Best mounting solution for RED 5" Touch and a Top Handle

[Tom Greenberg]

I just purchased a used Scarlet brain and am busy outfitting it. I have a pretty good idea of how I want to configure most of the package, but Im struggling with how to mount both a RED 5" Touch LCD and some kind of Top Handle (preferably the RED Sliding Top Handle). Honestly, since this has to be a really common problem, I'm surprised that RED and/or one of the third-party vendors hasn't come up with a really elegant solution to this problem.

I've looked through most of the Scarlet and Epic configuration pix here on RU and I just haven't seen anything that seems like the "perfect" solution. I realize this is pretty subjective, and everyone has their preferred layout, but I could use some input...

I should mention 2 other things...I hate Israeli arms (with a passion)...and at some point in the near future I plan to add a Bomb EVF, but I don't currently have one...

Tom

 

[Dave Blackham]

Tom,

We use a x top plate but could be any top plate riddled with holes, lots of manufacturers out there. Watch out for the x top plate that extends over the front edge of the camera body as it collides with an A mount as I think you use one. It can be fixed by milling the front face from the top plate. We fix two nato rails to the top plate. About $100 each from camera accessory vendors or $5 from a gunshop. The forward nato rail fitted about 1 back from the front of the plate has a handle fitted to it pointing forwards over the lens which balances the camera when holding it by the handle and avoids getting involved with the battery or LCD. Handle is fitted by a nato shoe so the handle can be taken of easily. The rear nato rail mounts the LCD via a nato rail shoe in the same way.

We also use a standard Arri style bridge plate it fits on to standard dovetail and also an Allstar shoulder mount so the whole camera assembly can change from Tripod to Shoulder set up in less than 30 seconds.

A bomb evf mount fits between the nato rails.

Hope this helps and would be interested to see how you configure your set up.

Dave

 

[Trevor Meeks]

I also have a top plate on my Scarlet. The DSMC Tactical top plate. On top of that, I have a W00DEN CAMERA 15mm LW rod mount, but this is not necessary for everyone, as I typically use this to mount rods for wireless focus motors when I need them. However, it does give me some height between the handle and the camera, which I like.

On top of that W00DEN CAMERA mount, I have one of their safety NATO rails. They have nubs on either end that keep the sliding top handle, which attaches to that rail, from sliding off accidentally if it comes loose.

I screwed my 5" touch LCD to the top of the RED Sliding top handle. This is a great, functional setup that fits my needs very well.

EDIT: It seems that REDUSER.net censors W-O-O-D-E-N CAMERA (because RED apparently hates WC) which is pretty sad. Hence my spelling of it with two zeros. Anyway, you get the point. They make great parts for RED and other cameras.

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[Tom Greenberg]

Thanks, Dave! I was definitely planning to get a Top Plate...either the RED or WC. And I figured on using some sort of nato rail solution, but hadn't thought of using 2 of them. And yes, I'm definitely using the A-Mount, so it's good to be aware that clearance can be an issue...I'll make sure I watch out for that. I hadn't really thought of pointing the handle forward...although it seems like it might get in the way of seeing and accessing the small aperture ring on my lenses...which are almost all Contax, Nikkor or Leica R. Has that been a problem?

On the camera support side of things, I think I have that pretty well figured out. I am using the RED mounting plate with the RED Quick Release Dovetail and a WC 12" safety dovetail on a Miller DS25. I have a RED 15mm centered adapter bolted on my QR and I'm going to use that for my BT VIV and follow focus. I'm ordering the Allstar ARRI shoulder mount, and I'll just slide the QR Dovetail onto that and click in the camera when I go handheld.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Thanks, Trevor! I wondered how often you use your top rails? I thought about a configuration something like that, but not sure what I'd use them for since the battery plate is mounted on the back of the body and I would never run a wireless FF at this point. And I like the clean look of your monitor on the top of the Sliding Handle, but I wonder if it gets kind of top heavy? It looks like it might? And does the LCD attach to the top of the handle with 2 screws...or just 1? One config that I saw that looked kind of intriguing was Ketch's and Tobias Straka where they removed the front of the sliding top handle (the part with the rosette), turned the sliding handle support around 180º (the part with the nato clamp) and then bolted the LCD to the front of the sliding handle support. Here are photos of their setups...wondered what you thought about this idea?

 

[Dominick Pietrzak]

I never liked the way it configured with the sliding top handle, so I did this...

 

[Tom Greenberg]

That looks pretty good, Dominick...do you ever use a Bomb EVF? I suppose with an EVF on the left side, the LCD on its swat rail could move over to the right side of the camera.

 

[Jon Carr]

I know you said you don't like Israeli arms, but if you got a obox, this is prob the most comfortable you can be when going handheld.

 

[Harry Lipnick]

I never liked the way it configured with the sliding top handle, so I did this...

Dominik-
Would you mind sharing where your small barcode labels are from? Does that system work well for you? Getting to the point where I think it will be very important to start catalogging/tracking my gear a little better, and that seems like a great system. I'd certainly appreciate any input you might have. Thanks!

-Harry

 

[Dominick Pietrzak]

Thanks! Haven't used the Bomb EVF yet. But yes in that case it could move to the right. Or I could just reconfigure it with an israeli arm. Gotta get one of those soon since it seems like a great way to mount the LCD also.

That looks pretty good, Dominick...do you ever use a Bomb EVF? I suppose with an EVF on the left side, the LCD on its swat rail could move over to the right side of the camera.

 

[Dominick Pietrzak]

Hi Harry,

The labels are from mavericklabel.com. They will make you just about any type of label you'd ever need. I got barcode labels and use them with FileMaker Pro and a free FM Starting Point template. Has been working out great to keep track of everything!

Dominik-
Would you mind sharing where your small barcode labels are from? Does that system work well for you? Getting to the point where I think it will be very important to start catalogging/tracking my gear a little better, and that seems like a great system. I'd certainly appreciate any input you might have. Thanks!

-Harry

 

[Harry Lipnick]

Hi Harry,

The labels are from mavericklabel.com. They will make you just about any type of label you'd ever need. I got barcode labels and use them with FileMaker Pro and a free FM Starting Point template. Has been working out great to keep track of everything!

Thanks Dominick-
That sounds right up my alley. Would you mind linking to the FM template? I've been trying to build something from scratch in FMP, and while I actually sort of enjoy figuring out how to make a database, I think it would be a bit better use of my time to have a good starting point. Thanks so much!

-Harry

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Or I could just reconfigure it with an israeli arm. Gotta get one of those soon since it seems like a great way to mount the LCD also.

You must have missed the part where I said that I hate Israeli arms with a passion, lol...

 

[Harry Lipnick]

By the way Dominick, what size asset tags did you order from Maverick?
Thanks again,

-Harry

 

[Chad Cooper]

i threw a zacuto zicromount on mine, and put a bunch of WC 15mm bolt on rails on top plate, on top handle, on matte box, on israeli arms so i can move it to the most convenient location per configuration. Same thing as ketch's config essentially, but with quick release.

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Thanks, Trevor! I wondered how often you use your top rails? I thought about a configuration something like that, but not sure what I'd use them for since the battery plate is mounted on the back of the body and I would never run a wireless FF at this point. And I like the clean look of your monitor on the top of the Sliding Handle, but I wonder if it gets kind of top heavy? It looks like it might? And does the LCD attach to the top of the handle with 2 screws...or just 1?

I use the top rods for wireless motors often enough that I keep the WC 15mm bracket on top of the camera at all times. It fits perfectly in my pelican case the way I have it configured, so no reason to change it. The camera doesn't get top heavy at all. The handle and monitor are very light compared to the camera, so the center of gravity is quite low. The monitor attaches to the top handle with one screw. It's very secure and I've never had it rotate or anything.

Enjoy!

 

[Harry Lipnick]

Trevor-
Do you happen to have a pictures of the Pelican that you keep your camera in? Been trying to work out my options for keeping a more fully rigged camera in a hard case.
Thanks,

-Harry

 

[Peter Strietmann]

I like Dave Blackham's set up which is identical to mine. No tools required no noga arms, quick release everything. I leave the view factor top plate on and use the W00den Camera nato rails with spring loaded safety pins on while in the peli case. I also use the quick release base from ET on while in the case so I can be up and running from the case in about a minute.

 

[Peter Majtan]

Tom, if you just looking at a simple combo for Top Sliding Handle and the 5" Touch - I also just have a permanent 100mm Swat rail directly attached to the top front section of the brain and the 5" Touch is bolted onto the front of the Top Sliding Handle. It comes on & off the camera in seconds (without tools) and folds flat with the handle to be easily stored in my custom cut out foam in the peli...:

:sifone: Peter

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Thanks, Peter! You are using the same mounting config (minus the Top Plate) that Ketch and Tobias are using in the pics I posted above. I am really leaning toward this method of mounting, because it makes for a really clean and compact installation. I think I'll use the WC NATO rails, as Peter S suggested, because I really like the idea of the safety pins at the ends. The idea of picking the camera up by the handle and having it slide off because the clamp loosened up makes me ill to think about. Then I can add another WC NATO rail on the side of the Top Plate, like Dominick did, for my future EVF. I currently use one of the WC UVF V2 mounts on our R1MX and really like it, so I might use one of those to mount the EVF.