RED on Steadicam EFP

[Fabian Alexander Aust]

hello folks. i have a steadi shoot coming up and i might rent an EFP rig. can anybody share some experiences flying that with a RED setup of ~12 - 13,5 kg? how does the arm perform with that kind of load? there is also a GPI Pro rig available around here, but a bit more expensive; maybe it's worth the extra money? the job is a music video, so i don't need the most perfect shots, but flawless workflow and very short setup and ready-to-shoot-times... thanks for all input!

[Markus Rave]

With some load on the Red you might come over the load that an EFP will handle well. The arm if not upgraded to gold springs may come to it´s max. That does not say the EFP is not a good tool but I would spend the extra money on the GPI system and not run into trouble weightwise. Needless to say that the GPI arm is a top notch decision compared to the old EFP (3A) arm.

The EFP vest is not good. My chestpiece broke after a while and had to be replaced using thicker aluminum. Also dynamic balance is not done easily with an EFP.

[Markus Rave]

the job is a music video, so i don't need the most perfect shots, but flawless workflow and very short setup and ready-to-shoot-times...

 

 

Don´t let Garrett hear this :-) I remember him saying all shots must be perfect in your attitude.

[Fabian Alexander Aust]

the job is a music video, so i don't need the most perfect shots, but flawless workflow and very short setup and ready-to-shoot-times...

 

 

Don´t let Garrett hear this :-) I remember him saying all shots must be perfect in your attitude.

 

while that is definitely true... i'm just human, not a robot

 

 

Markus, ever worked with the xinetix people/equipment?

Edited August 12, 2010 by Fabian Alexander Aust

[Carl Wiedemann]

I regularly work with the Red Cam on an EFP (blue spring arm). Fortunately, I've never had a Red configuration over 32 pounds. This is easier to achieve if you can shoot with CF cards rather than the hard drive. But the Red can easily go over 35 pounds with Red primes, the hard drive and a few other accessories. And you'd really be in a bind if the EFP had an original red spring arm (which has a lower capacity than the later blue spring version). Most of the time I'm working with Red set ups in the 26 pound range and this has worked quite well on the EFP.

[Fabian Alexander Aust]

I regularly work with the Red Cam on an EFP (blue spring arm). Fortunately, I've never had a Red configuration over 32 pounds. This is easier to achieve if you can shoot with CF cards rather than the hard drive. But the Red can easily go over 35 pounds with Red primes, the hard drive and a few other accessories. And you'd really be in a bind if the EFP had an original red spring arm (which has a lower capacity than the later blue spring version). Most of the time I'm working with Red set ups in the 26 pound range and this has worked quite well on the EFP.

 

since i can't power the camera from the sled i'm getting rather heavy here. we will be able to shoot CF cards however. which is a good matte box choice if i want to use ND/IR combo filters, a polarizer and maybe a star filter?

 

i want to shoot optimo rouges... maybe the red zooms if the producer won't allow me the optimos... however, it will be at least 9kg without mattebox and filters, fully stripped down like this:

 

red body

rouge zoom

bridge plate

2x 18" steel rods (don't know if i can get lighter rods)

lcd + arm + cable

2x top mount

top handle

2x 12" steel rods

universal mount

quick plate

brick

 

maybe i can avoid the 12" rods and lose the bridge plate if i attach everything from to 18", from the top. but i'm not sur if that really works out.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Fabian Alexander Aust

[Carl Wiedemann]

The Rouge zoom, bridge plate and Red batt' will definitely push the weight up. I've always been able to work with clip on matte boxes and have never had to deal with a bridge plate, so hopefully you'll have this option. I've also been able to mount the focus motor from the top. Also: Some Reds are set up with Anton Bauer mounts and can be powered off Dionic 90s, which can trim another pound or two. Wish I had some guidance on a particular matte box.

[Markus Rave]

Hi Fabian,

 

never flew Xinetix gear.

 

Talking about you setup. It will be FAR above 9kgs. Body, brick and lens will weigh 7kgs. alone. Not talking about baseplate, cables, wireless video, focus, monitor. I guess you come closer and faster towards 12kgs. than you might wish. Take the PRO!

[Fabian Alexander Aust]

Hi Fabian,

 

never flew Xinetix gear.

 

Talking about you setup. It will be FAR above 9kgs. Body, brick and lens will weigh 7kgs. alone. Not talking about baseplate, cables, wireless video, focus, monitor. I guess you come closer and faster towards 12kgs. than you might wish. Take the PRO!

 

 

thanks so far guys. thing has been settled by budget... the producer won't let me rent more than the EFP budgetwise. we may even change our strategy completely and shoot a DSLR on an old SK... man then it'd be just the other way round, MB 14 all the way, everything heavy i can attach there with some use... which is not much in that case

[Fabian Alexander Aust]

well... just resetted things to normal. RED on EFP. but zeiss superspeeds. rental guy says 14kg is ok, and i think we'll manage to stay below that.