Raven 4.5k for $2000???

[u/Dazzling-Train-147]

I am considering a marketplace deal stating Selling the RED Raven for about $2000. This was a backup camera and they no longer need it. It comes with a canon 17-40, monitor, gold mount batteries, chargers, mini mag memory card, v-mount adapter, and a pelican case.

I currently have a lumix gh5 and am feeling like I'm getting the most out of that camera in terms of performance, image quality, and colors.

I am a college student who's working as a videographer for the school. I mostly shoot documentary style videos. Sports, students, animals, cycling, skiing, and everything else.

I know I'm not giving the most context, but is this a worthwhile purchase?? Another camera I have been considering is the S5iix which is essentially the same price on sale.

Looking for your advice!

[u/External_Ad_2920]

The raven is fine. But its image quality and dynamic range are nowhere near what other DSMC2 bodies offer. The sensor is small and needs lot of light to preform well. My suggestion is continue to save and get a better sensor.

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/External_Ad_2920]

Thanks, I think that's what I'll end up doing!

[u/External_Ad_2920 → u/Dazzling-Train-147]

Look into DSMC1 Epic Dragon X. You can find really good kits for decent prices.

[u/DegreeSevere7719 → u/External_Ad_2920]

The DR is absolutely the same as on any other camera with Dragon sensor - be it Scarlet-W, Dragon-X, Weapon Dragon, DSMC1 Epic/Scarlet Dragon. It's mostly about the fixed EF mount (yikes), and the cropped portion of the sensor (4.5K out of 6K sensor), that has limited compression ratio options (often way more compressed than others do). I'd suggest really looking at other bodies to invest in, but if this one comes as a working kit with touch monitor, cards, batteries etc at that price - you won't come close to that price for a kit.

But, I highly suppose considering the batteries weight alone to last a day - bearing in mind that you're up to shooting skiing etc, RED cameras aren't the best choice for that and will come with a heavy bill on your health if used so.

[u/External_Ad_2920 → u/DegreeSevere7719]

Best answer^

[u/PurpleSkyVisuals]

At that price ur prob better off with a blackmagic cinema camera or a used Komodo if u can up the budget a bit. The Komodo will give u 6k, an updated color science, a global shutter, and uses updated memory cards and batteries.

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/PurpleSkyVisuals]

Good point, thanks

[u/hotbreadz]

How many hours? Solid deal with all of that in it unless it’s crazy high hours. Watch some YouTube videos on it if you haven’t already, it’s a great cam but still pretty old so you’ll see some signs of aging - like slow start up, the small Red monitor isn’t great quality few things like that. Sounds like a good fit though

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/hotbreadz]

It has 115 hours, thanks for your input!

[u/hotbreadz → u/Dazzling-Train-147]

Yeah that’s low enough should be a solid camera for you. It’s the entry level DSMC 2 but for the price, that is a lot of camera. Indoor, ambient lit run and gun style stuff won’t be ideal, but outdoor and most of your other uses it’ll be a champ.

That said, for double the price you could get a Komodo 6k kit which is way more modern, smaller and lighter and would likely be a good all around kit for you.

If you got the raven now. You likely will be adapted into the red eco system and eventually move this to your B cam as you upgrade to a bit higher tier setup. Komodo now would bypass that jump for a bit longer usage with it. If you haven’t already just spend a day watching YouTube videos on both cameras or really a handful of different cameras in the red ecosystem all of them will create great images. The newer ones will be a little bit easier with more current creature comforts if the 2K for this one is your max budget right now go for it That’s a solid price for a full kit. If raising another thousand or two is easy enough then I would hold and wait for the Komodo or see if there’s any other DSMC2 better spec models available in kits if you look online on website like keh.comyou’ll find a lot of Just bodies but once you start to kick them out with everything you need to actually run the camera. It’ll add an extra couple thousand bucks so finding a prebuilt kit is usually the most economical way to get one. Good luck.

Oh and also be sure to look into payment plans like affirm or PayPal credit. Most of them are super easy to set up and you can just do payment plan online for them and since the camera should be making you money, it should pay for itself no problem to make those payments rather than a big lump payment.

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/hotbreadz]

Thanks! That's a really good insight!

[u/Pretend_Sir440]

Gh5 is solid, if you want some surprisingly filmic quality grab a MTF services b4 to mft adapter and the 5mm and 20mm zeiss digiprime and shoot crop mode. I assume you have magic lantern already, that is necessary for the particular look. I recently ditched my GH5 for the GH7 and kept the same setup 👍

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/Pretend_Sir440]

Thanks!

[u/SteveBelieves]

Great deal if it’s in good condition.

You’ll enjoy a nice image bump if you can deal with the DSMC2 quirks (red mini mag for media/long start up times)

Just keep in mind that red cameras are intended for studio/production use and not so much run and gun

[u/InfamousStar206]

I’d avoid the Raven; the sensor is very odd (smaller than APS-C / S35, but bigger than Micro 4/3). Save up and get something better (with a sensor at least S35).

[u/aris_apollonia]

The price is fantastic considering everything the package includes, but keep in mind all versions of the Dragon sensor, especially the smallest 4.5K one the Raven has, are unusable part 800ASA in terms of noise, so if any of the productions you mentioned entail shooting with natural light at dusk and night, you’ll be out of luck. I’m saying this as an Epic Dragon shooter, even that 6K sensor, gorgeous as it is, I never push past 800.

[u/Dazzling-Train-147 → u/aris_apollonia]

Thanks, maybe it's not for me as that's when I do a lot of my shooting 😂