2008Steadi-Newbies forum
Steadicam rig selection and configuration for RED One camera
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A basic Flyer steadicam may struggle with certain RED One setups, particularly when equipped with heavy Master Prime lenses and full bracketing, which can exceed 35 pounds total weight.
- Stripping down the RED One by removing unnecessary steel rods, using compact flash card recording, and powering from the steadicam sled rather than the camera battery can reduce weight enough for a Flyer to handle it.
- The Clipper or larger rigs are better matched to fully configured RED One systems than the Flyer.
- RED One outputs only HD-SDI, so standard steadicam monitors cannot display the camera output without an adapter.
- Element Technica aluminum rods are lighter alternatives to the standard 19mm steel rods that come on RED configurations.
- A V-20 with a 26-pound weight limit requires careful configuration choices such as using internal compact flash recording, top-mounted battery cradles, and careful cable routing to stay within specs.
- A 7-foot monitor cable extension for RED allows the monitor to be positioned on a standard monitor mount at the back of the rig instead of awkwardly close to the front.
- Powering the RED from the steadicam sled battery rather than from separate camera and accessory batteries helps manage total weight on the arm.
Depends on
- Discussion dates to 2008 with camera and equipment specifications specific to RED One generation one.
- Some suggestions remain untested claims or personal workarounds rather than established best practices.
- Availability and compatibility of third-party accessories mentioned may have changed.
- International equipment options mentioned may no longer be available or viable.