MPB ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
“A used flagship model is a more sustainable option, as these cameras are made to last”
The best used buys right now For many, Arri is the dream purchase, and although buying one of the latest cameras used would still cost as much as a decent car, MPB even had stocks of the Alexa Mini when Pro Moviemaker went to press. At £14,299 it’s hardly bargain- basement prices, but if you have an Arri itch that needs scratching, this still offers a relatively affordable option. A more sensible option, with more choices, is to go for a Red camera. These American-made dream machines are famed for giving their footage a unique look, with massive dynamic range thanks to the Raw pipeline. They have solid build quality and often boast interchangeable lens mounts, so you can fit your own glass. It’s possible to buy a Red Scarlet-X for as little as £900 or a full-frame Epic-W Helium 8K for around £4000. But as Red’s latest range of cameras dropped in price significantly, it makes more sense to go for one of the 6K Komodo range, if you’re OK with Super 35 sensors, or invest in a V-Raptor if you want the ultimate, full- frame Red experience. When we looked, MPB had a dozen Red Komodo 6K cameras in stock, from a very attainable £2900. With a global shutter to avoid skewed verticals and a Canon RF mount linked to phase detection AF, it’s an incredible entry into the world of high- end cinema cameras. MPB even had stocks of the latest Komodo-X with its new and improved sensor, at £6000.
If you need more resolution, the 8K Red V-Raptor with a Super 35 sensor is available used from £13,800, but it makes more sense to spend the extra cash and go for one of the flagship V-Raptor VV cameras MPB has, from £16,349. These shoot in DCI 8K full-frame and have a maximum frame rate of 120fps in 4K. They don’t have the global shutter of the new X-model V-Raptor, but aren’t far off half the price and will give years of value. Much of MPB’s Red stock comes with a range of accessories, which can make a real difference as the brand is known for making buyers pay extra for the ancillaries. Reds also don’t have built-in ND filters, so you’ll need to look at variable NDs or a matte box that takes graded ND filters. For the biggest choice of cinema cameras, MPB has lots of Sony and Canon models. As they have a variety of models that have been on sale for many years, the range of prices and specs is very wide. For E-mount users, the latest Sony FX9 is a great used buy, but the FX6 is always hard to get hold of. For a real cine cam experience at not much money, that’s still capable of 4K recording and 180fps frame rates, it’s perhaps best to look at the FS7 and FS7 Mark II Super 35 cinema cameras. The FS7 revolutionised filmmaking and is still a workhorse for many indie companies and local TV productions. It’s now a bargain from around £1000, and spend just a few hundred more to get the Mark II version, which offers better colours but the
MAGIC TRICK You could get your hands on an Ursa Mini Pro for not much money, by buying used from MPB same body and handling. MPB has a choice of more than a dozen. For Canon EF lens users, a real bargain is the Super 35 EOS C300 Mark III which has a Dual Gain Output sensor with up to 16 stops of high dynamic range for great HDR recording and low noise. The EF lens mount is interchangeable with a PL mount so there are hundreds of lenses you can fit. These are hard to get hold of though, as they sell as soon as they hit the shelves. In plentiful supply is the EOS C70, as many filmmakers are trading up to the brand-new, full-frame C80 version. The C70 was the first of Canon’s range to use the latest RF mount; it’s still a capable 4K camera thanks to its DGO sensor, and costs from £2500. It also shoots 4K in 120fps but with a significant crop. The Canon EF mount is also one of the reasons why the Super 35 Panasonic EVA 1 is such a success. It’s a real cinema camera that records in 5.7K and is a steal at around £1600! It uses the same sensor as the pricier Varicam 35, with dual native ISO ratings of 800 and 5000. The EVA 1 captures 14 stops of dynamic range when using V-Log and records up to 60fps at 4K and up to 240fps at 2K. As always, Blackmagic offers great- value cameras, especially buying used. The Ursa Mini Pro cameras are built to last and are available in various different specs, right up to 12K. A great buy is the G2 4.6K with its Canon EF lens mount, at around £2200. For such a small outlay, you will get a capable machine with the kudos you get from such a pro-level cinema camera. It’s definitely the time to go large, as the outlay can be surprisingly small.
ARRI UP AND BUY ONE! Many filmmakers yearn to own an Alexa, but by buying used you could live the dream right now
More information
mpb.com
29
PROMOVIEMAKER.NET
Powered by FlippingBook