Carrying capacity and suitability of Clipper Steadicam rigs for RED One camera packages

2008Cameras (Film/Video/HD) forum

18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

A Clipper 312 sled weighs approximately 15 pounds, leaving around 35 pounds of payload capacity on a G-50 arm.
A fully equipped RED One camera setup with mattebox, filters, follow focus wireless receivers and motors can weigh approximately 35 pounds before mounting to the rig.
Powering the RED One camera from the rig battery instead of using on-board batteries can reduce weight and allow for battery hot-swapping to avoid camera reboot delays.
Clipper sleds with G-50 arms have successfully carried RED One packages with prime and zoom lenses, dual wireless video receivers, Arri mattebox, filters, and other accessories without maxing out arm capacity.
The G-50 arm has a maximum safe operating capacity around 50-55 pounds, and operating consistently near this limit may accelerate wear and tear compared to using a higher-capacity arm at a lower percentage of its rating.
The Clipper 312 package is typically sold with a G-50 arm, though the G-70 arm can be purchased separately as an upgrade option.
Operating costs for a complete Steadicam system with accessories can exceed the base rig price significantly, with individual cables costing 100 to 630 dollars depending on type and application.

Experience reported is from 2008 using RED One camera with specific lens configurations (12-120mm 16mm zoom and Cooke 25-100mm zoom).
The discussion does not include data on shooting in 4K resolution with heavier 35mm lens packages.
Payload capacity depends heavily on specific arm model and configuration, not just sled model.
One participant notes the Clipper series top stage is less robust than the Ultra2 sled design.
Practical weight limits mentioned are specific to the G-50 and G-70 arm models and may not apply to other arm configurations.