dSmc..... ? for the still shooters

[Lee Saxon]

One look at that side handle that looks like it was build out of lego bricks told me this would never be my full-time still camera. Seriously, is there a rounded edge anywhere on that thing?

Four hours shooting a parade or a football game with the nicely sculpted grips of Nikons and Canons and my hand hurts. With Red's...I can't even imagine.

Such a silly thing for them to blow it on when everything else sounds so great.

[AnthonyFlores]

I have ben a Canon shooter for long time 1Ds Bodies, currently 1Ds III, even so recently acquired a MF body,
Hasselblad H3D 39, and then sold it, I was about to purchase the new DF Body to go with the Leaf Aptus 80MP DB,
and also placed an order for the Leica S2
but after the HDRx™™ news I decided to wave my options and get an Epic-M instead, and since I have several Epic-X
coming, I look to dedicate the entirety of my new Studios in Italy to the Digital workflow of RED for both Still and
Motion capture.

Hey Ketch, I'm in love with the Leica S2 and as a medium format camera in a beautiful DSLR body (feels better to me than Canon or Nikon) ... I would be overjoyed to own one. I also love the S lenses, even though I wish they went down to 2.0 or 1.4 ...

However, the main issue for me is more the cost of it -- since I'm not a multi-millionaire (yet!) ... I need to be reasonable and allocate only so much resources to camera spending. With the Stage 3 Epic package, extra media, some moderate priced lenses, rocket, etc I'm already looking at over $50,000 and I simply simply can't justify the $23,000 S2 body plus another $10,000 or so on lenses.

I may just end up getting a GH2 and some Leica M lenses to hold me over and give me my craving for the "Leica look" stills until it's time to put all my attention into focusing on Epic and Scarlet stuff.

Anthony

[KETCH ROSSi]

Hey Ketch, I'm in love with the Leica S2 and as a medium format camera in a beautiful DSLR body (feels better to me than Canon or Nikon) ... I would be overjoyed to own one. I also love the S lenses, even though I wish they went down to 2.0 or 1.4 ...

However, the main issue for me is more the cost of it -- since I'm not a multi-millionaire (yet!) ... I need to be reasonable and allocate only so much resources to camera spending. With the Stage 3 Epic package, extra media, some moderate priced lenses, rocket, etc I'm already looking at over $50,000 and I simply simply can't justify the $23,000 S2 body plus another $10,000 or so on lenses.

I may just end up getting a GH2 and some Leica M lenses to hold me over and give me my craving for the "Leica look" stills until it's time to put all my attention into focusing on Epic and Scarlet stuff.

Anthony

Well, with Leica there is little to go wrong with their Lenses, they simply are the World's best lenses Period!!

And you sure pay for them too, hehe.

I decided not to spend the 50k budget on the MF camera system and went for the Epic-M instead simply because I
believe hat Epic will do for me much more then the extra MP's and or larger sensor ever will, and at the end I'm no
willing to sacrifice what Epic has to offer vs. any MF Still camera, off course as said above the ultimate camera for me
will be also the Epic 645, and will not miss out on one as soon as it is ready, off course before that I will have my hands
on a FF Epic as well ;)

[Christopher Barrett]

I reckon I'll hang onto the digi back. One of my biggest clients can actually tell the difference between the Phase One files and the Canon files and my Rodenstocks and Schneiders are really beautiful glass! I'm actually considering the Schneider Cine-Xenars as I'm shopping for a set of primes. The 14 blade irises on those have got to make for some gorgeous bokeh... thinkin out loud.

CB

[AnthonyFlores]

Hey Christopher,

If you try the Schneider Xenar's let us know what you think. I considered them before with a DSLR, but since I was focused on the 5D at the time, the set didn't cover the full frame sensor.

However, I do think they have full S35 coverage -- so they might be a good fit for the Epic.

Their pricepoint is very appealing -- and if they rivaled RPP's or Zeiss CP2's in quality they would make a great value.

Anthony

[AnthonyFlores]

By the way Ketch, you are still going to have your Leica C set to accompany your machined Epic, right? I'm so jealous! From what I remember, they might even start delivering around the same time ... as the first run of lenses were expected in January or February.

Just the difference in image quality I've seen from Leica still lenses with DSLR's (either with 4/3 cameras like Gh1 or using an adaptor + R lenses on Canon cameras) ... leads me to believe that Epic + Leica will be the ultimate combination.

I can't wait to see some tests and I hope some of these big productions that are adopting the Epic will perhaps experiment with the Leicas so we can see their greatness in full display. Probably not, more likely to be Panavision, Zeiss MP's or Cookes ... but can't wait to see the first feature shot with Epic and Leica C's ....

Maybe it will be YOU! lol.

Well, with Leica there is little to go wrong with their Lenses, they simply are the World's best lenses Period!!

And you sure pay for them too, hehe.

I decided not to spend the 50k budget on the MF camera system and went for the Epic-M instead simply because I
believe hat Epic will do for me much more then the extra MP's and or larger sensor ever will, and at the end I'm no
willing to sacrifice what Epic has to offer vs. any MF Still camera, off course as said above the ultimate camera for me
will be also the Epic 645, and will not miss out on one as soon as it is ready, off course before that I will have my hands
on a FF Epic as well ;)

[KETCH ROSSi]

By the way Ketch, you are still going to have your Leica C set to accompany your machined Epic, right? I'm so jealous! From what I remember, they might even start delivering around the same time ... as the first run of lenses were expected in January or February.

Just the difference in image quality I've seen from Leica still lenses with DSLR's (either with 4/3 cameras like Gh1 or using an adaptor + R lenses on Canon cameras) ... leads me to believe that Epic + Leica will be the ultimate combination.

I can't wait to see some tests and I hope some of these big productions that are adopting the Epic will perhaps experiment with the Leicas so we can see their greatness in full display. Probably not, more likely to be Panavision, Zeiss MP's or Cookes ... but can't wait to see the first feature shot with Epic and Leica C's ....

Maybe it will be YOU! lol.

Yeah definitely wil have the Leica Summilux C lens set on the Epic next year ;)

BUt if I do get the Epic-M will be at first used with the RPP's with the new added Focus Markings, and some Canon Glass on the Red
Canon mount, just to have some fun in Still AF shooting mode ;)

[G Lap]

I'm eagerly awaiting Epic too, but as for stills (as a solo solution) I'm trying not to get too carried away just yet. In stills terms it approximates to an APS-H sized, 14mpx, 5.4micron sensor so it remains to be seen how it will compare in terms of ultimate IQ with Nikon, Phase and Hassy's finest. Although I'm sure RED's powerful and clever processing, including HDRx, will have something to say about that.
As for handling and ergonomics, well it seems to be closer in size and heft to MF kit than a DSLR and, for me, an EVF (for stills) will take some getting used to.

I tend to think that a shooter really must need the motion capability to use a DSMC as
a stand alone solution. If you have that need though, and if Epic's IQ stands up, your kit bag could soon be a lot lighter.