, that is welcome by any solid rental facility to let these potential customers use the gear.

However, there are exceptions to that rule.

- sought after, brand new equipment as well as "classic" gear.
If someone, as example wants to test a Digital Betacam DVW500 or HDCAM HDWM2000 VCR - he will see a pretty low chance of getting a free test and the supplier will inquire for what purpose the test is planned.

Items in shortage - which applies certainly for Red in the early days, weels, even months - are usually offered by rental houses as laguun (or ludwig) for training - for a fee, not free, as the gear usually is already booked and there a few days available at all and you typically have much more clients that want to learn & test than cameras/lenses at all etc.

Easy example: there will be probably ~20-30 reds end 2007 in Germany, but hundreds, if not thousands of people who want to test.

That usually changes later on, when all rental houses can offer the device and supply in the market reaches demand.

In that case, when there is no rental house at hands in your nation, it is a good idea to contact freelancers who own the gear.


- Large scale productions and all rental houses are booked.
Events (as the soccer worldchampionship) or A+-Budgets often decrease the availability, especially of gear to a minimum. You will certainly get a free test ride on that particular device later on, however it is necessary to plan in a good overhead in time or international supply - simply as a class of devices is ffully booked in a region or even nation.

-rarity items and unusual gear.
underwater housings/wes/sppacecams, propietary motion control, stereoscopic lenses etc are often only available from a sole supplier at all. if that rental house is booked/unwilling to agree on a test, often there is no other way than to pay.



It's also important to test the actual lenses & camera you will use on the production.
Stephen
I agree - and also the actual lens AND camera together. A tested lens and a tested camera alone isn´t enough - both together form an units which can have specific failures/advantages only present in the combination.