GPI Trigger with Preston or Libra head

[Steve Freebairn]

Do either a Libra head or Preston FIZ have a GPI trigger to remote start and stop the recording on the RED One? I have used the GPI trigger function on a bartech and it worked great, I just need to know if either the libra head or Preston can do the same thing? I'm looking into the option of an Origo or that other xlr remote start stop, but I'd rather not buy either and have them rushed unless necessary.

 

[Stuart English]

GPI trigger

GPI trigger

Yes to that question for Preston for sure ..

 

[REDFEAT]

I've seen that Preston has a cable for the Aux/rs232 lemo port to their MDR-2 that gives this ability

 

[T. Glen Phelps]

Preston FI+Z works great with the Aux/RS232 cable.

 

[Mark Toia]

Just a small note:

We had 4 cameras on a shoot last month, 2 of the cameras after a day or so failed to fire through that 232 port using the Preston MDR-2 via there cable into the 232 lemo port. We noticed after the failure that all the GPI ports triggers to roll had failed. (they must be connected in some way)
Then we noticed that both EVF's failed at the same time on the same 2 cameras.

Both Cameras went back to RED, (awesome service by the way).
We are waiting for the reason for the double camera failure to record via the 232 and the GPI ports. I will share it, when and If i get it.

Now. I'm not blaming Preston gear as I love it as I do the RED cameras, But the Preston on off via the 232 lemo port was the only thing that wasn't Red that was plugged into the RED's. Our other 2 cameras we did not use the Preston to trigger.(we were to scared) we ended up using the VIEW FACTOR triggers on those. All was good.

The preston was checked as was the cable, it was in perfect running order.

So in short, Some thing went wrong and not on 1 camera.
But the great thing was, all cameras still shot pictures even though the GPI ports were dead.
Also RED was quick to get our cameras back for repair.

 

[Mark Pugh]

Whadda you know, Big T- both of my ports seem to have died for GPI after a day as well.

 

[REDFEAT]

Just a small note:

We had 4 cameras on a shoot last month, 2 of the cameras after a day or so failed to fire through that 232 port using the Preston MDR-2 via there cable into the 232 lemo port. We noticed after the failure that all the GPI ports triggers to roll had failed. (they must be connected in some way)
Then we noticed that both EVF's failed at the same time on the same 2 cameras.

Both Cameras went back to RED, (awesome service by the way).
We are waiting for the reason for the double camera failure to record via the 232 and the GPI ports. I will share it, when and If i get it.

Now. I'm not blaming Preston gear as I love it as I do the RED cameras, But the Preston on off via the 232 lemo port was the only thing that wasn't Red that was plugged into the RED's. Our other 2 cameras we did not use the Preston to trigger.(we were to scared) we ended up using the VIEW FACTOR triggers on those. All was good.

The preston was checked as was the cable, it was in perfect running order.

So in short, Some thing went wrong and not on 1 camera.
But the great thing was, all cameras still shot pictures even though the GPI ports were dead.
Also RED was quick to get our cameras back for repair.

Definitely would be interested in hearing what the diagnosis was on your issue. I noticed a similar situation where the power to the MDR-2 triggered the camera to roll when plugged in and then would not trigger the camera afterwards. We sourced our issue back to the power d-tap and it has been working fine since.

 

[Jeroen Hendriks]

this means ground is on the wrong pin and will only start the camera at plug in, if you plug it in again it will stop.

on the rs232 there is much more going on than just starting the camera

i prefer to use the gpio 4 pin,
jeroen hendriks

 

[Steve Freebairn]

Whadda you know, Big T- both of my ports seem to have died for GPI after a day as well.

Was that after using a Preston with the Rs 232? or with the 4 pin GPIO port on the back? I've used a bartech to start and stop our camera for a 6 week shoot and never had an issue, does that mean that our camera shouldn't have an issue with the Preston like BIG-T's did?