Just watched first part of zacuto shootout....

[Marc Wielage]

And one other thing: I wish a lot more people here had the balls to actually rank the footage. DPs, shooters, and owners in other communities are happily doing it: Debating, giving interesting and rational supporting arguments about why they like which clip.

There's been quite a bit of discussion about it on the CML group (Cinematography.net). Many positive words about Red, and some back-and-forth debate on Alexa, F65, and the other contenders.

[Rob Ruffo]

Well, in their defense, the most common criticism of earlier tests by Zacuto and other people was that the Red footage was not posted and graded in a way that was specific to the needs of Red footage, that it was "forced" into a common workflow and forced to match other cameras. So you can't have it both ways, argue that these tests all need to use the same parameters and argue that Red needs to be posted in whatever way is best for Red footage.

But I agree that a test where everyone does whatever they need to do in order to improve the camera image by relighting, etc. is not scientific, but it's just another type of test that some people may find interesting.

No single test is going to satisfy everyone, particularly people who have a vested interest in certain results before the test is even shot. And if someone makes a decision to drop $50,000+ of their own money based on a single test that someone else performed, then they are not very bright, are they? And if they are not very bright, they aren't going to make good decisions no matter what you tell them.

David I really hate to sound sycophantic. I am not. You are not perfect, no human being is. But I must say, yet again, I love your post. I always do love your posts. They always cut sharply through the chaff and chatter and reveal a truth in a clear way.

[Will Keir]

Did they release part two of the shootout yet?

[T. vd Hoff]

Yes, just did...
http://www.zacuto.com/shootout-reven...paign=revenge2

[Ryan E. Walters]

My original writeup about the shootout: http://thetown-crier.blogspot.com/20...12-master.html

And My Update / Perspective On The Test: http://thetown-crier.blogspot.com/20...f-zacutos.html

I really appreciate and agree with David Mullens perspective and comments here. Thanks. :)

[Ivan Kovax]

anybody heard any news or results about part 3 of this series? The side by side with as similar set ups as possible?

[Rehan K]

anybody heard any news or results about part 3 of this series? The side by side with as similar set ups as possible?

http://www.zacuto.com/shootout-revenge-2012/revenge-of-the-great-camera-shootout-part-three

[Peter Dmitriyev]

so where's all that big dynamic range advantage alexa/f65/f3 have over Red? I saw identical DR on epic compared to alexa/f65 and arguably superior DR to sony F3 in those equalized tests (talking about the newly released part 3)

[Cliff Hokanson]

So Question, I shot 2 shows on the red one why did the first chip look closer to film then the MX (I do love my MX)
any thoughts!!

[Peter Dmitriyev]

So Question, I shot 2 shows on the red one why did the first chip look closer to film then the MX (I do love my MX)
any thoughts!!

you mean the Mysterium sensor looks closer to film than the Mysterium-X sensor? not sure that's the case, only thing I can say for that is due to the poorer color science and weaker dynamic range at the time, alot of older original Mysterium sensor shot projects tend to often have a more washed out or desaturated palette (tones burn out/clip faster and thus get diluted and not as rich looking, color-wise) and so with the advent of better DR and better color science a lot of Red MX stuff tended to go overboard and look overly rich perhaps to your eyes, in terms of saturation and such - that coupled with the ultra sharp resolution perhaps gave a more 'videoy' effect?
That's just my conjecture because Red MX definitely looks more film like than M to me and most people I would imagine