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  • 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 :)

V-Raptor Sensor Issues

Red just received my unit for repair. Getting the flare guard installed, and need my locking ring fixed (for the second time).

I’ve mostly been using lens adapters with bolt on supports, so the locking ring hasn’t been a huge issue for me personally. But still rather annoying. I wonder if leaving it in the locked position (if you have an adapter semi-permanently bolted on) can wear away at the spring’s strength?

The Flare Guard, on the other hand, is a must. I’m finding myself shooting in more and more situations that produce the artifact, and my attempt at flocking the adapter didn’t really do much. Heck, the other day I simply shot someone backlit against the sun, tried to play with flaring, and the artifact kept showing up prominently.
 
Red has had my camera for a couple weeks for the exact same reasons. It’s interesting how inconsistent these flare issues seem to be from user to user. I can definitely produce it intentionally, but it’s worth noting - I just finished filming a feature where a bulky amount of scenes had high powered flashlights shooting straight down the barrel and I didn’t see the sensor split once. Not in camera or in the rushes. I’m still having the flare guard installed though cause I’ve been known to embrace a flare or two and don’t want to be caught off guard if I don’t need to be. Pun intended.
 
Drew Baird said:
Red has had my camera for a couple weeks for the exact same reasons. It’s interesting how inconsistent these flare issues seem to be from user to user. I can definitely produce it intentionally, but it’s worth noting - I just finished filming a feature where a bulky amount of scenes had high powered flashlights shooting straight down the barrel and I didn’t see the sensor split once. Not in camera or in the rushes. I’m still having the flare guard installed though cause I’ve been known to embrace a flare or two and don’t want to be caught off guard if I don’t need to be. Pun intended.
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A couple weeks? Damn! Either the flare guard is more involved an installation than I thought, or they’re really backed up with Raptor repairs. Last time I sent it in to fix the locking ring and my DSMC3 Monitor, they turned it around in like 3 days.
 
Yeah, not really sure what’s taking so long, but there were other issues I came across during the feature that they are investigating, while also fixing the lens lock and affixing the flare guard. I figured it would take a bit of time. But I also assume they’ve got a little backlog of flare guard installations so I’m trying to be patient though they’ve not contacted me once.
 
Hey all,

My camera was sent into Red and took about 5 business days. What I was told was done was : - Sensor Replacement - RF Mount Replacement - Flare Guard Installation

I need to test the camera to see if I still have the sensor split issue, however, looking at someone's camera that has the flare guard installed, mine does not have the flare guard installed, so I'm going to be sending it back in unfortunately. The RF mount did get fixed, so thanks to them for that. Another interesting thing is that with the sensor replaced, the hour clock is still the same for camera hours. I'm surprised there was not a reset on that clock if they replaced the sensor. I have no way of verifying that they did to did not.

I'll keep you posted as I continue to navigate this situation. I may be selling the camera since it's according to Red "working as intended" and others don't see the issue. I do think the Raptor XL might hold more promise in being able to suppress the sensor stitch issue.
 
Charles Bergquist said:
Hey all,

My camera was sent into Red and took about 5 business days. What I was told was done was : - Sensor Replacement - RF Mount Replacement - Flare Guard Installation

looking at someone's camera that has the flare guard installed, mine does not have the flare guard installed, so I'm going to be sending it back in unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Wow… mistakes happen, but… that’s not a good look, to say the absolute least…

Any chance you could share a pic of that person’s flare guard, so we can watch out for the same thing?

This is pretty sketchy.
 
Ryan Chernin said:
Wow… mistakes happen, but… that’s not a good look, to say the absolute least…

Any chance you could share a pic of that person’s flare guard, so we can watch out for the same thing?

This is pretty sketchy.
Click to expand...

I’m bummed on how all this has transpired with the V-Raptor. I was a one point a big supporter of Red and especially the Monstro sensor. There’s a photo on the DSMC3 Facebook group as well as on here. It’s a dark matte black shroud over sensor outcropping. I’m sure the OP of the photos can post it. I just don’t want to repost someone’s photos.

I’ll keep this thread updated on how sending it back in goes to actually have it installed and how the results are.

I will note, the sensor does appear different. The line is much less noticeable to my eye looking at the sensor itself. It’s possible there was a bad batch of sensors, which I find possible, but Red has defended this is how the sensor performs, so I don’t know what to believe.

The link in FB is here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/reduser/permalink/547392430182056/
 
Well, is the stitch noticeable in footage with the "sensor-replaced-but-no-visible-flare-guard" camera you currently got back?
 
Mike P. said:
Well, is the stitch noticeable in footage with the "sensor-replaced-but-no-visible-flare-guard" camera you currently got back?
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Yes, stitch is still present with no mount / RF - EF Mount and RF - PL Mount with lenses. I think they just forgot to install it, things happen.
 
Charles Bergquist said:
Yes, stitch is still present with no mount / RF - EF Mount and RF - PL Mount with lenses. I think they just forgot to install it, things happen.
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Yeah, I hear you... doesn't breed confidence, though. (Also costs international customers ~$150+ to ship it back and forth, which is just insult to injury if you gotta do it twice because they forgot to do it).
 
Mike P. said:
Internationally? Cause I've always had to pay one-way. If they are covering shipping that's a nice gesture.

Has anyone posted frames with the flare guard installed?
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I would imagine, I'd suggest reaching out to your Bomb Person at Red.

Here's the images from the Facebook group. I don't if it actually fixes anything yet. I imagine one of the reasons why my sensor was replaced was because the stitch might have been really bad. Otherwise, all cameras will be affected.

Here's an image of the flare guard from a thread on Facebook. I feel like there's a lot more info on the FB threads now.

290005990_10100505167737483_1389573646865643391_n.jpg
 
Charles Bergquist said:
Here's an image of the flare guard from a thread on Facebook. I feel like there's a lot more info on the FB threads now.

Click to expand...

Thanks for reposting here. I stubbornly refuse to reactivate my Facebook. But of course I still use Instagram, so I know it’s kind of a meaningless protest on my part, haha.
 
Russ Fill said:
Is this the hand over the sensor port no mount or with a lens mounted on the camera???
Click to expand...

This is with the RF to EF mount with a Canon 135 F2 @ F2, same set up I used for the first test that showed the sensor stitch. Overall, I will say that the sensor stitch, to my eye, is gone. They've eliminated it with this Flare Guard.

At this point, I can't tell if this is the Flare Guard, the EF Mount or what, I'm just not sure.

Red has made a solid effort in mitigating the issue and they turned around my camera quickly. ( After waiting a while for the Flare Guard to be fabricated. ) There's also a lot of V-Raptor customers that have never seen it and cannot get it to happen, so I don't know what's happening there either.

My whole take away from this whole situation. Red should have used their mount system and flange distance from the DSMC2 line. They're going with it on the Raptor XL and I have faith in that system. I think they need to control the optical path on their cameras or at least be very strict on testing of other mounts.

I think the RF for adaptability was a good call, from from an optics standpoint with adapters all being different, it wasn't the right choice.
 
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