So all the new Fusion stuff is behind a paywall?

You have to be kidding, right? Planar tracker, 3D tracker, point cloud generation, planar roto... I can't testdrive any of these out? There isn't even a demo version with a watermark or a timelock to see how these work? Allthough I apreciate the low price of 300 dollars there is no way I am buying software I can't test. Come on guys!

Second that...

Talk to your reseller.

Although i would prefer them working with a watermark as well, i have to say that i don't really care considering the new price.

Fusion Studio is now an immediate purchase for me (even without the new tools) so it is only a matter of days before i try them. I am sure many videos will pop up around with reviews and demos of Fusion 9 so at least you will get to see the new tools in action before considering a purchase.

I am sure many videos will pop up around with reviews and demos of Fusion 9 so at least you will get to see the new tools in action before considering a purchase.

Sure, but I never buy software based on reviews or demos. I test drive new software with shots from shows I have finished on my main workhorse (NukeX) and then I decide if my studio would benefit from extra software. I tried Mocha demo, bought it. PfTrack demo, bought it. Syntheyes demo, passed. NeatVideo demo, bought it. You'll notice NukeX does all of this beautifuly 90% of the time but for the other 10% we got special software. (Well, except Neat Video. That thing is magic wich we use on almost every shot)

I run a small boutique and my partner and I have been toying with the idea of switching to Fusion, but there is no way I'm even going to get started on a big migration without trying it out first.

I am sure many videos will pop up around with reviews and demos of Fusion 9 so at least you will get to see the new tools in action before considering a purchase.

Sure, but I never buy software based on reviews or demos. I test drive new software with shots from shows I have finished on my main workhorse (NukeX) and then I decide if my studio would benefit from extra software. I tried Mocha demo, bought it. PfTrack demo, bought it. Syntheyes demo, passed. NeatVideo demo, bought it. You'll notice NukeX does all of this beautifuly 90% of the time but for the other 10% we got special software. (Well, except Neat Video. That thing is magic wich we use on almost every shot)

I run a small boutique and my partner and I have been toying with the idea of switching to Fusion, but there is no way I'm even going to get started on a big migration without trying it out first.

As Chad said, I think you can talk to your reseller and ask to test the software. Just go to Fusion page and choose to buy the software and it will take you to a page that shows you all the official resellers in your area.

However, I definitely agree that it would be a good idea to provide a 30-day trial for Fusion Studio, as it would be easier to test the new features.

I would be happy to try the new features before buying, too. I need a solid camera tracker and I was evaluating Syntheyes which is working very well. If the new Fusion tracker plays in the same league I would definitely buy Fusion Studio instead of Syntheyes but it would be very helpful to play with it before. Does the studio version have a restricted trial/demo mode without the dongle or does it not start up at all without a license?

I run a small boutique and my partner and I have been toying with the idea of switching to Fusion, but there is no way I'm even going to get started on a big migration without trying it out first.

Again, i will say that i agree with you. I would like to try the new tools as well.

If you are working with Nuke X then of course before paying the ridiculous amount of $6000+ you would have to try it.

However, with the new Fusion price reduction it is almost irrelevant because Fusion is a super solid software as is and is totally worth the purchase even without the new tools.

So all i am saying is that you can decide on its worthiness by using the Free Version and then get all the new tools as a bonus with the $299 purchase.

It doesn't have to make sense to everybody. I am biased because i love Fusion since 2004.

So all i am saying is that you can decide on its worthiness by using the Free Version and then get all the new tools as a bonus with the $299 purchase.

It doesn't have to make sense to everybody. I am biased because i love Fusion since 2004.

I guess we'll have to disagree. Foundry does provide a 15 day version. That's two weeks to take their software through its paces. Plus there is Nuke Non-Commercial to master the software before you buy. 6000 is a lot of money but trust me, Nuke is a rock solid industry standard.

I have used Fusion since blackmagic made it free on version 7 to decide its wothiness and found it severely lacking. I've been waiting for upgraded tools essential to my workflow and lo! Many of these tools have seemingly been implemented, BUT: I can't see first hand if they are any good since I have to buy the grantedly cheap full version. Maybe they blow Nuke out of the water, but I'm not willing to pay to find out. What if they're not?

I'll rent out more Nuke licenses per needed, after all Nuke has been tried and true for us for many many years.

I'm severely disappointed with Blackmagic, I've always seen the potential to embrace Fusion and I was so looking forward to give a new upgraded version spin and maybe changing my post house. I will talk to our Resolve reseller tomorrow, see if he can hook us up with a borrowed dongle.

Maybe BMD will consider a trial version at some point in the future. You never know - would have to be tied to a new license engine. For a production house, though, hard to imagine $300 as an impediment to trying a tool that could save you much more than that if it pans out. Let us know what you think of Fusion if you eventually get that test drive.

If your reseller isn't able to get you a loaner, go ahead and buy it. Try it for a month and if you don't like it, I'll buy it off you.

I guess we'll have to disagree. Foundry does provide a 15 day version. That's two weeks to take their software through its paces. Plus there is Nuke Non-Commercial to master the software before you buy. 6000 is a lot of money but trust me, Nuke is a rock solid industry standard.

Given that Digital Fusion was one of the biggest and best by reputation during Eyeon's heyday, and what has been typical for companies that BMD acquires, it's pretty reasonable to expect that Fusion will have a similar future.

Fusion 8's progress may have seemed anemic, until you account for the fact that it was a major update to make Fusion 8 cross platform. If the insane pace of Resolve development is any indication, then odds are Fusion is going to continue getting some major new functionality... and we have plenty of evidence to show that BMD has been listening to its users from watching Resolve and BMD's cameras evolve.

I'm severely disappointed with Blackmagic, I've always seen the potential to embrace Fusion and I was so looking forward to give a new upgraded version spin and maybe changing my post house. I will talk to our Resolve reseller tomorrow, see if he can hook us up with a borrowed dongle.

I agree that a demo version would be nice, but there's a LOT of power in even the free version...