Flying the RED Epic on a big rig

[Rod Calarco]

If this has been previously posted my apologies. I have an upcoming project with the Epic and I own a big rig. I know the camera is light. Any issues or recommendations on flying this camera on my Pro sled and arm?

 

thanks

 

Rod

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

It may be a small camera, but once you add a nice solid prime lens, 2 motors,( Iris/Focus) wireless video transmitter, possibly audio receivers, then a mattebox and a few filters... it may be too heavy for only blue springs on your arm. Maybe a ringlight, onboard recorder, battery up top to power it all, etc... it can end up being a 25lb weight above your camera stage quick.

[Rod Calarco]

That's kind of what I was planning to do. Just load it down with stuff. Thanks Osvaldo

[Mike Germond SOC]

I almost always fly a battery on the camera (even though I have sled cables). But Ozzie is right, it gets heavier than it looks on paper relatively quickly.

 

Here is a recent build, pretty bare bones in the scheme of things..

[William Demeritt]

Whenever I fly the Epic, I usually keep the Arri dovetail on the camera, fly with an onboard battery and the touch screen, etc. Between the Arri dovetail and the battery, that chunks the camera up quite a bit and helps keep the weight "right". Also, the Arri dovetail is heavy and as low as it can get, so it adds ballast without causing considerable headaches with gimbal placement. Beyond that, Ozzie is right: add on the rest of the crap that makes a camera (motors, focus unit, lens, mattebox, etc), it adds up.

[Tommy Stork]

Hey, Rod, I always use a V-Lock doubler/sharkfin, when I have the displeasure of flying the Epic. I also have an assortment of flat, spoon type lead fishing weights that can come in handy. I coat them in plasti-dip or tool dip so the lead is sealed and a non issue. I have 8, 12 and 16oz as well as 1 and 2 pounders. I would rather have a heavy sled than move the gimbal down.

[richard bellon]

 

My last septic outing

[Brian Freesh]

Also, the Arri dovetail is heavy and as low as it can get

 

In what crazy dream world!? :P

 

I ALWAYS take that crap off, dead weight is lame, just ask Ron "Dead Weight Is Lame" Baldwin He also probably knows the exact height of an Arri BP9 and Dovetail (I"d guess 1.25" maybe more). If you fly an Epic with an on board battery on the back it adds useful weight, balances nicely , flies great, and you can save your batts.

[Rod Calarco]

Thanks for all the tips guys!

[Ken Nguyen]

My set up.

 

Edited June 18, 2014 by Ken Nguyen

[William Demeritt]

Given the tendency of Epic owners to own packages that are incomplete, paired with the numerous accessories that come from a rental house to complete an Epic setup, I find the Arri dovetail quite functional in giving the full plate of rough adjustment fore/aft.

 

If I have a variety of primes fetched from a dumpster nearby, I find moving the camera on the dovetail quite useful, and functional, and the height increase (of the camera) paired with its weight also assists with getting my gimbal placed where I like it (increased total weight on the camera platform and height increase without greater weight "higher", i.e. lead weights, etc, which pushes the CG away from gimbal).

 

Often results in a setup where I fly 1 battery below, or 2 batteries and practically balances like an Alexa (except for the lack of camera length, so doesn't have the same pan inertia, which sucks).

 

Anyway, that's just how I like it. Fly your own way.

[Emiliano Leurini]

Hi

Do you have some vibrating problems using the red epic with the zoom19-90 panavision?there si friendster today smgas problem with his Sled that is the efp model.

Needs some help to understand wich is the problem, and how solve it

Thanks emiliano

[Jarrett P. Morgan]

Hi

Do you have some vibrating problems using the red epic with the zoom19-90 panavision?there si friendster today smgas problem with his Sled that is the efp model.

Needs some help to understand wich is the problem, and how solve it

Thanks emiliano

Make sure that the four screws that attach the mount to the camera are tight. and if you can, put a lens support on the rods (I don't remember if they have a lens support attachment or not)

 

I have also had some battery plate vibrations as well. Check there.

[Emiliano Leurini]

Thank jarret

We did Put under the zoom a heavy foam support and we have less vibrating but we still have a problem.

Do you meen to tigth the fuor screews wich are lateral on the sides if the camera? I ll post the Photos of the setting of the sled.

Thanks emiliano

[Jarrett P. Morgan]

The screws on the from the of the camera that are around the PL mount actually hold the mount onto the body (how you change from one mount to another)

I have had them be a touch loose before and that caused vibrations.

 

 

If your vibrations got better with supporting the lens some, then I would say to try and get a solid support (not a foam one) that locks the lens off to the iris rods. That way there will be zero vibration from that.