First time on RED, what accessories?

[Magnus Dorati]

So I'm shooting a short with RED ONE for the first time, and we are at the point where we are going to hire a camera.

Obviously I'll need the Red body, but can anyone tell me what accessories I'll need? I want to keep the costs to a minimum. What is a standard package for this camera?

And as a first time user, is there anything special I need to keep in mind?

Thanks!

 

[Joel Jameson]

So I'm shooting a short with RED ONE for the first time, and we are at the point where we are going to hire a camera.

Thanks!

The best advise I could give is check with the local rental houses in your area, you will find most of them have standard "packages" depending on your needs.

There is no "one" package that fits, and it's really about what your shorts style and look dictates that will determine what you need to put on the camera. Do you need a steadycam setup, shoulder or tripod setup or all of them? What about track and/or dollies, jib arms, filters, lens choices based on the shots you need?

I guess what I'm saying is you need to have your shot list and DP's vision to be able to back into what tools you need to get those shots correctly.

 

[Rob Gardner]

One accessory you might consider is a crew (including a DIT) that really knows the system.

 

[Magnus Dorati]

Yeah okey, I get it...


Here's one rental house that have a "package":

RED ONE Camera
- LCD Monitor
- Mattebox
- Compact flash cards
- RED veiwfinder
- 19mm support

And here's another:
1 x RED One camera
1 x RED 5,6" monitor
4 x Compact flash cards 8GB
1 x RED drive (raid)
1 x RED veiwfinder
1 x Arri bridgeplate w/19mm support
1 x BNC breakout box
1 x IR filter



In other words, what is the minimum equipment I'm going to need to be able to operate this camera on a tripod, with followfocus, batteries, drive, mattebox and external monitor?

 

[Jackson Yeung]

I guess the most basic you CAN get is:
Body, LCD (7" it's worth it), Lenses(zoom), Drive+Battery(2 minimum) and the cradle.
Then:
19mm supports(or 15mm), Mattebox with 4x4 and 4x5.6 stages and eyebrow/FFlags, FF with crank/whip, EVF

A tip is usually you can get a better deal at SOME rental houses if you ask for older Gear and 'piece' together your kit.
IE request the older Arri FF2 as opposed to the newer FF4 or FF5, etc.

 

[JonathanF]

Yeah okey, I get it...


Here's one rental house that have a "package":

RED ONE Camera
- 19mm support

If you are on the east coast this may be right, but if you're on the west coast 15mm is more likely. Make sure the rental package is actually based on the local standard for support equipment. From LA to Vancouver (throughout the west) that's 15mm NOT 19mm.

On the east coast, however, 19mm is the standard.

The reason I say this is because if one house does not have everything you need you may be going to two places to round out your kit.

I think one of the DIT's posted a really good explanation of this somewhere, do a little searching and that should answer all your rod standard questions.

Don't bother with the 8GB cards, just get the 16GB ones. Without 16GB cards you will forgo 4k HD, 4k 16:9 and 4.5k WS.

As mentioned by others, adding a QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED DIT to your crew is your number one accessory if this is your first Red shoot. Trust me, this will SAVE you money. If you are not experienced with the camera he will save you time (meaning you'll get more done in less time thus saving money) and he may save your footage (meaning no reshoot and thereby saving you money).

Have a good shoot,

J