Used Red One MX or F3- Pros and Cons for an indie filmmaker?

[Sergio Perez]

Hi all,

I'm what you can say the target market of the Epic-S: an independent filmmaker that knows enough and has worked enough to stay away from low end shooting, but with a limited budget to jump to were the good stuff is, which is the above 30k territory. I work also in the TVC and event coverage business, and would like to step up my game.i would be willing to wait, but now, an important deadline appeared: I need a camera for early November. After much research and with Epic S hopes crushed, I ended up narrowing my option to a Sony F3. However, a friend of mine proposed, for the same price of a functional F3 with SLOG and external recorder (over here the F3 is about 20% more expensive than in the US), a Used, executed Red One MX package with production pack, 4x batteries, 1 charger, CF cards, birger mount, LCD and other goods. I have to say that I currently own mostly Canon Glass. here's the type of work that I do:

Independent Filmmaking:

http://www.vimeo.com/27187442

TVC's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWuIy...eature=related

(Both shot mainly with DSLR's by myself)

I'm a Reduser since 2007, and would like to know other Reduser's opinion on this? Should I go Red One MX? I would also know if any of you are working with a Red as a solo operation for Documentaries, which is something I like to explore. Can anyone who has been working as an indie filmmaker and as a solo operator share their experience? I have a fairly robust post-production editing environment (Macpro dual quadcore 2.8ghz with Quadro 4000 and 8GB ram) which should not be a problem for red footage, i think.

Thank you all,

Sergio

[Harcharan Singh]

Hi,
Just go for RED MX...no thought about it.....The way you can manipulate METADATA of RED in post is just incredible...that you wont be able to do with any other footage.
Harcharan

[sander kamp]

The Red One MX will give you better images that have more flexibility in post. But it is also a bigger and heavier camera that needs bigger batteries and a heavier tripod, it all adds up. I have walked around with a Red One in one hand and a tripod in the other and after 5-10 minutes I felt like my arms were being ripped off. So if that is your plan I would advise to giving it a try first.

[Peter Moretti]

I hope Timur Civan chimes in, as I believe he owns both cameras.

[Sergio Perez]

He did at dvxuser :) I want to hear both ends of the story. You guys are red users, you operate with it on a daily basis, while over there there are F3 operators. I want to hear your pros and cons vs their pros and cons . :)

[ed ng]

Hello Sergio,

Although I do not use the F3, I do own and operate both the AF100 with Nano and Red MX. I love my AF100 for run and gun around crowds but is still kind of heavy with my Panasonic monitor and Zacuto rig with battery and Wevi. My Red with the Mantis is more ergonomic with the EVF but I will tell you right now, there is no running. Only walking unless you are really fit.

I weighed them:

AF100 with full rig: 16lbs with Canon 24-70 lens but no Wevi

Red with full rig: 31lbs with 18-50 lens

BUT I could lighten the Red down to about 15lbs if I use only the monitor and battery mount only.

The workflow on a laptop is difficult if you are shooting 4k IMO but on a desktop, it flies by pretty quickly. You do great work and have a nice style, looks like you shoot on a Canon 5D or 7D, such great cameras for run/gun. I just think the Red would give you so much more in every way, such a flexible system and great dynamic range.

I would love to see you get the MX not that I have anything against Sony but if you do get the Sony, I would get better lenses than the Sony PL ones.

Cheers

Ed

[Sergio Perez]

Hi all,

Thank you for your advice!

Ed, thanks for the input. I really am leaning towards the Red One MX package, but just saw Recon and hope that it doesn't close the door to my deal.. It was possibly the only way for me to get into the red ecosystem...

[Jed Ivie]

For what it's worth...I shoot on a RED several days a week...and have also used the F3 multiple times. If you're a one man show...the Red One gets really heavy really fast...especially if you're trying to be somewhat mobile. Although I've sworn to never use the F3 again (cuz to me it felt like an EX-1 on crack), I have the luxury of a solid crew...and can light and shoot quickly. If you have someone to assist you, never leave home without your RED, otherwise..be prepared to work your tail off every day. The epic is much more manageable...maybe wait for the Scarlet?