Ok, I hope this wont be too controversial but I've been looking at these two cameras (C300-Scarlett-X) all day. I've been eagerly awaiting their arrival for at least the last couple of months and now they're here. It truly was an exciting day spent in front of my macbook awaiting the next dribble of information on twitter from people there.
So which is the best fit, again like anything you can argue it from numerous different points of view until your blue in the face. Which is basically what I've been doing with myself all day long.
So the specs on the Scarlett-X are impressive, but what's miffing me are the record rates. I'm a little confused and I understand red need to keep it sufficiently distant from the Epic, ok so job done there. But these record options and the windowing of the sensor I find frustrating.
The Scarlett-X records 3K at up to 48 fps - Great. BUT for those of us in PAL countries we need 50 fps, sure we could pop down to 2K but by then, your putting on your widest lens which could be a little slower in your using stills lenses like a Zeiss, Canon or Nikon. Not to mention just having to do a lens change because you want to go off speed can be annoying and it takes time, precious time that can sometimes rob you of another take.
For example if you're on a production using HMIs and Fluro's and you want to go off speed then you really want to be able to go to at least 50 fps, am I right here.
Sure most HMI ballast's are flicker free these days but on indie productions - not always!
Finally, I'm confused about what my field of view would be is a 50mm a 50mm or is it something different? I guess the 4K at 24/25 fps option will be giving me something close to a true Super 35mm frame?
By my count once you kit this camera out it's coming pretty close to $20K just like the Canon, which I suspect may be a little cheaper when it hits the ground early next year at places like BHPhoto etc
There's also additional costs to consider, you'll need batteries at least 4x Red Bricks, the red volts don't pack much punch from my understanding. You'd need at least 4x 64gb Red mags, and some other bells and whistles. Not to mention you'll be burning a lot of data and you'll need a decent PC or MAC set up probably with a Red rocket card realistically to get the most out of it.
But on the other hand the Canon only shoots 1080 up to 30fps and up to 60fps at 720 - also pretty disappointing. By my count that really only leaves the Sony FS100 which though compressed can shoot at up to 50/60 fps in 1080 mode. The canon shoots to CF cards, something most of us have from our HD-SLR kits so that's a bonus for the canon camp, plus it will pretty much just pop straight onto your Zacuto or Red Rock style kit, where as the Scarlett-X she's a little heavier from my understanding?
There's a lot to consider when contemplating a new camera kit. Ultimately the question will always be return on investment.
P.S. I'm going from memory for most of the specs here but I should be pretty close, don't slam me too much if I've gotten a couple of things a little, let's say... off speed :-)
