Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Rigging up a Red One MX in 2020

Nick_Brown

Nick_Brown

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
80
Reaction score
16
Points
8
Location
Portland, OR
I've heard from several people that it couldn't be done, but I think I've finally "tamed" my camera using a lot of stuff that wasn't around in 2009-2011 (thank you, SmallRig). This build is the result of a LOT of experimentation. My goal was to find something that could go from tripod to shoulder and back again with ease. This isn't going to be ideal for hours of continuous handheld work because the QR plate rests directly on my shoulder (or rather, on a jacket hood pulled to one side) but for my style of narrative it should be enough. I tried both dovetail and VCT options and they raised the camera too much for my tastes.



The first two photos are handheld mode, and the second two are tripod mode. The PortKeys high-bright monitor slides forward and down while battery slides out a few inches back for balance. I borrowed Matthias Burling's idea for the single handgrip and I've mapped Custom Functions 1 and 2 to changing ISO. The aperture is on the lens and I don't really need to change the white balance or shutter often. If I do, I can slide the battery backwards to access the controls.

The whole rig weighs 17.5lb without a lens.
 
Love it Nick! So great to see someone rocking the R1.
 
Thanks, Steve. IMO the R1 still produces one of the nicest images around (in my opinion), and it's been nice to have something to tinker with while on lockdown.
 
You're a hero! Was looking for exactly this kind of setup. I've just bought an old R1MX - after looking at all the other cameras on offer. Nothing within the price range comes close to the CINEMATIC image quality of this beast. I've already got a Shogun inferno and some batteries, so literally just need to buy the redmags. BTW can you display camera setup info through the HDMI/SDI cable? Cheers!
 
Last edited:
The footage has a distinctive look to it that I really like. Makes it worth putting up with the workarounds! You can display camera menus and settings on some 3rd party monitors. This is a good thread to find out and document which monitors are working: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?90794-Red-One-functioning-monitor-list/page6

Please add your own findings, and consider joining the Red One MX group on Facebook as well.
 
I'm currently looking at different setups for my RED One MX and so far I've gone with it on a fluid head and currently adjusting everything for a nice shoulder rig that I can lug around without getting too much of a sore shoulder, or back for that matter!

Here is the tripod and handheld setup for those interested - Note handheld setup needs some more, mostly my arm strength :blushing:


https://www.dropbox.com/home/RED%20One%20MX?preview=IMG_20210123_105114.jpg


https://www.dropbox.com/home/RED%20One%20MX?preview=IMG_20210121_200128_637.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would love to have and 1MX one day. There is something about this camera.
 
Loved that camera. . .

Loved that camera. . .

I really miss my RED Ones. . .

I don't regret selling them when I did, because they dropped like a stone not long after I sold them (especially the first two), but I'm telling you. . . that MX is a killer sensor. I still love every image we made with that camera.

Stephen
 
Here’s my first attempt at a bare bones set up for my new (old) R1. Recording to CF card. First pic with cam powered from mains and second with battery. Haven’t rigged with audio into cam as will be recording that separately 99% of time. Will work out a handheld rig soon. Tripod is the cheap Ravelli heavy duty one (it’s crude but functional). I so need better Canon glass than this slow EFS lens, but happy with this starting package overall.
 

Attachments

  • photo112186.jpg
    photo112186.jpg
    54.9 KB · Views: 4
  • photo112187.jpg
    photo112187.jpg
    57.9 KB · Views: 4
Nice and minimal setup. If you aren't using timecode, I'd recommend a mic for scratch audio. That shouldn't add too much weight.
 
Nick_Brown said:
Nice and minimal setup. If you aren't using timecode, I'd recommend a mic for scratch audio. That shouldn't add too much weight.
Click to expand...

Good suggestion. Kit has a mini xlr to xlr cable so I could attach my NTG mic easily enough. Camera has phantom power too, so scratch audio would be useful in dialogue/interview/presenting to cam scenarios.
 
James O Sullivan said:
Here’s my first attempt at a bare bones set up for my new (old) R1. Recording to CF card. First pic with cam powered from mains and second with battery. Haven’t rigged with audio into cam as will be recording that separately 99% of time. Will work out a handheld rig soon. Tripod is the cheap Ravelli heavy duty one (it’s crude but functional). I so need better Canon glass than this slow EFS lens, but happy with this starting package overall.
Click to expand...


I would also recommend getting some nice glass for your rig next! Maybe have a look at the Zeiss Classic ZE for some relatively cheap and beautiful lenses. Otherwise have a look at some old Russian/Soviet lenses! What mount do you have on the 1MX? You should have PL and by the looks of it an EF mount?
 
PatrickWebb said:
I would also recommend getting some nice glass for your rig next! Maybe have a look at the Zeiss Classic ZE for some relatively cheap and beautiful lenses. Otherwise have a look at some old Russian/Soviet lenses! What mount do you have on the 1MX? You should have PL and by the looks of it an EF mount?
Click to expand...

Yes, Birger Canon mount is fitted at present. PL mount in the kit also but I don’t own PL glass. I actually have manual Nikon and Zeiss ZF.2 primes which I use on my EF mount blackmagic cam regularly with a dumb canon adapter, but the canon adapter won’t fit on the Birger. I’ll have to try a different nikon to canon adapter to get them to work (suggestions welcome please). Would just be nice to have a fast and versatile Canon zoom to work with the Birger too.
 
James O Sullivan said:
Yes, Birger Canon mount is fitted at present. PL mount in the kit also but I don’t own PL glass. I actually have manual Nikon and Zeiss ZF.2 primes which I use on my EF mount blackmagic cam regularly with a dumb canon adapter, but the canon adapter won’t fit on the Birger. I’ll have to try a different nikon to canon adapter to get them to work (suggestions welcome please). Would just be nice to have a fast and versatile Canon zoom to work with the Birger too.
Click to expand...

You could find the Nikon mount for the 1. They are not so hard to find.
 
PatrickWebb said:
You could find the Nikon mount for the 1. They are not so hard to find.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It’s a real option to consider. I got a great deal on this R1 and the fitted Birger adapter is working well with the cheap EFS glass, so I’m in two minds. I don’t know if I have the technical savvy to tinker with changing out the mount and contacts if it involves anything more than just removing the screws and swapping it out/setting the backfocus.

As a matter of interest, is anyone using nikon glass with a canon adapter to the Birger? What adapter are you using? The protruding screw on my adapter is preventing me mounting my Nikon glass successfully - see pic below.

B1D67B1C-FAA0-43E0-BCC8-C4DE2659DCC0.jpeg
 
I use Nikkor AIS lenses on my R1MX too. Couldn't tell you which adapters I have as I purchased them quite a few years ago. A cursory search on Amazon and eBay suggests to me that they've been replaced by a newer model. But they do look to be quite a bit thinner than the one you have there, and the screw does not stick out as far. They attach to the camera with no issues (except for the one that I have on my 50mm f1.8; I have to use a different adapter with that one or it locks my aperture).
 
Nick_Brown said:
I use Nikkor AIS lenses on my R1MX too. Couldn't tell you which adapters I have as I purchased them quite a few years ago. A cursory search on Amazon and eBay suggests to me that they've been replaced by a newer model. But they do look to be quite a bit thinner than the one you have there, and the screw does not stick out as far. They attach to the camera with no issues (except for the one that I have on my 50mm f1.8; I have to use a different adapter with that one or it locks my aperture).
Click to expand...

Great. Thank you. I’ll take a look online and test out a thinner one. If I can get one to work, it will be a godsend and give me the chance to use my better quality Nikon mount glass. Will report back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top