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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 :)

Be very careful when swapping lens mounts

D

Dan McCain

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Yesterday a friend and I tried to swap the pl for the nikon mount. We both have worked on cameras extensively. We were very careful but wound up stripping out 2 screws so we cant remove the PL mount. The screws are really tight and the 2mm allen key provided by Red isnt perfect and it is VERY easy to strip out the screws. I am assuming once I can figure out a way to remove those screws this wont be an issue becuase I will never over-tighten the screws.

I highly recommend getting a craftsman set of metric allen keys and dont use the 2mm provided in the nikon kit.
 
Those screws are over tightened in reds factory. I have had to drill out a stripped red screw before.
 
Ouch, this is precisely why I am scared to change my Red mount out, even though I'd love to be able to use other lenses.
 
Every other allen I have tried fits better than the one RED provided. It's definitely dangerous to be sending that out with the mount. Once they are removed the first time with a different hex you are good to go as you never will tighten it down as hard as the factory did. I felt the RED allen about to slip and I immediately tried another with great success.
 
Two of my screws wouldn't come out. So I took my camera to Red and they pulled them out and swapped out the allen screws for Torx screws. The Nikon mount kicks ass now that I was able to swap mounts. I think if people are having problems with getting the screws out you could just send it in. But if you want Red to swap mounts for you I believe its $300. Of course email or call Red to get the real skinny on the info.
 
Drew599 said:
Two of my screws wouldn't come out. So I took my camera to Red and they pulled them out and swapped out the allen screws for Torx screws. The Nikon mount kicks ass now that I was able to swap mounts. I think if people are having problems with getting the screws out you could just send it in. But if you want Red to swap mounts for you I believe its $300. Of course email or call Red to get the real skinny on the info.
Click to expand...

yes. they said they were going to use something besides hex in the future. must be Torx.
 
I just got my Nikon mount earlier today and attempted to use the allen key that Red provides with the mount. After two turns, I could see that I was stripping the screw so I stopped doing that and pulled out my Wal-Mart allen key tool set and used that instead. Every screw came out perfectly.. I wouldn't use the included allen key, using something with a better grip for your hand

Sorry to hear about stripping issue. Red will take care of you quickly
 
I guess I was lucky, I had no probleme with the screw when I changed mount and I used the allen key provided by red. Thanks for the info going to buy a good allen Kit so.
Brice
 
This and the fact that I only have Nikon lenses is precisely why I have pushed back delivery of my cameras so that RED can send them with the NIKON mount in place. If I ever need to change to the PL mount, I would assume there will be the same concern?
 
Drew599 said:
Two of my screws wouldn't come out. So I took my camera to Red and they pulled them out and swapped out the allen screws for Torx screws. The Nikon mount kicks ass now that I was able to swap mounts. I think if people are having problems with getting the screws out you could just send it in. But if you want Red to swap mounts for you I believe its $300. Of course email or call Red to get the real skinny on the info.
Click to expand...

And better yet than Torx are "Torx Plus" head screws. They provide even more surface area contact with the wrench. There are "Allen" wrenches called "Allen Plus" that also work better than standard Allen wrenches.
 
Film Tools recommended and sells the Wiha drivers for smaller Allen/Hex screws - that's what I'm going to use when my Nikon Mount arrives.

I nearly stripped the screw on the side just putting on the ET Break Out box, the little Red wrench was worthless.
 
Cinewalt said:
Film Tools recommended and sells the Wiha drivers for smaller Allen/Hex screws - that's what I'm going to use when my Nikon Mount arrives.

I nearly stripped the screw on the side just putting on the ET Break Out box, the little Red wrench was worthless.
Click to expand...

Sounds like Red should change the supplied allen wrench!
 
I have changed the mounts several times with no problems and I use Wiha allen drivers. I have had to drill out 1 screw on another owners Red when it was the first original PL mount on the earlier cameras. I had my camera come back from a week long shoot and when I checked the camera in, all the screws were loose about 1 turn. They used the camera on a Helicopter. I hope the vibration of the tyler mount would not be enough to jiggle them loose. For now on, I will be checking those screws or probably replace them with the Torx and still monitor the tightness
 
An "Allen wrench" is actually a trade mark of the Allen Tool Company just like a "Crescent wrench" is another brand specific term, the actual, correct terms are a hex key and an adjustable spanner.

I always use new, high quality, hex keys for any smaller sized fastener. Never use ball end for a high torque extraction, that's just asking for a problem. If your in a bind, you can grind down a used hex key to give it a new, tight insertion fit.

Don't cheap out on hex keys. Buy high quality tool steel grade ones, not the cheap, plated crap that the low end hardware departments offer. It's just not worth the grief that can result.
 
So your advice then is to not cheap out and make sure to buy good allen wrenches?
 
It happened to me yesterday here in Mexico City, with 4 screws, going from Nikon to PL mount.

We ended up drilling the 4 screws out (something I don't recommend if you don't know how). That was actually not that difficult and scary as it initially sounds, but still not a funny thing to have to do.

edit: Both camera and Nikon mount were unharmed :sarcasm:


Fredrik Callinggard
 
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