RED for handheld reality?

[Justin J. Rebbert]

Would a RED system be suitable for a handheld reality television series? I was just over at red.com and it looked everything was setup for studio or mounted use.

To be more precise, I'm wondering if a RED system can be configured to be shoulder-mounted comfortably, with the easy of transferring to away-from-the-body hand-holding. The video quality would have to be suitable for modern HD television as well as, potentially, Blu-Ray release, although from what I understand, video quality shouldn't be a problem for RED.

Also, what on-camera sound and lighting options exist from RED?

Finally, about how much would a suitable setup cost per camera?

 

[Brook Willard]

I spent a season on ER and two seasons on Southland with the camera handheld. It is possible to build effective, balanced, lightweight and full-featured handheld rigs with the RED. You just have to think outside the box. RED's own accessories will likely not be what you're looking for. There are some handheld systems out there, but many raise the CG higher than is desirable to some operators.

I'll leave the other questions for others to mop up.

 

[Jason Beckwith]

I've shot a ton of footage hand-held with the Red. I've gotten great results. I've been hand held on ladders, braced it on a knee, held it straight down and run through fields with it. It is a challenge, though. At the end of a 14 hour day, I'm pretty beat down. I have not dialed in a mounting solution for the EVF that doesn't entail looking upwards. That strains my neck pretty well. The simple fact is that the Red is a heavy, bulky system. The answer of the second portion of your post is the reason to go through it all. The picture is amazing. Search "hand held" in the accessories section. There will be quite a few products and recommendations that would suit your needs. The configuration and lens coice will be key to setting up a comfortable rig. Use Zacuto or Element Technica bits to set up mounts for what you need. (micro panel LED light, shotgun mic, Lav receiver, etc.)

Research it, configure it and shoot on Red. You'll be glad that you did.

 

[Marcus Struzina]

Useful is an Easyrig and and plenty of pushups/situps and with a skilled focus puller ( remote focus ) it can be done. On camera sound can be tricky as there aren't dedicated level knobs. On camera lights are the same as any 800 iso camera, as big as you can bear to carry. Hate to say it though, for broadcast reality type production with uncontrolled rapidly changing situations there probably are easier cameras to work with, especially in regard to focus / depth of field. Of course having the raw files allows more room in post for adjusting wildly changing lighting conditions, so final image quality can be amazingly beautiful especially with an MX red one.

 

[Luciano Reverberi]

just use another camera, red is great for undercontrol situations, not that fast for realitys. you can not have a focus puller runing everywere with a remote focus and zoom, and changing lens al day long. use a f 900 or something similar

 

[Tom Mitchell]

just use another camera, red is great for undercontrol situations, not that fast for realitys. you can not have a focus puller runing everywere with a remote focus and zoom, and changing lens al day long. use a f 900 or something similar

I agree there are outer cameras that might be better for the job from the operating stand point.

But to counter your argument. we just went out and shot la mans 24 hour race and yes we did the whole thing non stop. all on the red. all run and gun.

we had one studio mode camera, and one on Steadicam and hand held......though we went stedi cam for most of it (one very brave choice) but it is all possible. the focus puller did just fine.....no problem

pit lane running around being pushed around by Greece monkys, press, and dodging cars cumming in to pit, very chaotic and got some great shots that we only had one chance to get.

we thought very carefully how we would make sure we where always ready to go, right down to near instant reload times thanks to R3D data managers pre format ability.

we put a short zoom lens on the camera hand held camera and wala no lens changes.

It depends on your reasons why you want to use the red. but you might want to consider other options that can produce similar results......there are DSLR rigs that might be better for you(unless you going to the big screen). till scarlet.... Red is a bit heavy for run and gun but not by any means impossible just a bit more work. The red is a very flexible camera if you know how to use it.

 

[PatC]

Look at d9. Need a good first and its no issue. I have done many jobs handheld on the red. Looks great.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

...we just went out and shot la mans 24 hour race and yes we did the whole thing non stop. all on the red. all run and gun.

Very cool. Not to go off topic... well, just quickly... where can we see this? :beer:

 

[Michael Epple]

Yes. Use another camera, one that is made for that kind of stuff. Who cares about image quality in reality TV anyway? Everything else about it is crap, so you might as well stay consistent.

 

[hans de vries]

Yes. Use another camera, one that is made for that kind of stuff. Who cares about image quality in reality TV anyway? Everything else about it is crap, so you might as well stay consistent.

:lol:you're evil.

Anyways. I think mentioning having the camera handheld away from the body makes clear what you want, and that's not Red, that's camcorder. Red is too heavy for that kind of operation

 

[Tom Mitchell]

Very cool. Not to go off topic... well, just quickly... where can we see this? :beer:

Well this years vid is in the edit, and there is a few more bits to shoot, interviews etc.

This is the link to the one done last year for the same team a smaller project heres the link to the teaser. http://www.edmooredop.com/vehicles/matech-ford-gt1-racing-teaser-edit/


and here some behind the scenes pics of this years vid (la mans), most of theses pics are of B cam our technical guide was taking them to all the good spots to shoot, and he took theses pics (DOPis Stephan Murphy)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcorfan/4728674086/in/set-72157624342579344/

this is the Acam (DoP: Ed Moore)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13048072&l=a576083004&id=834800186

:lol:you're evil.

Anyways. I think mentioning having the camera handheld away from the body makes clear what you want, and that's not Red, that's camcorder. Red is too heavy for that kind of operation

if your a real man(Operator) you can do it.....


but on a serious note, yes it heavy and theirs the right tool for the job.....but some times you want to go run and gun but red is still the right tool. if thats the case you can go cards, battery is then fitted to your belt, just the 5ich monitor and lens with FF+zoom, handles and your away.

 

[John Marchant]

You've not lived until you've changed shutter speed while the red is on your shoulder by reaching around the back of your own head with your left hand. My favourite Red One ergonomics fail