Saw this on IG and thinking Sony may be already sending cameras back to those who had received faulty units.
This is just my assumption based on the on-screen text.
I have a parcel stuck at 'Shipment information received' and typically the next step via DHL Express is 'Processed at London Heathrow', however there has been no update since 2 days ago and this typically only takes a couple of hours.
Departure: London Heathrow
Pass-through -> Destination: Belgium -> Malta
Sure, we know the camera isn't the most important thing in making you a good cinematographer. But which camera do you feel really works for you, and not the other way round?
I recently shot a project on the RED Raptor X and I felt like the camera just did its job and I didn't have to consider any quirks while shooting other than ISO rating.
What's your pick? Feel free to also include lenses! :)
TLDR: Is it normal to feel scared before making a significant investment in camera gear? Should I push through and buy the kit, or spend less, so the investment feels less scary?
--
I am currently employed full-time and dreading every moment I spend at the office. Meanwhile, I've managed to become a well sought-after colorist working on a part-time/freelance basis after office hours, and I've worked on projects for some of the biggest international brands. I am also on set directing lighting alongside the DP on most of these projects, as I learned a lot about lighting while grading.
Money is fine. I am not making a killing, but I live comfortably and don't have to worry about not making rent. That said, I am working 90 hour weeks consistently and it's making me miserable.
That is why I have now convinced myself to become a Director of Photography. I had started shooting long before I started color grading, and I miss it very much. My goal is to shoot brand campaigns and music videos, offering a high-end image through my color grading (and lighting) skills.
That said, I now have to make a choice about what camera to buy. I currently own a Sony A7iv which I use for hobby shoots, but wish to move to a cinema style body. I like what the FX5 has to offer, but the form factor isn't something that inspires me/looks comfortable to rig up. I would've been lucky if the FX5 had an FX6 style body, but that's not the case. That is why I am looking at the Komodo-X. Once I put everything into my cart, I noticed that this is going to be a 5-figure investment, and I froze. I've only barely spent half of that amount on camera gear so far, and I feel like this investment is scary.
Is it normal to feel this way, or should I save around $/€2-3K and go for an FX5 rig, even though I don't like its form factor & kinda dislike the more digital looking image coming out of the FX5? So far I know that FX6 footage doesn't compare to the Komodo-X due to dynamic range limitations and I've done a lot of testing as a colorist, but I believe the FX5 should be better in that regard thanks to the DGO and X-OCN.
Convince me to buy a RED camera. The only thing holding me back is reliability. I was previously considering a Blackmagic Pyxis 12K, but their quality control history doesn't sit right with me.
I shoot high-end brand commercials and need a solid cinema camera I can rely on when the production doesn't afford to rent an ARRI for smaller gigs. I am almost set to get the Komodo-X.
The only concern on my mind is RED's camera reliability. On Blackmagic's forum I was advised that both Blackmagic and RED suffer from bugs and quality control issues, and I want to confirm whether it is the case or not. I understand that once every blue moon a minor issue may pop up, but I don't want to be in a place where I am constantly diagnosing my camera.
I am going to keep my Sony A7iv as a backup camera, but of course I intend to rely on the new RED camera I buy.
Have you ever faced any issues with your RED cameras?
Convince me to buy a Blackmagic camera. The only thing holding me back is reliability.
I shoot high-end brand commercials and need a solid cinema camera I can rely on when the production doesn't afford to rent an ARRI. I am almost set to either get the Pyxis 12K or the Ursa Mini Pro 12K OLPF (leaning towards the Pyxis more).
The only concern on my mind is Blackmagic's camera reliability. I owned a BMPCC 6K Pro in the past, and after a short while, it started shutting off on me out of nowhere in controlled studio environments, and have since switched to Sony - however, the image quality is not at all comparable with the beautiful images coming out of Blackmagic cameras. I am going to keep my Sony A7iv as a backup camera, but of course I intend to rely on the new Blackmagic camera I buy.
Have you ever faced any issues with your Blackmagic cameras? Was I just unlucky with my previous unit?
I've seen reports of 1.5 hrs on a single 98Wh BP-U and others suggesting closer to 2.5-3 hrs on the same battery (all with the Pyxis monitor connected)
So what's the real figure? Has there been a firmware update that increased battery life?