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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 :)

About to camera assist with RED.. advice please!

J

JamesM

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Hi,

I am just starting out as camera assistant having previously done 5-6 productions as a runner - my current goal being camera trainee - when today I got offered a position as camera assistant on a shoot that will be using the RED One camera. I have been upfront and mentioned I have no direct experience with the camera but I would like to prepare as much as possible.

My only two camera assist jobs so far have been with the Panasonic HVX171 and a Canon EOS Mk IV. Can you guys give me some tips on what's different about RED, or direct me to any useful articles etc. Have the manual open on my other screen which I'm reading through also.

Also, I'm reading about Cooke lenses and the lens metadata link used with RED cameras, are their any other lenses that work the same way on the RED?

Regards,
James
 
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Not only goto a rental house to play around with it, ask if you can get a demo on the camera too. During the demo they will be able to tell you what glitches to be aware of and how to identify and fix them. If they don't tell you about possible things that can go wrong, ask. It's the main job of an AC to make sure the camera is running smoothly and to fix it when it doesn't.

Here is a list of parts of the camera that have consistent problems that you show specifically ask about so they can tell you how to fix them.
Lens mount
EVF- electronic viewfinder
Menu knob
Battery plate
Sata Errors
General software errors
Assignable buttons stop working
Headphone jack
Audio inputs

If they don't know what problems these things produce then they are either trying to make the camera seem more reliable or they just don't know, either way bad news bears for you when one of these thing crap out and you don't know how to fix it.
 
Thanks guys for all this info, the book and DVD recommended look good.

I didn't realise that rental houses would be that generous with regards to letting you 'play' with the cameras and so forth, I will definitely contact them to see if I can get something arranged - the shoot is only just over a week away so would seem like the best crash course way of learning!

Apologies for the poor writing of the earlier post, I've corrected this!
 
Funny you should mention the ASC article, finished reading it about 2 hours ago!

I was looking to actually get some experience via a DIT course but in the end got on a few shoots and haven't got round to it, I would obviously take a keen interest if there's one on this short though!

Thanks again for the advice.
 
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