What the thread found

• A complete RED Steadicam rig including camera, drive, transmitter, focus motors, and battery can be assembled to weigh approximately 30 pounds when stripped to essential components
• Mounting the drive and transmitter at the base of the rig rather than the top improves balance and weight distribution
• Preston MDR focus control is lighter than full-size alternatives and suitable for concert work
• RED brick batteries provide more watt-hours than Dionic batteries, though HC batteries deliver higher current output despite lower total watt-hours
• Extending the drive cable can introduce signal problems requiring reversion to standard cable length, necessitating rig reconfiguration
• A lightweight running rig with modular battery and plate mounting allows quick reconfiguration when equipment changes are needed mid-shoot
• External cabling routed along the rig rather than internal routing performed reliably during active concert filming
• Operating a RED on Steadicam for over two hours with only battery and reboot breaks every 20 minutes is achievable with a well-optimized lightweight configuration
• Viewing angle limitations of the RED onboard monitor can be addressed by using a separate external monitor on a movable mount
• Concert shoots with restrictive stage access benefit significantly from reduced rig weight to enable quick repositioning around security and obstacles

Depends on

• Experience is specific to one concert shoot in 2009
• Equipment specifications and availability reflect pre-NAB timing constraints
• Drive stability issues occurred but root cause was unclear and footage integrity was uncertain
• The RED zoom lens was not available during concurrent concert shoots mentioned in discussion
• Stage access restrictions varied from ideal positioning for capturing footage
• All weight savings principles apply specifically to Steadicam rig configuration, not handheld operation

Gear in this thread

MDR

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