Reality Check! Miami Music Video Scene!

[Carlos Prio]

Reality Check for me brothers!!! Miami has turned into a Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Latin Music Video Mecca with all kind of Directors workin it out down here. Commercials have been on the decline and films are non existent since this genius state has cut all tax benefits for the film industry but all and all I have been doing alright.

But, for the past 90 days I have witnessed a substantial increase of the Canon 5d/7d DSLRs into Miami's Music Video Sets. Time & time again Red Rental quotes have gone cold... I show up on sets and I am told that we are shooting on Canons!!!! Then I speak to a couple of other DPs in the area and several have told me the same thing! We are shooting on 7ds! One colleague stated that he preferred the 7d's low light capabilities and chooses 7D over the Red. What???? what about banding and compression??? "No matter Bro, cost/quality ratio" he states!!! So, I understand that it's "Obama Time" and ultra low budgets is the norm in Alternative, Reggaeton & Hip Hop videos but on the main stream (lil Wayne) & big budgets??? What about commercials??? Anybody in LA & NYC feeling some of this???

Now I have owned a 5D since it's release and I must admit that I have used it very successfully in video mode!!! I have used it when I needed a POV/Body/funk mount camera or the client just worked me down to the point where I would not use the Red. As you all know, the pictures straight out of the box are just amazing!!! But I just can't stomach it in the real production world!!! and I surely can't stomach it in post. But right now my rentals are challenged and the 7D is kicking my ass!!!

I will keep you posted if the trend continues!!!

[Imran Farouk]

wait for the Scarlet's/Epic's...I'd wave good bye to this trend then, after holding that body proto and being an owner of a 7D...this trend can't continue and RED are definitely on the right path. Jees if they shaved off even just a bit more of the epic body it'd be amazing, or made a few carbon accessories increasing the lightness.

This trend can't possibly live on for too much longer...good luck with it though! I'm going to stay out of rentals for a while to come...

[Patrick Kaplin]

I'm curious to hear from others about this. Is the Red rental market really taking a hit from the dslrs?

[chrislancaster]

i have a feeling as the web takes over more and more people are not going to care about super high resolution

It's become the "Good enough" country (world?)


look at mp3's they sound like crap but nobody even notices anymore because they are so dominant

its rough terrain will be interesting to see what happens next

im obviously not a genius business man but Scarlet should become the focus and it should be cheap and ready to go ...my honest opinion

[Zakaree Sandberg]

ive been seeing this for a while now...
but honestly.. the only people who care about quality is US..
the film makers.. the cinematographers or tech geeks..

in real life.. people could give a shit. they dont care about quality but quantity.

its the hard fact.

Its all about what can we get on the WEB ASAP! and for CHEAP.

my biggest fear is paying another 30 grand for a camera system that loses out too a 1700.00 camera..

feature films and network tv will always use quality.. and this is where RED takes the cake. We have already seen the decline in FILM for RED projects...
but now im really seeing the RED- CANON decline and its happening more and more..
it wont be long till feature films and tv will soon jump onto the dslr bandwagon.. especially when the next generation of dslr's come out.

were talkin under 5k for a camera system that will be working the big and small screens..
profits for us = bye bye
profits for the productions = $$cha ching$$

[Rick Darge]

I just saw a video on Vimeo where Rodney Charters was talking about how they started using the 5D and the 1D as background plate cameras, then as B-cameras, now soon, as A-cameras. I own a Red, 7D & 5D. I push people to go Red but sometimes it just makes sense to go with Canon. Scarlet will change that but I wonder what Canon has up their sneaky sleeves as well. Times are a changing that's for sure. What I worry about most is what is going to happen once the Scarlet & Epic cameras are released? I think MMMOST productions in Los Angeles are going to opt for the Scarlet because it will be cheaper and cheaper to rent. This will force some Epic Owners to compete with those prices. How often are people going to want 100 fps 5k? I shoot slow mo very little in my work.. People are going to want the Scarlet S35 for peanuts, Red One will be put into a shoebox and the Epic will be reserved for those with great negotiation skills and/or demanding projects. But really.. It's not about the gear, right? You don't get hired for your gear unless you're a rental house. People are hiring you because of your talent and your ability to work well with others. So, play your cards safe, don't just look at tomorrow. Look at 5 years from now and picture where you want to be. At the end of the day, it's not the camera, it's the work.

[Miltos Pilalitos]

I see a trend in Europe towards the Canon 5D and 7D too. I try to educate people whenever i can about why it's not a good idea to shoot a TV commercial with a 5D but the reply is always "but look how good it looks". That drives me crazy!

Honestly, i start to believe that the Scarlets will not be as successful as i thought they would be 6 months ago. Most of the potential buyers will not be able to understand why they need to pay X times more than a DSLR for a Scarlet when they can't see the difference in image quality.

It's depressing really but that's the way things are...

[Jerrod Cordell]

What Lil Wayne video was shot with a 7D? That's insane.

I'm sure the lowlight excuse will be nipped in the bud once more MX Reds are out on the market.

[MichaelHalsell]

Our post facility in NYC has seen a significant increase in Canon footage being handled and treated. I'm not sure if the Canon trend is pushing the envelope or dumbing down expectations. But the volume of stuff being shot with Canon tools has definitely risen.

[Rick Darge]

I don't understand how people can grade Canon footage after grading Red.. And then to have to add all these accessories just to make the cameras work in a professional environment. For what? To save a few bucks on rental? Why compromise?