*HOW do you PROTECT the EXPOSED Ports and Electronics on a SCARLET CAMERA ??

[George D.]

We just got our Scarlet, so please excuse some of these questions if they seem stupid.

What troubles me a little, are all the electronic connections, etc, that are left bare to the environment if there is nothing hooked up to them. I realize, now, that there is a Rear Module Cap to cover the back, but are there any little rubber plugs, or whatever, to cover the ports at the bottom/rear of the camera brain that are not in use? And, what about the 10 flat electronic connectors on the bottom of the SSD Side Handle?

What about some kind of cover over the air vents on the top/rear of the brain? I realize the camera has to breathe, but it is open to incredible contamination by dust, mist, etc.

I am mostly concerned about these things, because when the camera is in the field, and being used in potentially dirty environments, there MUST be some way to protect these unused, exposed electronics.

Any information, or websites with parts, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

.

 

[Phil Holland]

Whenever I find myself shooting remotes out in the wild I just take a bit of electrical tape, 99 cents at your local hardware store, and cover up the contacts. Works like a charm.

 

[George D.]

Whenever I find myself shooting remotes out in the wild I just take a bit of electrical tape, 99 cents at your local hardware store, and cover up the contacts. Works like a charm.

Thanks Phil, but there HAS to be something better than that.

.

 

[Phil Holland]

Thanks Phil, but there HAS to be something better than that.

Perhaps there's a molded bit of rubber out there that somebody has concocted. That will certainly be slicker.

However, I will say this. I'm on set and "we" do this for a lot of things. This wasn't my idea, but more of what I saw crews doing back when I was a teenager. Fold a little bit over so you have a piece to grab the tape with and it peels away with easy.

It's rare that I don't have gaff and electric tape on me in my kit. Very rare.

 

[Keith_D]

http://www.red.com/store/products/rear-module-cap

 

[Les Dittert]

http://www.red.com/store/products/rear-module-cap

Be very careful with that end cap. Mine bent a pin. The design of it has the plastic go into the connector itself for an attachment point. What it should do is hang off the A mount which is much safer.

 

[Louis Maddalena]

There is no need to worry about the front ports where the audio goes.. Do you put a protector in your iphone?

As for the other contacts, they are surface contacts, if you scratch they will still work, just don't get them wet, for that, I'd say don't get any part of your camera wet.

As for the fan openings. Its is very important that the camera breathes, if its get hot it will stop working, cause you audio problems, or screw with your black shade.. You should not cover up the camera for prolonged periods of times (except if its raining and you're shooting outside, or if you're in an underwater rig... its much better to put the camera in a under water rig than to just put it in the water the heat issues far outweigh the water issues ) As for them being open though, it was once said by Jarred that you could pour water down those vents and not have any issues with electronics as it is a sealed system, although he said he does not recommend that you test this.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

It was verified long ago that the top and front vent ports do not expose any of the internal electronics to water, etc. I think RED stated, for purposes of illustration only , that you could pour water in the top of the camera and it would not contact the electronics. It is for ventilation only and the electronics are sealed.

As for the jacks on the lower part of the back, while I have never worried about them, Phil's solution seems like the easiest and perhaps even the most effective.

 

[Phil Holland]

Ah. I should be clearer.

I use a Rear Module cap for the back of the brain.

I don't cover the vents ever.

I sometimes use electrical tape on the HDMI, SDI, and other ports at the stem of the brain.

 

[George D.]

Perhaps there's a molded bit of rubber out there that somebody has concocted. That will certainly be slicker.

However, I will say this. I'm on set and "we" do this for a lot of things. This wasn't my idea, but more of what I saw crews doing back when I was a teenager. Fold a little bit over so you have a piece to grab the tape with and it peels away with easy.

It's rare that I don't have gaff and electric tape on me in my kit. Very rare.

Yes, I understand.

Hey, I've covered more things during a production than you can imagine. Especially, of course, the film magazine doors. You can go through a LOT of tape during a production, and some of it is not cheap, which was never my worry since I was shooting or DPing for someone else.

That's just another thing I love about digital. No more worry about light leaks or film cans or changing bags, etc.

I guess tape will have to be it. I was just hoping for something cleaner, that's all. Like rubber plugs, or whatever.

.

 

[Phil Holland]

I guess tape will have to be it. I was just hoping for something cleaner, that's all. Like rubber plugs, or whatever.

There are actually rubber plugs available for all of the individual ports on the back of the brain through 3rd party folks. However, they are tiny and individual, so possibly an easy thing to lose.

That's pretty much why I use the electrical tape. 99 cents. Covers all the ports all at once, which is what I need to do when I'm out in the wild.

You can find HDMI and SDI Rubber Plugs via Google. They are cheap as well.