Confusing Configuration Options

[Jason Hilton]

I've been away from Red and camera work in general since the Red One first came out, and I'm struggling to understand how the current Red product line all fits together. I'm getting back into flying camera rigging and was thinking the Raven could be a good option, but I have a few questions:

1. Do the DSMC2 RED Touch LCDs allow connection to the Raven in any other way than direct through the "pogo" connection? If yes, how? I'd prefer to not top mount the monitor when needed, and prefer to put it on a plate behind the camera.
2. How much of the camera can be controlled via wifi, and how is that accomplished? Can I trigger record remotely? Can record be triggered via SDI?
3. It's hard to tell if there is any audio input and the backpack options are a little confusing. If I want to get audio in and HD video out to an HD transmitter, which backpack option is the correct choice? We'll be primarilly mounting this camera on our cable dolly and 4 point flying camera rig.
4. Is there a wired control protocol or SDK that can be utilized to talk control the camera directly? We've been testing a board setup that allows us to control our gimbal, dolly, focus, aperture, etc. from a single place remotely. right now we've wired in a remote follow focus, but I'm excited by the possibility of direct control of the cannon lenses. We've also been looking at the BM Cinema Studio Micro 4k for the same reason, although all evidence suggests the image and dynamic range aren't what we're looking for.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kabilen Mullaithilaga]

I've been away from Red and camera work in general since the Red One first came out, and I'm struggling to understand how the current Red product line all fits together. I'm getting back into flying camera rigging and was thinking the Raven could be a good option, but I have a few questions:

1. Do the DSMC2 RED Touch LCDs allow connection to the Raven in any other way than direct through the "pogo" connection? If yes, how? I'd prefer to not top mount the monitor when needed, and prefer to put it on a plate behind the camera.
2. How much of the camera can be controlled via wifi, and how is that accomplished? Can I trigger record remotely? Can record be triggered via SDI?
3. It's hard to tell if there is any audio input and the backpack options are a little confusing. If I want to get audio in and HD video out to an HD transmitter, which backpack option is the correct choice? We'll be primarilly mounting this camera on our cable dolly and 4 point flying camera rig.
4. Is there a wired control protocol or SDK that can be utilized to talk control the camera directly? We've been testing a board setup that allows us to control our gimbal, dolly, focus, aperture, etc. from a single place remotely. right now we've wired in a remote follow focus, but I'm excited by the possibility of direct control of the cannon lenses. We've also been looking at the BM Cinema Studio Micro 4k for the same reason, although all evidence suggests the image and dynamic range aren't what we're looking for.

Thanks in advance!

See, I only know the answer to Question 1, and that's cause I wasn't a fan of the top configuration.
The top LCD/EVF connection is the primary connector, but there is secondary LCD/EVF connection above the mini-mag adapter.
You can connect the red touch on it lay it flat against the body (where the mini-mag is located) and rotate the image of the red touch for a low profile (this is what I'm planning to do), but this comes with a caveat. That is, when you use the secondary port, you can't use it simultaneously with an HDMI port. There are other options when you use a LEMO adaptor, I'm sure you can connect the adaptor on both primary and secondary ports and then wire it so that the red touch is away from the body.

Hopefully someone else can respond to the other questions. BTW, the manual is available to download and read, go to red.com and find it there.

 

[Kevin DeOliveira]

You can connect the red touch on it lay it flat against the body (where the mini-mag is located) and rotate the image of the red touch for a low profile (this is what I'm planning to do), but this comes with a caveat. That is, when you use the secondary port, you can't use it simultaneously with an HDMI port.

Darn it. Good catch.

 

[Kevin DeOliveira]

Jason, to help with one of your questions, check out the foolcontrol-r app. The $5 option has a basic trigger, and the $150 version has a ton of control:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foolcontrol/id888231700?mt=8

 

[Tarquin Cardona]

Darn it. Good catch.

I second that. I just tried it and I was like.....hooray! You have to love Reduser.

 

[Kabilen Mullaithilaga]

I second that. I just tried it and I was like.....hooray! You have to love Reduser.

I actually read the manual (not entirely), just to make sure you can do that... Before I pulled the trigger and put in a preorder.

I mean from what I've seen on Reduser about the weapon (because it had the same body).... The handle always got in the way of V mount batteries. So I thought, why not reverse the handle to face the lens. But that would mean to displace the LCD... I was looking at a rig and a larger LCD, which would mean more money.... All in all... I saved some money by just going with the I/O V mount package but not much (at most $1K, but it was also a lot of 3rd party parts from wooden camera, the current package is purely Red parts).

 

[Phil Holland]

I've been away from Red and camera work in general since the Red One first came out, and I'm struggling to understand how the current Red product line all fits together. I'm getting back into flying camera rigging and was thinking the Raven could be a good option, but I have a few questions:

1. Do the DSMC2 RED Touch LCDs allow connection to the Raven in any other way than direct through the "pogo" connection? If yes, how? I'd prefer to not top mount the monitor when needed, and prefer to put it on a plate behind the camera.

Yes. Out of the box it offers the cableless connection, however if you want to use a cabled you will want the DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] LEMO ADAPTOR A. This allows for the LEMO connection. If you are using one of the cableless DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] displays you will also need the DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] LEMO ADAPTOR B.


They are also available in a kit with an arm in the store.

2. How much of the camera can be controlled via wifi, and how is that accomplished? Can I trigger record remotely? Can record be triggered via SDI?

Pretty much everything especially if you are using the Foolcontrol App. Yes you can trigger record remotely. No, you can't via SDI that I know of.

3. It's hard to tell if there is any audio input and the backpack options are a little confusing. If I want to get audio in and HD video out to an HD transmitter, which backpack option is the correct choice? We'll be primarilly mounting this camera on our cable dolly and 4 point flying camera rig.

Depends on what type of audio signal you want to feed the camera. The Base Expander and DSMC[SUP]2[/SUP] I/O V-Lock Expander don't provide Phantom Power, the REDVOLT Expander does however and features full size XLR connections. There are also many other modules/expanders coming from 3rd parties. Offhollywood, Movcam, Tilta come to mind.

4. Is there a wired control protocol or SDK that can be utilized to talk control the camera directly? We've been testing a board setup that allows us to control our gimbal, dolly, focus, aperture, etc. from a single place remotely. right now we've wired in a remote follow focus, but I'm excited by the possibility of direct control of the cannon lenses. We've also been looking at the BM Cinema Studio Micro 4k for the same reason, although all evidence suggests the image and dynamic range aren't what we're looking for.

Investigate REDlink Command Protocol (RCP) and/or the SDK.