EFP with RED camera

[Charles King]

I've been searching the forums here but either I'm blind or there is not post of anyone using the EFP with the RED. I curious to know if anyone has flown an EFP with a RED camera? I'm guessing the 18kg max limit on the arm will rule out all extra accessories. I'm thinking the original springs that come with the arm. Am I right in saying so? Got any pics to share maybe?

[Bryan Fowler]

Hi Charles,

 

I've shot a lot with the RED and my EFP. I had a blue spring arm, and then currently I have a G50.

The camera alone is not bad, but like you pointed out, the accessories are what might hurt.

 

Brant has some good tips for keeping weight down. The biggest issue I've run into is what Charles mentioned in a post that I can't recall. But something about the standard RED 15mm / 19mm rod setup is a pain. If possible I think the ET rod holder can help.

 

I'm realizing that this post is really not helping you at all. But instead of deleting it, and leaving for the lunch that I'm almost late for, I wlll push the "Add Reply" button and hope that you get some info that I included that I somehow missed.

 

=)

 

Sorry if I got your hopes up.

 

I should end by saying, I think you'll be fine with the red. get a Decimator for down conversion, research lightweight everything, shoot CF cards (although that doesn't save a lot of weight, it helps)

 

*sigh*

 

later.

 

I've been searching the forums here but either I'm blind or there is not post of anyone using the EFP with the RED. I curious to know if anyone has flown an EFP with a RED camera? I'm guessing the 18kg max limit on the arm will rule out all extra accessories. I'm thinking the original springs that come with the arm. Am I right in saying so? Got any pics to share maybe?

[Charles King]

Hi Charles,

 

I've shot a lot with the RED and my EFP. I had a blue spring arm, and then currently I have a G50.

The camera alone is not bad, but like you pointed out, the accessories are what might hurt.

 

Brant has some good tips for keeping weight down. The biggest issue I've run into is what Charles mentioned in a post that I can't recall. But something about the standard RED 15mm / 19mm rod setup is a pain. If possible I think the ET rod holder can help.

 

I'm realizing that this post is really not helping you at all. But instead of deleting it, and leaving for the lunch that I'm almost late for, I wlll push the "Add Reply" button and hope that you get some info that I included that I somehow missed.

 

=)

 

Sorry if I got your hopes up.

 

I should end by saying, I think you'll be fine with the red. get a Decimator for down conversion, research lightweight everything, shoot CF cards (although that doesn't save a lot of weight, it helps)

 

*sigh*

 

later.

 

I've been searching the forums here but either I'm blind or there is not post of anyone using the EFP with the RED. I curious to know if anyone has flown an EFP with a RED camera? I'm guessing the 18kg max limit on the arm will rule out all extra accessories. I'm thinking the original springs that come with the arm. Am I right in saying so? Got any pics to share maybe?

 

Thanks Bryan. One thing though that stumps me. Isn't the load capacity of both EFP and G50 the same; but yet Chris thread uses it to fly his Archer 2 with primes on-board battery, and extras...Wait a minute. I got to read that thread again.... :blink: Maybe I'm missing something here..

[Carl Wiedemann]

Charles,

 

I've had several shoots this year with the Red Cam on an EFP with a Blue spring arm. With the lower bridge plate removed (mounting a focus motor from the top of the camera), clip on matte box, Red cam battery and flash cards the camera weight was in the low 20# range. Maybe gets up to 25#s or so with the hard drive mounted. First time out I used the Red Cam monitor on my rig (which was fine for a dark interior), but I've since picked up a Red Byte Decimator for better monitor/transmitter options. I can send you a link to many pictures of my first, minimal set up if you'd like.

[Charles King]

Charles,

 

I've had several shoots this year with the Red Cam on an EFP with a Blue spring arm. With the lower bridge plate removed (mounting a focus motor from the top of the camera), clip on matte box, Red cam battery and flash cards the camera weight was in the low 20# range. Maybe gets up to 25#s or so with the hard drive mounted. First time out I used the Red Cam monitor on my rig (which was fine for a dark interior), but I've since picked up a Red Byte Decimator for better monitor/transmitter options. I can send you a link to many pictures of my first, minimal set up if you'd like.

 

 

would appreciate that very much Carl. Thank you. My e-mail: hbsking@gmail.com

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I've been searching the forums here but either I'm blind or there is not post of anyone using the EFP with the RED. I curious to know if anyone has flown an EFP with a RED camera? I'm guessing the 18kg max limit on the arm will rule out all extra accessories. I'm thinking the original springs that come with the arm. Am I right in saying so? Got any pics to share maybe?

 

 

Not yet Charles, but I hope to fly one soon on my EFP. I'll post pics when I do for sure!

 

I tried a RED at NAB this year on an Archer2 with a g-40 at the Tiffen booth. Didn't seem like it was even close to pushing that rig towards the top range. Of course, there were no rods, drive, or mattebox accessories.

[Andre Trudel]

Definitely get a prep day before hand. Be aware that you’ll probably be on a fairly long sled just to get a decent drop time unless, you are flying a good amount of weight on the bottom half of your sled like a “greeny” instead of an LCD. If you have the original efp aluminum post, extending it as far as you have to could mean that you would have to tighten the gimbal extra tight to prevent it from slipping. Without the support of the second stage, the post can squeeze and actually dent in. The rig is also more susceptible to vibration.

 

Be careful with your efp vest center spar, it will bend and possibly break on you if you’re working in the 25-30lb’s camera and accessory weight range. The gimbal is also something to consider.

 

The arm should handle a payload of at least 25-30lb and there are things you can do to keep the red package and ff within that weight range. I have yet to max out my arm with any red package.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited November 3, 2009 by Andre Trudel

[Charles King]

Definitely get a prep day before hand. Be aware that you’ll probably be on a fairly long sled just to get a decent drop time unless, you are flying a good amount of weight on the bottom half of your sled like a “greeny” instead of an LCD. If you have the original efp aluminum post, extending it as far as you have to could mean that you would have to tighten the gimbal extra tight to prevent it from slipping. Without the support of the second stage, the post can squeeze and actually dent in. The rig is also more susceptible to vibration.

 

Be careful with your efp vest center spar, it will bend and possibly break on you if you’re working in the 25-30lb’s camera and accessory weight range. The gimbal is also something to consider.

 

The arm should handle a payload of at least 25-30lb and there are things you can do to keep the red package and ff within that weight range. I have yet to max out my arm with any red package.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Andre, thank you for your response. Regarding the vest. I've machined a new replacement spar and vest components. See this thread for mods: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?sh...ost&p=22552 . Now regarding the gimbal. I remember talking about the load capacity and how much it can really support. I bought my gimbl from Steve Francol, which was newly refurbished. I take it you guys have not noticed anything out of the ordinary...

 

here is the pic of the vest. The spar is thicker, more sturdier. Same with the vest plate. The arm/vest bridge plate is not shown in the pic but a new one was also machined along with a female socket block.

 

[RobinThwaites]

Hi Charles

 

Original EFP arm capacity was 38lbs or 26lbs on the sled. I think this went up to 30lbs on the sled but most sled weights also increased by being fitted with green monitors. Also don't forget we were using heavy NiCad batteries.

 

Plenty of people were flying SR2s over her at the time to give you an idea of practical capacity.

 

Robin

[Charles King]

Thank you for that vital info Robin. Sure things have changed since the dawn of the EFP. The lighter the sled setup the more weight that is freed up.

[John atkinson]

You can fly the RED on most rigs. You will have to have battery on the camera. Sled won't power it for long. You'll need HD monitor. The camera isn't heavy. It's all the stuff they add.

[Charles Papert]

You will have to have battery on the camera. Sled won't power it for long.

 

That's a lot of weight you are adding; not just the extra battery on the rig but the bracketry for same (if the RED top plate and rods and cradle, I'd guess 5 lbs or more). It's entirely possible to power the RED from the sled, that's how I do it in both lightweight and full-size modes. It all depends on what battery you are using (and assuming that your wiring through the post is within useable specs). See here for an example: the RED battery at the base of the sled (using v-mount to AB adaptor plate) is powering the camera, Decimator, Camwave transmitter, Red drive, LCD (FLyer monitor), Preston F/I and Preston zoom control. The camera ran continuously for probably 40 minutes between battery changes, this being a live concert; would have lasted longer in a stop/start situation. That's plenty of time, in my mind.

 

As indicated, total weight of everything you see here was 31 lbs, which puts it well in the range of an EFP setup.

[Charles King]

Thanks CP for that setup pic. 15,5kgs is not that bad. Thanks again. BRW, I love the Flyer mod you did. ;) don't you love being handy :)

Edited November 4, 2009 by Charles King

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Ok Charles, I have a stupid question...

 

In the pic where you are on a backlot with a 5D, what is the item mounted on the very top of the camera?

 

Been seeing these everywhere lately and haven't figured out what it's for. Focus assist is my best guess?

 

Thanks.

[Mike Germond SOC]

You will have to have battery on the camera. Sled won't power it for long.

 

It's entirely possible to power the RED from the sled, that's how I do it in both lightweight and full-size modes. It all depends on what battery you are using (and assuming that your wiring through the post is within useable specs). See here for an example: the RED battery at the base of the sled (using v-mount to AB adaptor plate) is powering the camera, Decimator, Camwave transmitter, Red drive, LCD (FLyer monitor), Preston F/I and Preston zoom control. The camera ran continuously for probably 40 minutes between battery changes, this being a live concert; would have lasted longer in a stop/start situation. That's plenty of time, in my mind.

 

Hey Charles,

 

Are you running multiple batteries in parallel on your franken-flyer like the stock LE was set up for? I'm curious if that 40min estimate is for 1 battery or multiples. I got passed on a RED gig, but I run all v-mount PowerCubes on my rig and was planning on swapping 1 battery at a time with the RED Bricks that production had rented. I hadn't real-world tested the setup yet, but was going to be running 1 BFD, Coss Transmitter, AJA, RED One, and Flyer moniter (with a Terry West power breakout box custom for my LE). I'm semi curious how long that would have lasted..

 

~Mike

Edited November 5, 2009 by Mike Germond