What the thread found

• The RED camera is significantly heavier than expected and requires a substantial camera support rig rather than a lightweight flyby setup.
• Early RED units were vulnerable to power-related failures when using non-proprietary power sources, leading operators to rely exclusively on dedicated RED batteries initially.
• The RED camera can be sensitive to power supply configuration and may malfunction or fail to power on reliably depending on how accessories are connected.
• A 2-pin Lemo 2B power connector became available from Steadicam to allow powering the RED from a Steadicam rig instead of relying solely on onboard batteries.
• IDX Power Cubes can deplete quickly when powering the RED, potentially requiring multiple battery changes during extended shooting days.
• Onboard battery mounting provides better weight distribution and a more film-camera-like balance compared to powering entirely from rig batteries, though it adds approximately 6+ pounds to the overall setup.
• The RED camera can be reconfigured into different setups ranging from fully-rigged to lightweight by removing the baseplate and powering from the rig instead of internal batteries.
• Preston MDR2 camera cables with run/stop functionality work with the RED camera.
• Element Technica manufactures mounting plates designed specifically for the RED that enable conventional low-mode shooting without inverting the camera.
• Russian Elite lenses performed comparably to Cooke S4 prime lenses on the RED in terms of resolution and contrast, though they required frequent lens motor repositioning due to varying lens barrel sizes.
• SD cards proved more reliable than hard drives for RED video recording.
• The RED performed comparably to an ARRI LT camera in flight characteristics on a Steadicam rig.

Depends on

• All testing was conducted in 2008 with early RED camera production units, which may have had different specifications and reliability issues than later versions.
• Power sensitivity issues described may have been specific to early production units that were susceptible to power-related failures.
• Low-mode shooting techniques discussed were based on available mounting options and rig limitations that may have changed with newer hardware and accessories.
• The assertion about Elite lens sharpness versus other lens types is based on observation during limited field testing rather than controlled optical testing.
• Comparative rigging performance notes are specific to the Steadicam Flyer platform and Element Technica mounting hardware available in 2008.

Gear in this thread

MDR

Parts

Low Mode, Base Plate

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