All of a sudden we have three similar priced cameras each with their strong features. So far checking estimated price it comes out that Canon C300 is the least expensive camera, next is Sony's F3 at about 10% higher price and then the RED Scarlet with about 15% higher price than the F3 (equipped to run that is). So let's start with the C300.
As I see it there are a couple of really good features in this camera. First the sensor seems to be very good. Direct readout of the RGB colours and 4:2:2 recording, albeit 8-bit, is in theory something that means great images with high fidelity.
Another thing is the DSLR heritage within it's construction. EF lenses, weathersealing and a formfactor not to far from a DSLR. It also has the standard video features like ND, preset WB, XLR audio and exposure tools. CF cards are reliable and cheap and you can record to both slots.
Just by looking at it I don't like the external add-on LCD/XLR. I could be wrong and it turns out it's a good thing to mount it anywhere but I think it looks awkward and messy.
24,25 and 30p in 1080p but no higher frame rates unless you drop to 720p. A bit of a downer. No 10-bit video output is another downer but until we see some charts from the C300 who knows.
Sony's F3 has the shape of a traditional video camera of these and features are the ones you'd expect. A very nice sensor but despite being optimized for video there's still some moire and alising due to a weaker OLPF.
It records to 4:2:0 at a lower bitrate than the C300 and onto more expensive SxS cards. If you already have these then fine but I'd like to stay with something more mainstream like CF or SD-cards.
Until you get the s-log update for alot of cash it to only does 24,25 and 30p in 1080 and you'd have to drop to 720 to get 50/60p. But with the s-log you can record 1080p60 BUT with an external recorder which costs alot. So to get the most out of the F3 it's by far the most expensive camera of these three.
RED Scarlet has been lurking around for ages and finally it's here. It's not what many expected - it's an EPIC but with less features and a much lower pricetag. Sounds great.
My beef with RED cameras is they always seems to fail somewhere along the production path. You will get something out of RED cameras but with some hassle. 5k, 4k and 3k seems like a steal for that low price but it comes with one big disadvantage. The used area of the sensor drops as you lower resolution. Not a bad thing itself since it also reduces rolling shutter. But you also change field of view on your lenses. So if you are shooting in 4k 25p and need an overcranked shot you also have to swap lens. This is really bad since it puts limits on what you can do with higher FPS on the Scarlet.
One can clearly see that this camera lends it's design from a DSLR. But a DSLR you shoot with handheld and with a lens mounted you might have about 2kg in your hands. This camera weights 2,5kg body only and you need LCD, battery, recording media. So it will be less suited for handheld shooting.
Quality with RED RAW is good so the final output will look great and with high resolution at 4k. Some sees this as a perfect way to shoot because you can re-frame in post and get multiple framings from each shot. I've done it myself when editing 4k files so it is a good thing. But one of the estethics when shooting is to use different lenses to give each their own look and feel.
So what do I think about these three cameras?With an adapter on the F3 you can use EF lenses on all three. Recording media I prefer SD-cards because they are available everywhere. But they are also less solid than CF-cards and so I regard CF-cards as a safer way to record.
SxS cards are a safer way but you can't buy these in any store and they cost much more than SD or CF. With RED you are stuck with their media and that is not a good thing.
Functions like ND-filters are lacking in RED Scarlet and once I got used to the ND-filters inside my AF101 I never want to be without them. Canon C300 has 2,4 or 6 stop ND just like in the AF101. Sony F3 has 2 and 6 stop ND which gives less room to filter down light.
I would put F3 and C300 on the same level when it comes to overcrank. The F3 has an edge since you can upgrade and get 1080p but again the cost and complexity also is much higher. Overcrank with the Scarlet is a big compromise in that the used area of the sensor shrinks.
What you'll get from each camera is different. Sony's F3 with s-log is 10-bit 4:4:4 but internal recording is only 8-bit 4:2:0. Canon on the other hand records 8-bit 4:2:2 which actually is pretty good for incamera recording. The HD-SDI output is also 8-bit 4:2:2 which puts in on par with the AF101. Question is if there is a need for outboard recording with the c300?
RED Raw is not RAW like what you get from a DSLR camera. But it's meant to really shine in post with lots of room to colour correct and grade. S-log in the F3 provides the same and to a lesser extent Canon log that's inside the C300. No doubt will the F3 or RED be best when grading and the C300 just behind with 4:2:2.
None of these are perfect. They all have their shortcomings. I would never like to deal with something non-standard and because of that RED is out of the loop. Sonys F3 is a clear choice in a think it's a nice balance between performance and functions. But the high s-log price and external recording needed hurts.
Finally Canon's C300. How will it compare to a 5DmkII or the coming 1D X? Or the 4k DSLR from Canon? I think it's better to compare it to them than the F3 or Scarlet because it's intended to be used instead of a Canon DSLR. A very expensive substitute.
But I also see advantages coming from Canon DSLR video shooting. You can use all of your EF and EF-s lenses, you can use your CF cards. So one has to look beyond the high pricetag and look at the overall cost. Doing that the camera seems to be a steal!