RED MX's STOLEN....upgrading to EPIC.

[Jeffrey Hamlin]

Hey Guys...

We had a large inventory of gear stolen including our RED MX Cameras. Classes start in a few days and we need to replace the gear within a very short timeframe. Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. And with that....here we go.

We will be replacing the stolen RED MX Cameras with RED EPICS.

QUESITONS....
1) Will our Element Technica Studio Hybird Plate (19mm) mount to the bottom of the EPIC or do we need to purchase another sort of mounting plate?
2) If we can re-purpose our Element Technica Studio Hybird Plate I assume we can still use our Arri Mattebox and FF5-HD Follow Focus.
3) We are using Zeiss ZF lenses with the Duclos Mods. I see there are two Nikon mounting options (Nikon AL and Nikon Ti)....which one do we need for "dumb" lenses?
4) The thieves left a 7' RED monitor behind. I assume this will NOT work with the EPIC??
5) The thieves also left behind an EVF from the RED MX. I assume this will NOT work with the EPIC?
6) RED ROCKET. We have two of them. It looks like the EPIC uses the RED ROCKET X. Is there anything we can do to update our RED ROCKET (firm ware, hardware upgrade, etc.??) Or do we need to buy new RED ROCKET X boards??
7) Anyone using any sort of micro chip tracking device in their gear? I would be all ears to hear some options.

Please forgive any stupid questions in there. I am super rattled by the theft. Normally I would do a lot more research on the matter, but time is short and I have to get the gear replaced for the incoming students. Again...any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

JEFF

 

[Björn Benckert]

Will answer some of your questions in between the lines.

3) We are using Zeiss ZF lenses with the Duclos Mods. I see there are two Nikon mounting options (Nikon AL and Nikon Ti)....which one do we need for "dumb" lenses?

Any of the two works. But I would say for school situations you do well with the AL (aluminum) instead of the higher priced Titanium mount. The difference is slim, and if nothing else your students will learn about back focus.

4) The thieves left a 7' RED monitor behind. I assume this will NOT work with the EPIC??

They will work, but not as touch screens but they are fine as second screens. And if the epics are used with side handle or redmote they can be primary screens even if a touch screen is prefered / easier to use to get trough all the menus

5) The thieves also left behind an EVF from the RED MX. I assume this will NOT work with the EPIC?

It will work. but not with the same resolution as the bomb EVF's

6) RED ROCKET. We have two of them. It looks like the EPIC uses the RED ROCKET X. Is there anything we can do to update our RED ROCKET (firm ware, hardware upgrade, etc.??) Or do we need to buy new RED ROCKET X boards??

No your current rockets work fine for 4k playback in 1/1 and will speed up transfers for 5k. So no need to buy red rockets X. It's more of a extra performance for the upcoming dragon.

 

[Jeffrey Hamlin]

Thanks Björn!

Concerning #5...

On our RED MX we mounted the EVF via the Element Technica 19 tube clamp. What mounting options are there on the EPIC?

 

[Patrick Grossien]

I'm very sorry to hear that, Jeffrey.

I in your case would just call RED directly and have them walk you through it. The bunch is totally nice and loveable... so do call them

But for what it's worth:

6) RED ROCKET X is more powerful than the original but it's been built mainly for DRAGON 6K. So for the original EPIC-M you wouldn't need it basically. If your planing to upgrade anytime it might be worth getting the R-X but know that you could get it cheaper when bought alongside of a DRAGON or an DRAGON UPGRADE.
That being said: it's just been announced that there's a REDCINE X upgrade ahead that will leverage GPU and won't need the ROCKET. You will still have faster transcodes with the ROCKET though.

3) The Zeiss ZF should work with either the Nikon AL or the TI. The Titanium is just more durable. I myself use the Canon AL and find it to be the strongest CANON Mount I've ever used. So if you're not hanging any 600mm off of it, are travelling to the Antarctica and right back to the Sahara, you might be able to get away with the AL.

 

[Patrick Grossien]

Björn beat me to it. I sent it off first to check if anybody else signed in, now I guess I don't need to answer the rest

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Crappy news about the theft. I feel for you guys, really.

I would recommend the Ti mount! Yes, it's more expensive, but it's going to hold up a lot better and not wear as badly as the aluminum over time. These are student cameras, make them as bullet-proof as you can!

1 & 2> Yes, you will need a shim plate to account for height and mounting difference. The Element Technica Hybrid EPIC shim plate is $145.

7> I have yet to find any good tracking devices that really offer a compelling solution. According to most of the insurance and security people I know, the good and professional thieves know to look for all this stuff anyway. Kinda like when someone who knows what they're doing steals a phone, tablet, laptop, etc.. the first thing they do as they remove it from the premises is to shut it off. There are LoJack and similar devices for equipment and personal property. Good thieves know how to look for them and/ or thwart them. Devices still have shortcomings such as being useless outside cellular range or when shielded, add extra cost to your equipment, etc..

 

[ericyoung]

1) & 2) It's possible to mount the ET hybrid plate direct to the body. However, you will need a height shim plate if you want to have correct lens to rods height for lens accessories. All the manufacturers making cage accessories have a version of the necessary shim plate.

5) EVF will likely work with Epic if it has firmware v8 or higher. Red will upgrade firmware on older EVFs for free. Doesn't take long.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?99789-R1-EVF-on-DSMC

 

[Frank Martin]

5) yes you can, same setup 19mm tube clam( ET) , you may need a small plate, like the easy plate (WC) to marry to your top handle

 

[Jeffrey Hamlin]

Hey Guys....

Thanks for all of your help thus far. I am always amazed at all the helpful people on this forum.

JEFF

 

[Patrick Grossien]

I would recommend the Ti mount! Yes, it's more expensive, but it's going to hold up a lot better and not wear as badly as the aluminum over time. These are student cameras, make them as bullet-proof as you can!

Hehehe, you got a good point there... What they can't break you won't have to replace! And with our students where I teach, there's quite some stuff which had to be replaced

 

[Andy Roberts]

Both Red Nikon mounts are smart... very smart. Ti vs. Al is just a durability and strength issue, as has been mentioned.