Epic vs Alexa Producer Arguement

[Jason Sinclair]

I would show them that^

[Graeme Nattress]

Alexa RAW is 3.5K. Adding that extra 0.5K to get it to 4K RAW isn't going to change much, if anything.

Um, 2880 across. - quote from Arri website: "16:9 sensor mode: 2880 x 1620 for ARRIRAW, 2880 x 1620 down sampled to 1920 x 1080 for HD video and ProRes 4:3 sensor mode: 2880 x 2160 for ARRIRAW, 2880 x 2160 down sampled to 1440 x 1080 (pillar box) for monitoring in EVF-1 and HD video (MON OUT only)"

Measured resolution will of course be less.

Graeme

[Graeme Nattress]

So you end up seeing two movies, one shot at 2.8K with no diffusion and the other shot at 5K with diffusion, and the end result is about the same level of detail,

- there appears to be some in-built diffusion on the Alexa's optical low pass filter stack though. You can clearly see this when you have a really bright light in the corner of the shot and the broad glow extends over most of the image, yet on other cameras (same lens) the glow is contained to the area of the light itself.

BTW, I saw some strongly filtered Epic visuals the other day and it was a very interesting combination of resolution and softness, no doubt because of the high MTF of the REDs are low and medium frequencies and how that interacts with the filtration. I should really make time to plot some MTF curves and see what is going on.

Graeme

[KETCH ROSSi]

Um, 2880 across. - quote from Arri website: "16:9 sensor mode: 2880 x 1620 for ARRIRAW, 2880 x 1620 down sampled to 1920 x 1080 for HD video and ProRes 4:3 sensor mode: 2880 x 2160 for ARRIRAW, 2880 x 2160 down sampled to 1440 x 1080 (pillar box) for monitoring in EVF-1 and HD video (MON OUT only)"

Measured resolution will of course be less.

Graeme

And that was why they went with Epic instead of Alexa, after seen the 4k footage, Alexa just simply does not do well in upscaling to 4k, but I do fill sorry for her especially against the Super crisp 4k Epic produces... ;)

[Jay Birch]

I hate to bring this out again... but just tick the boxes that suite you...

The problem with that list is it is hugely geared towards making Epic look the best.... For instance, you could throw a GH2 into the mix and it would arguably get as many ticks as the Epic, because you have set the list up to be biased towards a smaller, cheaper camera.

I'm not wading into an Epic/Alexa debate, as it is simply horses for courses..... But that list doesn't paint a very full picture, in my opinion (pitting HDRx against native DR, for instance).

[Graeme Nattress]

For every camera there is the appropriate job to use it on. The goal of the Epic is that it's appropriate in a vast number of jobs by virtue of it's image quality, size, weight, fps, etc. etc.

Graeme

[Gunleik Groven]

- there appears to be some in-built diffusion on the Alexa's optical low pass filter stack though. You can clearly see this when you have a really bright light in the corner of the shot and the broad glow extends over most of the image, yet on other cameras (same lens) the glow is contained to the area of the light itself.

BTW, I saw some strongly filtered Epic visuals the other day and it was a very interesting combination of resolution and softness, no doubt because of the high MTF of the REDs are low and medium frequencies and how that interacts with the filtration. I should really make time to plot some MTF curves and see what is going on.

Graeme

I reallly like to put old crappy glass in front of the Epic exactly because of this.

[Jay Birch]

For every camera there is the appropriate job to use it on. The goal of the Epic is that it's appropriate in a vast number of jobs by virtue of it's image quality, size, weight, fps, etc. etc.

Graeme

I'm not dismissing that, in any way. I love using the R1-MX and Scarlet and look forward to using Epic, some day.

I just see that list appear every time there is a "versus" debate and it is set up in a way to deliberately make Epic come out on top... Makes me roll my eyes.

[Jacek Zakowicz]

This is Reduser Jay. The name alone says it all. Biased? Of course. It would be weird if it wasn't. Red employees and enthusiasts cheering Red? Why not?

[steve green]

A wealth of knowledge and information, thanks to everyone. I feel that going into this discussion I'm much more prepared to try and "sell" my desire to shoot Epic, but at the same time not force them into it. I think I'll stress the larger frame size to be able to push in on shots, the 5K resolution for the theatrical versions, and the b-roll (small crew) aspects.

As far as workflow goes, in the past he's done edits "in house" before final color correction and delivery. Will transcoding to an Avid friendly format out of RCX be anything more then the time needed to do the transcoding (no Red Rocket)? BTW, we don't shoot all that much footage. After which, will he be able to work with all the footage as he has when shooting Alexa. Sorry for my post ignorance.