waitin'

[Daniel Meador]

Well, I saved my $20k for a full fledged working Scarlet X. So that's exciting! But I worry about having to spend $$$ to upgrade to the new Dragon sensor that's coming. It's not that far off. I know I'm not the only one in this boat. I know renting is an option but I live far from camera rental facilities so that can make it difficult. So I'll probably wait. Like I have for the last 3 years. Any thoughts???

[Bob Gundu]

Creating vs. waiting. hmmm... Seems clear to me. The future of technology is always changing but your dreams and aspirations are today. Waiting for better technology is a path of heartache and disappointment. That said, use whatever you can to do something now vs. later.

[William Robinette]

If you can't make good images on MX I doubt Dragon will help.

You don't have to upgrade. The Scarlet will be long useful after Dragon has come out.

[Brian F Kobylarz]

Why be nervous about an upgrade still at least a half year from now - Just think of all the images you can capture, and all of the work done between now and then.

First, consider what the Scarlet brings to you - does it fit with your needs? Is there any other system that can deliver more for you at the same price point?
Are your clients asking if you have 6K yet?
Well, they need to wait too.

And in the meantime - build a reel shot on Scarlet - your Scarlet.

Also, if I remember correctly, EPIC's will be the first to receive Dragon - and about thinking that you might save some bucks by waiting, remember that the R1 price went up with the release of the MX sensor.

All you will lose is some quality time with a beautiful tool.

[Steve Sherrick]

Think about how many films and TV shows are being shot on Alexa. It's not 4K. People are creating great images. R1 still beats out a lot of other cameras. Scarlet in the right hands is capable of achieving a high level of image quality. The perfect camera is the one built into your head. You'll probably never be able to buy the perfect camera. Dragon will be an advance, perhaps a major advance. But I contend only a small percentage of cinematographers will be able to take full advantage of it. The masters are able to get every last drop of image quality out of any camera they use. Everytime I'm around one of them I feel...so far away from their skill level.

In other words, get a camera that you can use now. Shoot all the time. These great cinematographers got that way by shooting on any camera they could get their hands on. ultimately a lot of it is about lights anyway. good lighting and light control overcomes many camera limitations.

[Adam Beck]

Steve is 100% correct, it's about lighting. Scarlet is an amazing camera, but if you can't light, your images won't look that good.

[Daniel Meador]

Next stop Red store. Of course your all 100% right. And to quote Eastwood.... "I'm not getting any younger". Bob's comments get framed and posted above my door.

[Terry VerHaar]

Seems like you have already made your (good) decision, but just to help you feel better...

1) Personally, I doubt Dragon will be available for Scarlet as soon as you might think. RED has a way of being.. ummm... late.
2) Dragon for Scarlet will likely be pricey. No one outside of RED knows what capabilities it will add but my sense id that it will raise the level of Scarlet performance much closer to Epic and, for that, you will have to PAY!
3) Shooting Scarlet right now is too much fun to forego. As soon as yours arrives and you start to shoot with it, you will KNOW that you made the right decision.

Have a ball!

[Louis Maddalena]

Don't forget, that if you wait for a Scarlet with a Dragon in it, it will very likely be more expensive than a Scarlet is now. Just like how the R1 was 17k and now that it has the MX it is 25k. The price will be built into it in the future, it just depends on if you want to have the camera now while you wait for Dragon, or wait for it until then. It also depends on if you have a camera you are happy with and what you will do with the money while it sits waiting for a Scarlet with Dragon to be released.

[Shane Kelly]

Well, I saved my $20k for a full fledged working Scarlet X. So that's exciting! But I worry about having to spend $$$ to upgrade to the new Dragon sensor that's coming. It's not that far off. I know I'm not the only one in this boat. I know renting is an option but I live far from camera rental facilities so that can make it difficult. So I'll probably wait. Like I have for the last 3 years. Any thoughts???

It is far off. Can you wait 2 years for it or do you want to have a camera and actually produce something? The Dragon sensor should be called the unicorn sensor - it doesn't actually exist yet in the real world so stop dreaming of this magical sensor that will make your script good and go get a scarlet, or a fs100 for that matter, and get out there and do something.