Any hands on experience on handheld REDs?

[Jonas Nyström]

Of course you have! I mostly shoot handheld, so I would like to ask you people who all ready have some experience on RED in handheld shooting, if you like to share your impressions. Is it good? Is it heavy? Is the the rig with the production pack well balanced?

 

[Jim McKinney]

It feels fine. Just rigging the LCD further out front than usual - and that was no problem. After a minute, I really wasn't thinking about it. Pretty well balanced and weight wasn't an issue.

One thing I have yet to explore is using it in "dv mode," either low underslung or even overhead.

 

[chuck colburn]

Hello jimarri,

What is "dv mode"?

thanks,

 

[Joel Kaye]

Just rigging the LCD further out front than usual - and that was no problem.

Have you been able to pull focus off the LCD? I've been thinking of going with something higher rez or using the EVF instead.

 

[Jim McKinney]

By "dv mode" I mean grabbing the camera by the top handle and just holding it low while using the LCD monitor to operate. (Great for children, say, and can actually be rather fluid.) Or holding it above your head with both arms to get over the heads of a crowd or just because that is your desired height. This method is usually not practical in most film environments (the camera is just too heavy). Though actually, I've operated a 435 several time in "low mode" with good results.

Hopefully, someone can come up with a sexier name than "dv mode!" ;-)

As for focusing off the LCD monitor, it's just the same issues as always. Archeologists have recently discovered evidence that camera focus was once achieved without the aid of such devices. Of course, it helps to be on a wider lens - as you frequently are in handheld - and to have your witness marks reliable because the lens mount is at the right depth.

 

[redicule]

By "dv mode" I mean grabbing the camera by the top handle and just holding it low while using the LCD monitor to operate. (Great for children, say, and can actually be rather fluid.) Or holding it above your head with both arms to get over the heads of a crowd or just because that is your desired height. This method is usually not practical in most film environments (the camera is just too heavy). Though actually, I've operated a 435 several time in "low mode" with good results.

Get your gym membership now. The weight is a lot closer to a 435 than a DV camera.

 

[Sean R.]

Hopefully, someone can come up with a sexier name than "dv mode!"

I've always referred to it as "action mode". Due to it's popular use in action sports shooting. Same reason I've referred to it as "skate style".

 

[Jonas Nyström]

OK - more impressions or hands on experience... My greatest concern is the weight - I think my XL H1 with Letus, Matteboxes, Followfocus, Marshall 7" and Bauer batteries is plain torture. And I don't think my XL H1 set-up ends up in the same weight as even a stripped RED set-up. I hope the ergonomics and balance of the RED is better though!

 

[dvpixl]

Right, heavier it may be, but using an adaptor to dv camcorders always makes it front heavy. that's annoying. RED would be a solid brick and would feel nice and even.

 

[Jim McKinney]

I like "action mode" much better! Yes, holding up the Red high will run you ragged on longer takes, but the same could be said for dv as well. While weight is a factor, ergonomics, viewing, balance and body position seem to factor much more in the comfort and achievability of shots.

DV is much lighter, but I find it totally awkward for shoulder mounted shots. It's a back-breaker on long ENG type takes. The Red with a prime - and the LCD which mounts forward quite easily - balances very nicely on the shoulder. The battery cradle is very useful to "fine tune" your balance. I'm not one of those crackerjack NFL films kinda of handheld operators, but imho, the Red is quite handheld friendly.

 

[Eric MacIver]

It is a heavy rig. If handheld is your bag, you're going to want to make some adjustments. First, get the belt clip battery mount. Then get carbon fiber rods, and for further lightening you may want to consider the 19mm Red Arri-style baseplate with a shoulder pad under it.

Also, you'll want their LCD or EVF - definitely not the heavy Panasonic 8.4" onboards we've had to use lately (due to only one video out working at a time).

Use just the top handle without extension, consider a clip-on matte box, single sided follow focus and... of course, shoot to CF cards.

 

[Dalibor Fencl]

Thanks to Indie R. Good suggestions.

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

Thanks Indie R.
Two questions: would mounting the battery on the camera sometimes help with shoulder balance? If so, what accessories would you need to get the battery far enough back or low enough..? It would also have to be something that you can rig and de-rig very quickly. In my experience, documentary handheld often means: running around pulling the camera in and out of a soft carry bag.

If the Birger Mount is a success I am going to use the lens hoods that come with the stills lenses so that I can get rid of all the rods, matt boxes etc etc on the bottom of the camera. Can anyone tell me more about the arri baseplate and recommend a compatible shoulder pad please?

 

[Eric MacIver]

Yes, weighting back the camera may come in handy depending on your shoulder mount/handgrip setup. I'm waiting to comment on that until I get to try a few we're looking at.

However, if you use Red stuff, you can put 18" rods on the top of the camera and use a universal mount and quickplate to hang the battery off the back. That should balance things out well.