2012Cameras (Film/Video/HD) forum
Steadicam rigging techniques for the RED Epic camera
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The RED Epic requires rear ballast weight such as batteries or a Boxx to achieve proper balance on Steadicam rigs.
- An 11 pound weight plate has been successfully used when flying the Epic.
- A RED breakout cable is necessary to connect Preston start/stop control cables to the Epic, and this cable must be obtained separately from production or the camera rental house.
- Multiple operators prefer using a rod-mounted hot-swap dual battery plate with two Dionic HC batteries positioned at the rear for counterbalancing.
- A zoom sliding base plate can serve as a weight solution when using iris rod brackets and sliding base plates.
- The RED Epic can be powered from the Steadicam rig electronics rather than requiring independent camera power, which simplifies cable management.
- Mounting accessories like the Boxx to the XCS base plate with velcro attachment and routing the Decimator to the camera side provides good weight distribution.
- Mounting monitors on articulating arms can create balance issues if crew members adjust monitor position during operation, necessitating rebalancing.
- The Epic restarts in just over ten seconds when powered off, which is faster than some other camera models.
- Preston Redmote can function as an on-off remote device when a dedicated on-off cable is not available.
Depends on
- This discussion addresses setups specific to Optimo zoom lenses and Steadicam configurations from around 2012.
- The weight and balance recommendations apply to frame rates of 5K at 1:85 aspect ratio with specific headroom requirements.
- One negative experience with monitor positioning on an articulating arm does not represent a universal problem with that mounting method.
- The ten-second restart time claim comes from a single operator's experience and may vary based on specific Epic firmware or configuration.
Parts
Same gear or parts
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