Epic crashes after changing from record to playback mode

[Simon Sturzenegger]

Hi there,

We have massive problems with our RED Epic on a big budget TV-movie at the moment.
When we try to enter the in-camera playback mode, the camera crashes. After a restart we are able to enter the playback mode but the camera freezes again after going back to record. We habe to restart every te we want to switch the mode.

The problems startes to occure today. We are running build 4.0.10 on a quite new Red Epic with the Pro I/O module.


Any ideas what the problem could
be?


Best,
Simon

 

[ericyoung]

You can try several things.

Swap LCD/EVF and LCD cable to see if they have any effect on the problem.

Disconnect EVERYTHING except the LCD - including all third party accessories, but also the Pro I/O module, and DSMC Side Handle, and any other modules. Then try again.
If it's now OK, add each accessory one at a time, and try after each addition.

If not OK, redownload current release firmware and reinstall it, followed by a Black Calibration.
Try again.

Also, write a Camera Log and contact Red Support.

 

[Simon Sturzenegger]

You can try several things.

Swap LCD/EVF and LCD cable to see if they have any effect on the problem.

Disconnect EVERYTHING except the LCD - including all third party accessories, but also the Pro I/O module, and DSMC Side Handle, and any other modules. Then try again.
If it's now OK, add each accessory one at a time, and try after each addition.

If not OK, redownload current release firmware and reinstall it, followed by a Black Calibration.
Try again.

Also, write a Camera Log and contact Red Support.

Hi Eric,

We did that, thanks!
Looks like it has something to do with the power...

The camera freezes very often when we switch batterie on the Bebop LM-120 buffer plate. After changing the batterie and switching to playback mode the camera freezes. If we change the batterie again or shake the camera a bit, the camera is back online...

Very strange...

Anyone ever had that problem before?


Best,
Simon

 

[Peter Stelzhammer]

any problems when you're on mains power ?
do you have another battery-plate to check weather the issue really is connected to the LM-120 ?

edit: you have RED Germany HQ sitting right in your town; I'd just head over there and get this sorted out

 

[Simon Sturzenegger]

Yeah I know the RED guys here quite well, but I am not in Berlin at the moment

I think we figured out what the problem is.

When the camera freezes and we lift the Pro I/O module a bit, the camera is back on and the freeze is gone. When we press the Pro I/O module down the camera freezes again.

We suppose the weight of the Bebop plate on the Pro I/O module is a problem for the camera.
Our next step is to try it again without the Pro I/O module and to clean the contacts and try again.

We keep you posted!

 

[ericyoung]

Interesting - there was another recent thread about pins getting bent with other DSMC modules.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...dule-adapter&p=1199660&highlight=#post1199660

 

[Peter Stelzhammer]

one of the reasons (only one out of like 4 or 5) I tossed the quad battery module; the connection to the brain after the module adapter was not what I'd call "really tight" - even with locking it properly... the modular system may have its benefits - but it also has a few weak spots (in some of the "longer" configs at least)...

 

[Simon Sturzenegger]

We were able to "fix" the problem for the moment with a not very sexy solution but one that works for us for now. We just removed the left RED tactical bracket and mounted it between the Adaptor module and the Pro I/O module for stabilizing the whole back of the camera. After that the camera did not freeze anymore if we pressed the Pro I/O module down a bit or used the bebop plate with a full batterie.

I hope there is a fix from RED for this or at least a plate that helps stabilizing it using the 1/4" holes on the top.

 

[Dave Weber]

Simon,

Not sure the problem is with the Pro I/O mod. I had a similar situation with my epic on a job the other day. Went to playback and camera crashed. After a proper shutdown/reboot the camera was in working order again. Maybe a bug in the 4.0.10 build?

 

[ericyoung]

Full marks for improvisation Simon :smile:

 

[Peter Stelzhammer]

improvisation

that's what filmmaking often is all about - and also why gaffa and a leatherman are my best friends on set

but yeah - good improvisation...
could you see any bent pins or anything like that ?
I'd get this checked as soon as you're back in Berlin !

 

[Mark Toia]

Quite common... happens to all of our epics.
Its PC at the end of the day... we found if you slow down by a 1/2 second yit wont happen, it needs time to think, as well.. never use two fingers in the screen, the EPIC does not like two instructions at the same time.. same as me. .

 

[Simon Sturzenegger]

Simon,

Not sure the problem is with the Pro I/O mod. I had a similar situation with my epic on a job the other day. Went to playback and camera crashed. After a proper shutdown/reboot the camera was in working order again. Maybe a bug in the 4.0.10 build?

I am quite sure it was the Pro I/O module in our case. Since we "fixed" it as you can see in the picture the problem is gone. We shot the whole day without any issues and last friday the camera crashed every time we tried to play back.

Full marks for improvisation Simon

Thanks Eric I would prefer RED to fix that. I already told the problem to RED Germany and I hope they are going to report it to the construction guys.