What the thread found

• The Sony F900 camera body alone weighs around 10 pounds but consumes significant power; adding viewfinder, batteries, support equipment, and accessories substantially increases total weight and makes it marginal or unsuitable for Flyer LE operation.
• RED ONE camera packages are typically too heavy and power-hungry for practical Flyer LE operation when equipped with real-world accessories like matte box, follow focus, downconverter, and lenses.
• Theoretical weight calculations often underestimate actual rig weight in production because cameras invariably receive additional accessories beyond initial specifications.
• Compact flash cards are essential rather than optional when attempting to operate RED ONE on Flyer LE due to power constraints.
• Two RED power bricks provide insufficient runtime for the RED camera; extended operation will require AC tethering after approximately three hours.
• Productions frequently request features during setup that were not anticipated during initial planning, forcing operators to add weight and complexity beyond the stripped-down configurations discussed in pre-production.
• Operators should physically test camera packages with rental houses before production rather than relying on specifications and producer promises.
• Using a Flyer LE for cameras exceeding its practical weight and accessory capacity risks damaging operator reputation regardless of advance communication about limitations.
• Stripping a RED ONE to bare minimum configuration with only a prime lens and lightweight accessories makes it barely feasible on Flyer LE, but this rarely matches production requirements.
• First-time operators should prioritize securing appropriate rig size over preserving budget margins, as struggling with inadequate equipment creates performance problems that clients remember.

Depends on

• Discussion occurred in 2009 and reflects capabilities of Flyer LE and RED ONE hardware from that era.
• Specific models of F900 were not definitively identified in thread; different versions had varying power requirements and accessory compatibility.
• Union and non-union labor considerations discussed are specific to Michigan production context and may not apply universally.
• Power requirements discussed are based on typical production scenarios and may vary with specific camera configurations.
• Opinions about whether cameras can be flown on Flyer LE diverged based on differing interpretations of 'practical' versus theoretical possibility.

Gear in this thread

MDR

Parts

Dovetail Plate, Follow Focus, Base Plate

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