Care and Maintenance of your RED

[Peter Strietmann]

While B&H does carry Visible Dust products, I found it costs less to order direct from the company in Canada.

 

[Lucas Ribeiro]

I have a problem with Fan Cooler, it is broken. Makes him banging noise when moving the camera. Has anyone had to change the cooler? Changed without triggering the RED?

 

[Balderdash]

During the test shoots in Central Park, we noticed tiny grey blurry dots in several shots -- signs that there was dust on the sensor. To be more accurate, dust on the glass plate that covers the RED sensor.

The RED is such a marvel of 4K goodness, that the more mundane aspects of care and maintenace haven't been really discussed. This is likely something you are going to have to deal with soon after you get your camera.

Here, the solution once again can be attributed to my friends at Off Hollywood.

I dropped by their office and we tested out two extremely valuable pieces of equipment:

The Visibledust LED Magnifying Loupe
http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=600

The Visibledust Arctic Butterfly Sensor Cleaner (Model 724 I believe)
http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=701

[ED: On the above linked product page there is a video demonstration button that will show you the entire process]

First off, the Loupe is just great. It works extremely well with the RED, fully lighting the barrel. The resulting magnification and visibility of the glass covering the sensor is exceptional. Plain as could be, I could easily see the offending culprits. Stupid dust.

The Arctic Butterfly is a dry approach to dust removal. A battery powered motor spins the brush head at a high speed, flattening it out and creating an electrostatic charge (also flinging off debris). After a couple of on and off spins, you gently pass it accross the sensor covering glass.

After two passes, we pulled out the Loupe to examine the result -- dust was gone. And I mean GONE. The electrostatic charge picks up the dust like a magnet.

I admit this process made me nervous at first, but as this is going to become a routine matter, I feel comfortable that it will serve well in the field.

I'd love it if other owners (and soon to be owners -- hello 50-100) could add to this thread with their tips and techniques.

-Scott

Thanks for the heads up.

This is is a common issue for any camera with an exposed sensor. The tiny grey blurry dots you're seeing are likely light reflections or interference from the dust particles in certain shots, especially when shooting wide open or with shallow depth of field. Below are steps I applied when I had similar issue in cleaning the sensor cover manually.

A. Gather Your Tools:​

• Sensor Cleaning Kit: You’ll need a sensor cleaning brush (specifically designed for cameras) and sensor cleaning swabs. Do not use standard microfiber cloths or swabs for sensor cleaning. Also, avoid canned air, as it can push the dust further into the camera.
• Can of Air (optional): A gentle air blower, like the Giottos Rocket Blower, is great for gently removing dust without touching the sensor cover directly.

B. Turn Off the Camera & Remove Power:​

• Always turn off the camera and remove the battery before cleaning.
• For RED cameras, remove the lens and attach a lens cap to protect the lens mount.

C. Lock the Sensor in Place (if applicable):​

• On certain RED cameras, you can lock the sensor using the camera’s menu or settings. If you’re working with the RED DSMC2, navigate to the camera’s settings and ensure the sensor is locked (this prevents movement).

D. Use the Rocket Blower:​

• Hold the rocket blower a few inches away from the sensor area and gently squeeze it to blow air across the sensor cover.
• Do not directly touch the sensor or cover with your hands or any other object.
• You may need to repeat this step a couple of times to remove the loose dust.

E. Use the Sensor Cleaning Brush:​

• Gently sweep the cleaning brush across the sensor cover. Make sure it’s specifically designed for sensors (avoid general cleaning brushes).
• Don’t apply any pressure — just a gentle pass over the surface of the cover.

F. Use a Wet Swab (if needed):​

• If the dust doesn’t come off with air or a brush, use a wet sensor cleaning swab. Make sure to use a swab that fits your camera’s sensor size (full-frame, Super 35mm, etc.).
• Dampen the swab with a small amount of sensor cleaning solution (available in sensor cleaning kits).
• Gently swipe across the sensor cover in a single, smooth motion — from left to right or top to bottom. Do not use circular motions. Dispose of the swab after one use.

G. Reassemble the Camera:​

• Once you’ve cleaned the sensor cover, let the camera sit for a few minutes to ensure everything has settled.
• Reattach the lens, and you’re good to go.

 

[Balderdash]

I have a problem with Fan Cooler, it is broken. Makes him banging noise when moving the camera. Has anyone had to change the cooler? Changed without triggering the RED?

This can be a bit of a tricky issue to solve, especially since RED cameras have highly specialized, integrated cooling systems. The banging noise you’re hearing is likely caused by a loose or misaligned fan blade, which can happen over time, especially if the camera has been subject to heavy use or physical impact.

Before you dive into fixing it, confirm if the problem is 100% the fan and not something else that could be causing the noise. To do this:

-Power off the camera and remove the battery and any connected gear (lenses, media, etc.).
Physically inspect the fan by opening any covers that might give access to it (if possible).
Turn the camera on briefly (without the lens or accessories) and listen closely to see if the sound is coming directly from the fan or from another source. You can also gently press the camera body to see if any loose parts or vibrations cause the sound.

Second, If you're considering fixing it on your own, here's what you'd need to consider:

-Inspect the Fan Blade: Often the issue could be a loose fan blade or something that has fallen into the fan, causing the noise. If it’s just that, you might be able to fix it by gently re-aligning the blades or removing debris.
-Check the Fan Motor: Sometimes the motor itself could be misaligned or broken. If that’s the case, the fan may need to be replaced entirely.

let me know if the fan needs to be replaced, I can point you to professionals to help you replace the fan.