Control...

[Michael Olsen]

One of the great thing about the modular approach is that we have options. But when budgets are limited, options become difficult choices.

So, to those of you who have shot with an Epic...

1) Which camera control method do you find most useful as a control device? Touchscreen, side handle, or REDMOTE?

2) If you had to purchase just one of the above to control the camera, what would it be?

 

[Greg M]

If I could only pick one I would choose the 5" LCD touch screen. It is the quickest and easiest way to set up the camera and doubles as a monitor

 

[Steve Gibby]

With Epic I've liked working with both the touchscreen LCD and side handle. I agree with Greg, the touchscreen LCD is the fastest and easiest way to setup and then change settings on the camera. Since I do a lot of hand held I really like the side handle too.

If budget challenged I wouldn't buy just one of the three - I'd figure out a way to buy both the LCD and the side handle. The Redmote is way cool though...

 

[Mark Andersen]

All depends... On steadicam then the redmote is great, because you can lose the LCD and side handle. Same thing where the camera is hard to reach, cranes etc. But generally the LCD is the first choice, it's just easy and I like shooting with it anyway. Then the side handle is best if you have a hoodman on the LCD where it's hard to reach. Like I said it all depends, they all have their place.

If I could only have one. The LCD.

 

[Zach Hilton]

If I could go with just one, the touchscreen LCD would be it for sure. Quickest way to change things. Redmote and side handle are close seconds.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

If I can only pick one the Touch LCD.

The Redmote's are pretty fantastic though, and a RedMote is only $500 I think ... so grab one of those. Even if you have to go on Ramen for a while its way worth it. I much prefer the idea of the RedMote Pro ... but we are talking about being budget conscious.

The third item I want is an EVF, which of course means the BombEVF.

 

[Michael Olsen]

Thanks for all of you input, guys. Sounds like if someone has a limited budget, they should go for the LCD and try to squeeze the side handle in, if they can.

 

[Mark Toia]

When my eye is to the BOMB evf, the hand grip is super fast once you get used to the thumb wheel...

You don't need the REDMOTE at all in its current form... but its good to see what the camera is set at, so it gets info display points, we leave it on for that reason alone, and having another button to push record with.

I agree with the above and say the 5 inch touch is the best all rounder... but to be honest. we hardly use it.
Since we like to have both the BOMB and a viewing monitor working (for the focus puller to know what I'm pointing at) at the same time (via HDSDI).. the 5 inche sort of lives in a pelican case unused.

Everyone sets there rigs up differently...

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Okay,

what I would have to say is that if you can only pick one, well, that is obvious, as the only one that will give you both viewing capacity and camera control is the RED PRO Touch screen LCD.

However if you could get a second one that would be depending on the intended use of the camera, as for many uses the LCD is best, while on many others is almost useless ad an EVF is an absolute must,
so in this case I would get the Side Handle Grip, as when using the EVF, this becomes my second nature, all controls are now memorized in my finger tips while viewing thru the EVF.

However if and in those situations were a wireless mode is needed there will be nothing replacing the use of the REDMOTE, silly Genial on RED's part.

Also I need to add that even so I got several pens so that we no longer touch the screen, so it remains nice and finger print - LESS, and easier to view, still, even with a Screen shade depending on angle of the sun,
it gives too much reflection, so I prefer agin the EVF in those situations, but when reflections, especially at night is not an issue, at times and for certain shoots, I much prefer the LCD to the EVF.


So the choices are many, thank RED for that he he, now you need to chose yours, but ultimately you will need to have them all, and then some...

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Michael, is your camera for your personal use or will you be renting it out to productions? If it's the latter, I have found that I can never show up on a set without both an EVF and the LCD for my R1. Some DPs will only use EVF, while the AC may use the LCD, etc. If it's your own gigs and you have to choose, I agree with everyone else here that the touchscreen LCD is the way to go. But I do feel that at some point you may want an EVF as an option. And probably a REDmote too for certain things. But budget is budget so get what you can afford.

 

[Michael Olsen]

Michael, is your camera...

Oh, this isn't for my gear. I just know people are going to be asking once Scarlet and Epic-S roll. I have a feeling there will be quite a large number of people with somewhat limited budgets trying to figure out what works best. I just thought it would be good to have this info on hand when people start asking questions about what they need and what others have found to work well.

EDIT: I agree with the EVF comment. I believe they can be absolutely invaluable, especially under certain circumstances.

 

[Gunleik Groven]

EVF + small HD or something like that will be pretty standard, if there isn't a way to split the signal to both the EVF and the LCD down the road (which doesn't involve a new module, because we want our Epics slim, don't we?)

G